Crikey

18-11-2023

Continued from Bubblebath

We have a lazy start to the day.

We weren’t expecting the others until 9:30 at the earliest and given our slow going on the ridge we decided to wait til 10.

A couple of cooeees and we thought we heard a faint reply. I slip up the gully a bit to guide them down. More cooees and whistle blasts but no response.

Back at camp we scratch a note in the dirt and head for Crikey. it’s 10:30.

We cross the ‘Boori (dingo creek) and start making up way up the opposite gully. It’s full of dead fall and scrub. It’s slow going and we’d already had a late start.

I spot a break in the cliffs and decide to try to climb out. Kylie is skeptical but we escape the gully and make heaps better time along the ridge.

Dropping into the creek at Kent’s entry (well downstream of Jamieson’s grid reference) we encounter walls of dead fall. So much.

It was a real punish. by the time we get to the canyon we are bruised and bloody and just a little over it.

There are several breaks in the cliff further down. I’d suggest future party’s explore their way down the spur and drop in closer to the canyon proper.

Anyhoo Crikey is deep and dark and our timing wasn’t conductive for photos but Kylie managed to get a few crackers

We reach the ‘Boori…. Bloody “dingo” creek.

We are bashed up and exhausted from battling the dead fall, sticks and scrub.

My memories of my previous trip to crikey was some hard going up the creek to get back to camp.

We have lunch and start making our way up stream

Somehow we pick our way up the banks and avoid strenuous swims or boulder hopping.

It’s about 4:30 when we reach the base of the pass up to camp. We strip out of the wetsuits, wash down in the creek and dry off in the sun before making our way back up.

Below camp we call out and are delighted to hear Dick reply.

Camp.

Unfortunately Sunday morning dawns with me and Kylie having grumbling in our belly’s.

I’m careful where I collect water from and have never had issues before but that’s all we can put it down to.

A bit of running off into the bush and we decide it’s best to skip canyoning today and head back to the cars.

It’s a shame for Dick and Monica to walk all the way out and miss the stunning canyons but it is the wisest choice.

It was a tough walk out. Kylie did it real tough. She’s a trooper.

We have a tough next couple of days. It hit us hard.

Anyhoo

There is a hidden message in every waterfall. It says, if you are flexible, falling will not hurt you!”
― Mehmet Murat ildan

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Bubblebath

17-11-2023

Gadget and me

We were planning a weekend out on the B̶o̶o̶r̶i̶… I mean *hackspit* Dingo creek.

The others were meeting us in the morning but we headed out Friday afternoon

We made good time along the fire trail but slowed a bit navigating the twisting ridge as the faint trail came and went.

We got to the camp around 5:30. Dumped gear, set up camp and headed up for a quick run through Bubblebath Canyon. AKA Froth and bubble canyon. (There was difference of opinion in the first descent party over the name.)

Not wanting to put wet gear on in the morning we went light. I knew it was short so we decided to brave the cold.

Dropping in
The water above the canyon was surprisingly warm.
Gadget at the start of the good bit
Bubblebath is a beautiful little canyon. It’s a bit underrated compared to some of the others. The late evning light didn’t do it justice but it’s one of the more beautiful ones out this way. “Mini Crikey”as Kylie called it.

The deeper we got the colder the water got and we lost the light just before the end.

Getting to camp we rug up and settle in for the night.

Morning in camp.

How many worlds are in your world? Andy Anderson.

Continued to Crikey

Or

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CE4Y Sickline 8.7: First impressions

Swiss based CE4Y burst onto the scene a couple of years ago with a range of canyon specific ropes made from more technical fibers than the polyamide (Nylon) used in most standard ropes.

The ropes are aimed at being more cut and abrasion resistant while still being light weight.

To achieve this the sickline 8.7 uses a UHMPE (That’s dyneema to us uncouth types) and Polyester sheath and a Polypropylene core.

I’d have to say I was a little skeptical for a couple of reasons.

  1. Previous ropes I’d tried with a polypropylene core I found to be a bit bouncy. CE4Y counter this with stating the sick line is super-static with less than 1.8% stretch.
  2. Both Dyneema and polypropylene can be a bit melty, so they aren’t recommended for abseiling on while dry. This kinda limits their use in a lot of blue mountains canyons which often need a dry abseil to at least get into or out of them. All that said CE4Y claim “tests have shown that abseils up to 50m on dry ropes with a standard sized figure-8 kind of device can not damage the rope fibers due to heat generated by the friction of the abseil device.” and the old option was to throw your rope in a puddle before setting up the abseil
  3. Price

But curiosity got the better of me and I thought I’d give one a crack

Here’s my first impressions

Cost: At around $390au for 60m It’s not cheap but not the most expensive either, being a lot cheaper than the CanyonLUX for example.

Specs: CE4Y lists the rope specs as

ModelBreaking StrengthWeight
Sick Line 8.720kN42g/m

So on the weight and strength you’d give it a tick with it being in the ball park with the premium canyon ropes.

Colours: To paraphrase Henry “Modle T” Ford, You can have any colour you like as long as its a weird rose taupe speckled with blue.

First use:

After the obligatory tie it on to something and run a descender over it a few times I took her out for a spin in Empress

My first impressions.

Handling: It’s soft and supple, knots easily. Not much else to say really

Control: She’s fast!!! Damn fast.

Other reviews I’ve read suggest it will calm down a bit with use but at this stage, a few trips in, I wouldn’t recommend it for beginners or people using a standard figure 8 or hydrobot style descender. You definitely want options to quickly add friction on the go. An experienced friend had a few issues with getting the right friction on a pirana. Finding the different settings either too quick or too slow and not so in between

Saying that, with the right amount of friction on my CRITTR (more than I’ve used on any other rope ever) it ran nicely through the hand and CE4Y were not lying on the super-static call, it felt solid and smooth.

Anyhoo, for now I’m liking it. Once you get the friction setting sorted it feels smooth and not too hot on your hand (I don’t like wearing gloves) and the weight factor is a plus but it needs more play dates before I settle on my final call in a long term review.

Stay tuned.

Or not, go make up your own mind. I aint care, I’m not your mum.

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Long term review