Whirlpool & Geronimo Canyon

21/12/2014

Party: Steph, Neil, Lucy + 4 others led by Simon Hager

Grade: 4 moderate to difficult

Track notes: We met at Mt Wilson fire station at 9am to begin our walk into Whirlpool canyon. The walk in followed the fire trail through to the start of the popular Wollangambe entrance and then all the way down into the canyon. Crossing the river, we climbed back up the other side along the ridge, until we eventually ventured down the left handside of the ridge. Unfortunately due to the 30 degree heat (and a work Christmas party the night before; I never learn?!) I struggled a fair bit.

We eventually came to another creek, presumably a tributary to the Wollangambe, where we then climbed back up to the top of this ridge. Eventually, 2 hours later and after morning tea and lunch, we got to the start of the canyon. It had some lovely abseils (about 5) that weren't too long but had awkward starts. The walk back was quite long and we camped at the Cathedral of the Ferns campsite at Mt Wilson.

On the sunday we headed back out down the same track to do Geronimo and Horseshoe canyons- both of which are quite short and an easy grade. The walk-in today was also much shorter, however I didn't end up doing Horseshoe canyon as Dad and I wanted to get back to the cars by 4, and we had only gotten back to the Wollangambe river for lunch by 2pm.

The second day was much more enjoyable for me (mostly as I wasn't hungover!!) and the walk in wasn't as long.

*** Video to come! ***

Claustral Canyon

05/01/13

Party: Steph H, Luke S, Adrian S, Damian, Jeremy & Sivaraman, led by Tim V

Grade: 4 (moderate to difficult), 4 abseils, wetsuit strongly advisable.
Track Notes:

We left Sydney at 7.30am to get to the starting point off Bells Line of Road by 9am. We left the cars past Mt Tomah on an obvious gravel area beside the road on the left hand side, where we then walked back towards the bend in the road behind the roadside barriers to find where the track started. Due to the closure of the usual and quicker route into Claustral, we had to go in this way.

After about 10 minutes we came across a large rock platform with great views of the mountains. Heading left, we found an obvious track that lead us down the gully and to the start of the creek (Turning right down the creek, we end up coming from the left at the end of the day). After a while we came to the first abseil which was an easy, short drop. We then came to the Hole of Calcutta- a series of 3 amazing abseils in quick succession. We brought 3 ropes so we could set this up quickly, as because it’s so dark down there and not much room to stand, this would allow for us to move quickly- particularly as we were a large group. The third abseil was the darkest- where you climb through a hole in the wall and abseil down and swim through the darkness to the light (veer right). 

From here we entered the most beautiful part of the canyon- and I tried to take my time so I could enjoy it! We saw some baby snakes and a huge yabbie. We then came upon a junction- to the right was Thunder canyon. We left our bags at the intersection on a sandy bay and walked to the end (approx an hour and a half return). There is a huge rock pile where you can either climb up and over or there is a dark tunnel you can climb through. There is also some swims. At the end was a beautiful waterfall which we climbed through, and lay inside a very tight cavity full of glowworms!

From then on we continued down the canyon until the exit on the left. Due to the extreme heat, I was a bit slow! Once at the top you reach a large rock that overlooks the region. Continuing along, we traversed along a ridge (to the right) where upon we veered left and headed down the gully back into the creek- where to our relief we got to dip back into the icy cold water to refresh ourselves :) Then walked along the creek until we came across the red marker on the tree where we came in, and walked back up to the cars.

All in all, It was a very long, hot day (approx 8 hours car to car) but it was well worth it. Claustral is without a doubt a beautiful canyon! A few of the guys on the trip also knew my Uncle Ian from his SUBW days, which was pretty cool.

Rock platform overlooking the mountains

First abseil

Luke on the first abseil down the Hole of Calcutta

Luke on the first abseil

Bottom of first abseil

Bottom of darker, second abseil

Waiting for the rest to come out of the Hole of Calcutta

Walking through the canyon

Luke through the waterfall to the glowworms

Sun beams

Tunnel Swim

Adrian trying to avoid a swim

View on the way back out

Wollangambe One Canyon

2/12/12

Party: Steph H, Neil H, Luke S, Richard C.

After a long night of 21st parties, I managed to get up in time to do another canyoning trip. This one is an easy beginner canyon, which is much wider than Du Faur’s canyon with more and much longer swims that is by far the most popular and accessible canyon in the Blue Mountains. There was also a fair amount of bouldering and rock scrambles.

Grade: 1 (easy), no abseils, wetsuits needed.

Track Notes:

We started the day to the right of Mount Wilson’s Fire Station at 9am and walked until we reached the entrance. About 1/4 of the way down we came across a commercial group of 15 people and decided it would be best to go down ahead of them as quickly as possible. After finding the right way down, we descended into the gulley that would reach the canyon. As this was Luke’s first trip, he was quite impressed and excited with just walking and climbing down the gulley haha. After reaching it we found 3 other people already there putting their wetsuits on.

After getting ours on and blowing up our lilo’s, we jumped in the water ahead of the commercial group and so began our trip. I was amazed by the grandness of the canyon and how long, wide and deep it was and a bit further down we found a good spot to jump off the cliff walls into the water which was so fun.

We had lunch about midday and found the exit about 2.30pm where we took off our wetsuits and started climbing back. There was a small section of exposed rock with a difficult climb up that was a little dangerous but very fun. After being in the cool refreshing water all day, the walk back was extremely hot and humid which slowed me down a lot.

We got back to the car at 3.30 and drove around Mt Wilson to have a look around and also see the Cathedral Reserve Camp site that we’ll most likely be staying at in the near future.

It was a GREAT day with great company!

Start of the canyon

Steph, Luke & Richard

Dad jumping off the rock

Richard liloing

Steph & Luke before a swim

Steph, Luke & Richard

Lunch rock

Du Faur's Canyon

30/11/12

Party: Steph H, Neil H, Bas, Hester & Duncan.

Exams are over and it’s finally my first canyoning trip of the season! This canyon was quite dark and narrow but with the most amazing formations. Dad organised for me to go with his Bush walking group “Coastal Mountain Walkers” as a visitor.

Grade: 1 (easy), no abseils, wetsuits needed.
Track Notes:

We started to the left of the Mt Wilson’s Fire Station at 9am and followed the fire trail until the track entrance, which was an inconspicuous exit off to the right about 15 minutes down. From there there was a small track, of which towards the end we left. We bush bashed down the rest of the way to the entrance of the canyon where we then put on our wetsuits and jumped into the icy cold water! It was a shock to the system but shortly after the wetsuits kept us warm.

From there we walked and swam down the first stretch of the canyon until we reached the best part with some long swims through the dark canyon. We had lunch about midday, saw plenty of yabbies and plenty of blue tongue lizards on the way, and returned to the car before 4pm.

All in all a fabulous day and great re-introduction to the canyons of the Blue Mountains.

Steph, Neil & Duncan

Neil & Steph in a narrow and deep swim

Who's got who? A little yabbie

Hester, Steph, Neil & Duncan