Wee Jasper Caving

October 7, 2024October 9, 2024 | flynny101

05/10/2024

Gadget, Leo, Madie, Russ, Gibbo and Vince with cameos from Aleasha, Random Chris, Pippa and Oban.

To be honest caving hasn’t really been on my bucket list. I had worked as an underground miner so time off in the sunshine appealed more than spending my time off in another hole in the ground.

Sure I’d done the touristy ones and crawled into some Glowworm caves but that’s different.

I’ve since moved to an above ground role but being a little on the portly side full on caving made me a bit nervous.

Anyhoo, I asked the crew, do you have any plans for the long weekend?

Wanna come caving at Wee Jasper, they replied

why the hell not. I thunked. Time to push my comfort zone a notch or two.

The hills around Wee Jasper are riddled with limestone caves. Some, such as Carey’s are paid tourist caves. Some are wild and technical. We were aiming for somewhere in the middle. Well explored holes requiring rope work for access and optional squeezey sections.

First stop was the Dip series.

At the car park we run into Chris who shall forever more be known as Random Chris. He is heading into the Gong Cave, which is connected to the Dip series but the connections are too tight for human passage.

We chat briefly and go our separate ways.

Dip is a series of 5 parallel caves with interconnecting passages. 1 and 2 are usually walk throughs but some low life dumped asbestos at the mouth of 1 so it’s temporarily barricaded up.

4 and 2 have openings to the sky so we set ropes in them.

About now I’m starting to think it’s a good day for fresh air and sunshine or sumfink

I absolutely do not bow to peer pressure and we drop into 4

we work our way over to explore 5

We play around crawling through passageways and poking around holes. In the immortal words of Garron Noon: this one is tiny and it has spikey things. It doesn’t want you in there sir!

There are all sorts of mnemonics to remember the difference between stalactites and stalagmites but the best one for me is to think of a ballerina dancing on a termite ridden stage.

When the mites go up the tights come down.

Anyhoo

Back to 4 and more exploring.

Then rather than abseil into 3 and be committed to whatever squeeze is required to get from there to 2 I opt to jug back out and Kylie joins me.

We meet the others a short time later as they ascend out of “the day light chamber” of 2

Of course they regale us with tales of magical chambers, wide, crystal filled passageways and a super easy ascent and sparkling unicorns farting fairy floss…

A quick bite to eat and we head into the Gong

We’d read the entry to the Gong was harder to find but it wasn’t. Grotty clothing back on and in we go.

I’d heard this one was a lot more straight forward with less crawling so I take the good camera hoping to get some pretty stuff. I did, but then somehow formatted the memory card 🤦‍♂️

The others go off exploring while I snap away.

A trail of fresh blood has us worried Random Chris has done himself a mischief

we head for the camp showers which were gloriously hot and clean.

Luckily we run into Random Chris and enquire about the blood. Seems he cut his finger on a shard and hadn’t realised it was bleeding so bad.

Day 2 and we go looking for the Devils Punchbowl and find it just as Random Chris arrives.

You might as well share our ropes if you want. We offer.

He has done the cave before and tells us the must do chambers. And we sort of just absorb him into the group.

Looking back I’m not 100% sure it was consensual.

I’m a little more comfortable after yesterday’s introduction but still not overly keen on the tighter stuff.

Luckily it starts with a massive chamber

There are passageways heading off everywhere

We crawl down a few before taking Random Chris’ advice and head for a great adventure

We get to a squeezey bit.

I baulk.

Common! It’s a short squeeze then it opens out and keeps going.

I suck in my gut, think thin thoughts and shimmy on through. It’s actually not too bad. If you are a bean pole.

Back into a passage of sensible dimensions I round a corner.

Manic laugher erupts. The crew is hiding with lights out. It’s a dead end but they knew I’d be able to do the crawl. it’s their way of safely encouraging me to push my limits. I laugh with them.

They are laughing with me not at me. Maybe.

The crew at the dead end. Random Chris at his rightful spot as a semi captive in the middle. Stockholm syndrome has well and truly kicked in

A more sensible sized crawl.

We explore more passages. Squeeze through gaps and clamber up and down ropes.

We are in a side circuit that’s quiet pretty

Um this is a bit tight says Russ

Um is it Flynny size asks Madie

Sure says Leo.

Hmm says Vince. Not sure if forward or backwards is best.

This is awkward says Gibbo

Hmm there use to be a wider passage up there says Random Chris. I don’t remember this.

