mates

Surefire Saturday

| flynny101

14-10-2023

Jason, Kris, Hywaida, Kylie and me

It’s been a while since I’d done Surefire.

For the others it would be their first visit.

A quick reccie on the bike a couple of days before suggested that while the old road was ridable there were a lot of trees down and the regrowth was so crazy at times I couldn’t see my front wheel.

So rather than risk derailleurs and spokes we’d be hoofing it out and back.

This meant a 7km walk out. TBH pushing through the overgrowth seemed a lot less tedious than marching along a flat boring fire trail… but I’m weird like that.

Anyhoo

After the Navman took the others down the wrong fire trail and we waited in confusion, before finally going looking for each other. we all managed to somehow find phone reception at the same time…

This meant a late start and some talk about changing plans or cancelling altogether

There wasn’t much arm twisting and we press on.

It takes us about an hour to get to the turn off then another 30 or 40 minutes to get to out the ridge and down to start of the canyon

The creek drops dramatically into a nice canyon but then drops again and rounds the corner
Sunbeam or tractor-beam?
The drops come in quick succession and most have awkward starts or tricky pull downs
It’s deep and narrow
Kris getting his squeeze on
I’m sure we down climbed this last time but the walls were smooth and glassy and slippery as snot this time around
wonderfull canyon formations
Once down the drops there’s a long flat section that’s just beautiful

We follow the impressive canyon along the flatter bit and find a spot where it begins to open out for lunch.

This was going to be my first time out the “standard” exit. We’d have to retrace our steps about 300m back up through the lower canyon section and exit up a side canyon

This would involve

  • Climbing up some tree roots
  • Then up a steep, slippery ramp using some slings.
  • Up more tree roots. These ones feeling like they are coming loose
  • Up a tree and bridging across to a dodgy slope….
  • Then a long walk up a beautiful gully , under amazing overhangs and beautiful coachwood trees

And finally 7km back along the old firetrail to the car.

Yep it’s a big round trip on flat, boring fire trail to get to and from the canyon.

but I reckon it’s well worth it and you could always combine it with Heart Attack (less worth the walk out to do on its own IMO) or camp on the ridge and explore some of other little canyons out that way.

Party Size.5

Time: 8.5-9hr car to car.

Work hard. Dream big. Don’t be an arsehole. Mike Shinoda.

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A little Blue Mts surprise

| flynny101

02/09/2023

So I kinda like visiting the little canyons most people would not bother with.

Part of it is seeing beautiful places most people don’t get to and part is just getting out and exploring with mates.

When Tom posted photos of this one on https://ozultimate.com a few years ago it caught my attention as I had a reasonable knowledge of the canyons in that area but didn’t recognise this at all.

Then a month or so ago a YouTube video was posted that had a few clues.

10mins of comparing images in the video and the areal images on sixmaps and I was confident I knew how to find the start and how to get out.

Anyhoo it had been so long since I’d dragged friends out on a scrub bash to a low quality canyon that they had forgotten the pain and agreed to come again.

Was it scruby? Yes it was
Was it low quality?
The canyon section was pretty. Pretty short. But actually pretty.
Wetsuits were over kill. I thought there might be a bit more flow in the falls after last weeks rain but most of us stayed dry above the knees.
Just a few abseils and a short hallway and the canyon opened up
Then it was back up the ridge and we avoided some of the scrub back to the car

A bit under 2.5hrs car to car with a large group and giving Muz some abseiling refreshers along the way.

They are all worth exploring at least once.

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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.

Hole in the Wall.

| flynny101

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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Ranon Brook

| flynny101

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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The Longest Gully

| flynny101

17/09/22

Russ, Libby, Kylie and meeeeee

It’s kind of become a tradition that we do something for Russ’ birffdee.

Come to Bungonia, they said. It will be fun, they said.

Only coordinating every one this year was difficult so it got spread out over a coupe of days with Russ and Lib being the constant and the rest of us joining for a day.

