Month: April 2023

South Bowen, upper

| flynny101

Upper upper. Like, the very top bit.

08-04/2023

Kylie and meeeee

It’s been a while since I’ve organised an obscure trip.

Others take the piss out of my scrub bashes to shit canyons but I get a kick out of checking out places the majority wouldn’t bother with.

So when we were thinking about what to do and South Bowen formed up as the front runner I suggest how about we go in fro the top.

Not that’s it’s overly obscure, for as long as I can remember David Noble has been commenting that people miss 3 or 4 canyon sections by going in the “standard” entry.

Still upper sections tend to be hit and miss so I wasn’t expecting high quality but they are all worth doing once.

The only hitch was the car shuffle. We didn’t have a second car.

Let’s just do the top and scramble out the Cork Screw entrance. Says I. That way it’s only a 2km walk back up the highway and we can do that first.

Deal.

We pick one of the branches below Mt Wilson turn off and make our way in. It was scrubby on the spur and muddy in the creek line.

Like scrubby scrub and muddy mud

But it’s only a short bash to the first canyon section. And it’s surprisingly high quality.

And once we got to the junction with the “standard” entry we reversed back up the Cork Screw section and found a break in the cliffs to scramble up.

Party size:2

Time: 4.5hrs car to car.

BACK

Juggler

| flynny101

07-04-23

I’m not going to make it.

I’m suppose to be catching up with the crew for a trip through Claustral. But the early start was delayed so I crawled back into bed to wait out the unusual morning storm.

Then I forgot to factor in Good Friday traffic.

I’m no chance of making the new time. Go without me, texted I

Now what?

Hey Kylie want to do a chill half day?

Sure

I’ve never been overly impressed by Juggler but it seems like the least hassle.

It’s was kinda nice after the storms.

Opting for the wet lines
A couple of guys in front

And that’s about it. We are not really fussed on adding in Grand today so we go for a little optional extra

We invited the two we caught up with in juggler to the add on.

Party size:2

Time: 3.5 hrs car to car with a relaxed lunch break.

BACK

Rosewood

| flynny101

Continued from Wayper

Styx will be doable, says Leo over diner, a fairly ordinary steak at a fairly extraordinary price.

I’m excited as we head to find a camp.

Stix is the one I wanted to do when I suggested the trip.

But also… I don’t know. I’m not as excited as I should be. I’m feeling a bit shit.

Saturday dawns bright.

Me not so much.

I crawl out of bed and spew.

I struggle to walk down to the others. I’m going to have to tap out. Says I

I think you should harded up, says Madie. Then looks up. Oh, you look like death.

Thanks

Here, she hands me some pills. I take them and take a sip of water. I spew.

Yeah I don’t think you should come says Leo.

I find a tree to lay under and try not to feel too sorry for myself as the others head off for an amazing adventure.

At some point through the afternoon I scratch something out of my itchy ankle.

I think nothing of it.

I’m not in much of a state to think. I don’t even think to be worried the others are running late until Russ gets me a message over his InReach to say they are ok and have just reached the exit.

It’s almost dark.

Some time later they arrive back in camp with tales of amazing adventures.

I ain’t even care I missed it… but I take the first bite of food I have been able to without spewing

Next day I wake feeling a little worse for wear but much better.

Belatedly I realise I’d started picking up almost as soon as I scratched whatever it was out of my itchy ankle.

I can’t be 100% sure but I think I’d had a reaction to a tick. It was dumb luck that let me scratch the little fecker out without doing more harm.

Anyhoo I still haven’t made up my mind if I’m up to canyoning today.

We’ll do Rosewood, says they. It’s an easy half day. It’s like the Empress falls of the Northern NSW. You’ll be fine.

Well alrighty then

19-03-2023

Kylie, Madie, Leo, Russ, Jason and meeeeeee

I’m glad I listened to them. It’s pretty with action packed abseiling at the end.

The moderate water levels made it hella fun too

Suited up and excited for a cruzy day
Still there were some water hazards to negotiate
And some fun abseils
In a very pretty setting
With a little spice to keep us on our toes
And the final abseil down Cedar Falls was pretty nice.

Zero leaches or ticks were taken home by Flynny this day.

Winning

the dreamers of the day are dangerous, for they may act on their dreams with open eyes to make them possible.” – T.E. Lawrence

BACK

Wayper

| flynny101

17-3-23

Jason, Russ, Madie, Leo and me

It’s late, very late as we find somewhere to pitch tents. There excitement in the air and a bit of a buzz as you get after a long drive for adventure.

We have an early start so it’s pretty up straight to bed to find some sleep.

We’ve come north to the hills inland of Coffs Harbour with grand plans but the weather is fickle. Rain through the week has the creeks pumping.

The big canyons are heavy.

The water is dropping each day but still they are heavy.

With this in mind we opt to start with Wayper. It’s relatively high in the catchment so unlikely to be a handful

We hit the creek a little too high up and begin boulder hopping down stream

Creek walking and boulder hopping become the theme of the day.

The water is fairly tame and there are some nice falls at this level

And lots of creek walking and boulder hopping in between

It reminds me a bit of Dione Dell
with a bit of swimming
At least it had some cool jumps.
But it was stinking hot and there was a lot of creek walking between the gooder bits

I’m not going to mention the abseil where I came last only to realise I’d left my bag up top.

The awkward over hanging start made it challenging to get back up. But a bit of creative thinking and a foot loop got me there.

We do the final abseil and decide to beat a retreat straight up a scree gully to hit an old logging track.

The leaches are tenacious up here. My ankle itches but we haul out.

At one point I liken the trip to Dione Dell with a Danae exit.

But it’s hotter than a Lithgowite is use to and there may be another reason I find the exit a tough slog.

Kylie greats is at the car park and we decide to head to Dorrigo because all we want and all we need is a good a pub feed.

And there’s options to chase a bit more water

To be continued.