Hole in the Wall.

11-03-2023

Russ, Aimee and me

Anyone want to go canyoning?

Sure!

And thus we find ourselves navigating our way around the chemical weapons clean up and start walking out the fire break along Waratah ridge amid banter and laughing.

And before too long we are suiting up and entering the canyon
It’s quiet nice.
I always forget just how spectacular the top section is

And I also forget the length of the walk betwix it and the bottom section …

Aimee entering the bottom section. The log has moved so now it’s a much easier start. That log had been there as long as I can remember. It’s now further down the chamber. Testament to the power of the recent floods
Wrong time of year for a massive glowworm display but still… glowworms!
and if I’m ever not awed by glowworms slap me hard

The cave has silted up again meaning it’s a walk through to the squeeze out again.

It’s pretty choked up. Says Russ. I’m not sure we’ll get through.

Ah, that old chestnut.

Wait. I can see a bit of light. and up he squeezes.

I’m not sure of the sense of leaving the fat guy until last but Aimee follows him and I push my pack through to her and think skinny thoughts as I wiggle my self up and out

Then the hole abseil is awkward and holey again
Hole in the Wall, the sun really does shines out it’s arse
I don’t want to get into the whole bolt debate but for me the problem solving aspect has alway been a big part of the appeal of Blue Mountains canyoning. So needing to think about and improvise anchors was a pleasant change to what has become the norm in the more popular “trade routes”
And far too soon we are swimming up the Bungleboori North branch/*hackspit* Dingo creek.
Excuse me, I’ve been trying to reach you about your cars extended warranty…..

Chase your stars, fool. Life is short

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Watta Canyon

18-02-2023

Jason Kylie and me.

So Watta canyon on the Southern Highlands has been on my list for a while but dig one reason or another I hadn’t got there.

Time to rectify that.

It starts with a bit of promise
There’s lots of scrambling down, up, and over boulders but the creek is surprisingly pretty
And there are arches. Beautiful, mossy arches
And long swims
Swims that end abruptly in waterfalls
Jason on the first fun little drop
Kylie having a shower

And then the canyon ends as the arse end falls out of the world.

From the top it looks massive.

Kylie is setting up the short rope. Um, it looks massive…

A 20m abseil brings us to a big ledge. That was hidden at the top.

And now it’s time for the long ropes.

A stunning full length abseil into space.
Kylie giving the falls some perspective
Me and Jas adding some buff, or sumfink. 📸©️Kylie

and that quite definitely is the answer. I think the problem, to be quite honest with you, is that you’ve never actually known what the question is. D Adams

And about 3.5hrs after we started we are back at the cars.

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Jerrara Falls

28/01/2023

Kylie, Hywaida, Kris, Jason and meeeeee

I’m not sure I’m keen enough to drive down, says Kylie. But I haven’t caught up with them in ages.

The others were already at Bungonia canyoning away.

How about we meet up somewhere and share the bulk of the drive? Say I

Deal says she.

We enact the plan.

The others look a little wrecked from the previous day.

It was hot, say they, and the creek water was horrid. We almost ran out of water.

I throw in an extra water bottle.

And we are off.

We reach the creek without too much effort but the day is already heating up. I’m glad I left the wetsuit in the car.

The pool below looks so inviting

Kris heading in as Jas sets the next abseil.
There a some nice creek walking interspaced with jumps and swims.

Then we get to a larger drop. The notes say bolts on the right but they look a bit sketchy to get to ( thou belatedly we spit a traverse bolt)

We opt for a sling on a tree up to the left. This gives us about a 42m abseil into the pool below.

The pool is full of string algae and pulling the ropes throu is like fishing for slime monsters..

Some more cool pools and a 12m abseil follow

Kylie and Hywaida waiting on me to descend.

Which Jason opts to jump

And then we get to Jerrara falls themselves

At this stage I’m a little confused with the notes. They say the full thing is 85m. But it can be split in 2 doing 60m (bypassing a small semi hanging rebelay) and 35m or in 3 doing 30m, 35m, 30m…. Or sumfink

I don’t know if maths has changed since I was a boy but when Brother John taught me my sums those numbers did not add up.

Still Bro John also said, quiet frequently, You’re strong in the legs but weak in the heads boys. So maybe the calculation issue was on my end.

So the notes indicated a 5m scramble to the first bolts. It looked bigger than 5 and exposed AF so I opted to abseil off slings on a tree. As I’m abseiling down Kris walks over a knob and scrambled down to meet me on a big sloping ledge. We can see anchor bolts just over the edge where it starts to get steeper.