Anywoo, I’m in for the Saturday shenanigans and rock on down Friday night just in time for a good old fashion curry cook up.

The camp ground at Bungonia is amazballz. If you are into that sort of thing

At some point during the night someone asked, so what are we doing tomorrow?

I don’t mind says Russ

It’s your birthday, you choose says us

Awwwww I don’t like decisioning, says Russ. But I’m not keen to put a wet wetsuit back on tomorrow. How about Long Gully,

Now I’ve never really given Long Gully much consideration because nobody really raves about it. But they are all worth doing once and anything is good in the right company. so we get some sleep, rise not so early and break camp at the crack of 8am. Or there abouts.

After an easy amble along the fire trail amid banter and giggles we head into the scrub to follow a ridge down into our gully
As far as gullies go it’s not jaw dropping beautiful but it’s not hideous either
It reminded me a little of Dione Dell without water. Walk a bit, nice abseil, walk a bit, repeat
Libertybell getting it done. I think this was the only bit where I got my feet wet

And soon we come to this amazing view over the Shoalhaven
And the big abseil was cool. Kylie on rope. You might be able to see Rus and Libby way down below

Russ had gone first. Called out Awwwwwwwww! and gave us the tip to put our rain jacket on. There wasn’t much spray off the falls but it was chilly

I have no idea if I have the order of the abseils photos right but you get the idea.

There was no anchor set up for this one and it looked like it could be scrambled. I contemplated scrambling but considering how slippery the rest of the canyon had been I opted to set up the fiddle stick. Good call. says Libby. it’s slippery as snot and not in the places that look snotty

and before you know it we are on the banks of the Shoalhaven basking in the glorious sun shine.

Our Gully out of screen to the right and the canyon that shall not be named coming in mid right

A lounge about, some lunch and more laughs and then it’s back up the hill.

It has similar if a bit more elevation than the Kanangra canyons but it’s a much easier grade. And in good company it goes fairly painlessly

All in all Long Gully might not be the best canyon but its a reasonable abseil trip, worth doing at least once especially in the company of some of the best adventure buddies going

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Buttering Boxes with Crazy foxes

| flynny101

06/08/2022

Hywaida, Kristo, Ethan, Kylie, Rus, Madie and meeeeeeeeeeeeee

Who wants to do Butterbox this weekend, said I

Me, said them.

As they say in Canada (probably) Well alrighty then

A cold wind blew on the morning of our gathering.

Wait! That’s an understatement and a half

It was an icey gale that ripped through us as we met at the car park.

And it seemed like it would be whipping up through the canyon

Are we sure we want to do this?

Of course.

And so it went.

We layered up and headed in.

Couldn’t quite get the Beetles abby road shot… It may have been cold but patches of blue sky and sunshine lighted our spirits.

Excitement on faces and interesting places.

And it’s about to get real

Butterbox is, for the most part, more open and has less swimming than the trip we did through North Bowen 2 weeks ago. But there are more abseils which could lead to more standing around waiting. we had enough ropes to keep moving. My only concern was the small stance on the chockstone pitch might mean we have a line up of people waiting in ice wind.

Good news for us, once we dropped off the ridge there was hardly any wind at all. I had a set of sharkskin T2 chillproof underneath my 5mm seland wetsuit (* this is not a paid endorsement. but if seland or sharkskin are reading this….. 🙂 ) I had put them on at the first abseil. I’d packed a windcheater jacket but left it in my pack.

By the time we got to the first swim I was keen to cool off

Ah the ol’ hump the log technique. I’ve given up going that way since the logs deteriorated a bit but H isn’t scared

A couple of short swims, a slide and we get to the bit we are here for

Butterbox is a fun, adventurous trip but lets face it. The next 2 abseils is what it is all about
Kristo on rope heading to the chockstone as Madie bleeds rope. There may have been comment made about how the official sign up top shows photos of old school technique and terrible rope management, having a massive pile of twisted spaghetti at the bottom. Something I was guilty of for many years. I’m thankful at how far my knowledge and skills have progressed in the last few years thanks to knowledgeable people sharing their, um, knowledge
R
K
E
H
Ours truly

So at the bottom of that you go over the edge and pop out to a large rock wedged between the canyon wall, The chockstone. Well I say large, there’s room for 2 people to set up the next abseil, 3 if you don’t mind getting up close and personal. 4 if you want a group hug with little room to do anything else much less try to set rope or maneuverer to abseil.

