Wallangambe 2

January 2, 2018January 2, 2018 | flynny101

01-01-2018

Ed, Ethan, Caius, David, Shaz, Tom, Claire, Tillie, Skinny, Dyso and I

For the 3rd year in a row we’ve decided to spend new years day floating down a canyon rather than nursing a hang over (Why can’t we have both? Maybe we do)

Anyhoo this year Tal and Beth both ditched us but Shaz and her kids were back and Skinny and Emily joined us as well.

We opted for the section of the Wollangambe commonly reffered to as the Lower Tourist Section or Wollangambe 2. That’s a little misleading as there are many canyon sections (Including some of the best bits) up stream. It is also reffered to as the Greg section by some of the older bushwalking club stalwarts.

While I’ve done bits and pieces of this section as part of trips to the steeper, narrower, more canyony side canyons I’d never done this bit in it’s entirity on it’s own so I was keen to check it out.

We met at the Fire Shed at the crack of 9:30am. chuck all the gear and most of the people out and then drop cars down at the camp ground in the spirit of being lazy.

The walk in was uneventful, we set a handline on the exposed down climb that had made the news 2 nights before after a seriously under prepared group on a bucks party required rescuing when several members were too worn out/freaked out and couldn’t climb it…. Do your research and go prepaired people

Every one made it down without incident before I told them that story. I reteived the rope and made my way down.

Did I mention the spirit of being lazy? We get to the water and it looks so inviting. People pull out lilos and start huffing and huffing. Me on the other hand had had a brillant idea before leaving that morning. I’d pulled out the soldering iron and rigged a little high volume pump to plug into my MTB light battary.

I had worried it might ruin the serenity of other groups but no one was around and it had most of the lilos up in no time (After some manipulating the cheap pool beds Shaz had got the kids who valves were plastic welded shut). It was certainly less disturbing than listening to a bunch of people hyperventilate trying to blow air into the air beds.

a wollangambe 2-1.jpg — And then we were off

Despite a number of cars at the fire shed and at the camp ground we didn’t see a single group in this section of canyon.

a wollangambe 2-3.jpg — The kids were obviously hating it

I was pleasantly surprised with this bit of the river. There was some nice long pools through some reasonable canyon sections and there seemed to be a bit less boulder scrambling than in the more popular “Upper tourist Section/Wollangambe 1”

a wollangambe 2-5.jpg — Jumping oportunities were propably a bit rarer and harder to get to but that’s OK

a wollangambe 2-8.jpg — The boulder scrambles that were there were generally short and relatively easy, though this one required a precision jump or short hand over hand down a rope

a wollangambe 2-10.jpg — The cliffs might not be as high but it’s still very nice

a wollangambe 2-13.jpg — It was a crackng day

a wollangambe 2-16.jpg — And smaller jumps were available

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a wollangambe 2-21.jpg — A narrower canyon section

a wollangambe 2-24.jpg — The locals were freindly enough

a wollangambe 2-27.jpg — The water was divine

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a wollangambe 2-36.jpg — The side trip up the bottom end of Whungee Wheengee is well worth braving the colder water for.

a wollangambe 2-38.jpg — Claire wasn’t about to let a bit of cold water deter her from exploring

a wollangambe 2-39.jpg — I have no idea why they call this section the “green room”

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You can make your way a fair way up Whungee Wheenge but even the first hundred meters or so is worth a look. Walking up it is impressive but when you turn around to come back down the bottom chamber is something else again

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a wollangambe 2-51.jpg — Back in the relative warmth of the Wollangambe we sun ourselves a bit then continue down.

By now we’re starting to get a bit peckish but the exit isn’t far down and that’s probably the best lunch beach near here so we keep on going.

a wollangambe 2-55.jpg — Along the way are some fun little chutes

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a wollangambe 2-62.jpg — and a bit of portage up the sand dune to the last, and probably most difficult boulder scramble of the trip

a wollangambe 2-65.jpg — The kids handled it with just a little help

a wollangambe 2-68.jpg — And a final grand section down past the exit of Waterfall of Moss Canyon

It’s time for a late lunch as we let the floaties deflate, wetsuits dry and bodies warm up

a wollangambe 2-76.jpg — All ready for the haul out

Then it’s a steep climp up through the cliff lines and a longish walk up the ridge, all up gaining about 400m elevation, and back to the camp ground

Party Size: 11 mixed experience

Time: Didn’t really pay attention but I’m guesing around 7hrs relaxed pace

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Waterfall of Moss

December 17, 2017December 17, 2017 | flynny101

16-12-2017

Tim, Kent and their awesome crew.

