MORONG DEEP – JANUARY 2014
Morong Creek Fire Train > Morong Creek > Kowmung River > Morong Deep > Megalith Ridge.
Morong Deep (this long weekend’s adventure) is a trip that we’ve attempted 4 times over the past 6 years. In finishing the trip, we improved our success rate from 33% to 50% and we all survived relatively unscathed.
There were (of course), Repeat Offenders: Steve C, Len S and me (the three of us have now been on all four trips!) and we introduced newbies Jason S, Trish M, Theo N, Wendy A & Colin N to this fabulous area.
The drive across the ford is now very sketch, only suitable for 4WD or all WD, maybe the Uni Rover Trail should be used in the future if only 2WD vehicles available. Springwood Bushwalkers Club saved the day with a snatch strap and their BA4WD as one of our vehicles got stuck.
The trip is obviously becoming more popular, as this is the first time we’ve come across other groups (Springwood Bushwalkers and Bathurst Bush Club), with limited campsites this could have been a problem. We used “2 Big Rocks” and a newly discovered campsite on RH side amongst casuarinas which is much closer to exit (just across river) from our previously used site (which is only suitable for 2 tents), thankfully we had both campsites to ourselves.
We nailed a nicer entry route and will refine it on the next trip (if there is another one) by accessing the creek further down-stream at Upper Morong Falls, crossing to RH side and going down that spur to again access creek above Little Morong Falls.
Despite the fact that the water was lower than ideal for the rapids and use of lilos (0.l6m 
at Cedar Ford), it was higher than one of the other times, we still had a lot of fun on the jumps and waterfalls. We had mostly good weather with rain/drizzle on day 2 ending in the early morning but as the day was overcast with a cool breeze the day wasn’t as pleasant as it could have been, the water however was not at all cold.
This time Jason, Trish and Theo did The Big Jump of the waterfall, they were encouraged to do it by some other people who were there and jumping (and not killing themselves), so they gave it a go.
There were some high or low-lights
- Len thought he had the “most injuries” award in the bag until Trish managed to take out the honours on the home stretch.
- Jason proved that a Hubba Hubba footprint (aka “the doily”) was ok for a fly if in the foetal position during rain.
- A 2 person tent will accommodate 3 women (we had a slumber party).
- Don’t do a jump-in with your spray jacket still on.
- Suspicious spilling of red wine over cards when someone (unnamed) was losing. Cards still useable!
- Most of Steve’s food was way past its “best by” date and he suffered no ill effects.
- And, the burning question for BWOCers … Can vegemite go off?
So, will we go back again? Now that I’ve seen that it’s no longer flying under the radar, I doubt I’ll go back. Selfishly, I like having the river to myself, it reminded me of my last trip to Ettrema when there were three or four other groups on the Creek at the same time as we were, it just takes away the whole wilderness experience. I’m glad I introduced it to the newbies, some of them may lead a group through in the future but at the very least, Jason, our token young person, will remember this for years to come and when his kids grow up may bring them down here.