200707 Newsletter

QUEENSLAND BUSHWALKERS CLUB Inc. Newsletter

74 Kallista Rd. Rochedale South QLD 4123 Email [email protected] Phone No (07) 3341 7509 www.geocities.com/qldbwc

July 2007

Major Mitchell Walk

Club News Pilgrimage 2007

Christmas Party Date Claimer 30 November - 2 December

24-26 August 2007

The Pilgrimage is fast approaching and all co-ordinators have been busy preparing for the event. There have been several meetings over the last month to finalise logistics and walks. There was even a special meeting at the Kalbar Show on June 16th to see how the venue handled large numbers of people. The Registration Form and the cost have been finalised and the form will be available at Club meetings or can be downloaded from the Club website. There are more details inside the Newsletter. Many of our members have volunteered to lead walks or to be the back up or “Tail End Charlie” for a walk. Others have volunteered to help with other activities such as preparing food, organising the decorations for the hall, general cleaning and special activities such as the slide show, yoga and the Swap and Sell. We do need more volunteers though and anyone who is prepared to help please come forward. Areas where we need volunteers are people to go on the roster for looking after the Registration Booth, the First Aid room and general cleaning and maintenance. If you can help, please see Patricia Kolarski.

Keep Friday, 30th November to Sunday 2nd December 2007 clear in your diary as the QBW Christmas Party will be held at Camp Constable at Mt Glorious on those dates. Accommodation will be in cabins and rooms only, with no tent sites available. We will have the use of the Activities Hall for the weekend. Walks are planned for the Saturday. The theme this year will be to come as your Favourite Movie Character. Prizes, games, slide shows and a whole heap of fun will be on the agenda. More information next month.

Membership Form/Renewal Membership is now due and all members will receive a Renewal Form either at the Club meeting or in the mail. A Membership Form for new members has also been posted on the Club website. The Membership fee has been increased to $30.00 for 2007-2008. On the Renewal and Membership Forms we are now asking everyone to nominate an emergency contact person. In this way the committee members will know whom to contact in case a walk is delayed or any other incident.

Page 1 of 6

General Information

The Management Committee

Meeting Place

President

Helen McAllister

3844 8464 (H)

Club Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at the East Brisbane State School, corner of Stanley Street and Wellington Road, starting at 7:30pm. No meetings in January.

Vice President

Gary Woodward

3245 2695 (H)

Secretary

Lynn Nicol

3219 6228 (H)

Treasurer

Bob Gur

3345 3971 (H)

Outings Officer

Patricia Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

Membership Officer

Lynne Cavanagh

3376 5053 (H)

Tea/Coffee and cake/biscuits are provided after the meeting. A coin donation would be appreciated.

Editor

Richard Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

Membership

Social Secretary

Danuta Gur

3345 3971 (H)

Training Officer

David Rae

3395 1838 (H)

There is parking within the school grounds off Wellington Road. Consult a street directory, as there are a number of one-way streets in the area. There is also parking in Wellington Road.

Before a visitor can go on a walk, he/she must be a Member (Probationary or Ordinary) or be a member of an affiliated club. Membership of QBW lasts till the end of the Club’s financial year which is on the 30th of June each year.

Probationary Membership A non-member automatically becomes a Probationary Member on his/her first walk after signing the waiver form. There is no fee payable to become a Probationary Member. However a Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member on his/her 2nd walk by filling out a membership form and paying the membership fee.

Ordinary Membership A person may become an Ordinary Member by filling out a membership form and handing the form to a committee member or walk leader and paying the membership fee. An Ordinary Member has the right to vote at an AGM or be elected to a committee position. A Probationary Member has neither of these rights.

Members of Another Bushwalking Club Members of another bushwalking club affiliated with the Queensland Federation of Bushwalking Clubs or another State Federation are covered by the same Insurance as QBW. It is not necessary for them to become a member of our Club to go on our walks.

