07-09-2019
Before setting off Libby dubbed us the Six Pack.
Half a Coopers, Bottle of St Rieul, Pint of Stella, Glass of Chardonnay, a Wild Yak and a Tooghey’s Old or sumfink
The weather was shite, windy as all get up and a grass fire was raging across the Wolgan road.
Our plans had changed and changed again before settling on a quick trip out to Kanangra-Boyd to do Dione Dell. Well sort of
The wind was still raging. There was snow on Oberon Hill and Mt Trickett, but Madie declared, We’re not Pussies! and Leo confirmed, We press on.
I’m not scared.
No really, I’ve done Dione Dell in snow before.
Still, I got slightly concerned when all the others pulled out wetsuits and put them on… At the car. Um are we setting up wet?
Don’t you get wet?
You can but I’ll be staying dry.
Before leaving the car park a familiar car pulled up. Hi Flynny. Ah Phil Clegg and co had the same idea, he’d actually invited me on the trip weeks ago but at that stage we had other unformed plans. We have a chat before we set off.
Dione Dell has some very pretty waterfalls but in between there is a bit of walking across loose Kanangra scree.
At the top of the first abseil we run into Dylan Jones and co. Popular little spot today.
As expected it was fairly sheltered in the gully and warm in the sunshine
Libby on the second abseil 
Jeremy Descending 
Madie. The only trip I can remember with out her turning upside down
After a bit of a walk we reach the top of Wallarra falls. We consider doing the big abseil starting on the left, crossing the fall and finishing on the right but opt to stay dry, So scramble the first pitch, where Dylan graciously offers to let us leap frog his group and we drop in beside the falls. I still think this is one of the prettiest waterfalls going
And then there’s more scrambling and boulder hopping down to the top of Margaret Falls. This is what we are here for. Abseiling beside the 110m waterfall has become a popular option lately. Previously it involved silly long ropes and/or passing knots so not many people contemplated it. New rebelay options make it more appealing but please note it’s not simple and you need to be familiar with hanging belays and advanced techniques. Just getting to the anchors is not straight forward.
It is goddamn spectacular thou
Leo and Jeremy at the top of pitch 2. Madie and Libby at the start of pitch 3 
Russ on Pitch 3 
Jeremy pitch 3 
Madie Pitch 3 
Madie and leo at the bottom
And then we were down.
It took the 6 of us about an 1hr to do the pitch, that’s almost as long as it took us to do the rest of the canyon. We used single rope techniques to string out all 3 pitches with Leo aiding every one on the first rebelay and Madie looking after us on the second.
I got to the bottom first but now the issue, a slippery traverse to stay dry. I sidle my way around… I’m doing ok but there is 6m of blankness between me and keeping my socks dry… It’s slippery as snot. In the end I decide choosing wet feet is probably better then falling in and having wet everything…
Then its back up the hill where the wind nearly blows us off the tops…
Party size: 6
Time: 5hr 50min car to car
Don’t try to understand life. Live it
sleepwhenwearedead 
Are u sure u got your times right Flynny?
1h for 6 people to clear MF seems too fast to be true. We did it in 1h30 in three people. Surely he haven’t been very efficient but we couldn’t get it down to 1h if there were extra 3 in our party.
Even more incredible sounds your estimate of “almost as little as 1h” time to walk DD. That would require essentially coordinated running along the creek bed of said party of 6. And where is the time to do 4 x 30m+ abseils by a queue of 6 people? Or party of 3 did that part in 2.5h and we did walk swiftly (knowing MF was the main objective).
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Using efficient techniques, multiple ropes and 6 experienced people 🙂
The “almost the same” comment may have been tongue in cheek. I’m like that don’t take every thing I say literally
From my strava trace
Arrived at car park at ~9:10
Left car at ~9.30
First Abseil ~ 10
Top of Margaret Fall ~12:30
Lunch
Left Bottom of Margaret falls ~1:30
Back at car: 15:00
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When we woke to snow and gales, our group woosed out. Was busy at DD on Sat.
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I saw your post on Australian Canyoners, Trish, and was going to say it would be fine then second-guessed myself and didn’t want to steer you wrong in case the gully was a wind tunnel.
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