200902 Newsletter

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

QUEENSLAND BUSHWALKERS CLUB Inc. Newsletter

February 2009

On the Way to Horseshoe Falls

Club News Christmas Party Report

5 - 7 December 2008

The QBW Christmas party was held at the House of Happiness, at Bribie Island. Members began arriving Friday night and found the premises had a large hall and kitchen with nearby bunkhouses and a large swimming pool. After everyone had settled in and had their dinner, slides and videos were shown of walks done by Club members. These included trips to Tasmania, USA and Venezuela. There was even a video done by Trevor Davern of a recent abseil trip. Saturday was a bright sunny day and about half decided to do a kayak trip while the other half did a walk round the southern end of Bribie island led by Noelene. Happy hour began at 5.00 pm and people got into the spirit of the Beach Party theme. Patricia and Richard took out the prize for best dressed but there were many others dressed in colourful shirts and skirts. John Brunott brought along the steak and sausages and he was assisted by Wayne and Gil cooking them up in the BBQ area. A small lightning storm brightened up the night but no one got wet as there was ample shelter in the outdoor areas. Sunday, and slowly members emerged from the bunkhouses to have breakfast. There were several quizzes on mountains, waterfalls and general knowledge to help people waken up. Thank you to all those who helped to clean up and a special thanks to Linda and Traci who helped put this event on. Richard

Photo Competition Results The winners of the Photo competition were announced at the Christmas Party.

QBW 10th Anniversary Dinner QBW is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009.There will be many events during the year but the first will be a dinner. Date:

Friday, 20 February 2009

Venue: Sitar Indian Restaurant, 195 Melbourne Street, West End Time:

7:00pm

The Sitar Restaurant has authentic Indian Cuisine prepared using traditional methods. Bookings for more than 15 people must select a set banquet menu; $24.90 or $29.90 - we can decide on the night. For more information about the restaurant, please visit their website at www.sitar.com.au. Contact Traci Nudl on 0429 618 494 to advise your attendance if you are unable to complete the Outings Sheet at the Club Meeting on Tuesday, 3 February. Final numbers will need to be advised to the restaurant by Monday, 16 February.

City Walk and BBQ

16 January 2009

Nine members gathered at the Kangaroo Point rotunda on a fine Friday evening at 6.00pm. After waiting for any possible stragglers they set off for a walk which included crossing the Goodwill Bridge and the Storey Bridge. The BBQ was held up on the cliff and the lights of Brisbane provided a splendid backdrop. Sausages and steaks were cooked on the council electric BBQs provided and everyone enjoyed the views, meal and company. Many thanks to Evelyn for the walk and social.

For Sale

Club Character A Silent Prayer by Patricia Kolarski Nature

Peek-A-Boo Skink by Helen McAllister

One man tent suitable for base camps $20.00

Pictorial

Guiding Light by Julianne Urquhart

Sleeping Bag Oztrail. Very good condition. $20.00

People's Choice Eagle's View of Tasman Coast by Noelene McCay

Contact Gil Ph No 3272 4366

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Richard

General Information

The Management Committee

Meeting Place

President

Patricia Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

Club meetings are on the first Tuesday of the month starting at 7.30PM. There is no Club meeting in January.

Vice President

Margaret Rae

3395 1838 (H)

Secretary

Sandra Thomas

3711 4134 (H)

Meeting are held at the Little King's Hall on the corner of Carl and O'Keefe Streets, Buranda. Entry is via the gate on Carl St.

Treasurer

John Hinton

3343 3724 (H)

Outings Officer

David Kenrick

3349 8238 (H)

Membership Officer

Frank Garland

3341 5207 (H)

There is parking within the grounds and in Carl Street. 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

Traci Nudl

3890 8196 (H)

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.

Training Officer

Stuart Mackay

3890 8196 (H)

Other Voluntary Positions

Membership fee is $30.00 and lasts till the end of the Club’s financial year which is on the 30th of June each year.

Equipment Officer

John Brunott

3209 9598 (H)

Probationary Membership

Supper Convenor

Mary Sherlock

3209 8514 (H)

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.

BWQ Rep

Stuart Mackay

3890 8196 (H)

BWQ Rep

Richard Kolarski

3341 7509 (H)

However a Probationary Member must become an Ordinary Member on his/her second walk by filling out a Membership Form and paying the membership fee.

