NEWNES VALLEY – 5 February 2022
After yesterday’s big trip to False Teeth, I was looking forward to a more relaxed day. We’d decided not to do Twilight (for a variety of reasons), and so John picked a new canyon for us (he always does a “new” canyon on his Birthday Canyon Weekend). None of us knew what to expect, but we were all up for a sociable day out – I can’t believe that the canyon took as long as it did, but there was a lot of faffing around!
Back in May 2019, I’d been invited me on an exploratory trip with Philip C and Craig F, unfortunately I had a family function on that weekend and couldn’t go, but after the trip Philip gave me a rundown. I’d added it to my wish list, but then a year or so later I must have been feeling my age and thought “that’s never going to happen” and took it off the list. At some stage I must have told John G about it, so, it was a lovely surprise when John put it on as one of our day trips for the weekend.
The canyon gets its name from a climbing route nearby – apparently the climbers noted the canyon as a possible exit for the route and described it as a “superb canyon”, however there’s the caveat “this is a mini expedition and does take some time”.
John had a big group on this day, me, Anna O-B, Ali M. the Legendary Louise, Kathy G, and Andrew B. Once we’d climbed the usual track it was easy-as, but I have to say the track was a killer – it’s been a while since I last used it – must do more exercise!
Everyone walked past this little fellow. It had been very windy half an hour before and this phasmids must have been blown out of one of the gum trees. They like to live up the top of gum trees and I think someone told me years ago that they pollinate the flowers. Reminded me of a friend of mine who, sadly died of leukemia, he used to bread phasmids is his living room, he had built lovely homes for them and fed them fresh gum leaves.
Once we got to the top of the pass it was pretty easy going.
A short down climb – easy for Ali with her long legs.
Down a chute, we’re still not sure if we’re in the right place the south or north branch.
Further down between the pagodas.
This was a bit snakey looking.
Down at the first abseil, it looked like a good route in on the left, but Andrew went down and apart from being really scrubby, we decided that we were at a better spot and there was a good abseil we could do.
John setting up the rope, Andrew climbing down through a fallen tree. We decided to set up a handline/safety as the anchor was way down at the base of the tree and hard to reach. As I set up the safety line I figured I’d abseil down to John rather than go the route that everyone else took amongst the fallen tree.
Andrew on the safety line getting onto the abseil rope.
You can see the type of trip it was, very relaxed and lots of chatting!
An easy abseil down (Louise on the rope, Andrew belaying).
Kathy on the rope.
Alissa on the rope.
From there it was a walk down the creek bed.
By now it was 12.30, where did the day go? We stopped at this overhang for lunch and then continued along it to a ramp down past a waterfall.
The waterfall, would have been nice to abseil it but none of us were keen to get wet – up to now we all still had dry feet.
We’re travelling downstream now after lunch, there’s a junction “somewhere” but I wasn’t up front with John and Andrew so figured I’ll see it when I see it. The creek is quite open at this point.
A downclimb or two through small boulder fields.
Louise took some time out to check out an overhang.
John helping those of us who weren’t tall across a small chasm to traverse around a pagoda, maybe this is the junction of the two arms of the creek.
Once we had traversed around the pagoda, there’s another creek coming in from the side, looked like a nice slide into a pool, if it was a stinking hot day, you’d probably do that although you might be out of control on the slide.
Instead we traversed the side of the creek using good solid roots for hand holds (looking down from the top).
Louise on the same traverse, looking up, you can see the slide at the side. Probably wouldn’t have been a good wet option.
Finally we’re all down at the bottom of the traverse.
Looking at that slide again, maybe it would have been fun!
Making our way down the canyon through the moss covered rocks.
Most of us took the high road here but John took the low road, risking a fall into the small creek.
So far we all had dry feet and shoes and this was a challenge, Anna avoiding a pool. I actually just walked right through it, couldn’t see myself keeping my feet dry.
Long legged Ali makes it across easily.
Andrew at the next pitch deploying the rope – “give us the McGyver look” says Louise – so he did.
Louise with her “I know what I’m doing look” – she’s posing for John’s photo shoot.
“A little bit further down” says John, Louise: “How’s this” – not sure if they doing a canyon photo shoot, or a Victoria’s Secret one.
There was a large pool at the bottom of the abseil. We tried a number of ways to keep each other dry, to no avail.
Louise trying to help Kathy. When it was the second to last person’s turn, Andrew and I agreed that we should have rigged a guided abseil.
Andrew sussing out where he’ll put his feet.
John straddling it – he got his feet wet but not much more.
The final two stage abseil. This went into a large pool – you could almost traverse around the side but eventually got pretty wet, I didn’t bother with trying the traverse, just did the two strokes to get across. Louise had gone first, she wasn’t sure at first if there was an anchor at the pool level, and then when she couldn’t find one, we weren’t sure how long the abseil would be, so we used our two ropes.
Kathy on the abseil.
Ali at the bottom of the abseil, there was one of those Rack-problematic overhangs but everyone made it over the edge without getting stuck, Ali made it look so easy.
As did Anna.
So, we’re through the canyon now, all we needed was to figure out which way to go, left or right, eventually we decided on right and found our way down into the main creek by zig-zagging down some convenient ramps.
With the odd slippery drop thrown in. Are you wondering why John’s there to assist? Well for those of us who have short legs, there was nothing to hold onto and I needed his knee to get down. Ali didn’t, but if you tripped here and barreled down, you’d risk falling over another drop, so better to be cautious.
Once in the main creek it was a simple walk down to the Wolgan and our campsite for the night.
It had been a great, entertaining day out, lots of laughs, and a great opportunity for those of us who hadn’t canyoned with others before, getting to know each other. It’s funny how everyone relaxes and doesn’t worry about time when the distance from our cars isn’t great, we took way longer to do the canyon than we should have but it was great fun.
Would I do it again? Maybe, it wasn’t what I’d call a “superb” canyon (as the climbers called it), but I’d go back to check out the other branch, and maybe on a hot day, take some of the wet routes.
Thanks everyone for a fun trip and a big thanks to John for putting it on the calendar.