Canyoning for Beginners

[Summerfall]

Hi everyone,

I'm planning my first canyoning trip in the Blue Mountain this coming December but I'm not quite sure which trip I should choose from: Fortress Creek or Empress Falls? I know there's a 30m abseil at the end of Empress Falls and that's what tempts me most but Fortress Creek is a whole day trip. Which trip would you recommend to make a first timers trip most memorable?

Also, can anyone recommend a tour group? I know there's quite a few out there like Rivers Deep Moutain High, High N Wild, and Blue Moutain Adventure Company...

Thank-you!~

[Julz]

If it's memorable you're after, I'd suggest Empress. It is your classic canyon with deep slot sections, water jumps, a slide or two, and as you mentioned, there is that 30m abseil at the end. A first timer such as yourself will get the adrenaline up in Empress. Fortress is lovely too, but more of a leisurely paddle, wade and occasional scramble through mostly open canyon. There is one small abseil near the end which can be jumped with care but only under the supervision of an experienced leader who can direct you to the exact spot to land.

High'n'Wild do regular trips to Empress, I don't know about the others you mention.

Good luck and I hope you enjoy which ever you choose.

Julie

[Altzone]

I see you've asked on here too!

For the benefit of future others who ask the question, my (summarised) comments as I've sent you before:

Out of those two Empress would be the best "adventure", it has several nice jumps, and the abseil is the fun most fun of almost any canyon (but the start is very tricky and it can be scary, many have turned back!). Although the canyon is ridiculously short, but it will seem like a huge adventure your first time I'm sure!
If you do this, make sure you ask the guide to take you 50m upstream from the start and do the jump into Asmodeus pool, just for a bit extra fun.

Fortress isn't much of a slot canyon, it's mostly creek walking. Although there are a couple of nice short slot sections (the narrow swim is one of my favorite parts). You do this canyon for the awesome views, plain and simple. The abseil is so easy it's almost an anti-climax (or jump it if they let you).

But for my money you can't beat Twister & Rocky Creek. They are just so much fun (and Rocky is spectacular), and the fun lasts for much longer. No abseils though.

The companies are all pretty much the same. High'n'wild is the biggest, BMAC second. You might get a smaller group if you go with one of the others. Empress gets packed on a weekend, you could be waiting for your abseil for an hour or more!
There is a good chance you'll have Fortress to yourself if that's important.

When are you going? It's COLD at the moment!

Dave.

[Summerfall]

Thanks so much for your replies Julie and Dave!!! And double thanks Dave, should've known I would have bumped into you here seeing as how I got this website off of you 

Just by going off everyone's advice and suggestions, it sounds like Empress is the one to do! But I trust that I'll be coming back afterwards for more. It's too bad there's nothing here in Queensland or else I wouldn't have to travel as far! The closest would have to be abseiling adventures which I'm looking into and would hopefully provide me with more experience for the harder canyoning trips in future.

I'll be going there in December so I'm pretty sure it'll be warm and sunny by then. It was above 30 degrees here in QLD so it looked as if we skipped spring and got straight into summer... can't wait to see what the weather will be like once the official season starts 

~Ting

[Summerfall]

Oh, and I'm planning to go on a weekday... so hopefully won't be as packed?

[Altzone]

If you are down here for only one canyon, then forget the beginner stuff, go straight for the gold and do Claustral instead!
Empress will be a bit of fun, but Claustral will make you go WOW. It won't be an experience you'll forget in a hurry. And it's much more of an adventurous day out, think Indiana Jones meets the Goonies.
Claustral isn't technically hard, you just need to be fitter to handle the long (and high) walk out and all the scrambling.
December will be a great time, and Claustral is a treat during the week with far fewer people, you might even have it to yourself.

Dave.