Campsite Monitors John Brunott

Ballows, Paddys Knob

Kerry de Clauzel

Throakban, Barney Gorge and Lower Portals

Ann Kemp

Spicers Peak (east & west)

Richard Kolarski

Running Creek Falls

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.

Barbara Makepeace

Rat-a-tat, Spicers/Doubletop saddle Rum Jungle

John Shera

Panorama Point

Members of Another Bushwalking Club

John & Julie Shera

Mt Superbus & Rabbit Fence Jct Lower Panorama

Ken Walters

Mt May saddle & Paddy’s Plain

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.

Members of another bushwalking club which is affiliated with Bushwalking Queensland Inc (or an interstate Federation) and who are covered by the same Insurance do not need to become a member of our Club to go on our walks. However Club members will have priority if there is a limit on numbers.

Editors Pic

Club Equipment Compasses

Topo Maps

GPS's

Emergency Lights

First Aid Kits

UHF Radios

The above are for free use by members. Contact David at 3395 1838 or [email protected] PLBs with inbuilt GPS The Club has 5 PLBs with inbuilt GPS. The PLBs will be made available at each Club meeting and will need to be returned at the following Club meeting. Contact Richard on 3341 7509. Abseil Gear (ropes, harnesses, helmets, karabiners etc) There is a $5.00 charge for use of the Club rope and another $5.00 charge for use of harness and accessories by QBW Ordinary Members. There is a $10.00 charge for use of the Club rope and another $10.00 charge for use of harness and accessories by Probationary Members and members of affiliated clubs. Contact Trevor at 0411 512 202 Back Pack for Hire

Christmas Cheer

$5.00 charge

Contact Trevor at 0411 512 202 Bivy Bags For Sale

New Members

$3.00 each or 2 for $5.00.

These bivy bags are 2 metres by 0.9 metres and are bright orange in colour. Use as a pack liner or emergency bivy bag. Contact Patricia Kolarski on 3341 7509. Space Blankets For Sale

$2.50 each.

Light weight and take up no room at all. A must for all walkers! Contact Patricia Kolarski on 3341 7509.

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Kay Chang

Gail Kraal

Susanne Millett

Peter Pendle

Kamini Singh

Miro Zirdum

As at 29/1/2009 we have 96 financial members

Our 10th Anniversary, Or Is It?

Use Of PLBs

QBW is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2009 but is it really? The beginnings of our Club can be traced back to 1997 when a group of friends began meeting regularly. Numbers at meetings varied from 2 to 10 people. In February 1999 a set of rules was written and the first meeting which was open and advertised to the general public was held at Northgate Community Hall. Below is a report done by Suzanne Williams and presented at that February 1999 meeting. First Annual Report and Club History The idea of a new club was first floated on a casual day walk from Mt Glorious to Northbrook Mt in October 1997. Some discussion ensued amongst the five walkers in attendance. Ed and Cathy Thistlethwaite seemed in favour of the name "Serendipity Ramblers", Jim O'Meara, Suzanne Williams and Bill Butler were in favour of the name "Queensland Bushwalkers Club". Around January 1998 this latter name was agreed upon.

QBW has purchased 5 PLB's with inbuilt GPS. Members may request a PLB for pre-outings, remote walks or other Club events whether in Queensland or interstate. The PLBs are not meant to be used outside of Australia. At least 3 PLB's will be available for Club walks/pre-outings at all times. Up to 2 PLB's may be made available to members for non-Club walks. However Club events will always take precedence over non-club walks. Thus there may be times when a PLB will not be available for non-club walks. The PLBs will be brought along to each Club meeting and distributed to members as requested. Members will need to sign for them and ensure that they are cared for properly. The PLBs will need to be returned at the following Club meeting usually. With each PLB there is an instruction manual which must be read thoroughly. Notes which can be carried with the PLB on the walk will also be given out.

On 3 November 1997 Bill, Ed and Paul McDonald discussed the possibility of holding the club's first general meeting at Bill's warehouse at Nundah. Suzanne Williams, Perine Visini, Con Vink, Paul McDonald and Bill Butler attended this first meeting at 7.30 pm on Tuesday 25 November 1997. The Club's first official walk which took place on 13 December 1997 was a Springbrook day walk that took in the main water falls and attempted to reach the overgrown Sphinx Lookout from Best of All Lookout.

