Monday, 10 December 2012

Glaisnock Rock Bivouac Part One

In the 1952 book Deer Hunter by Joff Thomson, he mentions a rock bivvy up the Glaisnock River thats in Chapter 18 titled: The Glaisnock Headwaters.

I've found two fairly comprehensive articles which I'll link to here. Both on the area and both mention the Rock Bivouac with map co ordinates. Its an interesting place and historically significant in our hunting history, quite famous in New Zealand especially for the Fiordland waptiti hunters.

http://www.nzoutdoor.co.nz/gary_NZOH_June_2012.pdf
http://www.rodandrifle.co.nz/assets/Uploads/glaisnock.pdf

Its situated near Midnight Creek, and was first used as a dryrock bivvy by Jim Muir in the 1930s. Hunters have camped at the site ever since and hundreds of names are carved into the rockface.

I wonder if any documentation exists regarding detailed photos of the graffiti left by hunters. It must do and I'd be keen to see some of them. If anyone has pics or knows someone who does please get in touch.

Frank and George Erceg visited this area on their Fiordland Photographic trip in 1961. (See the August posts for some of George's diary entries and photos.)
I wonder if they stayed there, or stopped for a bit to boil the billy and check it out? George doesn't mention it in his diaries but they were in the area.

I'd love to visit the place and stay a few nights. That would be an awesome experience. Maybe I will do that one day. But not during the bugle. I'd like some peace and quiet, and  I'd make a sign saying Writers Retreat - your welcome if you have a bottle of something and yarn to tell me.
I'd just hang out and soak up all the history, oh and make camp oven bread.

There's some books mentioned in one of these articles so they're going on my list. Hmm lets see if I can find a photo to finish....

Beautiful textures. Great photo. Not sure where... and that's either George or Frank in the foreground. 
Update: Its George!








1 comment:

  1. Hi Louise, a very interesting blog thanks.

    ReplyDelete