And 3 or 4 meters below the Chockstone the canyon takes a sharp right and you swing out under the roar of the falls and into the chamber of awesomeness
After the extended wet, and going of other canyons visited recently I was expecting water levels to up. Oddly they were fairly normal or even a bit down on the last trip but sliding directly off the end of the rope as you touch down here is so much nicer and safer than trying to disconnect with a bunch of rope still on the ground, or worse, twisting up in the water ©Hywaida

And I just noticed Madie creeping in the background of the above photo as Kristo descends. What is she doing up there? How did she get there? How will she get down? The answers to all this and more will not be forthcoming in the next instalment of “What’s Madie up to now”

Another short swim, some boulder hoping and a final abseil and we reach the lunch spot and spread out in the sunlight. Pulling on dry clothes Rus reminisces about the time it was so stinking hot when we got here that we found some shade and snoozed for a couple of hours waiting for it to cool down enough to climb out.

Of course the Butterbox adventure isn’t over yet. There still the steep walk out to the clmb.

I put my windcheater on expecting to be in the full force of the icy zepher. Soon I stash that back in the pack and strip down to a tee shirt. It was pleasant in the valley

I failed so hard.
Russ keeping the barefoot madie safe
Madie leading the way
The trees look so small. Did I say something about rope management earlier. it’s not a twisted as it looks. Kylie rocking on up with Me and Madie Duel belaying the others up

Up top it wasn’t until we were cross the saddle from Butterbox point back to the car park that the full force of the wind hit us. At one point I think I was leaning 45° to the right trying to resist it blowing me off the hill.

You’re only given a little spark of madness. You mustn’t loose it: R Williams

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Goin’ to Bowen

| flynny101

23/07/22

Dick, Kylie, Russ Aimee and meeeeeeeeeeeeee

It’s July.

It’s wet.

It’s cold.

Anybody want to be be Gobsmacked in North Bowen this weekend?

The above mentioned crazy folk said yes.

Schaaaaaaaweeeeeet!

A trip through Lower North Bowen with Thing 2 and the boys was one of the things that got me back into canyoning in 2015. It’s a great little canyon but for some reason I hadn’t done it since.

Before that the last time I did it The Osbournes were on the telly. Time to get back me thinks.

Not to the Osbournes, like, they are entertaining and all but yeah na, back to Gobsmacker canyon

Some land slips on the walk in were a reminder of the effects of the extended wet weather but they don’t dampen our enthusiasm. (See what I did there?) and the track was in far better condition than in 2015 so top work there (though I’m not convince we took the same gully)

Fernalicious

The water was up

Wasn’t it cold? People ask. Of course it was but with the right gear it wasn’t unbearable or even that uncomfortable

It is pretty but

Kylie and Dick embracing the bracingness
He is smooth, he is funny, he is Russell!!!
Kylie’s not scared
Russ and Kylie keep it real… I mean keeping us safe… I mean doing the things with the things
It took a bit of care to stay out of the churn
If you haven’t met Dick I feel sorry for you. I really do.
A few years ago I had an epiphany with modern canyoning techniques. Could you imagine dropping into that with a tangle of rope in the water you needed to disconnect from? After carefully considering the flow with the group Russ set the rope in just the right spot at just the right length. So satisfying
Dick having his twice weekly cold shower
Warning: Photo bomber on the loose
Aimee is unafraid
Dick hasn’t got a fear gland
the flow was a bit pushy in spots so a bit of extra care was needed
Some spots you could just go with the flow
That log usually keeps your feet dry

a quick bite to eat and some interesting methods used to warm hands and we head up the exit gully. The handover hand climb was a small waterfall. Sux for those who choose to put dry clothes on.

