The meeting will be held at the Leonard Huxley Theatre (and tea-room), Computer Services Building, end-ish of Mills Road, ANU. Club Meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
This month there will be an entertaining talk and slide show by Nigel Snoad:
Climbing in the United States,
Walking in Tasmania and
Rafting the Franklin River
The show starts at 8pm, with nibbles and drinks from 7.30pm. All ANUMC members are welcome!
Next morning a veil of cloud changed the mood of the Razorback from majestic to mystical. We descended to the Kiewa River as threads of cloud slowly wove between the valley spurs. By lunchtime the clouds had lifted, making the Kiewa River a sunny lunch spot. that afternoon we toiled up past Weston Hut to the Bogong High Plains, which maintain their dignity despite the ravages of alpine grazing. The afternoon sun made the heath glow golden as we descended to Tawonga Huts for the night.
On Sunday the rain came in earnest, and the planned trip to the Fainters seemed a pointless exercise. The mist swirled across the High Plains as we headed south, descending to the picturesque Dibbin Hut for lunch. Once again the clouds lifted for the afternoon, as we headed up to Derrick Hut. Jeremy noted that whatever Australian Mountains lacked in height they more than compensated for in severity. The clouds were falling as we reached Derrick Hut at 4:00 pm, and we decided against a late dash for the car, preferring to finish our walk in comfort.
Monday was a short hop to Mt Hotham, as the heavy mist rolled across the Victorian Alps. Our walk had been everything we hoped for and more.
... Richard Baxter
Outside the Sports Union and ready to go, we discovered that we only had Miriam’s car to take seven people, seven packs and four ropes. Hmmm. Fortunately Andrew stepped in to save the day, borrowing a car to set us on our way. After dining in the hip cafe in central Goulburn we headed off to Bungonia State Forest. The night was perfect. Everyone saw their shooting star and was able to turn over and go to sleep with pleasant thoughts of the next day.
Miriam made sure we had all warmed up for our walk to the canyon by having us push start her car. Once at the canyon we put on our thermals, Toryn going for the `Princess Leia in stubbies’ look. But thermals were no match for the freezing water. Early on, Stewart cut his knee. Not only did this allow Stew to show off his first aid bandaging techniques (which he had been studying the night before), but also benefited him later in the day. After a few natural slides, which Jeff demonstrated how not to do, and jumps it was time to rig up for the first pitch. My not-quite-so-accurate throwing meant that one rope landed one pitch below the one where it was needed. Whoops!
After several abseils we stopped for lunch. Not long after setting up a fire we were joined by a boulder that came tumbling down from a few hundred metres above. We decided to move on, completing the final 45 meter drop down to the Shoalhaven river. A quick swim in the river and time to go. UP. Stewart's cut knee meant he was unable to carry the ropes. Master plan, Stew.
The half-hour grind out of the gorge left zero energy. Just to make sure we all (except Dan who found comfort in the boot) would really be sore we all piled into the car for the drive back to the other car. The squash in the back seat as we launched the water bars caused fits of ridiculous laughter. A good way to end a great trip. Thanks to Miriam for leading, the club for the gear and who ever it was that gave us the warm cloudless day.
...Ben Wilson
The water was cold and the sun tried sneaking around behind the clouds until lunch. The group swam, rock- hopped, jumped, slipped and shivered their way to the top of the big 45m abseil - and then paused to eat.
After an extended period of contemplation, we descended. All arrived safely at the bottom, although one person discovered that hanging upside-down from a harness is not fun... Two people did the impressive 12m jump into the pool below, while the others wimped out but looked on.
The usual scramble out of the canyon followed, leading to a bit of slippery-dippering on the cascades before reaching the cars, and heading home to Canberra.
Thanks to our great leader Miriam, for organising the trip.
...L.
8th & 9th of June - MTB trip: Exploring the Great Divide near Braidwood
I don’t know much about this area - but there are lots of trails on the maps (including those 'numerous
forestry tracks' areas!), so it should be lots of fun!