Waterfall of Moss is a shortish canyon that flows into the Wollangambe just up stream of the usual exit for the Lower Tourist/Wollangambe 2/Greg section.

I visited it for the first time with Ed last year as an addition to a Whungee Wheengee trip. It made sence to us to do it that way as the canyon itself (minus the walk in and out)only takes acouple of hours . That said I was pretty trashed by the time we mae it back to the car park that trip.

When Tim put out the invite to do WoM on it’s own I had to convince myself the walk in and out would be worth it just for that. But it is a nice canyon and I was hell keen on trying to capture better photos of the Arch.

Anyhoo it was off to Mt Wilson for the usual meet and greet at the car park and we are off.

Wild flowers along the ridge added splashes of colour.

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It was hot and humid and the walk down to the Gambe went without incident. Almost…

Al was walking along when all of a sudden the sole of his shoe decided it needed time alone. It didn’t start to separate and slowly peel off. One step it was fine the next it had come away from his shoe whollis bollis!

20 steps later the other one did the same thing. His shoes are now little more than protection for the top of his feet. He sets the now useless soles on the side of the trail for collection on the way back and soldiers on

By the time we get to the Gambe we were ready for a swim. Al scoffs at me as I take off my shirt as he dives straight in.

Girls you may want to wait up there for a bit. Calls Kent.

I should point out he did declair his intention of a nudie swim back at the car park.

The girls were already here. Kent was not to be deterred, Oh well you don’t have to look if you dont want and I suggest you dont. he declares or sumfink….

Anyhoo. We cross the warm waters of the Gambe and soon begin the climb up the other side. Thankfully Kent has his clothes back on.

Yuri and Chardy on the steep climb up the opposite side

It’s a short haul up the ridge and before long we are ready to drop into the canyon

I had a very clumsey day and tripped, slipped and fell over just about everything, including the starts of one of the abseils but somehow stayed uninjured….

One of the awkward overhanging starts made worse by the anchor being faily long and onto small tea tree bushes. Tim warned last tim they had worn through a rope from the anchor bouncing and so Joel and Al rig a bit of a rerouter to make the start easier and save a bit of rope wear

And while they do that I busy myself snapping pitcures of the arch below me

Last time we were here it was later afternoon and the phone photos were very washed out, a still from the go-pro was the best I got. Being here earlier I was hoping for better light but shooting up toward the sky from the small ledge below the arch was still very contrasty. Every now and then the sun would go behind a cloud and I’d click away and hope for the best

It took a bit of editting to knock out the harsh glare but not too shabby considering

Then it was straight into another abseil down a slope then over hung into a pool. Al’s new rope got a run. Coming down last I noticed the sheath damaged were it had been rubbing over a rock edge, the stretch in the rope allowing it to rub back and forth.

I’m not sure if using SRTs makes the rope more prone to this sort of damage, or it was just back luck, or poor rope management but either way Al now has two shorter ropes….

The bottom section of canyon is a very fine constriction. Straightish and narrowish all the way to the Gambe

Looks like you are almost done but 3 or 4 abseils still await

There were a a couple of abseils in this final section I remember having very tricky starts. Sharp over hangs with anchors set low and a long way back. I was looking forward to the challenge but someone has redone the anchors and replaced them with ones that take a fair bit of the challenge out.

Don’t get me wrong they are well thought out and placed and definately make the starts easier, the pull downs easier and probably the rope wear less but as I was looking forward to the challenge I almost felt dissappointed it had been removed.

Just me being a weirdo, thinks I, but then Kent voices the same thought. I always like taking people here to give thier skills a bit of a test. he says. The trip feels a bit deminished

so that’s two 2 weirdos.

And I suppose if you feel that way there is nothing stopping you rigging the old anchor points to reclaim the challenge.

Chardy and Yuri below drop 6 with Tim disappearing down drop 7 in the back ground

Joel on the Waterfall of Moss with Al looking on

Looking back up the canyon from the junction with the Wollangambe

A short float back down the Gambe to for lunch at the exit point and then the long hot walk up the hill to the car.

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There are only two reasons people fail to reach their goals. 1. They didn’t really want it or 2. They haggled over the cost.

Group. All Experienced

Time:6hrs car to car

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A wander around some Wollangambe wilderness

July 9, 2017July 9, 2017 | 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

This is an awesome sheltered cave. The creek, when it’s running flows through the back of it.

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.

