[SUBW-A] Trip Report: Beginners Navigation Weekend, 17-18 May 2008

[Ashley Burke]

TRIP: Beginners Navigation Weekend, 17-18 May 2008

PARTY:
	Ashley
	Beng
	Carly
	Chris
	Claire
	Grace (Saturday only)
	Greg B
	Greg S
	Lois
	Nadine (Saturday only)
	Nigel
	Rebecca
	Vinay

TRIP REPORT:

Ominous weather forecasts of high winds, cold nights and mountain snow did
not deter 13 navigators from turning up at Bell on Saturday morning and the
weekend started out with perfect clear blue skies for our early start out
from Sydney.

Before we could set off on the walk though, everyone had to put up with me
trying to be a school teacher with a whiteboard, going over the essential
skills of map reading and explaining what all those wiggly lines on the map
actually mean. Once this was over with we all set off, map in hand,
following a track that gradually descended through the bush to a small
stream. The beginners learned to correlate the landscape features around
them with the representation of those landforms on the map.

Then we climbed up to an isolated sandstone pagoda that offered 360 degree
views of the surrounding countryside. It also happened to offer the
increasing wind unimpeded reign, and we decided to take our lunch to the lee
side of this sandstone outcrop rather than brave the elements by having
lunch right on top.

Then I proceeded to completely confuse everyone by trying to explain how to
use the compass and map to identify the landscape features around us. So we
spent quite a while up here working through the concepts of setting the
compass, taking bearings and so on, and pretty soon everyone was getting the
hang of it. But the best way to learn navigation is to practise it and it
was getting cold anyway so after lunch we continued along on the walk which
lead us gently down to where the trail ended and there was nothing below us
but a deep gorge. It was a steep climb down to cross a river and steep again
up the other side but once we were up we climbed onto the top of sandstone
pagodas for beautiful views of the weathered landscape in the soft afternoon
sunlight. The sunlight didn't last and soon threatening clouds moved in from
the west. It was time to get going.

Nadine and Grace who just came up for the day left us here to walk back to
the cars and return to Sydney.

The group learned to set the compass on a bearing and the beginners took
turns leading the way up the ridge, finding their own route through the
scrub and using the compass to stay "on track". Our objective was to reach
the junction of two fire trails and our navigation was spot on. An exact
bullseye was achieved as we emerged from the scrub right at the junction.

It was very cold and squalls of light drizzle were coming over so with some
more navigation practise we headed off the fire trail down another ridge to
a huge camp cave which was completely sheltered from the wind and rain. Here
we laid in a good supply of firewood and rugged up warm and settled in for
the evening.

An excellent evening was had and Lois produced a superb cellar door Hunter
Valley shiraz and several other bottles and casks of wine materialized from
other sources and these helped warm us up from the inside while the fire did
the same from the outside. The group had obviously read the email mentioning
enjoying wine around the campfire and had come suitably prepared!

Next morning we got up for the obligatory cup of tea and then consulted our
maps. I pointed out where we'd be going for lunch and the beginners worked
out the best way to get there on the map and pencilled in the bearings that
would be taken to get there. Then, after I led the way through the first bit
of scrubby swap, the younguns took turns leading again and navigated
accurately to our lunch spot. The wind was still cold but the air was crisp
and clear. It was a great day to be out in the bush and the sun was out at
our beautiful lunch spot. Here was a garden of sandstone, with delicately
sculpted layers and folds in the rock and beneath these lay a unique swampy
crater surrounded by ghostly white tree trunks. This was truly a special
place.

After lunch we climbed down into a huge amphitheatre and then across a small
creek and up onto a new ridge system. The beginners again navigated along
bearings to our next river crossing but by now the vigorous wind was getting
very cold.

Many were getting tired after a full weekend of carrying a pack but by now
we had done our last river crossing and could climb steadily on an improving
track back to Bell. We arrived back at the cars by about 3:30pm where our
navigation weekend concluded.

Thanks to everyone who came for the great company. Thanks to Greg for
helping with the running of the trip. Whilst I think the walk was harder
than many expected it was an excellent weekend away in beautiful country and
a great chance for many to learn new skills or refresh old ones.

Ashley Burke
Mobile: 0414 633 315
Email: aburke at ozemail.com.au
Web page: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke