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

Dargan's Creek Canyon

29/12/12

Party: Steph H, Luke S + 10 Others, led By Kosta

Grade: 2 (easy to moderate) if going normal way, 3 (moderate) if going via 40m abseil. Wetsuits needed but can be done without. 

Track Notes:

After packing up our tent, we drove along Bells Line of Road/Chifley Road and turned left on to the Zig Zag railway just past Newnes station onto a dirt road to the left of the railway track. We continued on until a large parking area and further down is Newnes Dam. 

We begun the day by practising abseiling down the dam and down an overhang, as well as learning how to prussik. After this, we turned left from the car park and walked along the ridge until we came to a 40m cliff face instead of going down the usual way. From here there is two bolts in the rock that are a little rusty but otherwise okay. It was a heart stopping abseil, only because mentally it was hard on everyone, but technically very easy. After this we went down the canyon until we came to a very dark and cold section. There are a couple of swims and some awkward climb downs into some pools. Most of these have hand over hand ropes or large logs to navigate down. After a while maybe an hour we came to a hand over hand climb out and a tree with pegs in it to get out, then a very quick 15-20 minute walk back to the car.

After this we came to a camping ground in the Newnes State Forest just off Glow worm tunnel road.

The next day we did Hole in the Wall canyon (see post below for notes) but did it in 6 hours instead of 8 and I did the abseils much better than the first time :)

DARGANS CREEK:

Learning how to Prussik (climb up the rope)

40m abseil into Dargans Creek Canyon

Hand over hand climb out

View from the bottom

Campsite

HOLE IN THE WALL:

First abseil

Second abseil down a waterfall

Second abseil

Juggler & Grand Canyon

28/12/12

Party: Steph H, Luke S + 13 others from SUBW, led by Tim V and helped by Monica & Chee

Grade: 3 (moderate), 6 abseils (Juggler) 1 abseil (Grand), wetsuit needed for Grand only.
Track Notes:

After leaving reasonably early, we met at Medlow Bath Station from which we drove on onto a dirt road where we came upon a fork in the road where we left all the cars.

We then set on down the road until we turned right down an inconspicuous path that lead down the creek until we came upon our first abseil of Jugglers. The abseils were great as they gradually became more difficult- with the first being a simple walk down a waterfall and the last being a large overhang (maybe 30m?). We did about 5 abseils where we then had lunch and found the very touristy track (turn left) and walked along this up to the entrance of Grand Canyon. 

Grand Canyon had spectacular views but felt too touristy. There was also a lot of regeneration works going on so the canyon was spoilt by huge bags of cement and dirt. We then came to a gate which marked the entrance to the canyon. There is only one abseil into the dark abyss which has an overhang, anchored off 3 large metal bolts into the rock. After this there is a few long and extremely cold swims and some rock scrambling, until you are back at the same gate we entered.

These two canyons took us ALL DAY because of the huge beginner group but Juggler could easily be done in maybe 3 hours and Grand in 1 hour. 

After saying goodbye to the group Luke and I left for Cathedral Reserve at Mt Wilson to camp. The long day had taken its toll and we were asleep by 8.30 after a very nice noodle dinner.

Abseiling down a waterfall into a deep pool

Andreas climbing down the big log

30m abseil off an overhang

Add caption

Hole in the Wall Canyon

6/12/12

Party: Steph H, Neil H + 9 others from The Bush Club lead by Adrian.

It’s Dad’s 55th birthday and we decide to spend it canyoning with the Bush Club (our 3rd canyon in 7 days!!!) We left at 6am to reach the trail by 9am and turned right onto a dirt road from Zig Zag Railway where we took the Waratah Ridge Turnoff, although we missed it because there are no road signs.

Grade: 4 (moderate to difficult), 6 short abseils with one 15m, wetsuit needed.

Track Notes:

After a quick introduction to all the group members, we set off on the trail to the middle front of the car park area, where the National Parks had closed off the continuing Fire trail to the actual track start. After about 20-30 minute walk along the trail in the middle of a ridge, we came to a large log in the middle of the road that signalled our exit towards the left, which is North of the Bungleboori. We continued until we came across a large pagoda, where we veered to the right. Once we came across a small section of beach with water (about an hour of walking), we wet-suited up. From there there was a small section of canyon that didn’t have abseils, and we then walked for another 20 minutes until the proper start of the canyon.

All in all, there was 7 abseils- most were quite short but had waterfalls and tricky/awkward starts, with slight overhangs. The most spectacular abseil was 15m long with a free hang on the way down into a deep dark section of canyon. After this, we entered a pitch black section with glow worms and an extremely tight and cold squeeze (remember to veer right at this section). Once we reached the end, we jumped into the river and swam left upstream until the exit. This track led us to the same pagoda but from a different side and we reached the car by 5.30 (could have probably finished hours earlier, but being in a large group slowed us down).

In conclusion, it was a great day with good abseils, with the canyon being extremely dark and narrow with the most beautiful canyon formations and cliffs! It is called Hole in the Wall canyon because it was discovered from the bottom up (the part where we jumped into the Bungeboori), where those who found it literally saw a hole in the wall of the cliff.

Going into the start of the canyon

A short swim

15m Abseil

Steph in a short swim

15m abseil

Steph

Jump-in at the end of the canyon

Walk out of the canyon to the exit

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

First post!

Hello all,

This blog is purely here as a way for me to document all the canyons and bushwalks I have done in the hope of fulfilling my 2013 New Years Resolution- to do a bush walk/canyon at least once a month, including one three day bush walk.

I hope to learn the ropes so that I can go canyoning and bush walking without the help of experts and lead my own trips, and I also hope to inspire other city dwellers to get out into the bush and do something they would never otherwise do. There is a whole other world out there, and there is nothing better than escaping the daily grind of the big city and getting back to nature.