The canyon log is my chronological account of the various canyon trips that I have been fortunate enough to partake, and in some cases, lead.

Sydney is blessed with an abundance of rugged bush land less than two hours drive away, and in this bush land lie some of the most pristine and delicate environments that can be found.
Visiting these places may require no more than a simple walk along a creek, or demand bush craft and navigation skills just to get there.

These trips are 'canyon' trips which involves starting high in the range and following a creek or stream as it carves it's way down to the river valley. The Kanangra canyons are generally fairly open and following these is an excersise in abseiling and scrambling. The beauty of this area are the panoramic views along the Kanangra Walls and valleys. The incredible ruggedness of the area.

Blue Mountains canyons like Claustral, cut deep into the sandstone below them and over time have worn channels and gutters, deep enough that direct sunlight never reaches the bottom. Walking and swimming through these is a magical tour through a ferny green wonderland. A visit to the lost planet.

I have kept these notes as a reminder to myself of the individual trips, as well as to provide 'some' useful information for following excursions, or to supply to others planning similar outings.

As I have been hap-hazardly adding pictures lately, these pages are best viewed at 1024 x 768 !

Trip 18 Starlight Canyon (the video) 20th Febuary Y2K Sean, Ross, Geoff, Jason and myself Length of trip : approx 18km Elevation : approx 350m Duration : 1 day Rope required : 46m DRY - canyon (torches required)

At the Newnes Pub

Low energy seemed to be the call for the day.

Flatmates, Ed and Anth' decided not to come in prefference to spending the day at home drowning yabbies in the ocean. Jason had an intersting night involving being broken into, and having to fend the intruder off with a baseball bat, followed by fortifying drinks from several mates.. well into the wee-small hours. (We picked him up at 06:15).

Other flatmate Rossco, was non-commital but seemed eager to do something. Last flatmate Sean was going to be in Lithgo anyway and said he'd meet us at the Newnes pub!

None of us particularly liked the early start required... Even worse for Geoff who had a little further to drive.

With Jason and Rossco in the car we were on our way proper by 06:30, and eagerly looking forward to the niceties in store at the bakery in Richmond. Never a let-down, they were choc' full of all sorts of tasty treats. Surprisingly there was quite a number of people there already.

Armed with pies, rolls, biscuits, cakes and drinks, we hit the road again and made good time to the dirt road to Newnes. Here we slowed somewhat, to take in the views, avoid the goats, and generally try to keep the car unbent. Geoff and Sean were both waiting for us when we arrived.

Heading up the pipeline track

As usual, a few minutes of goofing around the cars before we left, ensured we got some video of the start of the day and we were off on the trail (after being warned about snakes by the local kids), by about 09:45. Not too bad a start for us. The day itself was warm already. Promising to get hotter as the day progressed. I was glad we were doing the hard bit first. After the walk up the hill, we would have just the cool easy trip back down the canyon, and back along the flat road at the botom! To every one's amazement, we made good time up the Pipeline Track and arrived at the turnoff to the lookout sweating profusly, and in need of a short breather. Geoff, Jason and I headed out to enjoy the view and by the time we got back, every one seemed suficienty rested to go on.

Ross and group at the start of the creek

A little more goofing with the camera as we walked along the bushy track over the range, and finally down into the creek that eventually becomes Starlight Canyon. Even though I was ready for it this time, I was still dissapointed with the upper reaches of the creek. It just seems so 'un noteworthy' at this point. Wide, very dry and just ... scrubby ! But things soon change. As we progress along the dry creekbed, the banks on either side take shape and the leaf litter gives way to rocks and sand. Dead tree's and logs create minor obstacles along the way and a faint track is just visable as it negotiates it's way around the few dank looking pools that dot the upper reaches of this creek.

a brown snake

The guide book suggest going high at one point to avoid a deep pool. Although it's easy to find the track, be aware ! There are at least two false leads returning to the canyon from it.