There are also bolts at the back of the ledge which I urge the others to use. it’s a reasonably grippy surface but sloping and a big drop below so we want to opt for caution.

I go down to the anchor and set the 70m rope thinking we are going to bypass the first rebelay and do pitch 1 and 2 as one.

In hindsight I think I’ve just come down pitch 1 and the little ledge I’m standing on is the semi hanging rebelay at the start of pitch 2. But there’s no way it was 30m from the top. I’d say it was well less than 15 and I couldn’t see and bolts further up that would match the description for the pitch 1 anchor

Anyhoo we needed to swap out ropes as I’d come down on the short rope and we are thinking we’ll need to keep the 2nd long rope as a pull chord and send the short rope down to set the last pitch.

As they sort ropes I’m on a baking hot ledge in full sun in short sleeves. I’m roasting. Eventually I remember I have sunscreen in the top of my pack. I lather it on to my face shoulders and legs. did I mention it’s hot? It’s baking freaking hot. Soooooo hot. Oven hot

Eventually the ropes are swapped and Jason heads down. And signals to take rope up. I had about 65m out and pull up about 10m before he signals stop. That doesn’t make sense.

Things are a little confused, there’s a large group in line of sight with us in bungonia canyon and so whistle signals are getting a little crossed.

Kylie heads down. And signals rope up. I take up another 15m or so.

This is not making any sense with our plan.

The rest of us head down. We get to a big sloping ledge, there’s anchor bolts, Jason’s is on a ledge about 20m below and out to the left. None of it matches the small rebelay ledge we bought the long ropes to bypass but we haven’t gone down enough to be on top of pitch 3. Have we?

There’s some discussion on whether there’s 1 or 2 pitches left.

There is no way that is 65m to the pool says I. But we rig the 70m so it can be lowered with the 60 just in case.

Kylie goes down and signals rope up

I’m sitting the the spray of the waterfall longing to get into the pool below but I’m anchor bitch a going last.

Eventually we all get down.

It seems we have done the 3 pitches as described but the heights are off, especially for the first pitch.

Anyhoo, slightly older and not very much wiser we continue down

There had been some discussion about taking one of the short cut exits. But given the choice between scrambling up an exposed, loose knife edge in the baking sun or boulder hoping down and walking up the tourist track at a slightly cooler time of day everyone opted tourist track

Once through the boulders there was some nice sections of gorge lined with stunningly colours cliffs. The water was skinky from the string algae but it was hot, damn hot, so we threw ourselves in each pool to cool off along the way.

And then we reach the junction with the red track.

Ok National Parks down here have a much more liberal idea on what constitutes a “tourist track” than those softly graded , full of stairs and boardwalks tourist tracks found in the bluies.

The start was a hell of a lot more scrambley than I had expected.

Nothing overly difficult or exposed but different to what I was thinking.

But the start was in a shady gully which was nice.

Coming out of the gully onto the open ridge was like hitting a wall of heat. But it snaked it’s way the ridge easy enough and I hightailed back to the campground and grabbed the ute thinking I’d do the gentlemanly thing and save the others another 2km walk

But they got to the top of the hill and took a sharp right., following the green trail back. So I missed them and the bastards beat me into the showers 🤣🤣

All in all another great day with awesome people.

“Let a man walk ten miles steadily on a hot summer’s day along a dusty English road, and he will soon discover why beer was invented.”
— Gilbert K. Chesterton

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Ranon Brook

14-01-2023

It occurred to me I hadn’t done anything biggish for a bit. Nor had I lead anything I’d not done before for a while. Nor had I done the top of Ranon Brook ever.

Time to amend that.

The track notes said to follow the ridge so of course I headed straight down into the creek, joining it just below the feeder swap.

I don’t think Kylie was that impressed but the walking in the creek was mostly pleasant with occasional bits of cutty scrub

There were some nice bits of crystal clear water.
And soon the creek dropped into a stunning little canyon
Happy smiles
Abseil into a pool, swim across and abseil out is a bit of a theme in Ranon

But it’s only short and a bit more creek walking gets us the the junction with Mistake Ravine and into familiar territory

It was a busy day in The main canyon sections.
These tip top Canberrians let us go throu on their rope and caught back up a couple of times through out the day. oddly were the only other group we saw once we got to Claustral
Kylie in the slot above the Claustral junction
And into Claustral.
Just in time for sunbeams
Mandatory hulks fist
And National Geographic shot
And more sun beams
And standard Claustral gorgeousness

Another great day out with great company, somehow missing the crowds.