Other Voluntary Positions Equipment Officer

Trevor Davern

0411 512 202

Supper Convenor

Margaret Smith

3886 3342 (H)

Federation Rep

Kerry de Clauzel

3209 7146 (H)

Federation Rep

Richard Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

FMR Rep

Frank Bowling

0419 715 719

FMR Rep

Barbara Makepeace

0421 784 783

Campsite Monitors Barbara Makepeace

Ratatat Hut Mt Barney Spicer’s Double Peak Saddle

Kerry de Clauzel

Throakban Lower Portals

Richard Kolarski

Running Creek Falls

Ann Kemp

Spicers Peak

John Brunott

Ballows

Happy Birthday

Equipment for Free Use By Members Compasses

EPIRBs

GPS's

Topo Maps

Emergency Lights

First Aid Kits

Sunmap CD’s

UHF Radios

Contact David at 3395 1838 or [email protected]

Equipment for Hire Abseil Gear

Back Pack

Contact Trevor at 0411 512 202 There is a $5.00 charge for use of the Club rope and another $5.00 charge for use of harness and accessories. There is a $5.00 charge for hire of the back pack.

Equipment for Sale Bivy Bags $3.00 each or 2 for $5.00 These bivy bags are 2 metres by 0.9 metres and are bright orange in colour. They can be used as a pack liner and can double as an emergency bivy bag. Club Polo Shirts L, M and S size left only

$20.00 each

Happy Birthday to June

Space Blankets $2.50 each. Light weight and take up no room at all. A must for all walkers!

The Club celebrated June's 70th birthday at the Mongolian BBQ. June has been a member of QBW since it formed in 1999. She is still doing throughwalks and bike rides.

Ring Patricia Kolarski on 3341 7509.

Many Happy Returns.

Page 2 of 6

Pilgrimage 2007

Training Quiz

Date: Friday 24th August to Sunday 26th August 2007

This Month’s Question and Answer

Venue: Kalbar Showgrounds

What is a Magnetic Bearing and how do you find and follow the Magnetic Bearing to an object?

Cost:

$25.00 per person if paid before 24/8/2007. $30.00 per person if paid at the event. No charge for children 12 years or younger.

How To Register: Fill in the Registration Form and send with the correct payment to: Pilgrimage 2007 Registration 74 Kallista Rd., Rochedale South QLD 4123

A bearing is the clockwise horizontal angle, measured from north to a chosen direction. Bearings are usually shown in degrees and range from 0° (north) to 360° (also north). South is 180°, east is 90° and west is 270°. A Magnetic Bearing uses Magnetic North as North while a Grid Bearing uses Grid North as North. To Find The Magnetic Bearing To An Object

Pre-payment can only be sent by mail. Pre-pay by cheque or money order. Please do not send cash by mail. Cheques are to be made payable to Queensland Bushwalkers Club Inc. Your registration will be confirmed by email or by phone. A receipt will be issued when you attend the Pilgrimage. Registration Forms: Available at Club meetings or can be downloaded from the Pilgrimage web site at http://au.geocities.com/qldpilgrimage/ or email [email protected] Theme: The theme for the Pilgrimage is Half and Half. Dress up half formally and half with bushwalking clothes for the Bush dance Saturday night. Camping: There is a large camping area for tents. Campervans and caravans can also be accommodated but there are limited power sites available. Powered sites will be allocated on a first come basis on the day. What your Registration Fee entitles you to: ·

Camping at Kalbar Showgrounds on the Friday and Saturday nights.

·

Supper Friday night.

·

Walks organised by the co-host clubs.

·

Light supper Saturday night.

·

Bush Band and dance Saturday night.

·

Bushwalker Breakfast Sunday morning.

·

The Games Sunday morning.

·

Coffee and Tea available all weekend.

·

Other organised activities such as the slide show, yoga, orienteering exercises etc.

Wrist bands will be issued on arrival that will entitle the wearer to all the above activities. Showground Facilities Large hall with a camp kitchen. BYO cups, plates and cutlery. Tables and chairs. Hot showers and toilet blocks. Night-time lighting. How to Get There Kalbar can be accessed by many different routes. · Via the Cunningham Highway. There is a road sign indicating the Kalbar turnoff 13 kilometres past Warrill View heading south (3 kilometres before Fassifern). · Via the Ipswich-Boonah Road. At Peak Crossing there is a road sign indicating the Kalbar turnoff. Head south along the Kalbar-Peak Crossing Road for 21 kilometres. · Via Beaudesert. From Beaudesert take the BoonahBeaudesert Rd. As you reach Boonah, at the roundabout, instead of turning left and entering Boonah, continue straight ahead and follow the road signs to Kalbar. The Showgrounds are at the northern end of town and entry is via the Kalbar-Peak Crossing Road.