I keep forgetting how short this slot is. You get caught up in the light and ambience and time ceases to have meaning

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

Ed in one of the more open twists and turns in the very narrow upper section of canyon

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

We seem to be climbing out to look down on the top of canyons a lot lately

Ciaus and Jake as the canyon opens out slightly near the cave

Then it was over the ridge and out to Goochs Crater

Ed looking down on the cliff lined swamp known as Gooches crater

Looking down on Ed and Ethan through the Sky light in Goochs arch

All in all a pleasant winters day in the bush

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

Wollangambe Fire trail

July 9, 2017July 19, 2017 | flynny101

Access: Getting to the carpark involves a dirt road with a few rough bits. Nothing extreme but a 4WD is handy just for the ground clearance and traction

Navigation: Navigation is fairly straight forward.

Map: Wollangambe 1:25000 These can be purchased at Lithgow Tourist information center or online for around $10

Time: Less than 2hrs with a bit of time for lunch on the clifflines at the end

Depending on which map you look at or who you talk to this is either the Wollangambe or Dumbano fire trail. Open source and google maps seem to show it as Dumbano fire trail. Wollangambe fire trail is what I always knew it as and makes more sense to me as at the end you lookout over the ‘Gambe just upstream of Wollangambe crater.

Anyhoo, whatever you want to call it, it’s a pleasant stroll with some stunning backdrops.

Getting there:

Turn off the Bells Line of road at the ZigZag Railway onto the Newnes Forest rd. Follow this along for around 4.8km and turn off to the right at the bottom of a hill below Bald Trig.

Unfortunitely the start of the fire trail looks a bit like a rubish tip where grubs seem to dump there soft drink bottles and coffee cups… But it gets better.

Set your odeometer here, you want to stay on the main fire trail but there are a couple of intersections where it is easy to take the wrong fork.

At Approximately 1km keep left (right follows the old Wolgan Railway easment around Bald trig to the sand quarry.)

At Approximately 2.5km stay right then at approximately 6.4km stay left. After a little over 8km you will come to the locked gate (GR 499952).

Park up and follow the old road on foot past the gate. The first couple of hundered meters is steep then it is easy going along a flattish ridge for 2km.

Either side of the ridge are sheer sided gullies and at the end of the ridge is a rocky point (GR 505931) in between where these two tributaries meet the Wollangambe.

This is a nice spot of a bit of lunch (or as we did today cheese on smith chips…) there are some great views with Mt Banks straight ahead, Mt wilson slightly off to the left and Bell out to the right. And the wild Wollangambe can be heard gurgling below.

For the more adventurous this route, with some off track navigation at the end is the shorter way to access the Wollangambe crater which is usually done as a over night bushwalk from Bell. (its not a real crater but a circular depension holding a hanging swamp. I think it is the reminants of a large billabong type feature made in a sweep of the wollangambe. It sure looks craterish from aerial photos and satelite images though.)

dumbano fire trail-10.jpg — Easy walking along the old fire trail.

Note: The great outdoors is an ever changing place. Bush fires, changing weather, vegetation growth and forestry activities can all effect the trail conditions and thus the difficulty of the walk. These are a rough guide only and are by no means meant to be a definitive guide . They do not replace the need adequate map reading and navigational skills

Note 1: Taking care While reasonably well known these spots are still wild places and care needs to be taken around cliff edges and on the steep trails. Carrying the right gear as well as having adequate food, water and clothing is important. Always tell someone where you are going and when you expect to get back.

Emergency beckons (PLBs) can be hired from Katoomba Police for very little.

Note 2: First aid A basic first aid kit is essential bit of kit whenever heading into the Aussie bush. First aid training is highly recommended

Note 3: Maps and Navigation Having the right map, a compass and knowing how to read them is very important when heading into the bush. If you are new to bush walking joining a club or accompanying more experienced walker for you first few outing is a very good idea. I found practicing map reading on well defined trails was helpful when I started out.

The Maps mentioned are the 1:25000 series. They can be purchase at Lithgow tourism information center, from outdoors shops or online for around $10 each.

Note 4: These are wild and beautiful places, respect them. If you are able to carry something in you can carry it out. Don’ be a tosser. Leaving your rubbish behind is a sure way to ruin it for every one else.

wollangambe fire trail

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	Popeye Canyon Lower… on Popeye canyon, upper
	Popeye Canyon Lower… on Banks
	Hole In the Wall… on Banks
	Banks – sleepw… on Nose Dive
	Banks – sleepw… on Hole in the Wall and Banks…

sleepwhenwearedead

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

wollangambe

Wallangambe 2

Waterfall of Moss

A wander around some Wollangambe wilderness

Wollangambe Fire trail