Pages 24-32 - Nimbin Good Times

Pholis Gap drama and Iluka easeby Len Martin and Michael SmithAs many will remember,early this year the left overbits of a cyclone caused massivedamage to local National Parkswith closure of most tracks,including the Pholis Gap walkon Mount Nardi. In preparingour July program, I contactedNational Parks and was told thetrack was open. So I includedthe walk in the program emailedto club members and publishedin the Nimbin Good Times. OnTuesday July 9th, as a responsiblewalk leader, I went to check thestate of the track only to find alarge “Track closed” barrier at theentrance and the exit blocked byfallen trees. Rang National Parksre barrier but was told track wasactually open but next morninga phone message ‘sorry, track isclosed’. Panic – immediate emailcancelling walk. Then, phonemessage next day, ‘sorry, track isopen’. Further panic, further emailcancelling cancellation.And so, on the beautiful finesunny morning of July 13th(!)seven brave souls started onthe down track, past occasionalmassive fallen trees cut andcleared by park workers.Fortunately most of the canopyon the way down remainsessentially intact. Then anotherdrama hit, this time personal. Wewere descending a steep slopevia steps, yet I had described thewalk as ‘A shaded walk on formedtracks... no steep grades: suitablefor all ages’! Oh Lord, how couldthis happen? In the mind’s eye ofthis septuagenarian the walk isan easy one because we always godown the steep bits and returnup via the gentle grades of theold forestry road – but would thelatter be negotiable?Nearing Pholis Gap we werepleased to find most of themassive gum trees on the edgehad survived relatively unscathed.At the Gap, several rainforesttrees were down – simplyuprooted. The exit road seemedto be unblocked and well troddenso off we went. Years back, whenwe first walked it, the old roadwas completely open, in partsPholis Gap strugglesA Sticky SituationThe Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers are asking people to beon the lookout for potential hazards for reptiles.They were recently called to rescue a juvenile brown treesnake that was entangled in packing tape used to block somegaps in the outside wall of a home.The snake was completely tangled up, and because of therisk of injuring it while removing the tape, it was transferredto the Currumbin Wildlife Hospital for specialist care.The wildlife vet and nurses used cotton tips and skin creamto carefully remove all the tape. Once it was freed, the snakeneeded a bath to wash off the lotion.By this time it was not impressed, as the photographshows. The snake remained under observation at the wildlifehospital for a few days, then went into care until it had shedits skin and was ready for release.The tree snake’s lucky escape shows how seeminglyharmless objects can become a potentially lethal hazard forwildlife.Discarded netting and even old carpets have become deadlytraps for lizards and snakes.The Northern Rivers Wildlife Carers (NRWC) advisehouseholders to store these items in tight bundles off theground and out of harm’s way.If you are interested in helping wildlife, an introductionchoked with lantana. Now thereis complete rainforest canopyover most of it and the mistweedand lantana largely gone,though native raspberry is amajor nuisance in many parts. Allwent well until the last sectionwhere the old road runs closebeside the Mt Nardi tarmac road.Here there was near continuousblockage by fallen trees whichproved very hard going for someof the party, but eventually we allmade it through, though somereckoned it would have beenbetter to have returned by thesteep ‘down’ track. And whosefault was it that a check that theexit track was clear was not made– mine!Under increasingly difficultcircumstances, National Parks doa wonderful job in maintainingand protecting of our Parks.In respect of the latest cyclonicdamage, Pholis gap was relativelyunscathed. Damage on theBorder Ranges and MountWarning was vastly greater, andthe continuing task of clearingtracks is absolutely massive– just wanted to put the minorcommunication hiccups intoperspective, folks. Len MartinOn the northern side of themouth of the Clarence Riveris the very liveable town of Iluka.It was here that the NimbinBushwalkers Club went for thePholis Gap walkersand rescue training course will be held in Lismore on Sunday25th August.There are many ways to become involved if you don’t havetime to look after for animals. Transporting animals toCurrumbin Wildlife Hospital for specialist care is just oneway to help.To become a member you must be over 18 years of age. Formore information call the NRWC on 6628-1866 or email:training@wildlifecarers.comIluka walkerssecond walk in July. The firsttwo kilometres was through theIluka Nature Reserve, promotedas ‘containing the most significantremaining occurrence of littoralsub-tropical rainforest in NSW’.Early settlers had removed all thevaluable trees. What was left isnow protected by World Heritagelisting. Cabbage tree palms,lilly-pilly, figs and stinging treesprovided shade for the local emus,who pass through, groomingthe forest floor. A regent bowerbird flitted past, looking for bluebooty. Thence up the 98 steps toIluka Bluff Lookout, where weall gazed down on rock, sand andsea. No whales this time.Then we headed toward themidday sun, over shell and sand,past wild sculptures of bleacheddriftwood. I sat and lunched withmy nine ladies, under the palmtrees behind Frazers Reef. Wehad this section of BundjalungNational Park largely to ourselves.Just one hopeful piscator anda few sun-bathers in the bigsand pit. I was in good hands.My fellow walkers let me dropback, lead from the rear, drag myheels, take my time, be last to thesandstone formations at WoodyHead. It was seven kilometresof pig face, crabs, diving birds,storm-scoured beaches, roaringsurf, flotsam, palms, rock-poolsand friendly conversation.Michael SmithNimbin Bushwalkers Club Inc.August Walk sP rog r amSaturday 10th AugustMurray ScrubLeader Judy Hales 6689-1477Grade 3, an easy walk on a formedtrack, 2 hours, 5.5km. Eucalypt and subtropicalforest, white booyongs, red cedars,bellbirds, black cockatoos; also giantstinging trees (& teeny ones, so watchout).Meet 8.45am Goolmangar Store, 9.30amKyogle Information Centre, or 10.50amstart of walk Murray Scrub Road,Toonumbar. Bring lunch, water, hat.Sunday 25th AugustThe Southern Reserves – TuckiTucki Bora Ring, Tucki TuckiReserve, Dalwood Falls andVictoria ParkLeader Michael Smith (6689-9291)Iluka Rainforest: Grade 1, About 1kmof walking in a variety of vegetation types,Tucki for the koalas and Victoria Park forthe rainforest. Short easy walks on formedtracks, grade 1, except for Dalwood grade3.Meet Goolmangar Store 9.30am, or10.15am at start of walk Tucki TuckiBora Ring Wyrallah Road, 5.5km southof Wyrallah Village. Bring food for picnic& water.Unless otherwise specified, visitors (nonmembers)welcome, but will be requiredto pay a fee of $5 per walk, deductedfrom membership fee when they joinClub. Membership $15pp to SecretaryLen Martin, PO Box 20061, Nimbin,2480 (phone 6689-0254; email:pteropus42@smartchat.net.au)Website: www.nimbinbushwalkers.comNosin’ around with PACEach month I’ll bring you aphoto that I’ve taken, nosin’around the Nimbin area.Here’s a shot of me nosin’around Nine Elms shed(London) in summer 1963.I’m not sure what the spider is,let us know if you know.Repair, clean and upgradeyour digital life!Networking, Tuition, Upgrades, Virus andSpyware Removal, General RepairsServicing the Northern RiversOnsite Repairs...Pick-up and Delivery...0417298642 / 0266890092fabpc@bigpond.comFAB PC ONSITESOLUTIONSSPECIALISING IN UNWANTED CARSABN: 23139974905fabpc.com.auNO FIX, NO FEEwww.nimbingoodtimes.com August 2013 The Nimbin GoodTimes Page 29