[SUBW-A] Trip Report, Beginners' navigation weekend, 23-24 May 2009

[Ashley Burke]

TRIP:

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Beginners' Navigation Weekend, 23-24 May 2009

 

PARTY

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Michelle Anderson

Sasha Anderson

Annie Beaudin

Iris Bleach

Ashley Burke

Annie Côte

April Crawford-Smith

Mike Gray

Pete Harvey

Scotty Henderson

Co Tin La

Mariebelle Malo

Stacy Miller

Rahul Mohod

Mila Moutinho

Lok Kin Ng

Joh Peterson

Mark Wong

 

TRIP REPORT

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Despite the cold, wet and windy weather there was a good turnout and this
was a very successful navigation weekend, especially because no one got
lost, not even the experienced ones!

 

By 9am on Saturday morning just about everyone had gathered at Bell station,
huddling in the rain organising last minute gear and carrying out the ritual
of introduction to all the new people. It didn’t take us long to agree on a
plan for the day – walk to somewhere dry and sheltered and then get a
roaring fire going.

 

The route we took was known, but there remained the small matter of river
crossings and how high the rivers had risen in the recent rain. The first
small stream that we crossed after about half an hour of walking, normally a
trickle, was a fast flowing stream several metres wide. What this would mean
for the Wollangambe only time would tell.

 

We walked passed point 994, a prominent rock outcrop from which 360 degree
views of mist and rain could be beheld. Normally this is the perfect place
to practise map and compass skills but not today. We kept going to the
Wollangambe which was very fast flowing and waist deep, only a minor
obstacle. One by one everyone forged through the churning water and then
climbed up to a sheltered rock overhang for lunch. With everyone across the
river and out of the rain and wind a roaring fire was built, the jaffle
irons came out, tea did the rounds and the maps and compasses came out for
the first time. We were no longer on a track so the beginners would need to
use the map and compass to navigate from the lunch spot to the camp site.
And there was good incentive to navigate accurately – the camp site promised
to be another sheltered cavern where everyone could get out of the rain and
wind. So in the shelter of the lunch spot I ran through the principles with
the beginners, preparation for going out into the rain and putting it into
practise.

 

After lunch the rain had eased and the landscape was strikingly beautiful
with rock pools on all the pagodas and mist cloaking the ridges, the winding
gorges looking deep, green and mystical. The weather held enough for maps to
be held open while walking and the beginners took turns leading, aiming for
a road intersection at the top of a ridge. Sure enough, by mid afternoon
we’d reached a fire trail and using the map and compass the beginners
confirmed our location. This allowed new bearings to be set for the camp
site, just as another downpour of rain set in.

 

We reached our campsite by around 4pm and all around it were fast flowing
fresh streams, including one at the back of the cavern that we sheltered in.
We laid in a good supply of firewood, got a warm fire going and everyone
gathered around and began drying things out. The mysterious ritual, only
seen on beginners trips, of shoes and socks being dried – or melted – by the
fire was witnessed to some bemusement by the more experienced members. Lots
of great food was prepared, with flavours and aromas from different parts of
the world, all in this remote shelter in the Wollangambe Wilderness. Later
in the evening stars could be seen, a sign that better weather may be in
store for tomorrow.

 

Next morning after breakfast we gathered around the fire to plan the day’s
walk. The beginners worked out a route to Gooches Crater and then, after
crossing a soggy swamp, the beginners took turns to lead the way. The
scenery this morning was lovely, at times there was even a hint of sunshine
coming through and there were only a few sprinkles of rain. Visibility was
good with the cloud and mist clearing the tops of the peaks. We reached
Gooches Crater in time for elevenses. This amazing feature is an area of
swampy grassland completely surrounded by cliff, forming a crater. Delicate
rock formations, caves and pagodas surround this area. The wet rocks and
grass accentuated the colours. Annie provided a free physio consultation for
a sore knee – a problem solved by some well positioned tape.

 

We walked southwards, climbed to a high point from which we could see point
994, and the beginners practised taking bearings of it to work out our
current position. Then it was on to the Wollangambe, which we crossed
easily, and then had lunch in an open rocky area. The sun came out and we
were able to enjoy a relaxing lunch in the open.

 

Finally it was a steady climb back up to Bell by following a ridge, and from
pagodas atop this ridge splendid views of the surrounding countryside were
seen. We got back to the cars at about 3:30pm and by 4 we had parted company
for our different destinations.

 

A very successful navigation weekend with a great group of people. Welcome
to all the new members.

 

Pete has posted some photos here:

http://picasaweb.google.com.au/lh/photo/OuagTcYYIyFxsPclbAWs9w?feat=directli
nk

 

Ashley Burke

Mobile: 0414 633 315

Email: aburke at ozemail.com.au

Web page: http://members.ozemail.com.au/~aburke