It’s still magic even if you know how it’s done: Terry Pratchett

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Geronimooooooooo

17/12/2022

Kylie, Aimee, Ethan Stirlo and me

It’s been a hot minute so the inevitable call goes out.

Any one want to go canyoning?

Me. said they.

And so it went

A quick meeting of good friends. A hello to the tour groups and then we make our way in to cross the ‘Gambe and bash our way up the other side

Cool for cats
The Wild Flowers are stunning this time of year. We almost had to swim throu fields of Flannel Flowers

And as Paul Kelly once sang, Before too Long…… Um, we found ourselves gearing up and plunging in to Geronimo

Ethan
Some of us brought full wetsuits and were smiling at the pool below
Some of us went a bit lighter
Aimee and Ethan and selfies in a stunning part of the world
Geronimo has such a pretty start
It has some lovely bits of canyon
Clear and cold

Ok I may have pulled out my shark skin jacket here
Kylie had lead the way and was waiting in the cold for the rest of us.
Did I mention pretty ?
And the Canyon opens out just before it rejoins the ‘Gambe
The water is warmer here but not by much
To me this section and the bit just upstream of the Geronimo junction are the most stunning bits on the Upper upper Wollengambe

And soon we are back to the spot where we crossed the river earlier. A quick bit to eat and the guys decide to scramble back up for a quick run thou HorseShoe canyon

Guns out
Hey Flynny. Says Stirlo, This is the first time I’ve ever set and anchor on my own. Now get on rope…
Ah the old dam the flow with your bag until he’s half way down the abseil trick. Leo would be proud.
Horseshoe canyon is pretty much all about this chamber

The wall is slippery as snot
As Ice T once rapped: Colors Colors… Being a Seppo he was all out of Us

And then, about an hour and a bit later we are back at the ‘Gambe

Another great day with truly special people

You need to practice your flow state by getting into some dangerous positions: Andy Anderson

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CLAUSTRAL WITH SOME OF THE BEST

23/04/2022

Stirlo, Madie, Leo, Kylie, Jason, Aimee, Mark and meeeee

I was hankering to get out. Some options were discussed then Leo says BMNP is set to re-open.

Claustral it is than.

It seems impossible to me but I’ve never done Claustral with the above mentioned folk before. It’s one of my favourite canyons and they are some of my favourite people.

Time to fix that.

I’m a bit early so I make a quick stop to check in with the ancestors,

And on to Claustral. Whether you think it Claustrophobic inducing or Cloister like or a combination of the two is irrelevant right now. We meet up, gear up and shut up….

Wait, that’s not right.

We meet up, gear up and set off, chattering like magpies with lots to chatter about.

That’s more like us.

Once again photo credits go to a mix of the crew

Rightously Ferntacious
I’ve never abseiled this one before but Madie had the rope set up and threatened to cut me if I didn’t use it. Kylie follows me down

And we work our way down to where the real show starts

Stirlo on the first drop into the Black Hole of Calcutta

Click the photos to make the magic

Compulsory “Hulks Fist” photos and shenanigans ensue

Get fisted ©Aimee

Click to enbiggen

Then there’s not much left to do but make our way down the gorgeous canyon and in the gorgeous company of gorgeous souls.

Oh, The “National Geographic” shot is also compulsory ©Jason

We are too early and it’s too misty for Sunbeams but the muted misty light is nice too

There was a little bit of pump in spots
Top bunch of humans and me. ©Madie

A bit of team work never goes astray

The tunnel swim

and all to soon it’s over.

We have a quick bite to eat on Tash’s rock of Shame and then it’s up Rainbow Ravine and onward

I have a fear of heights and I’m claustrophobic: Kunal Nayyar

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Arethusa, again

02/04/22

Madie, Kylie, Russ and meeeeee

It had been 5 weeks since I have done a canyon!!!

Sure I’d done a heap of other cool stuff in mean time but I was itching to get back out.

Wanna do Arethusa?

Does the pope shit in the woods…. wait, um, that’s not it. I mean, hell yeah

So the top photo is my Bestards, renownly awesome boots for Blue Mtns style canyons. On the bottom are my skeches renownly comfy for old men but super slippery. I had the bestards out ready to go with my wet suit booties. Guess which shoes I put on that morning.

Anyhoo we meet up. Head in and gear up.

So yeah 5 weeks since last canyon but more like 9 since I was last on a rope . I may have been a little excited
and before long we are into it

It’s a big call but Imma call it anyway, Arethusa is the best bang for buck micro adventure in the Blue Mountains.

