G’day,
First time post here from an old codger just passing through to reminisce a bit. I have fond memories of bushwalking around the Brisbane area fifty years ago that forged many wilderness skills I still draw upon for exploring the almost impenetrable chaparral here in southern California.
I grew up on a remote cattle station in the Queensland gulf country. There I had a gentle old mare to ride about on, bare backed of course, lethal snakes to avoid, giant spiders dropping off the ceiling at night, crocodiles lurking in the fresh-water creek, hot sand with bindi-eye stickers to cross barefoot, brilliant stars like never before or since, and suffocating, humid heat. The galvanized iron roof would creak and crack ominously at night during contraction after the blazing sub-tropical sun set. There was no electricity so our lighting was by acetylene lamps; a primitive outpost that by its very nature built self-reliance.
We moved to Brisbane in 1955 when trains were still pulled by steam engines and wonderful trams clattered about for convenient and charming city transport. My Dad built a house in the farthest suburb at the time, Mt. Gravatt, where there was plenty of undeveloped bush for me to run wild in. The Boy Scouts imposed some order but I never properly transformed into an organizational lad steeped in the ways of the crusty old Empire. Baden Powell bush craft consisted of whittling sticks to make shoe racks outside the tent along with similar camp conveniences.
Around 1960 I was introduced to Bert (Albert Armitrage) Salmon who kindly passed on his trove of knowledge about the Glasshouse Mountains, Scenic Rim and walking tracks around the Binna Burra and O’Reilly lodges on the Lamington Plateau. Walking was a simple affair, outfitted with an army surplus canvas satchel and sandshoes. We had no GPS, cell phone, walking poles, rescue choppers or other conveniences now deemed necessary for a safe outdoors experience.
Our bush icons were Bernard O”Reilly and Arthur Groom, and I still have their classic books, “Green Mountains and Cullenbenbong” and “One Mountain After Another”. They were early recreational explorers naturally imbued with a love of the land and rugged pioneer spirit so thought little of heading off solo into the unknown with just a few supplies on their back.
We were slightly better equipped through Paddy Pallin whose gear was available at the Scout Shop in the Valley although not as cheap as army surplus. Canvas and cotton (waxed or oiled) were still the best materials at the time and I remember my first Hotham down bag that ensured toasty nights.
My first organized walks were with the Y.M.C.A. Ramblers and a memorable trip from that era was to The Steamers above Emu Creek behind the Main Range. It was a bitterly cold winter and we slogged up through the rainforest on the southern side to scramble about on these rotting rhyolite monoliths. This was very impressionable for a High School Senior owing to the remote location, grand scenery and aura since Bert Salmon never achieved these fabled summits. My toughest through walk was in the back of the Tweed Range from Warrazambill Creek, up to the local Pinnacle then into incredibly ancient rain forest trying to find the Tweed Pinnacle. Antarctic Beeches loomed out of the cloud and we had no visibility to navigate this prehistoric land.
Naturally we became more disorganized at Uni, consistent with the radical times, and I had several outings with the U.Q.B.W.C. Their informal culture suited me better but I was still a free-range spirit at heart and did not fit well into any organization, no matter how liberal.
We did a lot of independent new things like canyoneering (first descent of the Coomera Crevice), extreme bush bashing (ascent of Boyd’s Butte), scree running, trail running (around the Springbrook Falls loop) and speed boulder hopping that now seem to be mainstream activities.
Anyhow, I got thinking about all this after a hiking forum here in California discussed ten essentials for every hike that rely far too much on tools, technology and gadgets. My list, based on a “core inner strength” put mental attitude as the most powerful asset:
1. Experience
2. Judgment
3. Self Knowledge
4. Self Reliance
5. Responsibility
6. Creativity
7. Accountability
8. Integrity
9. Humility, and last but not least
10. Great sense of Humour.
My opinion did not go over too well with the locals and it was then I recognized a huge cultural and generational gap. Well, here are some images from those times for those interested in this ancient history:
http://picasaweb.google.com/rokrover/BrisbaneBushwalking#Cheers,
Ted