Pre-trip meeting: 7.30pm, Wednesday 5 June, at the Leonard Huxley building (before the Social
Meeting!).
Contact Chris Ernst for details on 2674522(h), or email <
c.ernst@student.anu.edu.au> .
Thursday 11 June -
Two shows by England’s greatest climber:
Doug Scott
`Himalayan Climber’ and
`The Seven Summits’.
Starts 8pm, on campus, and costs $20. See the ANUMC noticeboard for details.
Saturday 15 June - Porcupine Rocks Beginners’ Ski Tour
This will be an easy and gentle trundle around the XC trails of Perisher. We will head out to Porcupine
Rocks for lunch, to enjoy a vantage point with nice views. If you are a beginner we'll see if we can give you
some pointers on technique. This trip would also be a good loosener for others to try and get their XC muscles
back into working order for the ski season.
Rating: M/E
Map: Perisher Ski Touring Map or Mt Kosciusko 1:25 000.
Leader: Paul Rustomji 254 3500(h).
16th June - MTB trip: Stress-relief Downhilling day
at the Dam
A day of ludicrous speed (of course, completely responsibly done...) on the roads around Bendora Dam.
They’re dirt and they go down (lots!) what more could you want?!
Pre-trip meeting: 7pm, Wednesday 12 June, outside the Gear Store.
Contact Chris Ernst on 2674522 (h), or email < c.ernst@student.anu.edu.au> .
14 - 16 June Ice Climbing at Blue Lake
- See Ice Climbing blurb below for details -
Pre-trip meeting: 6pm, Thursday 13 June, outside the Gear Store.
22-23 June - Midwinter Feast
Come join us for food and revelry at Pryors Hut in Namadgi National Park to celebrate Midwinter for the
third year! A short walk along a fire trail means we can bring ridiculously delicious food and drink and
consume it in comfort as the snow blows around outside. A must for all who aspire to the ANU’s
Mountaineering Society. Sure to be a highlight of the year.
Limit of 20 people.
Rating: S/E
Pre-trip meeting: 7pm Wed 19th June, outside the gear store, upstairs in the Sports Union.
Contact Derek or Will on 2475848(h).
22 - 23 June Beginners’ Ski Trip
As this may be the first chance for most of us to ski this year, this will be a very easy weekend trip.
Saturday, we’ll play around near Perisher (maybe do a quick, short trip out to Duncan Trig), then we’ll camp at
Island Bend that night. We’ll ski out from Guthega on Sunday (probably up the Snowy River to Ponds Creek)
for a day trip.
Sorry if you’ve got exams around this time, but there will be other trips if you miss out...
Pre-trip meeting: 6.30pm (don’t be late!) Wednesday 19 June, outside the ANUMC Gear
Store.
Contact Matthew Montgomery on 2429574 (h) after 8pm weeknights for more information. If
you’re wondering what to bring, drop into the Gear Store any Tuesday or Thursday evening (5.45 - 6.15pm) to
get a cross-country skiing information sheet.
28 - 30 June Ice Climbing at Blue Lake
- See Ice Climbing blurb below for details -
Pre-trip meeting: 6pm, Thursday 27 June, outside the Gear Store.
Sunday 30 June - Mystery Walk
The location will be revealed at the pre-trip meeting...
Rating: M/M
Pre-trip meeting: 7.30pm Wednesday 26th June outside the ANUMC Gear Store.
Contact Derek Cleland on 2475848 (h).
Social Meeting - 7.30pm Wednesday 3rd
July
`Treks in the Sikkim and Bhutan Himalaya’
- a slide show by past ANUMC President Ken Baldwin. See the ANUMC Noticeboard for more
information, before the next Epic comes out.
6-7 July - Ye old 'n faithful Porcupine area (another
beginners’ weekend)
A ski up to Porcupine and beyond from Perisher. An easy trip with views (provided we don't have a
white out). Slopes along the way should provide us with places to play and practise technique - not to mention
the usual entertainment value. Camp at Island Bend, then ski up and around Guthega Trig on Sunday. Tele'-
heads will be allowed to steal away on Saturday night for night skiing at Perisher.
