Surefire Canyon

26/1/2014

Party: Neil, Matt, Keith, Ian & Steph

Grade:  4 moderate to difficult- I would grade a 5 as it is a very very long day

Track notes: Day 3 of Australia Day long weekend and I have left the SBW group to meet up with Matt and my family. Getting to this canyon was very difficult with good navigational skills required. It took us probably 2 hours from the start of the car park to get to the beginning of the canyon, and I wouldn't recommend doing this without an experienced bushwalker. 

This canyon had about 5 abseils, all relatively short but with awkward starts. It is an immensely beautiful canyon however it is short compared to the bushwalking and bush bashing you do during the rest of the day.

After lunch we had to find the exit, of which we knew there would be somewhat a difficult rock climb out (hence why we brought our trusty rockclimber Matt to lead the way out).

In the end it took a very long 4 hours from lunch (after exiting the canyon) back to the car but it was through some of the most beautiful forest I've ever seen. It was again a bit of an orienteering challenge so I recommend going with experienced walkers.

Surefire is up there in my favourite canyons- but the walk in and out make it much less desirable. Only attempt this one if you enjoy bushwalking as much if not more than canyoning.

Starlight Canyon

26/1/2014

Party: Sydney Bushwalking Club led by Terry Moss

Grade:  3, very easy with no swimming involved, headtorch needed

Track notes: It's day 2 of the Australia Day long weekend with SBW and we head off along the very same track we used the day before to get to Devil's Pinch Canyon. Climbing that hill the second time around wasn't as fun as you knew exactly what you were in for. This time we walked much further along the track (and didn't bush bash) as this canyon started on a ridge further than Devil's Pinch.

After some navigational issues we got to the first abseil- in  my opinion it would be very difficult to get to without an experienced navigator. However we did come to an obvious T intersection and veered to the left of the ridge (this is all I can remember).

There were 3 longish abseils in this canyon- with it being very open (unlike other canyons being narrow and dark). The third abseil was down a very slippery and mossy waterfall. 

At the bottom of this canyon there is a beautiful stretch of canyon (more like a cave!) of which you can take off your backback and walk down with a headtorch. I was absolutely terrified of going by myself- it's pitch black and there are lots of tight squeezes and goes for about 10-15 minutes. However it's worth it to see the little glow worms :)

Abseil into the cave section

Cave section

Spot for lunch after the abseils

Abseil down the waterfall

Devils Pinch Canyon

25/1/2014

Party: Sydney Bushwalking Club led by Terry Moss

Grade:  Supposedly a grade 5 but in my opinion a grade 3

Track notes: It's Australia Day long weekend and my first trip with the Sydney Bushwalking Club. I left Sydney at 5am to get to Newnes Camping Ground for an 8.30am start. After setting up my tent for the weekend and getting acquainted with the group we head off. Newnes camping ground is one of my favourites as it has a large grassy area surrounded by beautiful cliff faces and the Wolgan River nearby.

The track starts off to the left of the Wolgan river- it is a clearly defined track that goes along the river for maybe 30 minutes until you reach a signpost for the start of Starlight/Pipeline Canyon. This is the start of a 300m ascent with a very rewarding look out at the top. Unlike most canyons, you do the 'climb out' at the start of the trip instead of the end. 

After morning tea we head off along the clearly defined track along a ridge top for about an hour. We then veer left to go down Devil's Pinch. The first abseil was absolutely stunning- it is like abseiling down a crevice and hence why they called in Devil's Pinch. It was about 20m long. The canyon itself was nice but not the best I have seen, and the fact that the water was insepid made it uncomfortable (due to no rain). 

In the end we inadvertently missed the final abseil by mistakenly going around it- but it was supposed to be a 50m abseil down a long waterfall.

Overall devil's pinch is not my favourite- mostly because of the smelly water and the fact that we missed the last abseil! However at the bottom there is a beautiful narrow passage way- definately the highlight.

Exit back up Wolgan river to camp