Timmy's Trip Intentions

[Timmy Hills]

Hi everyone.

Next on the cards for me is Fordham Canyon near Bungonia, tomorrow, 26 March.

I believe there will be four in our group, meeting at the park office where we will log our trip details.  I've read some real varied trip lengths but do expect to be out by 5pm, certainly by dark.  Emergency contact instructions have been left with family.  I'll log in and post on return.

On the weekend - Coinslot Canyon in the Capertee Valley, a cracker. 

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

Back safely, but geez it's late!   

Party of 4 negotiated Fordham Canyon successfully.  Anchors and bolts in pretty good condition, great series of abseils (6 I believe).

Some minor rope retrieval difficulty and other abseiling delays meant a return to car at dusk (about 7:30pm - 11.5 hours out overall).

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

Off this afternoon to the Capertee to do Coinslot Canyon tomorrow.

It's a party of 8, which I'm a bit concerned about, though I have plenty of confidence in the leader.  In any case, an early start it will be. 

Emergency contact instructions again left with family. Expect to be back at the campsite by 6pm and will log in and post on return to Sydney.

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

All back safe and sound.

Gee I was really conservative with my trip time    - despite the large group and the three rock climbs on the way up from the Capertee, we did the canyon and returned to the campsite by 1:30, for lunch!

What a fantastic canyon!  Coinslot is certainly well named - I would recommend it to anyone who doesn't mind a challenging, exposed climb.

I'll work on Guidebook descriptions for Fordham and Coinslot soon.

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

Have just spent the weekend at Bungonia, caving and canyoning.

Unlike sodden Sydney, Bungonia was blessed with reasonable weather - in fact, while Sydney got a soaking all week, the Bungonia area only got a little rain on Friday and Saturday nights.  We even had brilliant blue sky yesterday afternoon 

On Saturday afternoon, ran a practice abseiling session at Hogans Wall before doing Grill Cave.  Bad air was encountered at Crystal Palace and bats were nesting just below, between Safe From The Russians and Rock Slide Chamber, so we returned to the surface. After dinner, I led a party of 5 through B4-5.

Earlier, while we were abseiling, met a group of 3 venturing into B5, ropeless, heading through and climbing out at B4.  Impressive.

On Sunday - NPA group of 11    did Long Gully, splitting into two groups below the long abseil.  1st group out in 7.5 hours, 2nd group in 8.5 hours.

Timmy
__________

PS - Guidebook description of Fordham Canyon is basically done, photos to follow.

[Timmy Hills]

Took two newbies through Juggler Canyon this afternoon.  We got rained on very briefly but otherwise the weather was brilliant. It did prove a little chilly though walking out at dusk through wet scrub!    I was impressed with Juggler, it's a lovely short canyon.  The second abseil down to the pool was spectacular today and proved a little tricky to keep dry. The final two abseils - which we did from the side of the canyon, rather than down the waterfalls - are a lot of fun.

Earlier in the day we did some practice abseiling out at Yellow Rock. I'd forgotten how good this spot is, lots of variety in the abseils there.

Anyway, I'll update the guidebook entry for Juggler a little. Tomorrow, Castle Head abseiling (though I'm not liking the look of the weather).

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

As promised I've created a guidebook page for Coinslot Canyon.

Funny - I had a bare-bones version of the page for a few days and an unidentified person amended the grid reference on it.  Put the darn canyon on top of a hill, on my map.    Maybe there's an explanation, I dunno.

Next trip is the Boar's Head abseil and possibly Whores Bed Canyon. But unfortunately not for a couple of weeks yet...

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

Okay, did the Boars Head abseils last weekend but alas, this time could not fit in Whores Bed as well 

Next, I lead Coachwood Canyon this Saturday, starting out from the Rocky Creek car park by 9:30am.

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

Out safely from Coachwood on Saturday, but we caused a few people some worry! Even had police called for us - which I'm very embarrassed about  - though luckily quickly canceled (after 20min) as soon as were within mobile range on the drive out.

Funny how it takes so long to do such a short circuit on the map!    Our delay was mainly due to us starting out late (nearly 11:00am) but we also got a bit bogged down in the canyon climbing over some fallen trees and meticulously setting up our abseils to ensure perfect rope retrieval.    Found ourselves at Rocky Creek at 4pm, took the downstream exit and just made it up the rock slab climb before dusk. From there, ~30-45min in darkness.

It's a nice little canyon, fairly dry as Rick Jamieson indicates - but I can't see how anyone could keep their feet dry downstream in Rocky Creek. We had Rick's book and two web descriptions - the combination of all these proved good and I'm glad I didn't go by just one of them.

Trip highlight - abseil into the coachwood forest and my new 8.5mm rope.

Trip lowlight - carrying my camera with brand new batteries, only to have it reject them as flat.  Damn you Energizer!! 

Timmy

[lubes]

hey mate,
next time you lead a group could you let me know if you got space for one more to tag along? i havent been since end of summer and am itching to go, but arent really confindent or experienced enough to go alone and dont know anyone else leading groups this time of year.
cheers,
lubes

[Timmy Hills]

Hey lubes

Yeah that's no problem mate, you'd be very welcome. I'm off the next two weekends on trips led by others but from August I'll be back running my own stuff. Probably some basic stuff, would like to knock off a few of the 'dry' canyons in Rick's book.

But likely to do Boars Head again. And Coachwood is down again for September.  I'll be posting trip intentions soon, plus let you know via PM.

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

My last few weekends I've done Tiger Snake & Penrose, Windows and the Old Coach Road / Glowworm Tunnel Track circuit.

I'm not sick of the area and will return tomorrow leading a small group through Tiger Snake & Penrose.  It's late notice but if anyone wants to join us post here or send me a PM please, I'll check back this afternoon and tonight.

Also I want to pack in a few dry canyons the next few weekends so if anyone is interested...  Have car, will travel, will canyon. 

Timmy

[Timmy Hills]

Off to Windows Canyon this Sunday, if anyone is interested (lubes?) contact me by PM.

Working on some guidebook entries again (e.g. Penrose Gully & Tiger Snake), keep an eye out. 

Timmy

[lubes]

i would have been interested but unfortunately i have to work, also i did Claustral today (saturday) so im a bit buggered at the moment. Thanks for letting me know though... hopefully some other time in the future!

[Timmy Hills]

Haven't really kept this up to date... too busy canyoning 

Yesterday did Wotta Canyon, Birrabang and Better Offer. Didn't see a soul, which is kind of nice but surprising since it was a sunny day and the water temp is still okay.

Was quite impressed with Better Offer, it's got some nice abseils, especially the stunning exit into the Grose.  Scrub on the way out back across to Birrabang is a real killer though 

Wouldn't mind doing Wotta Canyon again (a different way in) but next on the cards I think is Dalpura and King Georges Brook. First weekend in May, Tiger Snake & Penrose Gully (yes, again, it's good for the newbies).

Timmy