MOUNT WILSON, NSW – 3rd January 2025
I guess some of you have been wondering where I’ve been? Have I stopped adventuring? Or have I run out of adventures? Well, December was one of those months! But, I’m baaaack! And I’m knocking a trip off my wish list.
About 2 years ago I received notice of a “new” canyon trip, unpublished and easy to get to. So, I sent the information to John G and we decided that we’d do it … and then life got in the way. So, it’s two years later and we were both going to be at Mt Wilson, and we had three novice canyoners that wanted to do a trip, so I suggested this little unpublished canyon. The creek we were to explore is between Horseshoe and Water-dragon Canyons, sounded easy to get to. And then there was a bit of scope-creep, John wanted to go and check out some Aboriginal axe grinding grooves which was “sort of” on the way.
We set out from the Mount Wilson fire station at 9am with Vamsi, Fletcher and Cheyin tagging along. Sadly, I’d left my camera at home, so big thanks to John G for providing me with evidence that I’d been there LOL.
We took the track to what used to be called the Wollangambe 1 Entrance (very rarely used these days to access the Wollangambe). Vamsi and Fletcher on top of one of the pagoda’s on the track.
We eventually dropped into the Wollangambe (after 1.5 hours) crossed over and looked for the track up to the Geronimo Canyon entry. Hard to find the start of the track but ok when you find it – obviously not done all that frequently these days.
I’ve done this track to Geronimo at least six times, my first trip being in 2004 and the last time being 2016. I’ve never had any trouble, but this time I needed a handline to get up a small climb (very demoralizing, have never had to use a handline before!).
The climb up the ridge to high point 959 on Shay Ridge (where the sharpening groves were) was punishing. I’d had a virus about a week before the trip and it really knocked me around. We got to the grinding groves at 12pm (approx) and took advantage of a place to sit to have lunch.
The group having lunch at the grinding grooves (around a “well” with a rock beside it), John counted at least 25 – 30 separate grooves, with what would be a permanent water source (a hole about 50cm deep) that would once have had a rock over it to keep out leaves and animals from drinking. The rock is now broken in two.
We then followed the ridge and detoured to a saddle just above our target, a side creek of a tributary of the Wollangambe. Apparently, this is where the group that did the trip that I’d heard about dropped in, although they took a more direct route.
By this time I’m thinking “this had better be good for all the effort it’s taken!” We followed the creek down to a junction and then turned right at the junction.
The first indication that there might be some canyon formation here.
A tree fern trying to hold up the cliff LOL.
Finally starting to look a bit like a canyon. There was a small slide behind Fletcher.
And now we’re in it, a proper slot canyon with a deep pool.
More of the tunnel.
And more, by now we’re pretty happy with what we found, the walls in some areas were covered in verdant green ferns – probably why it got its name.
All too soon the canyon finished, and we were back in a scrubby creek. We were about 1k from the end of the creek – a tedious walk through scrub but thankfully not too thick. Eventually we were at the junction with the Wollangambe and after a rest and snack we headed upstream to try to find the exit out. None of us (except John) were confident that we had the right exit route but after about 30m we were on a track so that was a relief.
From then on it was just a slog back on the tourist track to the Mt Wilson Fire station. I told the two boys to go ahead and John and Cheyin kept me company on the long, slow walk out.
Me on the final home stretch, a mere 800m to the fire station. Mind you half an hour before whilst still on the footpad I was calling out “John are we there yet?”, I well and truly was sick of the uphill walk!
Back at the cars at 6pm – a BIG day. Thanks so much John for the photos and for humoring me by doing this baby canyon. Big thanks too to our novices, you did a great job!
So, would I do it again, probably not, a lot of effort for a 100m or so of canyon, although it was very pretty and a lot of fun.
The following day we went into Dufaurs canyon – lots of swimming down long pools and that God awful walk out again, my thighs and gluts were well and truly suffering, but I was a lot quicker on the walk out on day 2!