When to activate a PLB

In 1998 the new club's combined committee meetings/general meetings were held at "The Three Monkeys" coffee shop at West End and in February 1999 the club's monthly general meetings were moved to the Northgate Community Hall where there was a healthy attendance of seventeen at the first meeting.

If the decision is made to activate the PLB, move to an open area with a clear view of as much of the sky as possible. At least move away from cliffs, tree cover and steep ground. This will not only assist the signal but will also allow the helicopter, when it comes, to see you and get somebody to you. Have something highly visible ready so you can signal the helicopter and help it find you.

On behalf of the club's committee and the founding members, I would like to thank all those people who assisted with and showed support for the formation of the new club. Suzanne Williams, Secretary, Queensland Bushwalkers Club PS Of all the people mentioned above, only Suzanne is still a member (now Suzanne Robinson).

Coming Events Nepal Trekking 2009

May 2009

I have booked a trek in the Everest region in Nepal starting in Kathmandu on 1 May 2009. There are a few spaces available if anyone is interested to join in. There are 2 options: a 2 week moderate trek to Thyangboche Monastery with sightseeing and free time in Kathmandu, or a 3 week challenging trek including Everest Base Camp and Gokyo Valley. Contact Gail Cibilic, Ph: 5546 8189 or e-mail: [email protected]

Annapurna

October 2009

In 2007 five QBW walkers went on a Everest Base Camp and Gokyo trek with Saran Suba. You may have read or heard that this trip was highly regarded by all, partly due to Saran's expertise and ever thoughtful guidance. I am planning on returning to Nepal to do the Annapurna Circuit in October, 2009, again using Saran as guide. It will be a 24 day journey, including getting to and from the Annapurna area. The number of trekking days is approximately 16 (there are two rest days) The trek distance is 228km with maximum altitude 5416m. Saran is able to be flexible in the itinerary. If you would like to know more please go to Saran's website: www.questropix.com. If you are interested in coming on this walk please contact me: [email protected] or ph 3395 1838

The PLB system is to be used in a bushwalking emergency and as a last resort only. If possible the initial distress alert should be made by direct communication such as telephone, mobile phone or radio. This will result in a faster and more appropriate response as the situation can be explained to the emergency services. If near a vehicle, consider sending someone to walk out and drive to summon assistance.

To activate the PLB, follow the instructions in the manual or the notes given with the PLB. Once the PLB is active prepare to wait. If you are near a major city, a one or two hour wait is normal, although several hours is possible. If you are well away from major centres the wait is likely to be at least several hours. Do not turn the PLB off until directed to do so by the emergency services. If you have not been located yet then leave it on until the battery goes flat. If you have two or more PLBs in the party then only have one PLB active at a time. When the first PLB's battery goes flat then turn it off and activate the second one. You will not get a stronger signal by activating two PLBs at the same time - the transmissions actually interfere with one another and make it harder to find you. Delays in Rescue There may be delays in rescue due to: Deep gorges - A distress signal from a narrow gorge or canyon may not be detected. If it is detected it may be difficult for the rescue helicopter to track. Night - The satellites will pick up a PLB signal at night, but a rescue helicopter may choose not to fly immediately and wait until first light the next day. Bad weather - Lightning may make the signal difficult to get an accurate position and delay rescue. The rescue helicopter will not fly in weather risky for the aircraft, such as reduced visibility such as fog or in high winds. Either ground crews will be sent in or the helicopter will wait for the weather to improve, either way you will have to wait a long time. Consider these factors before activating an PLB. It may be more effective to send somebody out to raise the alarm instead. Accidental Activation If your beacon has been activated accidentally then turn it off and phone 1800 641 792 as quickly as possible to let the RCC know that it was a false activation.