At this first junction we came across a brown snake and also heard a group just ahead of us. Sean stood his ground as the snake slithered virtualy over his foot and we stepped past it and clambered down into the creek.

This was NOT the way! Loud Ker-Splashes ahead of us told us we were heading to the jump ins, which we wished to avoid. Sean, who was out in front tried to climb out using a tree and the moss covered rock, instead of reversing back with us. He very nearly made it too, but gravity won out in the end and he came crashing back to where he started. Shaken but not stirred he came back and followed us along the high path.

Scrambling back down a bit further on, there is a very short steep section that cased me some difficulty this time. (I missed the 'jug'). Which caused great mirth amongst the others.

Jason on the 1st abseil

Geoff halfway down the 1st abseil

Reaching the creek again we are reminded why we are here. CANYON! Here the creek bed (although completely dry) is flat and wide. The walls however are steep rock. We follow the canyon, now from side to side reaching a gentle dip, combined with a general opening up. Ahead is a dark drop, and the group from before. We round the last few boulders and take up comfortable positions to wait for them to go through. Camera's clicking away and video going too.

Our turn, and Geoff heads down to belay for us all. In a moment of insecurity Rossco and I notice that one end of the rope is nowhere near the bottom of the pitch. Geoff stops and re-adjusts everything, and assures us that the rope is long enough to complete the pitch. (This was Sean's new rope's debut.. a 40 something meter off-cut... actually it turned out to be the perfect length!).

Jason went next and after a moments hesitation at the lip, sailed over and got to the bottom before I had time to change camera positions. Sean, myself and then finaly Rossco, and with the rope down behind us, we are past the point of no return.

The slot here is not completley dark. Some light does filter down from above and the floor it littered with canyon debris. Leaves, branches, logs, sand and pebbles. The smell is of rotting vegitation is obviouse but not overpowering. Small (and large) spiders scuttle away from our noise and lights. An antechamber with a very dark slot of sorts, signals time for headtorches before we dive into the darkness to begin squeezing ourselves along inside the "starlight" section of the canyon.

The glow-worms were fantastic.!! Like tiny astral constellations of stars, they even gave off enough light to 'almost' see eachother in the pitch blackness of the slot. We found our bat family had moved since the last visit. Now they seemed to be resident about half-way along the dark bit, instead of clusered at the end. All too soon we were out into the daylight again, and moving quickly through the open topology that seems to make up so much of this particular canyon. Characteristically high, vertical or overhaning walls guarding a wide flat bottomed canyon, with lots of tall trees and ferns. The pools of water in this section are just magic. They are so clear it's hard to tell where the surface of the water starts. Gradually the pools collect and begin to run into one another and the stream begins to surface. Today, as last time, it's just a trickle.

A glow worm

Ross descending the 1st pitch

Most of the dark section is quite tight

Sean squeezes through

We lunched at the top of the second pitch before setting off searching for the best way down the boulder strewn creekbed. The gully here opens up quite wide and the nice easy going of the canyon floor above is replaced with a never ending pile of big sloping boulders. Every turn looks like 'the way' but most turn out to be big drops to the next set of boulders. No jump-ins, the creek is way below ground level here ! After some criss-crossing of the creek a steep track become apparent on the right ad this leads shortly to the valley floor.

Ross emerges into a sunny section

Geoff finds a jump in !

Ross on the second pitch

From here it's an easy walk back to the camp ground via the ruins. On the way we ran into Greg who had been out climbing with friends on Old Baldy. We scanned the face for the line they had taken and were duly impressed! But impression only last a short while, and thirst grows while waiting. As we could feel beers waiting for us at Kurrajong, and we still had some distance to walk, Geoff and I waved goodbye and jogged off down the 4WD track to catch up with the others.

I think every one was quite relieved to be back at the cars. Surprisingly, by the time we got there, the campground was completly empty ! No cars, no tents, no people.

(Just the way I like it!)

The Shale Oil Plant in it's hey day