Note that the point of the Red Needle and “N” are aligned.

Hold the compass horizontally at chest level and point the Direction of Travel Arrow on the compass at a visible feature along the route you want to travel. With the Direction of Travel Arrow still pointing at the object, turn the compass housing until the “N” aligns with the red end of the needle. The Magnetic Bearing is indicated on the dial at the Index Line. In the case above the bearing is 1400 Magnetic. To Follow A Magnetic Bearing If you’ve been given a magnetic bearing in degrees to travel, turn the dial so that the bearing is set at the index line. While holding the compass level in front of you and the Direction of Travel Arrow pointing straight ahead, turn your body until the red end of the needle is aligned with the “N” on the dial. You are now facing your direction of travel. Pick out a visible feature in line with your bearing and walk to it. Repeat the procedure until you reach your destination. Next Month’s Question: How do you find the Grid Bearing from a map? How do you convert the Grid Bearing to a Magnetic Bearing and vice-versa?

Page 3 of 6

Clunie to Ballow T/W

Past Walks Mt Mitchell

25 March 2007

We met at Aratula and traveled in convoy to Cunningham's Gap crest car park. Once across the road (take care) we made our way up the track to Mt Mitchell with stunning views at every turn. The last part of the track is through open montane heath and the rock steps near the top of the mountain slightly challenging. Finally we reached the summit for a well earned brunch. Checking out the views we were not surprised to see some showers coming across to the mountain. Leaving the picturesque views to other keen bushwalkers we commenced our walk down hoping not to be caught in a downpour. The walk down the track was much faster and easier and the slight shower did not dampen our mood. Back at the car park a quick check for leeches; yes, of course. Coffee and scones down the road anyone? A great walk. A big thank you to Suzana's friends for joining us. Hope to see you again. Bob & Danuta

Warrie Circuit

1 April 2007

This walk will go down in Gil. Gunthorpe history memoirs as being his first lead walk for QBW. The walk started at 8.00am from Canyon Lookout where we followed the track down the gorge past Tallanbana Picnic Area onto Rainbow Falls. The Team that made it a pleasant walk consisted of Margaret, Suzana, Patricia, Muriel, Neville, James and John.

7-9 April 2007

The walk began with only three of us so technically a pre-outing for a walk. We parked Sandy's car not far from the Boonah Border Gate and made our way slowly down to Watson's Falls. I say slowly because we didn't pick up the main track and therefore had some issues with barbed wire vine and native grape etc before reaching Watson's Ck. The track up to Stag's Head was quite clear and the tree fern forest was great to behold. There is a knoll just before Stag's head that has a long ridge running down to the Burnett Ck Gorge. This became our descent route. At the point where the Easterly ridge turned south we came across a well used fire trail with recent prescribed burning obvious. The fire appeared to be a cool burn as there were only scorch marks to the 1 m height on trees so we felt the danger of falling trees was minimal. The road followed the ridge much of the way and in hind sight we should have tried following it to below the gorge or turning south into the creek much sooner as it was a rough final descent. The creek was a picturesque place for lunch. After lunch we hiked east and into the other major branch of Burnett Ck. The plan was to then go straight up onto the 700 m plateau of the so called Bald Knob. This was easier said than done as Mike, Sandy and I pushed hard through vine scrub with some lantana and then ascended steeply on ground that was often quite crumbly. It took considerable time and effort to hit the main ridge. Just when it looked an easy stroll to the clearing out loomed the steepest pitch of grass I have ever climbed and with through packs this was a challenging task. Conclusion: don't ascend Bald Knob from the west! A hop skip and a slide later we reached our magnificent camp site. The Bald Knob borders state forest and private land. There is no fence so it is hard to know if we were trespassing or not and if we were then we had a glass of wine to cheer up any farmer who came our way. The view encompassed Mt Clunie, Wilson's Peak, Mt Castle and the Little Liverpool Range, Moogerah and its peaks and Mt Bellow. I cannot remember if Knapps Peak, Maroon and Mt May were in view but the Minnages Ridge was clearly outlined. The starry night enabled us to see a few shooting stars. In the morning it was fairly clear but the Barney Massif was clearly in cloud and we suspected receiving rain whilst the rest of Qld remained parched.

