Beginner’s Saturday Canyon – Wollangambe

Do you want to float along the ‘Gambe, soaking up the sun, water lapping at your feet with grand sandstone walls around you? Then come along to this Saturday Boree Log Beginners Canyon trip! Feel free to swim and jump off the walls as well.

You’ll need to be signed up and approved to Boree Log to come.

Read more about the canyon here:
http://ozultimate.com/canyoning/track_notes/wollangambe_1.htm

We will walk from the campsite (at ~8:00) to the start of the canyon (about 1.5 hours, descending 350 m) where we change into our canyoning gear (see below). We will spend the day negotiating our way down the Wollangambe River. This will involve swimming/floating along long sections of cool, deep, calm water as well as walking and scrambling around sections constricted with boulders. There will be opportunities to climb the canyon walls and jump from them into the river. We will also have a chance to explore up to 4 canyons in reverse from where they meet the ‘Gambe. We will stop at a beach somewhere along the river for lunch. At the end of the canyon we will change out of our gear and walk back to the campsite (about 2.5 hours, ascending 350 m).

To join this trip you must be able to swim and be fit enough to spend the day hiking and swimming/floating at a leisurely pace.

Important information!

You will be in the water for the majority of this trip. You will get wet and the water is cold. See below for what you will need to keep yourself warm and your important items dry.

GEAR:

Supply your own or can borrow from the club on the morning

• wetsuit
• helmet
• lilo (can be borrowed from the club)

Supply your own:

• Backpack – to hold all of the things (see below) you will be taking. This will get wet.
• Wetsuit and/or Swimmers – The water is too cold for most people to spend all day in without a wetsuit. The club’s supply of wetsuits is not large enough to cover everyone at Boree Log, so if possible, bring your own, especially if you get cold easily. You can usually find cheap wetsuits at a second-hand store, on gumtree, or from Anaconda. Alternatively thermals can be used. We wear boardies over our wetsuits to protect them. Note: Since we will be using lilos to float the river, you will be able to stay mostly out of the water throughout the day. This reduces the need for a wetsuit for some.
• Shoes and Socks – These need to be closed toed, well fitting, and preferably lightweight. Old runners and volleys work well. No thongs! Socks need to be wool, synthetic, or neoprene. No cotton! You will be wearing these shoes on the walk in, in the canyon (these will get wet), and then on the walk out. Keep in mind you will want have a spare (dry) pair of shoes back at camp for when you are not canyoning.
• Helmet – A climbing helmet or a bike helmet. There is always a danger of rock fall in canyons. Again, don’t rely on borrowing a club helmet. This will get wet.
• Torch – A head torch is preferable. While we will plan on returning to camp before dark, everyone needs to be prepared.
• 1.5L water, snacks, and lunch – Fruit, chocolate, lollies, muesli bars – think high energy items that do not need to be cooked.
• Drybag – This will hold your lunch, dry clothes (that you wore hiking to the canyon), head torch, and any other items you want to keep dry. If you do not have a proper drybag, you can use multiple plastic bags or bin liners (3-4). By new from $10-$15.
• Clothes to hike in – You will wear these on the walk to and from the canyon. Remember sun protection: sunscreen, hat, sunnies, etc. If the spiders and snakes don’t get you, the sun will. Slip, slop, slap.
• Waterproof camera  – Not required, but everyone loves pictures!

See you there folks!

Brendan