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Past Walks Neglected Mountain

25 October 2008

Twelve people gathered at Beaudesert on a fine October day. We drove down towards Rathdowney and took the Christmas Creek turn-off. We had a short stop at Stinson Park before driving along a short dirt road to the start of the walk. The first walking section was up a steep dirt road past a locked gate. We had a rest about half way up near an old shed with an outhouse with a great view of Buchanan's Fort. The dirt road turned into an old farm track and then to a walking track as we followed a ridge up to the saddle. At one section the track was washed out and after a few members made a precarious circuit around it, one of the more adventurous tried to jump it. Unfortunately the edge on the other side crumbled and though he managed to get across he was left with some large grazes on his leg. At the saddle we turned right towards Neglected Mountain. To the left was the Stretcher Track. The track followed the ridge line and as we ascended the views just got better and better. We could see to the south into New South Wales and to the north towards O'Reillys.

For those who hate getting out of the car and going straight up, this is not the walk for you. However, in saying that, after the 3040 minute slog up the forestry track it is all easy going. We followed a ridgeline characterised by vines, palms, epiphytes and large trees. A ten minute scramble to the top of the pinnacle provided 360 degree views of features such as Boyd's Bute, The Cougals and the magnificent Springbrook plateau. Unfortunately it was not the place for a leisurely lunch as it was exposed, hot, hazy and crowded. The predominant feature of this walk for me is the opportunity for great views of the Gold Coast hinterland. It's easy access and short distance makes it a good walk for those who like to be finished early. Margie

Horseshoe Falls

2 November 2008

The meeting place was at the Numinbah Valley School of Arts building and ten members met there on a somewhat cloudy day. After telling all participants to be on time, I was the only one late, but luckily the group were in a forgiving mood. From there it was just a short drive to the start of the walk. We began the walk along a dirt road and passed by an old farmhouse before reaching Waterfall Creek. From here we turned upstream towards the falls. There was an old road beside the creek and this made the first part of this section relatively easy. However when the road turned away from the creek, we shifted into the creek bed and began our creek walk proper. The stream here had a hard rock base with many rock pools and cascades along the way. At one stage the creek became a small gorge and people had a choice of either doing some nimble gymnastics to get through the gorge or take an easier route higher up on the slope. Everyone had their own preference and as we were not not in a hurry, there was time for everyone to challenge themselves as much as they wanted.

Neglected Mountain

We had a rest at the top of the first rise and then followed the ridge along the escarpment to a small marker. This was taken as the official top of Neglected Mountain but there was some controversy whether it was marked correctly on the map.

Further up we scrambled up a small waterfall but finally we came to a waterfall where it was not possible to proceed any further. We backtracked down the creek a bit and then struggled up a steep slope to get above the falls. It was here that a surprise awaited most of the group.

We had lunch in the shade of the few trees present before walking back the same way. Afternoon tea at MacDonalds gave us time to relax and finish the day refreshed. Many thanks to Ann Kemp for putting on this walk.

Springbrook Pinnacle

Richard

1 November 2008

The beauty of going to the Pilgrimage is finding out about new walks. As it was a fairly simple off track walk I felt semi-confident I could find my way to lead this walk with our club.

Straddling Waterfall Creek

There was an old dilapidated farmhouse in much disrepair present at the top of the slope. The walls and floors of the building were full of holes but there were signs of an old garden and it had great views of Horseshoe Falls from the back. The way upstream now was a mass of lantana as we tried to get back to the creek. We were eventually split up into 2 groups by a stirred up colony of stinging ants. So while one group had lunch in the creek the other had to make do in the middle of the lantana. Springbrook Pinnacle

First some preliminaries: Weather-fine and warm; walk started at: end of Austinville Road, about a 30 minute drive from Mudgeeraba. Start and Finish times: 7.45 to 13.30.

The way back was very quick as there was an old dirt road from the old farmhouse which took us directly back to the cars. This was fortunate as it began to drizzle on the way back. Afternoon tea at Numinbah Valley finished the day well. Many thanks to all who came along on the walk. Richard

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Daves Creek Circuit

8 November 2008

After meeting up in Canungra, thirteen of us travelled up to Binna Burra to begin this 12.4km walk. The sky was a little overcast but it was really a perfect day for walking.