Behind the Water Curtain

We stopped at Nram-dhum Falls for morning tea by this time the day was looking sunny and had the makings of an excellent walk. After morning tea we continued along the track where we came across a very large carpet snake that looked as though it had just had lunch as it had a large bulge in its stomach. Suzana was very brave and took a very wide berth off the track to avoid any confrontation with the snake. We moved on along the track taking in the sights until we reached Pooyahra Falls where we had lunch. Lunch was interrupted by the start of the rain. After lunch we continued onto Poodahra Falls where it was planned to have a swim but the rain was still hanging around so the swim was called off. We pressed on to Blackfellows Falls then we continued to Canyon Lookout where we finished the walk with the rain still coming down. We made our way over the road to the Canyon Lookout Coffee Shop where we dried out and warmed up with a nice coffee and hot chocolate. I would like to thank the team that made up the walk for making it a memorable walk. Gil. Gunthorpe

We followed a long ridge to the main ridge running south from Mt Ballow. At the first saddle we dropped down into Lindesay Ck for water opposite the tributary entrance from Mt Nothofagus. It was magic in there. Later at Mt Ballow we experienced lots of rain. Later again we hiked down Minnages ridge where I went and retrieved Sandy's car. A final meal at the Dugandan Pub gave us the closure we needed. David

Stairway Falls

9 April 2007

After the severe heat we’ve had lately, it was quite a shock to get out of the car up at Green Mountains and feel the cold wind. Out with the jumpers and rain jackets. It was an overcast morning and rain wasn’t far away. We were very keen to get moving quickly to warm up. So quick were we that Helen was left behind, searching the carpark for us, while we charged up the hill towards the track. The newlyopened toilet block distracted us, giving her time to catch up. The track was wet and the stone steps very slippery, as Redencion found out to her misfortune: one bruised hand and a tender behind. The graded track down to Yarralala had been cleaned up by the Rangers earlier in the week so there were only a couple of small obstacles to scramble over.

Page 4 of 6

Morning tea on reaching West Canungra Creek. The water level was quite high with more rain here than in the lowlands. Redencion decided to leave us here as her boots weren’t giving her much grip on the rocks. The rest of us made the first crossing with only a damp boot or two.

The Gorge starts off as a rock hop and then turns into large slabs making the ascent a very enjoyable one. It is also very well defined all the way to the saddle and it would be extremely hard to get off track. Much to our surprise there was a good flow of water coming down the gorge, in fact about 5 times the amount that was flowing 2 years ago when I last led this walk. Even though we had an early start, climbing over the large boulders in the gorge slowed a number of members in our party which resulted in us reaching the saddle at 2:30 pm. With the short day light hours there was not enough time left to ascend to East peak and then on down via South East Ridge. At this point the walk was modified to descend via South Ridge (Peasants). Mt Barney allows this flexibility as there are over 15 different routes to traverse the mountain. Even though we did not make our goal the walk was enjoyed by all – except for the 4.5 km slog back over Yellow Pinch Bluff. David Rae

Mt Maroon

Stairway to Heaven

The track most of the way to Stairway Falls was fairly well-worn as the BATH project people had traps along the creek. In fact, the next four creek crossings had ropes strung across, making it much easier for us even with the high level of the creek. There were still a couple of falls but nothing serious. The trick was to stay on the right side of the rope. We arrived at our destination just before midday so had an early lunch. No swimming today just a little scramble to the side of the falls for the obligatory group photo. (Thanks, John H.). The return trip was uneventful except for the odd fall into the creek off the slippery rocks, all without injury. A little light rain fell at times but not enough to be a bother. The slog up to the Border Track finally ended and we were reunited with Redencion as we made the serious decision as to where to have coffee. The Alpaca place won the vote so off we went. I can recommend the lemon tart. Bob’s crepe looked pretty good, too. Thanks to the ten merry souls who joined me for this walk, and a special thanks to John M. and Gerry for driving. Patricia

Mount Barney via Barney Gorge

12 May 2007

Fifteen walkers set out to meet at the civilised time of 7.30 a.m at the famous Rathdowney toilet block for what would unfold as a tragic start to our walk to the Summit of Mt Maroons main peak via the standard route.