Seeing them squeeze into a narrow hole. I’m out of here says Flynny. And I back out like Iggy Pop out of a shirt.

Gadget accompanies me back the way we came and we meet the others back at the start of the circuit.

Some more bats. More exploring and we head back for fresh air.

Ascending out. A largish scout group was coming in thus all the ropes.

And with that me and Gadget bid the others fair well. They were going to visit Signature cave in the afternoon but we decide to hit the road.

Another fantastic adventure and over due catchup with these awesome peeps.

Surround yourself with awesome people. Experience awesome things.

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mugii murum-ban

September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 | flynny101

31-08-2024

Dick, Kylie and meeeeeeeee

A long, long time ago… Well, not that long ago!

Ok it’s nearly 40years ago which sounds like a long time when I think about it but I was and young whippersnapper out on a Jeep trip with dad and his mates. Day 2 we visited a bloke by the name of Col Ribaux.

As well as being a fellow connoisseur of ex-millitary vehicles, 4wd drive enthusiast and diamond miner, Col was an all around top bloke, legendary character and, the “Guardian of the Mountain.”

After admiring the assortment of old Jeeps, trucks and tracked personnel carriers he fired up one of the old tanks and we followed him up the steep pass through the cliff line of what we knew as Airly but is more properly Airly Turret (Confusingly there is Mount Airly slightly to the West, then Airly gap, then a small bump call Airly Mountain then Airy Turret on the way up to Mount Genowlan (Not to be confused with Jenolan, different spellings of the same aboriginal word for high point/place).

After the steep drive up and a look around the mine we camped the night out at Genowlan Trig.

Col has since passed and the area with it’s plethora of Aboriginal and European heritage sites and stunning natural beauty has been taken over by National Parks and named, Mugii Murum-Ban after local elder Uncle Charlie Riley. Mugii being a type of owl and Murum-Ban being eldest sone.

While always a favourite spot in 4wd circles it’s a bit further from Sydney so hadn’t attracted the bushwalking crowds of the Blue Mountains. That’s changing as walking clubs and fellow bloggers discover just how magical the place is.

Anyhoo, in the ensuing years I’ve driven passed it a lot and even driven up Mount Airly a time or two but it was time for a return to Genowlan.

Kylie and I had scoped it out a couple of weeks prior on a day when she also flew over it with Capertee Valley Helicopters. Remembering the steepness of the road and the old rock steps I opted to park part way up and walk. Finding the road recently graded and, while still steeeeeeeeep we thought it easily doable in the triton.

And so we came back and Dick joined us.

Plan for the day was to have a look around the old mines, enjoys the views and check out some of the slots the walkers had cottoned on to.

First stop Ultimate Slot.

From where we parked I was expecting a bit of a scrub bash but

There a bit of a trail here, called Kylie

We follow a well defined trail for about 2mins and… BAM

It’s like a giant version of the Cracks of Doom

Magical but bloody hard to do justice to with photos

After phaffing about for ages we head back to where we parked and head in on the other side of the road. In less than 20 steps from where we parked we were in the “Grotto”

There’s a bit of old rough and ready mining infrastructure in the Grotto. Col and Brian had pumps set up in the pool to supply water to the diamond mine operations.

It’s a beautiful little micro canyon and the colours are stunning

Back to the cars and we head back up past the main diamond mines. Our next stop was Gnomes pass, AKA Ladders Defile. This is another slot/micro canyon that Col had set a series of Ladders in to make it easier for his kids to get through. He also added a bit of a fairy tail touch.

The old ladders make it easy to negotiate the slot which soon opens out to a amphitheatre that would make a great spot for a picnic.

We scramble up onto the pagodas and admire the views

More Pagodas than you could poke a pagoda stick at

We then continue out to soak in the views from Point Hatteras

Me and Dick taking in the view across to Genowlan Point and down towards the Capertee River ©Kylie

And to round out a relaxing but rewarding day we poke around the old mine site

Not much room or stability on those top bunks

All up a nice soulful day exploring some of the more easily accessible sites and barely scratching the surface of what Mugii Murum-Ban has to offer.

Rough diamonds might sometimes be mistaken for worthless pebbles. T Brown.

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Marihuana Canyon

May 19, 2024May 20, 2024 | flynny101

18-05-2024

Gadget and meeeeeeseeee

Go Go Gadget had been in a moon boot with a broken foot for the last six weeks and now she was out we thought we’d ease back into it.

Or sumfink

We’d thrown around a few options and settled on Serendipity canyon at Mt Wilson. But, um well, Unpopular opinion: I’ve never been a big fan of Serendipity. Just always thought it was overrated. Gadgets wasn’t a fan either.

