Murray Valley Bushwalkers Bulletin #64 April 2013

New grading system for events

Club committee is currently  working towards grading all of our events and  gradings  will be included in the event description. A draft of event gradings is available on the website here if you have any comments to make.

What We've Been Up To

Moonlight bike ride 27 March

Plan B  bike ride out towards Barnawartha was enjoyed by a number of riders followed by a BBQ at Sasho's (thanks for organising all the food Sasho).  Riders made it back to Sasho's just before the down pour.

Thurs 28 March  Canoe the Murray After Work (Cancelled due to weather)

Easter Friday walk on Baranduda Range

A group of enthusiastic members and visitors joined leader Tony Marsh for a walk on Baranduda Range which is always a treat. This walk took the place of the planned overnight walk in  Mt Piolt National Park Chiltern area

Whats On April 2 to April 9

Find the activity on the website calendar that interests you and hit the Join button to start a conversation with the event leader.

Somewhere on Nail Can Hill for dinner 3 April

Join Tracey on this walk somewhere on Nail Can Hill.  A headlamp/ torch will be required for this walk, we will have a BYO dinner along the way. As canoeing is coming to a close I thought it would be great to do a few evening walks around the local area. This is the first of those activities which will include spot lighting, evening BBQ in the bush just to name a few of the activities. Click here to join

Final canoe after work for summer 2012/2013 on 4 April

Join us for the final after work paddle we will paddle from Water Works to Peach farm or a surprise if the level of the river allows.  Dave and Neil have checked out paddling down the Kiewa River and this will not be on the program until next year. So come along  and enjoy the river and join us for the final BBQ for this season which is always a interesting mix of culinary styles and plenty of social interaction. As the evenings are getting shorter and shorter we ask that you arrive at Norieul Park a little before  5.30pm. Click here to join

Easy Abseiling 6 April

If you have ever wanted to have a go at Abseiling this is the day to do it. If your skills need brushing up come along too.  Join Neil for a day of excitement click here to join

Mt Buffalo Camp 5 - 7 April

This event is a weekend camp at the wonderful Lake Catani campground with activities to suit everyone. You will need to provide your own tents, sleeping gear, cooking equipment etc but hot showers and wash up facilities are available.

Booking in early will help enormously in the organisation of this event because we have to book and pay for campsites in advance.

If we have a good idea of numbers then we can book campsites that are adjacent and not spread all over the campground. click here to join

Future happenings

Overnight Hike Medium Mt Bogong via Mulhauser Spur track 13 - 14 April

This is an alternative way to the summit of Mt Bogong. From Bogong Gap about 15km out of Mitta we drive off the Omeo Rd on a logging tack for 16 km to the foot of the Mulhauser Spur. Then an 8 km hike with 370m climb gets you to Cleve Cole Hut.  We will camp here and walk up Mt Bogong on the next day and then return to the cars. Tony and I wanted to try this earlier but the heat kept us home. There will be a limit of 4 in my vehicle. Vehicle access is quite suitable for 2WD provided no trees have fallen over the bush tracks. If more want to join us, ask Tony re vechicle suitability. We would like to leave Albury/Wodonga about 6am. . If the weather permits and  we make the Summit on Saturday, we will camp Saturday night on the Summit of Mt Bogong, Click here to join.

Fishy Trail Run/Walk 7 April 2013

More information go to  www.parklands-alburywodonga.org.au
please book on line prior to this fundraising event a fundraising event for Parklands Albury Wodonga and the Border Trust. Walk, jog or run for 12kms or 21kms along the banks of the Murray River and tributaries (Kiewa River and Wodonga Creek), including sections of Wodonga Creek that are private property, and therefore not normally accessible

Tassie Photo Fun and BBQ 19 April

Its a Friday night so come along and join us for some fun reviewing photos of the Tassie adventures in Feb 2013 - its not just the Overland track as Hans had an amazing Tour de Tassie which he photographed extensively. We will have a bbq first kicking off about 6-30pm and then enjoy the photos. BYO food and drinks for the bbq - if you want to show some photos get in touch with Tony to organise it. Click here to join

Beechworth Gaol Tour & Short walk 12 May

Beechworth Gaol tour time 1pm, if we have a group of 15 then we can book a tour as a group. We have to be there 15 to 20 minutes before 1 pm to pay etc. Cost is $22.50 per person. Please let me know by 15 April if you are interested.
After having made a booking for the folk who will attend, the late comers will have to contact the tour operators to book in to any avaiable tours and it cannot be gauranteed you will be on the same tour. Following tour we drive to powder magazine and go for a short 5 k walk to 1 tree hill and depending on who is left we can enjoy a BBQ dinner then drive home.
I know that it is mother day.  And only 6 weeks away WOW. Meet at the info centre on the Causeway 12.45 for car pooling if needed, please book in or email, SMS even smoke signals will do. Click here to join peter

