I had a busy weekend lined up and didn’t think I’d get out bush at all but when The Mad One lined up a trip with the awesome Canyoning/Climbing fam I was keen as a bean for a catch up so I rearranged some stuff to free up my Sunday. They really are a great bunch of like minded folk and a ball to hang out with
Anyhoo we meet at Mt Wilson at a very lazy 10am and dither about before setting off along the fire trail. Laziest start to a canyon day for ages.
The walk in would soon address that….
The shade of the overhang below the first abseil proves an enticing place to have lunch so more lazing about before we slip down the creek. I scramble into the start of the canyon and try to entice the others down with my best Pennywise impersonation, Do you want a balloon too, Georgie? but they go over the top to the next climb down.
The first little bit was as dry as a nuns nasty
Madie and Aleasha making their way in
The swim into the first “Duck under” was little more than a deep wade. There followed an impromptu chorus of Ooooh shit it’s cold. Which had Libby dubbing the trip the Whingee Whungee trip.
Russ and Libby Liability enjoying a coolish dip
Whungee is usually such a high quality canyon but the low water and lack of glowworms took a bit of the shine off
io! Wanna fight? Caaarn, I’ll fight the lot of yas
Leo and the Wizard
It does have some beautiful bits thou
Dualing photographers dual
Barely a duck under
Russ, Libby, Aleasha and Jez
Ok the top section was a little down on it’s usual high standard but the final hallway is still bloody stunning
We briefly check out a rumoured short cut exit but decide the climb is too dicey today so it’s into the ‘Gambe for a float down to the usual exit.
Surround yourself with exceptional people, experience exceptional things
Party Size: 8
Time: I didn’t really pay much attention but I think it was 7-8hrs with plenty of stops along the way
*Slight detour* in March I am again taking part in the West Cycles Classic to raise money for the Westpac rescue helicopter service. Whether preforming bush rescue, emergency patient transfers, and all the rest no one has ever had to pay to use the helicopter due to public donations. If, like me, you believe this is an invaluable service or if you just enjoy reading my blog think about pitching in with a donation. Large or small every bit counts. follow this link for details 2018 West Cycles
Anyhoo…
I explained the naming of Whungee Wheengee on the write up of our previous visit there. It’s a great canyon with lots of different challenges, or “Activities” as Ed described them, things of interest and wow moments. It’s very technical in places and the water is much colder than that of the wider Wollangambe. It’s also reasonable sustained.
Anyway, on a hot day it was a great place to be.
Crossing the Wollangambe. Water levels have dropped at least 3″ since our New Years day trip 3 weeks ago
On the walk in we had caught up to a larger party at the climb down the tree roots, They were doing Whungee too and graciously waved us throu. They caught us on the climb up the other side and again at the abseil point. but were happy for us to go in first.
Through the week a couple of groups had posted to Ozcanyons about a brown snake inbetween two of the abseils. I let our lot know to be careful and let the other group know as well, offering to point it out to them if we saw it.
We saw it, waited for a while but it was getting a bit cold and while we couldn’t think of a way to notify them we figured it had been really obvious so they’d have no trouble spotting it. We meet up again at the exit beach.
Did you guys see it? asks Ed
Yeah, laughs one of their guys, wasn’t quiet the size they made out.
Ah it was a good meter long, Says Gaz
Really? The one we saw was tiny… Holds up his hand 15cm apart.
Ok there are a few snakes in Whungee Wheengee at the moment.
Anyway on with the show
Abseiling down the cliffline into the creek I was molested by a dead tree… It grabbed me right on the arse…. Well it caught my shorts that I wear over the wet suit to protect it a bit. Um I’m kinda stuck.
There was a little fork in the top and it wasn’t letting me go. I was nearly ready to crack the prusiks out. Before I did I tried a final pull up with the top hand and reef on my leg. Rippppppp!
OK thats the 3rd set of shorts I’ve torn the arse out of in 3 canyons…. Bugger
Jodie dropping into the first “optional” bit of canyon
Optional? yep you can bypass this bit by staying on ledges above… No idea why you would though, unless it was in high water or you are in a big hurry.
Why you you bypass these cool little tunnels
Jodie squeezing down a hole
The first dark tunnel swim
Canyon formation
Gaz in a more open bit
Gaz
Entering the next constriction
When the water levesl are up a bit you have to swim under water to pass this “Duck under”
The top section alternates between the dark tunnels and these grand passageways
Another duck under
Tal
Tal emerging from another tunnel swim
Another “Duck under”
Crap photo pf a leaf tailed gecko getting fat on the massive cave crickets. Gaz got some cool footage of it swimming in the video linked below.
Gaz and Ed coming out of the cave
Check out this grand old dame. The big yabbies are typically the females they carry their young and eggs, or berries as they are called, under their tail. I double checked this one had none before lifting her out of the water for some photos. It’s the biggest one I have seen in ages.
Eastern Water Dragon
Tal doing his ABCs.
And all is good
Canyon formation
Another tunnel section
Tal following Ed downthe canyon
The final hallway
After a few hours in the cold confines of Whunee Wheengee the more open Wollangambe feels almost bathy warm
And as always with the ‘Gambe there are options for water jumps
A room just for Ed.
And a final float down to the exit point.
Another great day out in the great outdoors with great people. Whungee throws a little bit of everything at you and never has a dull moment. I’d have to put it in my top 5 favourate canyons
Group Size:5 all experienced
Time. 8hrs car to car
This edit is slightly longer then normal but Whungee is such an action packed canyon and gaz got so much good footage I thought it worth it.
Human beings make life so interesting. Do you know that in a universe so full of wonders, that they have managed to invent boredom.- (Terry Practett)
sleepwhenwearedead 