So we changed plans last minute and headed to a little one off the Bells Line that neither of us had visited before.

Named after an elaborate pot plantation in the head waters that got busted in the 90s I had not given too much thought to Marihuana Canyon before and had low expectations but it was something new so why not.

Scrub bashing down we avoid the upper cliff lines but get to the lower cliff and decide to rope up.

And we shall never speak about the tiny shrubs we used for anchors ever again.

As I use to joke with my old mate Della, if it’s wider than your thumb it’s ok. We never did clarify if you held your thumb vertical or horizontal.

Anyhoo

We enter the creek a little high (see what I did there.)

But it didn’t take long to start getting pretty

And before long it drops into a stunning little canyon.

And soon we reach the junction with South Bowen

We work our way upstream through some very nice canyon section.

TBH it was hard work making our way upstream so we got to our exit and hauled out.

He felt that his whole life was some kind of dream and he sometimes wondered whose it was and whether they were enjoying it: D Adam’s

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Lean in to it.

May 6, 2024 | flynny101

05/05/2024

Russ, Brook, Aimee, Jason, Madie, Leo and me

Yileen?

Why not.

Yileen is pretty after a bit of rain so today should be schaaaaaweeeet.

Plans were made and oddly not changed.

There’s no such thing as bad weather only unsuitable clothing: Alfred Wainwright. Oh and idiots. Don’t forget the idiots.

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

To be honest the water wasn’t too cold. Autumn is as warm as canyon water gets.

It was warmer in the canyon than on the ridge top walk in

Still there was a bit of ledge walking and stemming to stay out of it

So I’ve often wondered if this drop could be bypassed by scrambling down the creek. Today Leo proved you can. Madie, Russ and Jason confirmed.

Ok the wind tunnel in the final hall was chilly.

Yileen is usually a trickle. Time it right and it’s sweet

And then we skipped back up the hill and caught up with Jen, Libby and Millie at the pub.

“To appreciate the beauty of a snowflake it is necessary to stand out in the cold.”

– Aristotle

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South Wolgan adventure

March 26, 2024April 11, 2024 | flynny101

09/03/2024

Gadget, Vince and meeeee

It’s been a spell since I’d done a big scrub bash on a djinn’s whim of finding a questionable canyon and, TBH I had a tip off that we would find canyons in our chosen creeks

But you never know until you go.

We use to drive out here for a picnic over looking the Wolgan. Even a few years ago it was a reasonable (if legally questionable ) ride on the mountain bikes. Post 2019 fires regrowth is hectic.

Even since we did surefire late last year the scrub has engulfed more of the trail.

Anyhoo that was not going to deter us and we head out in good spirits.

There was a bit of debate about where to set up camp. Closer to our destination would give quicker access to the canyons in the morning but that meant lugging the camp gear further

Deadset this seems as good a place as any to set a rough camp.

Not wanting to carry a full tent we banked on it not raining and spread out under the stars.

Magical

I didn’t even feel the factor 3 earth quake that was conjured up and rumbled through the Bluies sometime that evening

Did you feel it? Asks Vince the next morning.

Nope, says I. I was dead to the world

We leave the camp gear and make our way further along the ridge before dropping into our first target.

We weren’t expecting much. unpublished “wilderness” canyons along this part of the Wolgan can be hit and miss but generally aren’t renown for high quality. (The high quality ones mostly found their way into the guidebook)

My good self and Vince making our way into a promising looking creek

We descend the upper cliffs without it really. Canyoning up and then it opens out again

Have we missed it? Asks Gadget. We’re not that far from the junction.

We are expecting the junction to be where the canyon ends.

We continue down.

And then

Hmmm that looks smelly I wonder how deep it is ?

Kylie summons up the courage. Turns out it was smelly and deep enough.

The creek finally canyons up and begins to plummet through the lower cliff line

The abseils all have tricky starts. getting over the edge without getting jammed is a bit of a black art but we all got through.

Gadget below abseil 3 looking for an anchor amid the dead fall

Another tricky start and a long abseil over several ledges with no options to rebelay

It keeps going. like the army of the undead

It was an interesting little canyon dropping steeply through several ledges of various widths.

Despite the ledges the only anchor options is about 35m above me at this point

Ok first goal achievements . A quick look about and now to break a pass back up through the cliff and check out its neighbour.

Getting back up through the lower cliff was surprisingly easy.

