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A wander around some Wollangambe wilderness

| flynny101

08-07-2017

Ed, Etham, Ciaus, Jake and me.

Another trip to this short but pretty dryish canyon out the back of Clarence, and a stop at Goochs Crater on the way back

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This is an awesome sheltered cave. The creek, when it’s running flows through the back of it.
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Venturing up the stuning side canyon. First recorded exploration of this slot by a bushwalking club was a group from Sydney Uni Bush Walking club in 1962, though I suspect Col Oloman would have visited previously either on one of his solo trips or with friends as they explored the areas through here across to the Bungleboori and beyond. Neither bothered to name it.
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I keep forgetting how short this slot is. You get caught up in the light and ambience and time ceases to have meaning
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the large cave in a 180 bend in the canyon.It’s like another world. Ciaus and Ed desided when society falls apart this might be a good place to live
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Ed in one of the more open twists and turns in the very narrow upper section of canyon
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tight and twisting canyon formation
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Ed on the peak, the canyon carves around either side of him. The cave at the bend can be seen in the cliff line, though the scale of it is hiddne by the trees
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We seem to be climbing out to look down on the top of canyons a lot lately
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Ciaus and Jake as the canyon opens out slightly near the cave
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Ed in the canyon
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On our way back out

Then it was over the ridge and out to Goochs Crater

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Ed looking down on the cliff lined swamp known as Gooches crater
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Looking down on Ed and Ethan through the Sky light in Goochs arch
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It’s an interesting feature
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Jake heading over to join Ethan and Ed under the arch
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It really is impressive
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Jake in the well used camp/party cave looking back towards the arch

All in all a pleasant winters day in the bush

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“Life must be lived as play.” – Plato.

Wandering around the plateau

| flynny101

20-05-2017

Julie, Leaf and me

So if you listened to the weather forecasters you’d expect to see a guy building a baot and collecting animals two by two or something.

Still I was keen to get out and was origanlly thinking one of the drier canyons out around Sunnyside might be nice with some rain.

Julie was keen and expressed an interest in doing Alcatraz instead.

Leaf posted on the Ozcanyons facebook group looking for trip she could join inon and we invited her along.

After a bit of discussion we settled on Alcatraz and a small double(or is it triple) canyon system out near the glowworm tunnel that I wanted to check out.

The forecaste went from gloomy to dire. There was some discussion on canceling the trip but thankfully we decided to roll with it.

Friday was ment to be the worse day. It was fine but the rain rolled in Friday night and belted down.

Saturday dawned sunny. A prefect day for a bit of exploring.

We met up and navigated the maze of roads into Alcatraz. The view down into the canyon from the cliff above showed the waterlevel well up but we suited up and carefully made our way into the anchor point.

Looking down into the slot, had me a bit concerned. I’d done it in high water with Ed and others a while ago and it was fine but this was up even more and without being able to see the exit I wasn’t comfortable dropping in.

We opted to descend the cliff beside it and make up way up from below. In hindsight it was likely doable but te canyons are always there for next time and I’m happy to play it safe.

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Looking across into the spout
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Julie setting the camera up while LEaf makes her way into the chamber
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The chamber and exit were fine
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Julie and Leaf in the chamber
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Inside the chamber
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Inside the chamber
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The exit slot

So a bit disappoint we didn’t abseil in but as I said there is always next time.

We made our way back to the cars and then continued out toward the glowworm tunnels for our next points off interest.

I had done the first little slot  with Mandy from below and after checking the satelite imagry realised there was another system close by. This time we headed down the dry canyon (not so dry today) and then explored as far up the other system as we could get before retracingour steps.

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Not far off the Glowworm tunnel road a sleep little creekbed begins to canyon up
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Dark sandstone gives way to walls the clour of honeycombe
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Leaf poses next to a temporary waterfall
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The canyon is only short and opens up into the hidden valley, hanging between clifflines.
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Julie and Leaf make their way through a cave like section into the North branch of a Twin canyon system
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This one is straight and narrow
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Without loosing a lot of weight this is as far as I can go
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Can’t believe the girls didn’t follow me through is cold stagnant swim. ©Julie Burton
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And then it was back out the way we came in.

Group Size: 3, all experienced

Time: Better part of a day phaffing about

 

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