5 May 2007

Barney Gorge is a very picturesque route to the saddle of Mt Barney and should only be attempted in dry conditions, as the slightest hint of moisture will make the rock slabs extremely slippery and dangerous. A car shuffle (shuttle) is required for this walk as the start is from Lower Portals car park and the end is at Yellow pinch reserve.

Ten minutes out from Beaudesert on the Mt Lindesay Highway the first cars in our group were minutes from witnessing a tragic car accident in which a person was sadly killed. Whilst trained members of our group investigated if any assistance could be offered an ambulance arrived and all traffic including ours was allowed to pass. If nothing else this should act as a reminder to us as we travel considerable distances to enjoy the great outdoors that statistically the biggest risk we all take is the drive to and from our destination. On arrival at the Dam car park we regrouped and had time out for a last minute "fiddle & check" of boots, packs and equipment before heading off in two groups. One group consisting of faster walkers and the second, those of us enjoying a more leisurely and reflective pace. The day was unfolding, despite a strong wind, as a near perfect South East Queensland walking day. We pre arranged with the faster group to have a short drinks break at the end of the bush track and prior to the start of the boulder section of this route and we all parked ourselves under shady trees to fuel up. After our short break we continued across the boulder strewn section of this walk to make an impromptu stop to watch three climbers taking on the five pitch" Ruby of India" climbing route. It was decided that this could wait for another day, or in most of our cases another life time, should perhaps our behaviour in this one reward us a reincarnation as a mountain goat in the next!! Refreshed we attacked the only section of this walk requiring minor scrambling skills and broke for a well earned morning tea near the camp ground and well within site of our goal. After our snack we enjoyed the final easy climb to the summit whilst taking in the unfolding views. Lunch, (or was it third morning tea!) was taken at the summit rock cairn where a clear day provided a vista including Barney and its nearby cousins which must be hard to better. An afternoon of easy down hill walking retracing our steps and a well earned beer or coffee at the Rathdowney Hotel was our reward. Many thanks to all those walkers who as usual made this walk an enjoyable success. Steve Pritchett

Looking up Barney Gorge towards West Peak

P.S. Whilst the standard route to the top of Mt Maroon is now considered the "tourist route" I think it could be said that this walk is an excellent transition walk for any walker wishing to try something other than a track walk but who doesn't feel ready for a “Barney the hard way” walk or its like.

On reaching the Lower Portals we headed up to the bluff on the right and then followed the track along the ridge and then down where Barney Gorge meets Barney Creek. There is a large campsite here set back about 150 metres from the creek.

Obstacles offer minor scrambling situations and a good solid short walk at a reasonable gradient with little navigation required if careful attention is paid. The rewards provide some of the best views of this region!!

Page 5 of 6

Sand Dunes of Namibia

QPWS Visitor Codes

Namibia in south-west Africa is one of the driest and most sparsely populated countries on Earth. It can be divided into three broad zones, the Namib Desert to the west, the Kalahari Desert to the east and the Central Plateau. I spent two weeks in Namibia on a walking trip and spent most of this time in the Namib Desert, famous for its sand dunes.

When visiting a National Park all bushwalkers are expected to adhere to the visitor codes set by QPWS. Please follow them so that future generations may enjoy the Parks as much as we do. Walk softly

These dunes are the oldest in the world, (approximately 30 million years old), and stretch for 300 km along the coast and up to 140 km inland. They were formed from sand initially deposited into the ocean by the Orange River, the major river in southern Africa. This sand was moved northward by the action of ocean currents and then dumped back onto land by the surf. Coastal dunes developed and then were shifted further and further inland by the wind. The shapes of the dunes differ depending on the wind patterns and there are several distinctive types; Transverse dunes are long and linear with the crest perpendicular to the prevailing winds;

●

Never blaze or mark trees or remove branches from trees.