We knew the adjoining creek also had a canyon in it and seeing as all the interesting bits of the first one were in the lower cliff line we traversed around and dropped into our next one.

After the second scrubby abseil we realise we are 1 short abseil above the junction where our first canyon finished.

Disappointment

We ascend up the previous drop then scramble out a convenient side gully.

There was chatter about checking the upper section out as it is rumoured to hold cool abseils.

But open scrubby creek greets us as we make our way up stream. We gain the ridge and continue up, keeping an eye on our gully just in case it drops through a slot but there’s nothing of note below the top cliff line.

Another easy pass yields us the ridge top

And thus back to camp and homeward bound.

It was a longish walk out for 2 short canyons. But I still get a kick out of exploring little canyons few others bother wit h. These ones would be doable in a day with a fit, efficient group but camping out was half the appeal. Plus there is other stuff out here that’s worth a look

When you’re dead you’re dead. Guy Martin

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Water Dragon

February 19, 2024 | flynny101

17-02-2024

Gadget and meeeeeeeeee

We were looking for a quick and easy one for a lazy weekend and Kylie hadn’t done Water Dragon, A.K.A Kelvinator , before so we thought why not.

It’s been a while since I’d done it so we double check the notes and as usual Ozultimate is spot on with up to date track notes and condition reports.

We stroll down to the Gambie and skip up the other side.

I’d forgotten how the colours pop in the top section

You know I sang the glowworm song. if you are not singing now I’m not sure we can be friends.

This section is accessible without abseiling by scrambling up from the Wollangambe .

Yours truly scrambling down the lower section ©️Kylie

It’s then a pleasant swim down the ‘Gambie for a long lunch at the exit before making our way back to the car.

And a quick stop at Winnie’s rock to admire the storm rolling over the Wollangambe Wilderness.

I think I made a better boy than I do a man, I admitted ruefully to the wolf.- Fitz to Nighteyes. Robin Hobb.

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Flynny’s freaky fiftieth

February 11, 2024February 11, 2024 | flynny101

09/11/2024

Lots of truly awesome people and meeeeeeeee

Talking about dragging out your birthday.

This was suppose to happen before Christmas but a big rain event had NP jumping at shadows and closing things down.

Even though it stayed dry for the next 4days the parks were still closed and we had to postpone.

Until now.

First up pizza and beerios at Evans lookout.

Oh, and as a 70s child a 70s theme seemed to make sense.

They really are a legendary bunch of humans

After posing and yakking and general shenanigans we make our way down the Grand Canyon trail under a setting sun and drop into the slot to say g’day to the glowworms.

I always forget the walkin/walkout to canyon ratio for Grand blows but it is a pretty little slot in any light

Night canyoning is a different experience

I really am lucky to be surrounded by amazing people and it was a great night.

And backing it up the next morning with a trip through Twister and Rocky Creek was a great idea

It’s hard to describe just how much I love rocky creek.

How could the weekend get any better?

I’m glad you asked

Fill what’s empty. Empty what’s full. And scratch where it itches. A Roosevelt Longworth

BACK oh and once again I’m raising money fir the Westpak Rescue Helicopter so please consider a donation

https://events.rescuehelicopter.com.au/fundraisers/craigflynn4470/ride-to-fly-mtb?ref=ch_3OgHr5GahKCZcNZi01MSVvC3&fbclid=IwAR2HpMIMIPLSkYgjQ7914vsMgaoxePzKQX7JlmQIhV9Et_3eczfOn_x9eNY_aem_AdSnFIOmbhqGmIM7rXWREq3CfjoW0zgMe_wylqWDRkL6vk7rLPlk96xlzNEUPCg85x0

Claustral capers

February 9, 2024March 2, 2025 | flynny101

03/02/2024

Leo, Madie, Brook, Achi, Toni and meeeeeeeee

Cruisey social trudge through Claustral?

Sounds ace.

In the spirit of cruisey we push that start time 30min later..

That might have been a mistake. As I role up the mountain it seems like every second car in NSW is trying to get a car park at the trail head.

Are you with them? Asks old mate pointing at a large group as I step out of my car.

Not me.

Come on boys let’s get going. Says he. Oh which way is it?

I point old mate and his 2 sons(?) in the general direction.

I notice Leo T marshalling the aforementioned group. That’s a relief. A commercially guided group that all bought their own cars making it seem like it’s a bigger group than it is. I know Leo is efficient and quick with his groups so not too fussed there .

Another group jumps out of their car and heads off to beat the rush.