Ellery Creek Lookout at Daves Creek Circuit

This walk is one of my favourites and I was pleased to share it with a couple of our members who were doing it for the first time. The highlights of this walk are The range of vegetation types. Heathland with banksia, casuarina and melaleuca. Views into Numinbah Valley and across to the Araucaria Circuit. Scrambling up Surprise Rock and shimmying down the tree. Finding the Bandi Bandi snake that is a resident of Surprise Rock. Visiting the falls near the Nagarigoon clearing. Thanks to all those who came on this walk and shared the experience with me. A special thanks to the drivers. Patricia

Larapinta Trail Part Three

July 2008 Ellery Creek to Standley Chasm

Most nights we were in bed about 7.00 pm as it was too cold to stay up any longer. So after studying the night sky looking for satellites we slid into our sleeping bags and read for a while. Tuesday 15 July

Ellery Creek - Rocky Gully (15.3km)

We got up at 0620 and had breakfast. It was 0.3 degrees and I had icicles on my tent, so holding on to a mug of coffee was the answer. Someone told us today would be a long hard slog and they were correct. Lots of ups and downs across a steep saddle along dry creek beds. It was very hard walking in the soft sand. Arrived at Rocky Gully campsite which has no facilities apart from two water tanks which were closer to empty than full. It was 24 degrees and the flies were up my nose, in my ears and trying to get in my mouth. Frankly not much of a campsite with not much protection from the elements at all. I got into trouble from Kerry as she had this gas canister next to her at Ellery Creek and she asked me if it was hers. I knew Richard wasn’t going to take his, so I just said yes. The canister was actually Richard's so she ended up carrying three gas canisters. She was not happy. Anyway Richard took it and carried it from there. Wednesday 16 July

Rocky Gully - Hugh Gorge (15.9km)

Woke at 0630 but snuggled up for another 30 minutes before starting the daily packing up routine. Got away at 0810.

Monday 14 July

Ellery Creek

Ellery Creek is assessable from the road so it is a big camp site with numerous BBQs, which was great as there was free gas and no worrying about running out, so plenty of hot drinks were had by everyone. It has a large toilet block, and its roof is covered in solar panels. They have spent lots of money to recycle water for the toilets which makes the flushing water brown. We arrived about 1400 hrs and we set up our tents and picked up our food drop. There were a lot of new goodies to be sorted through plus things we didn’t need were put back in the boxes to be picked up in Alice Springs. I was finding my pack very heavy, so any clothes, sand pegs, toilet rolls were put in the box, but my pack still remained heavy.

The trail was open rocky ground with the vegetation predominantly shrubland. We arrived at Ghost Gum Flat campsite which would have been a much nicer place to camp with the luxury of a table. You would have had to carry water from Rocky Gully (8.7km) but worth it. We had lunch at Hugh View which had great views of the rugged orange bluffs along the Chewing Range and the big gash of Hugh Gorge. The trail was hard to follow as we got closer to the Gorge with lots of quartzite and rocks with high mica content which made it difficult to follow footprints. Hugh Gorge campsite has one tank and an information shelter. If I thought Rocky Gully had flies, this was worse, much worse. The small waterhole near the campsite wasn’t that clean. We went for a short walk up the gorge, finding more small waterholes, wattles, and other flowering scrubs. We saw Zebra Finches flying in flocks from tree to tree. Thursday 17 July

Hugh Gorge - Fringe Lily Creek (7.3km)

Before it got too cold we went for a walk along a new paved area to the Ellery Creek Waterhole which has plenty of clean water. it was just a little bit cold for a dip, but it was a very picturesque area with a lifesaving tube just in case.

Left camp at 0810 carrying less food but at least six litres of water as no water at next campsite. I found I needed two litres for drinking through the day ,three for night meal and a small wash and one litre for breakfast.

The camp filled up towards evening with people like us walking to Alice Springs, people walking to Mt Sonder and caravans (Grey Nomads ) doing their thing. It was great talking to people finding out what was in front of us, everyone cooking and standing around fires. We had our singing duo serenading us and another young fellow playing the guitar.

I was dreading the walk today as rock hopping isn’t my thing, but because there is not much water in the river it wasn't such a hard walk. My shoulders hurt a little, then that went, then my back hurt a little, then that went, then my ankle said its time to hurt, then my knee said I want a say in all this. Apart from that, everything was good.

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We saw eagles soaring majestically along the upper ridges of the gorge as we followed Hugh Gorge with its beautiful red rocks and cycads growing out of the cliffs. As we were reaching the camp site we saw a Euro climbing straight up the rocks with the strongest tail I have ever seen on a kangaroo. We arrived at Fringe Lily Creek at 1300 hrs. This is a pretty campsite at the beginning of another gorge, which we walked up. Richard walked on and we sat and rested. He said he could see footprints and there were waterholes with clean water. If you kept going you would end up on the maintenance road which goes to Hugh Gorge, Birthday Waterhole and on to Namatjira Drive.