●

When walking off-track, follow existing trails rather than making new ones.

●

Spread out where necessary to avoid trampling plants.

●

Use a fuel stove for cooking.

●

Remove your rubbish from the park for proper disposal. Never bury rubbish.

●

Camp and bury human wastes 50m from creeks, lakes and walking tracks. Use no toothpaste, soap, sunscreen or detergent in creeks or lakes.

Camp softly ●

Dig no trenches around your tent.

●

Star dunes have multiple ridges created by the forces of multidirectional winds.

In bush camping sites, camp on previously used campsites rather than creating new ones.

●

Arc-shaped (barchan) dunes are formed by unidirectional winds and are the most mobile of all the dunes.

In bush camping areas, avoid using any campsite showing evidence of degradation.

●

Be considerate of any other walking and camping parties you encounter. Keep your noise down.

Parabolic dunes, the result of variable wind patterns, are the most stable and have the most vegetation.

The sand dunes of Sossusvlei in the Namib Desert are claimed to be the highest dunes in the world. The two dunes, Big Daddy and Dune 7 are both just over 380 metres high. By comparison, Mt Tempest on Moreton Island is 280 metres high.

Walk and camp safely

The best time to view the sand dunes is at sunrise when the colours are constantly changing, allowing for wonderful photographic opportunities. We stayed at a campground near the sand dunes and got up early to get to Dune 45. After three quarters of an hour tramping, we sat down to watch the fiery red sunrise. It was a spectacular way to start the day. We then descended the dune and had breakfast while watching the changing colours on the dune.

●

Plan your walk to suit the least experienced walkers in your group.

●

Ensure a responsible family member of friend knows your plans before you go.

●

Use a checklist to ensure the group takes appropriate equipment and gear.

●

Let a responsible Federation member know your planned route and schedule in case you get lost.

●

Don't rely on fresh water sources en route. Take your own supply. Boil or treat fresh water before drinking.

●

Observe any warning signs or track closures.

Bioluminescence One of the many marvels of the animal and plant kingdom is bioluminescence. As bushwalkers we occasionally see this phenomenon on our walks. A couple of the best known are the glow worm and firefly but there are many more. Bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism as the result of a chemical reaction during which chemical energy is converted to light energy. The chemical reaction involves a pigment luciferin being oxidized by the enzyme luciferase. Onwards to Big Daddy

An hour later we did a trek to Big Daddy with the aim of reaching its highest point. The secret to climbing sand dunes, I found, was to follow someone else! You can then take advantage of their footprints so that you are not sliding back as far with each step. Even so, it was exhausting work. After a scramble on hands and knees on a steep section of the dune, we finally arrived at the highest point and sat down to admire the view. All around were sand dunes and directly below us was a dry clay pan. It had once had held water but has been dry for the last 500 years when the dunes blocked off the river. The pan was studded by the skeletons of dead acacia trees. After descending the dune we took it easy during the hottest part of the day. Then a couple of hours before sunset we climbed another sand dune to watch the sun finally set. It was an unforgettable day. Richard

In contrast fluorescence and phosphorescence just involve the absorption of light from an outside source which is stored and then re-emitted. The glow worm uses bioluminescence to attract prey. The glow worm is actually the larval stage of a large mosquito-like fly. The light is produced by two light-producing organs found on the end of the larvae. The larvae construct long thin silk threads with sticky globules on them. Small insects are attracted to the light given off by the glow worms. When an insect becomes entangled in the thread, it is hauled up the line and consumed. Fire flies on the other hand use bioluminescence to attract a mate. Fireflies (actually beetles that belong to the family Lampyridae) have on the underside of the abdomen one or two segments that form a white light-emitting organ. The males flash light as a signal whilst flying to wingless females on the ground. If the female is receptive she will return a weaker flash and couple will unite and mate.

Page 6 of 6