Investiture

Investiture of Matt and Stephen

Stephen Endicott Squire’s Hike

This squire’s hike was under taken in two separate parts: The actual hike took place from Tuesday night the 23^rd of June, until Thursday night the 25^th of June. The Discussion and camp with sponsor took place on Friday night the 26^th of June into the following Saturday morning.

The hike took place in Lamington National park, in the McPherson ranges and went from O’Rielly’s, to Echo Point, along the border track (a small not very well defined trail) to Point Lookout, down to the Stinson then down to Christmas Creek. There were three people who did the walk, myself (Stephen), my sister Lucy (a venture) and a Girl Guide Jess. We arrived at the Green Mountains camping area late on Tuesday night and quickly set up camp and went to sleep. On Wednesday morning we rose early and were ready to leave at 8am, but then promptly saw the sign for the tree top walk and took an hour detour to investigate. By 9am we were back on track and blasting towards Echo Point along the graded track system. We arrived at Echo Point too magnificent views and a half hour morning tea stop at 11am.

After leaving Echo point we left the graded track system and went on to the bush trail. This is a very loosely defined track that disappears in places. After climbing many peaks we descended into thick rain forest. At 3:30pm we came to the Rat-a-Tat hut camp site where we were booked in to camp the night. Because we knew that the next day would be very long and arduous we kept going and instead set up camp at 5pm on the ridge after leaving the rain forest. We set up camp on a little clearing on the track, ate our dehydrated food and were in bed asleep by 7pm (even though I was technically in NSW that night, I was still supporting Queensland in the Origin). The Thursday morning we were up and walking by 7:30am. We climbed to the top of Mt Throakban (the highest point on out trek). On our decent we lost the track and it took us over 45 minutes to travel less than 300m. We kept following the track up and down hills all Thursday until we arrived at Pt Lookout at 2pm. It was then that we had to make an important decision; to descend, and risk getting caught on the cliffs in the dark, or to camp out another night and make sure that we could descend in light.

We chose to walk on. We left the border rangers at Pt Lookout and headed down a side ridge that would take us out to Christmas Creek and our ride home. At 3:30pm we came to the turnoff to the Stinson wreck, but could not go down due to time constraints. By 4pm we had reached the top of the cliffs, and found that they really were cliffs! For the first section we had to lower our packs down the cliff, then navigate our way down. While we were descending the cliffs night fell, and we had to start using torches to get by. After 2 hours of rock climbing and sliding down steep hills we arrived at Christmas creek. After a small break we head off along the side of the creek, but soon realized we were in the wrong stop, because the creek we were following was flowing the wrong way! After an hour of map reading and compass baring taking, and lots of frustration, we realized that we needed to cross that creek and follow the one it flowed in to. After finding the correct creek we followed the rough track along the creek for 3 hours, stopping along the way for a quick dinner. At 10pm we came to national parks signs facing away from us warning of the dangers of walking off track, it was here that we celebrated the finish of our walk…. Too soon. We soon realized that we needed to cross the creek, and after 30 minutes of walking up and down the creek looking for a place to cross and a track on the opposite bank, we gave in and waded through the waist deep water. From there it was less than 5 minutes back to where the car was parked and waiting for us with clean dry cloths and warm drinks. This was near the location the VenMX2009 was hosted, which the crew attended earlier in the year.

The Squire camp took place on the following Friday night at BP park Samford. After arriving at BP park in the dark and while it was raining Chris (Rover Advisor and Squire Master) and myself quickly set up tents and left to go to the Samford Tavern. Although Squire talks are normally done around a fire whilst on the hike, an exception was made because of the difficulty of the hike done in this case. During the Squire talk everything from the meaning of life, crew organization and what it meant to be a rover were discussed. After over two hours of discussion, we returned to camp and slept, leaving early the next morning (7am) to head home.

Chat by "Digger" and Jordon's Induction

Thursday night drinks

Thursday night saw the entire crew at Emile's place having an awesome time; drinking long islands, playing board games and enjoying the fire. We also welcomed Jordan to the crew, who we will have to induct soon. No Rovers next week due to University committments.

Matt's Squire's Hike

Sunday 7 June 2009 at 2:30pm Chris picked me up from my house and we made our way up Waterworks Road towards Mt Nebo.

We reached the Scrub Road track at approximately 3:30pm and began the descent through the dense eyucalypt and dry rainforest until we reached the Enoggera Creek headwaters. The track was damp and the creek was flowing well due to the considerable rainfall in the three days before the walk.

We reached the creek after 4:00pm and noticed that there was a decent looking swimming hole downstream from where the road crosses the creek. The water was very chilly
but crystal clear.

The road began an immediate ascent out of the valley. The forest began to thin and move into open sclarphyl forest spotted with many beautiful eyucalypts.

We found the Lander’s Pocket Campsite easily and set up our tents for the night. We were not aware that there would be a shelter shed and water tank. There was also an open fire pit and hot plate.

I cooked minestrone soup for entree and we had a traditional Backcountry Honey Soy Chicken with fried rice for dinner.

There was a considerable amount of wind overnight and a bright moon.

Monday 8 June 2009 we woke reasonably early. Cooked porridge for breakfast. I did not know that Chris does not like porridge, however, it was the best open fire cooked porridge that I have ever tasted.

Walked out via the same track not wanting to bush bash through the tick scrub on the proposed route (marked on the map in light orange). There were many mountain bikers out in the park as we walked back to the car. We were back in The Gap by 9:00am, ready for Gang Show dress rehearsal.