Bushwalker – Wilf Hilder passed away recently. I did not know Wilf very well but he was certainly well known and well respected in the bushwalking community. The first time I had heard his name mentioned was just after I had started bushwalking with Springwood Bushwalking Club in 1973 in connection with a Colo rescue. Apparently, Wilf, whilst on a Colo – Wollangambe walk had been bitten by a bullant. Being allergic to their bites, he had lost consciousness and a rescue to had been set in motion. Such was Wilf’s reputation at the time as a really strong bushwalker that it was ironic that he could have been stopped by something so small.
Wilf, walked with various clubs, including one he had revived, and may have been the only member of – the Warragamba Walking Club. But probably his main club was the Sydney Bushwalkers. There, he had learnt the art of tiger bushwalking from people such as Dot Butler and Alex Colley. I can remember one time at the Mitchell Library looking at old summit logbooks from the Blue Mountains and seeing his entries. These were from the early 1960’s. They were numerous and frequently indicated hard solo walks such as the Three Peaks. In those days he often signed his name “Julius Wilf Hilder” or “Wilf ‘The Cannonball’ Hilder”. Many of those walks were given labels such as “Blue Yodel Walk No 11”. This later led me to speculate that Wilf, who worked for the Lands Department, may have been responsible for the names on the 1:50,000 RASC (Royal Australian Survey Corps) maps that came out in the 70’s – in particular the musical names on the Growee Gulph and Mt Pomany Sheets. Notable in this set of names is the “Yodeller Range” with its “Blue Yodel Peak”, “Falsetto Gap” etc. These names never appeared on later Lands Department 1:25,000 maps.
As well as being a very strong walker, Wilf had an encyclopaedic knowledge of bushwalking places and bushwalking history. I only heard about this second hand from people who knew him well and had walked with him. In the Blue Mountains he was well known for his rediscovery of Walls Pass on Narrow Neck and the later work he did with Jim Smith in the opening up of the excellent Lindeman Pass walk that links Wentworth Falls to Leura. He also contributed very interesting historical chapters to two great bushwalking books – “Pigeon House and Beyond” and “Fitzroy Falls and Beyond.”
Lesser known perhaps, is the book of daywalks be authored in the early 1970’s which was published by Springwood Bushwalking Club. This is a classic bushwalking book and one for real bushwalkers. I have only a poor photocopy of the book and have reproduced from that the cover and excerpts from two pages to give you an idea of his style. Its more like a bushwalking club walks program rather than a detailed description of each walk. Wilf obviously thought that competent walkers would not need any more information than a few location points and a few grid references. In my opinion he was right. After each walk is the distance (in miles) and grade – E for easy, M for medium and R for rough. The book contains hundreds of walks right around Sydney.
Update
A simple memorial service and bushwalker’s farewell to Wilf Hilder will be held at Clear Hill on Narrow Neck in the Blue Mountains National Park on Sunday, September 4.
A day walk to Clear Hill will commence from the locked gate on the Narrow Neck Fire Trail at 10 am. Walkers are encouraged to take the 7.18 am train from Central, arriving at Katoomba 9.20 am (there is no track work planned for the Blue Mountains Line on Sept 4). We can then share taxi fares to the locked gate. The distance from the Gate to Clear Hill is 9 kms, and the service is scheduled to begin at 1pm.
The Katoomba Office of the NP&WS has generously offered to provide some vehicular transport from the locked gate, for some older or less able bushwalkers, who may wish to attend. The vehicles will depart later than the walking party, but the number of available seats is limited. If you are interested in joining this group you must contact the Leader for details before August 31.
On our return to Katoomba we plan to meet at a Pub near the Station (its name and location will be announced on the day) for drinks.
Leader: Ian Rannard, HPH: 9958 1514, [email protected]
So long Wilf, one of our great bushman. I think Wilf was a fan of Hank Williams, the original Blue Yodeller.
I am compiling a collection of Wilf Hilder stories – really stories about Wilf rather than stories that Wilf told although I will accept both. These stories will be published by the Sydney Bushwalkers Club
In the middle 70’s, I was fortunate enough to travel with Wilf to the ski touring areas up behind Eucumbene Dam. Wilf was always keen to introduce people to new areas in person, but made a point of making me promise that I would not tell others about the delights of the skiing around Brooks Hut!
Even though my skiis balled up thickly with the new fresh snow that we encountered (after some poor wax choices on my part) and I was rather too slow to keep up with him, he was patient and encouraging.
Wilf seemed to relish the pristine skiing conditions and was always keen to point out peaks, trails and huts.
Vale!
Wilf was often asking me tell Warwick Daniels that he managed to do the 3 peaks on day 1 ie reached the Cox River after leaving Katoomba and doing the 3 peaks that day WALKING as he always emphasised. He looked askance on the speed demons that ran the bush to claim records. He was a real traditionalist they had to walk to claim a record according to his traditions.
Hello Bob
Long time ,no see. Kind Regards. Bruce Parr 0438 098 047
Hi ian.
I, Tony Queitzh last name spelling may be incorect did some walks with Wilf Hilder in the early 1960. We did Cola river for 10 day’s Shoalhaven river,Bluemountains and south coast. I dont know how far the records go back at the Sydney Bush Walking Club.
Iam 70 years I walked from 16 to 24 years. What age was Wilf when he passed on.
Awaiting your reply Richard.
Wilf was born in 1934. So must have been about 77 when he passed away. More is in this obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald –
http://www.smh.com.au/national/obituaries/lost-bush-trails-were-his-to-tread-20110812-1iqt6.html
Us three in early 1960 Wilf Hilder, Richard Plantinger and myself walked many hard trips, the three peaks in the Blue Mountans, Nattai River, the top end of the Shoalhaven River, jumping from rock to rock at the blockup, we would push one another to the limit. Wilf had a strong ego and it was a privilage to walk with him.
We three flew to south west Tasmania and walked from Madena to Mt.. Ann, the map we had ( and still have) was hand drawn, it was very rough. One day it rain all day and we made camp on the horozontal trees, hung our wet gear on a tree and the three of us in a small tent to heat water in our mug with a meta tab for a cup of soup, we bonded in well. It rained all night, it was bloody cold to put our wet gear on and keep on going but Wilf had a strong will and was a great mate to walk with “Wilf the Tiger.”
I have many fond memories of walking with Wilf in the 1990’s, usually on Easter and Chrissy/New Year’s walks led by Ian Rannard of Sydney Bush Walkers fame. Even in his 60’s was a very strong walker with an encyclopaedic knowledge of all things related to bush walking but more importantly he was a lot of fun to be with, a real larrikin with a ‘wicked’ sense of humour. He had some classic sayings and I never heard him once even hint of bragging or boasting of his bushwalking accomplishments (he didn’t need to) which were considerable. Apart from his bushwalking he was a keen Scottish country dancer and very active in the Scout movement etc. Farewell old mate.
Further to my earlier post, Wilf was responsible for naming many of the features on our maps. When he worked for the lands department he was in charge of the old army survey maps (one inch to the mile). He would just unofficially pencil in the names of many of the features eg Yodeller Range, Shay Ridge etc where he had walked. These maps were later transfered to the Central Mapping Authority in Bathurst.
I walked many times with Wilf around Eucembene. He was fascinating and challenging to be with – his fast pace up hill and down dale, with non-stop commentary on the history and geography of the places, made for memorable times. My connection with him actually began long before I met him, as my father often sailed with his father, Captain Wilf Hilder. He also was a renowned navigator, plus an artist. One of his watercolours of Honiara is a treasured family possession.