To be honest it was nicer doing the exit in this temperature…..

It takes more than 1 idiot to get this stupid. Krispy

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Winter Wolganfalls Weirdos

| flynny101

14-06-21

Gadget, Penny, Chief Quimby, Professor Von Slickstein and Me… I mean, Dr Claw

Whatya doing on the Monday of the long weekend? Asks Gadget

No plans. What do you have in mind? Says I

Options were thrown up before settling on a Go Go Gadget excursion back to Wolgan falls.

We’ve been talking about getting back there to do a wet line after rain. It almost happened after the March deluge but we wimped out fearing the road maybe impassable.

And the stars just haven’t aligned since.

But now we have had a bit of rain through the week, then a good dump of snow on the plateau.

Time to give it a crack

Unfortunately Brain had to bail last minute…. Now I was concerned. How would Penny help Gadget and the others foil Dr Claw without him?

Anyhoo

We meet up at the ZigZag railway on a crispy morning, pile into cars and head in (Yeah we were going the long way, or at least the slow way, but we had our reasons)

The road was boggy but some awesomely excellent driving by Von Slickstein saw him follow us through in his 2WD ute.

Packed up, nervous whizs and off we go

The trip is pretty basic, some easy nav along the ridge, and a couple of dry abseils land you on a large flat shelf above the falls.

‘

Its a pretty spot

©Ed
Gadget signs us onto the log book ©Ed

And it’s from this point we plan to mix things up. The usual line is in 2 stages a few meters to river left of the falls. Despite ice in puddles and a few patches of snow up top we are hoping to rig things to go straight down the guts.

We discuss options, a tree would have us in the perfect spot, but it’s a looooooong way back.

We have everything we need to build a long anchor but ideally we’d set it as a retrievable so we don’t leave anything behind.


Options were discussed before deciding to use a shorter rope around the tree set on the fiddlestick near the edge then tie jthe main line below the stick…

Go Go Gadget retrievable anchor and Roberts your Aunty’s husband or sumfink

Should put us right in the flow, says Gadget
Right about here I reckon
So Kylie, now we do the things with the things so we can do the thing we came to do, or sumfink
Von Slickstein offers to guineapig. Trust us Stirlo, sure we’ve never done it before but what could possibly go wrong
Looking good so far

Stirlo’s down and so far nobody has died. Wootwoot

Penny gives it a crack ©Aimee
Kylie taking the pull cord with Ed, Aimee and Stirlo bleow
About to get amongst it
It’s bathy warm
©Aimee

And we are all down, now to see if we can retrieve things

Kylie pops the fiddle stick. Success.

Stirlo and Ed pull the rope. Success

‘Cept the fiddlestick then wedges itself in the only crack on the halfway ledge and the tail of the rope wraps itself around the only stick in the only crack on the halfway ledge…

Luckily the way out goes up to the halfway ledge and a delicate bit of rope work with the spare rope gets me in a position to release both

We high 5 and begin to pack up for the haul out

Voices…. Up above smiling faces pear over the cliff. I recognise Dick. He is with Laurie, Mick, Peter and crew. This is 2 trips in a row we’ve run into them. We head up and say g’day

Then we are back in the cars for a bite to eat and then back through the mudbath for a little add on that took longer to get there than to do.

Worth it but

 Artemis a short little canyonette above the pool of Dianna

Anchor trees in this one can be a bit hard to get and ghosting (Fiddlestick/smooth operator..) is definitely the way to go. Would hate to see slings or chains in this one

x

©Aimee
Aimee taking a delightfully cold dip in the Pool of Dianna

And 10min later we’re back up at the cars

Another awesomely excellent adventure with awesomely excellent mates.

“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you; spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler

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