Canyoning Australia:

FreezeFest is on again (complete with the traditional disorganisation / short notice). FreezeFest 2023 Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June 2023 Mount Wilson (Cathedral Reserve campground) What is FreezeFest? FreezeFest is an informal gathering of canyoners in the depths of winter. Any competent canyoner ...

It's been a tough few years for Australian canyoners, with bushfires, Covid, and floods making it impacting our adventures. Given all that, it's probably not surprising that this forum pretty well stagnated. Combine that with the fact that these old-school style forums have struggled generally (even...

Canyoners were a key part of the campaign that finally saw the NSW Government protect the Gardens of Stone. Unfortunately, the new threat is that private, for-profit developments are being proposed for this area. Beyond the fact that conservation land is being handed over to private companies, these...

Okay, so I've heard details from a few reliable sources so pretty confident I know enough of what occurred to highlight some of the lessons that we should all learn from this tragic accident. (Note: I've edited the 'what happened' section based on some feedback requesting some of the details be remo...

FYI, this video is a good example of putting an eye splice in a kernmantle rope. Be aware that a thin cord will be much more fiddly. Rope and cord used in canyoning also often has a tighter weave, which makes doing these sorts of things much harder.

Putting an eye splice in the end of a kernmantle rope or cord (one with a core and sheath) is much more difficult that putting a splice in normal 12 braid Dyneema pullcord. There are some good video tutorials online, but if I were you I wouldn't bother. There's not going to be any issue just creatin...

I don't think there's any issue with the route. If there was, a popular / easily accessible spot like this would have been closed by NPWS (like they did with Wollangambe 1). Almost all abseil accidents come down to human error. I can only think of one anchor failure in recent years, and that was sti...

Sounds like the deceased man was training to be an outdoor guide and the trip was part of his TAFE training/assessment. The safety standards/practices of the TAFE outdoor adventure training are usually extremely high. It will be interesting to eventually here what actually happened. I haven't seen a...

so rather than do the usual short notice / disorganisation thing, we're going to set the date really early Ha! Maybe I should just admit that I'm incapable of being organised. Instead, put the dates for next year in your diary (Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June 2023) and just expect me to not really o...

With this year's FreezeFest happening in a couple weeks (complete with the usual disorganisation) I'm getting in early to set the date for next year.

*** Save the date ***

FreezeFest 2023
When: Saturday 17 and Sunday 18 June 2023 (plus possibly the Friday or Monday for those who are keen)

Can you believe it's been 10 years since the first ever Aussie FreezeFest? To celebrate the anniversary we're heading back to Mount Wilson where it all began way back in 2012. When: Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 June Where: Mount Wilson (Cathedral Reserve campground) *** What is FreezeFest? *** FreezeFe...

Well spotted Alex. I'd seen that the Pipeline Track had dropped off the closures list, but hadn't heard anything formal (sometimes long term closures disappear by accident, especially after other extensive closures for fires, floods, etc). I just touched base with someone in NPWS and they confirmed ...

The current closure of Waratah Ridge Road has been extended to 30 June 2022. Note that this date may get pushed back again. The Forestry Corporation closure details can be found here: https://www.forestrycorporation.com.au/visit/closures/newnes-state-forest-waratah-ridge-road-closed-21-february-to-3...

NPWS have closed Mount Hay Road to vehicles due to deteriorating road conditions (this is the gate at the boundary to the national park). Access is still permitted for walkers and cyclists, so canyons are still possible but with a much longer access route. While the road closured follows the recent ...

Yes, it's the week after the long weekend (many people already have other plans for the long weekend). I'll try and post more details soon.

The recent heavy rains caused a small landslide that has destroyed part of the usual Empress Canyon access track. The exact location is just north of where Lilians Bridge crosses the canyon. Currently, the canyon is open (once water levels are safe) but it requires a longer approach / exit. The only...

The above detour (around the headwaters of the swamp) has been closed off due to washouts / damage to the road. There is a gate blocking the road where it veers to the right from Red Hill Rd. There is another blockage at the intersection where the green route heads up to Two Trees Road. Given the or...

The road is once again closed as the substantive decontamination work restarted this month. Expect the closure to last for about three months, but that may change depending on what they find. Note that a slightly improved version of the detour is shown below (in yellow). Flynny suggests that this is...

Petzl has issued a recall of their PIRANA descender (the new version, released in 2019) due to a drowning risk if the rope accidentally gets caught in the blocking slot. The company has asked people to immediately stop using these descenders. The issue that prompted the recall is that when people ab...

It's amazing how often one of Rich's videos provides the answer. Some amazing stuff in there. If you buy a Purcell with sewn ends, they usually are made with a dynamic rope / cord. Obviously, people who make their own can use whatever they want, so you may find plenty that are just standard accessor...

Yeah, as Jason said the issue was with longevity more than the quality of the grip, although that did seem to deteriorate over time as they moved to different rubber compounds for the sole. Tom is spot on that they remain a good option for people only doing a small number of canyons each year. Altho...

Mt Wilson Mt Irvine RFS undertake a lot rescues in the Wollangambe -- most weekends during summer -- and most of them could be avoided with proper preparation and planning. They have installed new signage to ensure groups heading into the area understand what the trips involve and are properly prepa...

Mt Wilson Mt Irvine RFS undertake a lot rescues in the Wollangambe -- most weekends during summer -- and most of them could be avoided with proper preparation and planning. They have installed new signage to ensure groups heading into the area understand what the trips involve and are properly prepa...

To make it easier for people to read, attached is a PDF file of all the signage Mt Wilson Mt Irvine RFS have installed: Canyon Warning Signs.pdf Below is the text of the signs, which will hopefully make it easier for people to find when searching online. A MESSAGE TO CANYONERS FROM THE MT WILSON MT ...

And it's official. National Parks have updated the alerts page for Blue Mountains National Park , confirming Wollangambe One is no longer closed (although it can only be accessed by Blue Mountains locals until Monday, when Covid restrictions begin easing). If you're planning a trip this summer, have...