Madie and Leo arrive and introduce another two of the people milling around. Achi and Toni are with us. Excellent.

Everyone ready to go? let’s get going before anyone else shows up. Says they

Um we aren’t due to meet for another 10 mins and Brook’s not here yet. Says I

Bugger say they.

Another group of 4 arrive. Leo knows them from rescue they banter about getting the jump on us and head off.

Brook arrives. Ok let’s go.

A quick walk becomes a slow jog becomes “keep up!”

Oi! I was promised a cruisey social trip.

By the time we get to the wetsuit change spot we’ve over taken all the groups who started before us.

As I always say, it’s not a competition. Unless you are winning, and right now we are winning.

Winning

Ok get changed and get into it. We’ll slow down when we get to the abseils.

Thank fugg for that.

Overcast day meant sunbeams were unlikely but oh the ohm-bi-aunce

Obligatory Pride Rock silhouette photo ©️ Maddy

Still winning we make our way down the canyon and because half of us haven’t been here before we take the detour up Thunder canyon as well.

We enjoy the 2 glowworm caves then make our way back to the junction and then down to the exit.

Despite the three thousand two hundred and forty eight cars at the car park we haven’t seen any one in the canyon since one of the groups got to the top of the first abseil just as our last member was roping up.

We figure most of them would have leapfrogged us while we were in Thunder but we catch back up to the group of 4 at the exit and have a chat while we dry off and have a bite to eat and it appears no one else is in front of them.

then it’s up, up and up.

There’s still a gazillion cars at the car park

And while winning is winning, my legs don’t work anymore.

we farewell Achi and Toni then head for a well earned beerio

Part size 6

Time 5.5hr car to car mixed pace.

When you’re dead, you’re dead. Guy Martin

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Dove Canyon

January 11, 2024January 12, 2024 | flynny101

10/01/2024

Gadget and meeeee

After delaying for a day to allow water levels to drop a bit we were keen as mustard to get into this little gem.

Dove Canyon is the quintessential Cradle Mountain canyon and the awesome folk at Cradle Mountain Canyons have done a great job at opening the canyon up and maintaining the entry/exit track as well as the anchors so it’s well worth booking a tour with them if you are in the area but don’t have gear or white water experience.

The canyon has several aquatic hazards to be wary of so most people would be best to book a tour, especially if you aren’t up on how to recognise, navigate and rescue out of that stuff.

Anyhoo. We got going early to get in front of the guide groups and after one of the easiest and prettiest walk-ins ever we reach the get in point.

These bags aren’t going to wet themselves. 🎥©️Kylie

We gear up, go over our notes and abseil in.

A gorgeous little creek greet us. The water was cold but not Bowen creek middle of winter cold so the seland 5mm jacket and John’s were prefect.

We make our way down stream. Already the water is more pushy than anything in the Blue Mountains at normal to high levels so we take our time with the down climbs and assess the eddies at each little jump.

Then we come to the first the first of the major obstacles

You need to pick your landing otherwise it pushes you to the back side of the falls.

Did I say frothy white stuff? The waters around here are steeped in tannins. it’s good for you but froths up ©️Kylie

The Laundry Chute at the exit of the dark tunnel like “Pit” section. Such an awesome feature. Legend has it this is the funnest canyon slide in Australia.

Tea Cup falls has a powerful recirculation in it. If you don’t get it right you’ll get caught in the swirl. At the level we had it’s reasonably easy to escape if you know how but we set up a drogue just to practice the skill in a relatively safe environment 🎥©️Kylie

Once I tested the drogue and worked out the current Kylie just went for it

Then a couple of scrambles and one more slide on Horsey falls

Good old fashion fun

All in all Dove is a beautiful little micro adventure at Cradle Mountain. Heaps of fun but you have to know what you are doing in water.

Once again a massive thanks to the locals for sharing their knowledge and to the crew at Cradle Mountain Canyon for care taking this little gem.

She taught me to relight, relight and relight again: the Avalanches.

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	Warrumbungles grand… on sawn Rocks
	Warrumbungles grand… on Waa Gorge
	Waa Gorge – sl… on sawn Rocks
	sawn Rocks – s… on Waa Gorge
	Cranky Rock –… on Waa Gorge

sleepwhenwearedead

blue, mts, canyon, canyoning, mtb, mountain bike, gardens of stone, Lithgow

slot

Wee Jasper Caving

mugii murum-ban

Marihuana Canyon

Lean in to it.

South Wolgan adventure

Water Dragon

Flynny’s freaky fiftieth

Claustral capers

Dove Canyon