Scattered throughout our state there are trail monitors on trails and Summit Logbooks on peaks and they provide us with a wealth of information. For example they show how many walkers are using the trails which, in turn, will validate trail improvements and infra structure measures. These statistics are also useful when governments review policy such as the Pastoral Act late last year and can assist local entities in land management and regulation. From Tandanya Autumn 2021.

Some years ago, the publication of the Abels - the list of Tasmania’s peaks with at least 1100m elevation and 150m or more of prominence - prompted me to make a similar listing for the Flinders Ranges. The first task was to decide on the lower limits for elevation and prominence and I set these at 700m and 150m. Despite the 400m difference in elevation limit between the two lists, the same minimum value for prominence was used and this reflects the fact that, with few exceptions, the peaks in both regions rise a similar height above their surroundings.

For me, it's South Australia. While I'll be sharing my experiences here in SA with you, really I'm hoping to encourage you all to appreciate what you have on your doorstep, wherever it is you live.

Weetootla Gorge is located on the Eastern side of the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park (V-GRNP). It is one of very few places, perhaps the only place, in the ranges where water flows more or less permanently and over some distance.

‘The Powderpuff!’ That was the name I gave to Mt Andre a few years ago after a club member advised me to avoid camping near its summit because of the all-invasive powdery soil that he apparently experienced there. Not long after, I first got to see the peak while looking east across Narrina Pound from Mt Tilley and its gentle skyline profile seemed to support the rebranding. Unfortunately, I overlooked the cliff along its northern side and this was to later make me pay for my insolence.

After much talking and planning the first two water tanks of the Warren Bonython Memorial Water Tanks Project have been installed. The first was placed at Mainwater Well in the Gammon Ranges and the second at Yudnamutana mine site on Mt Freeling Station.

There is a familiar saying ‘if something can go wrong, eventually it will go wrong’. As Mark has said in his water tanks article in this edition I went with him last October to the Northern Flinders so that some final additions could be made to the two water tanks that he and other ABW members had installed there a bit earlier in the year.

I decided to put pen to paper to capture scenes and memories from some of the best bushwalks I have ever done in Australia. Without doubt, doing these sketches has given me an immense amount of pleasure, and I hope readers of this magazine enjoy them too, particularly those who know these places.

The recreational activity of bushwalking sees people walking into remote wilderness areas. This is done for exercise, the experience of ‘getting away from it all’ and other reasons.

Renowned art photographer, Harold Cazneaux, probably is best known in South Australia for his 1937 photograph of a large old river red gum near Wilpena Pound. Cazneaux titled the photo “Spirit of endurance”. Since 1991 when Cazneaux’s grandson, Dick Smith, funded a plaque on site, the location of the tree near Wilpena Creek has been easy to find.

ABW has opened lots of doors for me since joining 16 years ago to get back into my long lost interest of bushwalking. As well as walking and kayaking, ABW also offered bike riding activities, especially in the warmer months. These range from social day rides to extended touring and camping rides in the Flinders Ranges and elsewhere. Like a few other members I now enjoy the full range of bike riding from mountain bike to road riding.

We were advised that the logbook on Cleft Peak in the Gammon Ranges was full so we organised a trip to put a new logbook and a replacement ABW designed metal container.