This was the second phase of the Canberra Bushwalking Club navigation course.  The first phase was an evening of map reading and compass theory.  It was conducted by Rob and Jenny H.  12 of us participated.  We were given a sheet containing bounds and legs, grid references, compass bearings and distances.  We students took turns navigating and all learnt from our leaders.  It was night time!

Walk

We started from a private home in Kambah and headed out of the Allchin Circuit open area parallel with the Kambah Pool Road to the point of the fence near the track to the top of McQuoids Hill.  At least that was the theory - the group I was in missed the fence corner checkpoint and continued contouring south around the hill until we'd realised we'd gone too far.  The next bound was the top of McQuoids Hill.  Then north down the side in the star light, through the saddle (and fence) up to the top of Neighbour Hill.  A bit of star gazing, then SE to the yards and entrance into  the Allchin Cct open area and so back to the start.

It was amazing to drive out there the next day and see that bounds were missed by only a few metres.

The whole point of the little exercise was to practise us in bearing conversions and compass usage, distance estimation (eg. counting paces, knowing your average pace for the type of ground) and reading the lie of the land.  Distances appear further in the dark.  A great time was had by all and we learnt heaps.

Distance: 3km  Time: 2 hours.