Sunday 20 July

Stuarts Pass - Standley Chasm (13 km)

Up early as we had a big day and on the trail at 7.30. We climbed, zigzagging up a cliff at the southern end of a saddle and then descending 80 metres to just above a creek junction at Rocky Cleft where there was a dry waterfall. We then started our final 200 metre climb zigzagging to the plateau of Brinkley's Bluff.

Friday 18 July Fringe Lilly Creek - Birthday Waterhole (7.8km) Up and off at 0800 straight up climbing steeply on loose stones and dusty, loose soil. This was our first bit of exposure on the trail, on Razorback Ridge, down to Spencers Gorge. A fantastic day climbing over big rocks, sliding down others. A slow day but walking was not difficult, just finding a good route around boulders, which Richard managed without much trouble.

Brinkley's Bluff

We found a cairn with a book to sign to prove we made it. The wind was cold and gusty, so, after we took photos, we found a place out of the wind and marvelled at the view. All this red dirt, mountain ranges, dry creek beds showing up grey and no glimpse of the ocean on the horizon. The only green was the spinifex scattered on the hillside amongst the rocky out-crops. Following the crest of the ridge we gradually descended. The rocks were like slate, sharp edges pushing out of the ground making us conscious of where we were putting our feet. Without walking poles on this trip I don’t know how I would of made it. I know I would have fallen over a lot more than I did, and the help they gave me climbing was fantastic.

Razorback Ridge

The gorge changed into a creek bed, then into a scrubby flat, then a dry sandy creek, which was very difficult to walk on. Our campsite was a very sandy, dry area, with no water in the waterhole, just holes where brumbies had dug looking for water. This campsite has a water tank, which we made good use of. We did our washing and had a wash, then had our usual three o’clock coffee, joined by the flies, who also wanted a drink. We decided tomorrow would be a lazy day as no one wanted to sleep on Brinkleys Bluff because of the wind. So tomorrow we would only walk to Stuarts Pass and start our ascent of Brinkley's Bluff from there. Saturday 19 July

Birthday Waterhole - Stuarts Pass (4.7km)

At 11 o’clock we set off for Stuarts Pass carrying extra water as we would not get any more until the next afternoon. We passed a dead bullock which had what looked like a pile of dried mowed lawn clippings where its intestines should have been. We stopped off at Mint Bush Spring which is the only spring where the animals could get water from and you could see where the brumbies had trampled the vegetation There was actually mint growing on a little island in the middle of the hole. When we arrived at Stuart's Pass there were other walkers who had just made their way down from Brinkley's Bluff and were having a rest and lunch before going on to Birthday Waterhole. One guy said that it was the windiest night he had ever had so I guess we were doing the right thing going up the next day. We set our tents up and had lunch. Just on dusk we heard the brumbies galloping past and ran out to see them disappearing towards Mint Bush Spring. They looked like normal well fed horses, although I'm not sure what they ate as there is not much grass around, but plenty of their dung, often in large piles along the trail.

View from Brinkley's Bluff

Coming off both sides of the ridge were rugged mountain ranges and steep rocky valleys. We met two walkers going west and they said they had had hot pies, cappuccinos and hot chips for tea at Standley Chasm. Our mouths were watering and our pace picked up just thinking of these luxuries. At 1430 after following a dry creek bed we reached our destination. We dropped our packs on a narrow strip of grass and went to pay for our camping site, pick up our food drop and have a feed. We paid $3 for camping and $10 to go to the Chasm. We went for a walk first as we weren’t allowed to put our tents up until the day visitors were gone .The Chasm had large rocky floors and vertical walls which were illuminated red by the sun. The narrow strip of grass that we were to camp on was not very big so it was good that we only shared it with one other walker who shared his tomato and capsicum sauce with me. We stayed up late that night talking and watching the sky and I think I got too cold because I couldn’t warm up and I slept in my down jacket and sleeping bag trying to warm up. Tomorrow we were off to Jay Creek. (to be continued) Mary Sherlock

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