Interesting information for members and guests

Bushwalking Victoria April newsletter

http://www.bushwalkingvictoria.org.au/index.php?option=com_acymailing&no_html=1&ctrl=url&urlid=6&mailid=20&subid=763

Great vegetarian recipes for your next trip

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=9bZ1Q&m=3tAviP4eQnwqmTM&b=X6Yv1rtola84KNpBMoSbIw

Parklands Albury Wodonga Ride for your supper

Do I need a PLB - Not until your are injured -  Davids story

http://ourhikingblog.com.au/2011/03/do-i-need-a-plb-injured-rescue.html

If you cant view photos in this email you can read the bulletin on the MVB Website

Catch you on a club event soon!

regards

Tracey Barkley

Secretary

Murray Valley Bushwalkers Inc

unravelling the mysteries OF THE mvb website

Thanks for dropping by! Feel free to browse and enjoy. Use the Contact Us link for any feedback or enquiries.

If you are new to the club and wanting to participate you will need to register first to establish a username and password

Click here to register and participate in one of our events for free!

Existing members can recover their usernames and passwords for logging in to the website - thats best done by messaging the website manager Tony - email admin@mvb.org.au or you could use the Contact Us link 

We know that managing yet another username and password is a TOTAL PAIN

BUT...there are many advantages to a login system for club members - here are a few

1. You need to login to manage your membership subscription - the club really appreciates your money!

2. You need to login to book in for an event - that way the leader knows who you are!

3. Logging in allows you to keep your email phone and  emergency contact details up to date - and this saves the leaders time when it comes to organising events!

4. Logging in supports and strengthens the clubs risk management policy - so we know who to contact if you get injured or lost!

5. Once logged in you can review your history of event participation and book in to new events - it can be fun looking back through your history with the club!

Event Gradings for our Activities

Bush Walking

Grade 1

No bushwalking experience required. Flat even surface with no steps or steep sections. Suitable for wheelchair users who have someone to assist them.

Grade 2

No bushwalking experience required. The track has a hardened or compacted surface that may have a gentle hill section or sections and occasional steps.

Grade 3

Suitable for most ages and fitness levels. Some bushwalking experience recommended. Track may have short steep hill sections, a rough surface and many steps.

Grade 4

Bushwalking experience recommended. Tracks may be long, rough and very steep. Directional signage may be limited. 

Grade 5

Challenging long walks for experienced bushwalkers with specialised skills, including navigation and emergency first aid. Tracks may be very rough, very steep and unmarked.

Comments by Hans: The way Tassie NP uses it is great e.g. Cradle Summit: "8hours return walk with a 600m climb; walk includes crossing large rocks".

I would prefer to mention distance rather than time, because time changes with the individual. So my idea of grading say the Wet Gully truck from Bright to Freeburgh would be: Grade 4, 11 km, 800 m climb. Anderson's Peak on Mt Buffalo would be Grade 5+, 8km 200m climb.

Stage 1 of Hume and Hovell track could be described as mainly Grade1, some Grade 2 and a short part Grade 3.

Canoeing

Grade 1

Canoeing in still waters with snags or without snags

Grade 2

Canoeing in mild currents with or without snags.

Grade 3

Canoeing in medium currents with or without snags

Grade 4

Canoeing in medium currents with or without snags and occasional rapids.

Grade 5

Canoeing in strong currents with snags and rapids

Grade 6

Canoeing in unknown waters or upstream canoeing.

Abseiling

Grade 1

A fairly flat rock face with a reasonably easy access to the departure point. A grade 1 to grade 3 walk from bottm to top of the descent area. Up to a 25 meter drop.

Grade 2

Medium size rock variations with possible overhangs to negotiate. Exposed areas. A grade 2 to grade 4 walk from the bottom to the top of the descent with possible rock scrambling.

Grade 3

Numerous and large rock variations to negotiate. Exposed areas. Overhangs to negotiate. A grade 2 to grade 5 walk from the bottom to the top. Up to 100 meter drop. Rock scrambling.

Cycling

• Proposed gradings for Cycling – discussion points
• For cycling we need to identify degree of difficulty (Grade 1 to Grade 5) and the distance
• Mountain bike and road bike events grading to be separate – on track or off track for mountain bike events needs to be specified – might be mix of both

Grade 1

Flat road no hills eg bike tracks in Albury Wodonga

Grade 2

Some undulating hills –eg West Wodonga to Chiltern

Grade 3

Medium grade of climbing – eg Wodonga to Yack

Grade 4 – some steep grades ride eg Wodonga to beechworth

Grade 5 – prolonged steep grades eg Mt Buffalo and Falls creek