Scouts Australia - Greater Western Sydney Region
Canyon Course November 17 and 18 2007
The course will commence at 9am on November 17. Meet at Pierces Pass top carpark.
This is on the south side of Bells Line of Road, between Mt Banks and Mt Wilson turn offs.
11.11.07 update: I have had an
email from a participant who will be travelling Windsor Rd on
Saturday morning and is willing to help with transport - contact: mcewan.mob@optusnet.com.au
Saturday November 17: Bowens Ck - South Branch
Meet at Pierces Pass Top Carpark at 0900hrs
Will need to drop a car or two at Range Hill prior to this time
Should finish back at about 1600hrs
Approx route for Bowens Ck South on Saturday
Saturday Night ...
We will camp at Cathedral Reserve (1 km through Mt Wilson) on Saturday
evening. We are normally able to camp "at our vehicles" so creature
comforts are more than welcome! Weather permitting, we often have a
campfire, but most bring a small stove/cooker/trangia. There is a
toilet at the camp area. If you do not wish to camp, you can meet us at
the Reserve at
8.30am on Sunday morning. You will need to complete both days to
achieve your canyon qualification.
Sunday November 18:
Serendipity Canyon
Start off from the Reserve at 0830hrs and should be back about 1600hrs
Pick
up on Sunday afternoon 18th November, will be approximately 4.00pm
at the Reserve. To get to the Reserve
drive into and through Mt Wilson until you hit a T-intersection. Turn left.
Cathedral Reserve is a short way down on the right hand side.
Some notes to ponder: We will
be navigating to the starts of the canyons, at times trackless! Map
supplied on the day. We will be abseiling into the canyons, sometimes
directly into pools of water in which you cannot stand whilst
disconnecting from your rope. We will be swimming with clothes and pack
on. It is important your shoes stay on whilst swimming, hence no ES
boots and ensure your shoe laces are done up!
Bringing a camera? You will need to keep it dry, yet to use it, also accessible.
What do I wear? Walking to the canyons: shorts/shirt/volleys/wool socks, hat.Whilst in the canyons....we change at an appropriate spot:
a thermal top under my wetsuit (short sleeves/legs), shorts over my
wetsuit to protect it when we slide down logs, etc., speedos, wool
socks/volleys, helmet, harness. On the way out:
we can change into dry clothes for the climb out, I guess the socks
being the most important - make sure the sand is all out! Hence, the
dry change of clothes I have in my pack, with the wet volleys though!
Don't have a wetsuit? Bring a wollen jumper (from Vinnies!) and a
thermal top if you can get one.
Your pack will
get wet inside, hence it is important the contents are protected by
using dry bags or at least 3 strong garbage bags - gear in the first
and tied up, this into the second and tied up and then into the third
and tied up. Some prefer to split gear into clothes, lunch, camera
etc each in their own 3 bag system. These can also give you some
flotation during the swims if you avoid squashing all the air out!
Be advised...water in a canyon is very
cold, rather like sitting in a bath with ice blocks thrown in. It takes
your breath away when you jump in, and if you are not prepared it is
very uncomfortable every time you need to enter the next pool. One of the greatest risks in canyoning is hypothermia.
You will need to bring....
* Food, water and equipment for weekend camping (we will not be carrying tents, sleeping bags etc.)
* Abseiling equipment: including your prussic loops, helmet,
harness, 2 carabiners, descender (not figure 8), gloves. If you do not
have these, they will be supplied for the course (except prussic loops).
* Warm clothing: wetsuit (preferred) and/or thermals and/or woollen
jumper plus woollen socks, woollen beanie. These will get wet as you
will wear them in the canyons.
* Change of dry warm clothes (to be carried each day)
* Note ... Saturday's clothes may still be wet on Sunday morning!
* Footwear: wear sandshoes/volleys (preferred) or joggers - NO elastic sided boots or similar. They will get wet.
* Personal first aid kit, including a space blanket
* Hat and sunscreen
* Raincoat. This will not keep you dry whilst canyoning, but may be useful whilst hiking or in camp!
* Daypack - to fit your lunch, clothes, harness etc AND you will be carrying group equipment at some stage, e.g. ropes
* Drybag or a number of strong garbags to keep your lunch and spare clothes dry
* Flotation assist, e.g., empty wine cask, pool floatie
* Water bottle - at least 1 litre
* LUNCH - to be carried each day, and snacks for the 2 days. On
Saturday we should have lunch at a sunny spot in the canyon and Sunday,
on the banks of the Wollongambe.
If you are applying for Leader qualification from this course, please contact me prior.
For any further information, please contact the course leader, Peter Coffill (Ropes)
Home: 4572 1040 email: ropes1@petlins.com
Mobile...on the course days only, vehicle environs: 0427 089 825
I hope you have a great weekend. If anything arises that prevents you from attending, please contact the course leader.
Yours in scouting
Peter Coffill
last update 11.11.07