Pre-trip meeting (CHANGED since the last advertisement): 7pm, Wednesday 3rd July,
at the Leonard Huxley Theatre, before the Club’s Social Meeting.
Contact Kevin Moore on 2167072(w), 2475970(h), or email <
kmoore@cbr.dit.csiro.au> .
8-12 July - Main Range Snow Camp
From Dead Horse Gap we'll ski out to near Lake Cootapatamba and dig a comfy snow cave that will be our
home for the next four days. From this base we can hoon around the Main Range to places like Townsend,
Little Austria and the glacial lakes. The weather this time of year usually creates some spectacular snow and ice
formations.
Rating: M/M
Map: Thredbo Ski Touring Map
Leader: Paul Rustomji 2543500 (h).
Transport: about $25 + NP fee.
(Note: if weather is too bad we will go somewhere more sheltered, possibly around Gungartan.)
Ice Climbing Trips - 1996
All Ice Climbing trips this year will be three-day trips to Blue Lake, in the Snowy Mountains.
The trips are suitable for beginners and will cover basic skills such as: Ice axe arrest, French Technique, snow
protection and pitching on snow, as well as top-roping on ice covered buttresses and waterfalls.
I urge people planning to come to arrange to take a three-day weekend - I have picked the Fridays, but would
consider the Mondays as well, if that suited participants. Skiing from Guthega to Blue Lake with a heavy pack
may take 3.5 - 5.5 hours, depending on your fitness and skiing experience. Getting out is an hour or two faster.
Therefore, we really need three-day trips, so we can spend a fair amount of time actually climbing!
I realise that the June trips are close to exam time but decent ice is normally only available in June and July.
People wanting to come should contact me; preferably by email or by visiting me at the gear store on Tuesday
evenings.
I would like everyone who plans to go on an ice climbing trip to come climbing on the climbing wall on either:
Apology from the Climbing Officer
Unfortunately, I won’t be able to run any climbing trips this month, as I have injured a finger and will be
unable to climb for 6 weeks or so. My June climbing trip will be cancelled, unless someone else is willing to
take it (hint, hint!). Remember, the ANUMC’s climbing gear IS available for use ONLY on ANUMC climbing
trips - see me if you want to run one.
See you all at the Club Social Meeting!
...Alistair, Climbing Officer
I’M LOST!
The next Rogaine in our region will be a 24hr one, on the South Coast, on 3-4 August. Entry forms will
be available soon, from Anna and Jane, or from the Gear Store.
There is Orienteering happening in the forests around Canberra nearly every weekend in June:
Spring 1996- Bolivian Mountaineering
Expedition
This year, I plan to go to Bolivia for six to eight weeks during July, August & September 1996. The
plan is to trek for a couple of weeks to acclimatise and then climb several mountains, with touristy trips in
between. For more information see the ANUMC noticeboard, or my Bolivia WWW page -
http://webgeod.anu.edu.au/~leonard/bolivia.html
Contact Mark Leonard on 2417812(h) or 2494324(w).
Thanks,
...Garrath
Unfortunately, due to work commitments, one of our Editorial Committee has had to resign for the rest of this year. Thank you to David McCulloch for his input over the last year and a half.
Thanks heaps to everyone who put stuff in for this month’s newsletter - the trip reports have definitely been worth waiting for! Special thanks to Will for the use of his software, and to Anna for creating the page headers for this month. Please send us more stuff for the next Epic...
The DEADLINE for the July Epic is:
5pm, Friday 21st June, 1996.
Late submissions will not be included (even ones from the Club Executive!
Put submissions on paper or floppy disk (text, ASCII, Rich Text Format or Word formats only - no binHex please!) into the ANUMC pigeonhole, or send your creations to us by email:
<Duncan.McIntyre@student.anu.edu.au>
Jane Pulford < janep@pican.pi.csiro.au>
...Duncan and Jane