All thrilla no filla. Beautiful canyon sections with minimum creek walking. Pretty waterfall and cascades. Abseils that can be techie unless it’s supper low water levels. Interesting down climbs with optional jumps. Stunning views at the end. And some easy but adventurous climbing to get out.

Some extra bolts have appeared recently and I would caution people to assess the landingzones. We scrambled/walked past most (all) of them simply because it was quicker and easier (even in the slipperiest-shoes-known-to-man(tm). OK I had a few moments but none of them near the optional abseil bolts) but one anchor in particular looked like it would drop you into recirculating water at the flow level we did it in. At lower levels (and maybe higher levels) it mightn’t be an issue but today we looked and said nope to that.

So make sure you assess things yourself rather than just blindly follow. And that goes for all canyons. We got use to the low water levels during 10years of drought, now they are flowing again reassess things.

but anyhoo I have done write ups of Arethusa before here and here, so enjoy the photos (none of which are mine so ©Madie ©Russ and ©Kylie.)

Madie checking out an alternate rap to avoid the pot hole in the waterfall
The girls wondering if I’ll make it across the gap in the slipperiest-shoes-known-to-man(tm)

https://youtube.com/shorts/A9ExmCQuWqw?feature=share

Same spot a couple of years ago different water level
She’s a pretty canyon

meat anchors are me
Frothy

And then it’s time to climb out, well it’s time for Madie to climb out and haul the rest of us up or sumfink

the crew
it’s best not to ask

Of course I’m sane, when trees start talking to me, I don’t talk back: T Pratchett Well Ok sometimes I do: Flynny

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3 little canyons on a Saturday afternoon, just because

19/12/2020

Izy, Ed, Dick, Madie, Leo and meeeeeeee

‘Twas the Friday before Christmas with zero plans for the Weekend

And it just kinda hit me, I must make amend

So I sent out a late invite, with little remorse

And 5 Friends replied “hell yes”, as a matter of course

We started earlier then planned ’cause Madie was bored

They piled in my ute and the accelerator was floored.

Leo tried his best to wet not even his feet

We jumped, slid and abseiled and had lots of fun

Then Madie threw mud at me, it was the end of canyon 1

Canyon 2 is a cracker, an absolute blast

but the best was to come, we saved it ’til last

The next is my favourite, I whispered to Iz

The thing is I meant it, it absolutely is

Dick left us early, he was coming back the next day

He shook hands, he hugged and went on his way

The rest of us pushed on and our excitement it grew

And we got to the slot and made our way through

We slid and we jumped, we spashed and had fun

And looked around in awe at this place where we’d come

To soon we reached the end and had to turn around

but we smiled as we cherished the joy that we found

this might be a bad poem but I bet you wish you had been us

and doubt all you want but rhyming “Iz” with “is” well… that’s just fucking genius

Party Size: 6

Times

Sheepdip: ~ 2 and a bit hrs car to car

Twister and Rocky Creek: About 3hr car to car

The best friends force you to lever yourself up

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Afternoon Delights

3/11/2020

Madie, Leo, Libby, Russ and meeeeeee

Whadda ya doing this arv? Wanna Canyon after work? Says Madie

This is becoming a habit. I kinda like it.

Should we invite others? say I

Yeah, I miss people

A flurry of last minute invites were sent out. Sadly no one was available for an early Tuesday afternoon adventure with zero notice. Go figure

Bummer

Madie and Leo arrive at the car park and after I field some work calls it’s about 4pm as we make a dash down into the canyon.

We were traveling lightish and fastish (For me) and my camera is playing up so not many photos were taken.

Some giggles, banter and poking fun later we are through the canyon and me and Mads start up the hill while Leo pulls the rope on the last abseil. He still well and truly beats us to the climb and ascends up ready to belay us

Up I go and start up the next bit while he belays Madie up.

I get almost to where it starts flattening out when he jogs past, Come on Flynny.

I have a bit of a jog. Legs are cramping. I walk for a bit. Looking back Madie is jogging and gaining on me fast. Leo is heading up the last little hill to the car park. I try to jog again. Stubborn or determined or sumfink

Back at the cars we laugh as we change into dry clothes.

Hey, Russ and Libby are going to do Juggler!

We should join them…

We drive around to meet them and then head off into Juggler at a slightly more relaxed pace.

Hey Flynnsticle, upside down photo for old times sake? There was a bit of inverted rope twirling.

And we reach the end and walk out in the darkening twilight

Party size: Butterbox, 3 Juggler, 5

Time: Is irrelevant when you are hanging out with awesome friends or Butterbox 1hr 45 Juggler 1hr 35

Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving: Terry Pratchett

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