MOUNT WILSON – 26 December 2025
Originally a Wollangambe 1 lilo trip was scheduled for Boxing Day, but 4 days out, it looked like being just David (the leader) and me. Both David and I had already done enough Wol 1 trips so I suggested to David that he could cancel and do something more productive with his day … like spend time with Winny! So, what to do? Think of something better to do or stay at home – doh! a no brainer!When chatting with Nicole after talking with David, I asked her if she’d like to do a trip down October Creek as I was keen to see what it was like (and Nicole had done it before so knew all the ins and outs). I put the word out and Jim, Vamsi and a new member Katie joined us.
We knew the temp would be around 17°C and a mostly cloudy day, didn’t sound too bad.
We parked the vehicles at the Bogey Hole Track and headed off on the old fire trail (the first part was in excellent condition, this section not so good). At the bottom of the hill, Nicole lead us over a small creek and onto a continuation of the fire trail (see above).
Eventually we arrived at a tributary of October creek and entering via a small drop into a pool, followed the creek until it eventually entered October Creek.
There were quite a few swims and some small challenges but nothing we couldn’t handle. Surprisingly there was a canyon section which definitely exceeded my expectations. Vamsi brought a pool noodle as flotation, not sure it was very successful and might have often got caught in the bushes.
Katie in October Creek – a recently fallen tree.
Nicole and her mini lilo which she swears by, much lighter than a regular lilo.
This is the really nice section of October creek, the water was so clear that I had Jim to take a photo of it for me.
Our first long swim in October Creek.
Eventually we came to the junction of October Creek and DuFaurs Creek – we know this because we’ve been at this spot before, there’s a jump if you want to do it (Katie at the jump). We’re still in the upper section of DuFaurs (Chatterteeth Canyon probably starts at the entrance with the big tree and a handline down into a side creek).
There were two swims, one 50m and one 30m before we would get to the usual entrance (the side creek that you would ordinarily use to enter Chatterteeth).
We arrived at the usual Chatterteeth entrance and stopped for a snack. It was 11am by this time and we were all a bit chilled (teeth definitely chattering), Jim suggested we exit here but I wasn’t keen because there’s a tricky (for me) climb which I usually use my prussik loops on. Perhaps it was me saying “I can’t do that climb unassisted” a couple of times so when I said who wants to exit they all said no, so on we went.
I didn’t see this frog but Jim took a photo of it on Vamsi’s pool noodle.
Me in a really nice section (not my paddle gloves – much easier to swim in the big pools with the gloves.)
We stopped for lunch after 2 hours (lots of swims – it was actually warmer in the water than walking along the sandy banks) and I was so cold (shivering) that I suggested we build a fire – not the right thing to do in a canyon, but I sort of felt we needed it, we were all so cold! Someone did say later on, better to build a fire than die from hyperthermia. Sorry those of you who thought we shouldn’t, but it was on a sandy bank, we buried the evidence and we did use sticks that we probably remnants of the big fire! Then we set off on yet another swim.
We reached Joes canyon (thank goodness) at around 3pm, I guess that we were all so cold and wanted to get into dry clothes that we sort of raced through Joes, never mind it’s easy to get to for those who’d like to do it again.
Katie, Jim and Vamsi went on ahead on the Wollangambe 1 track and were back to the vehicles around 5pm, Nicole and I took our time and got back to the cars at 5.30pm – the steps on the track make it tedious, we stopped a lot.
We heard from those who stayed in camp that they logged the temperature at 8C and we figured with the wind chill factor (the breeze in the canyon was chilling) it was probably 4°C!!!
We were all very happy to get back to camp and into warm clothes and sleeping bags, my feet didn’t thaw out until I put them in front of a fire around 7pm.
October Creek was on my wish list, so thank you all for coming with me it was a good adventure (October Creek definitely exceeded my expectations) but I do apologise for the chilly trip, and it wasn’t the best trip for Katie to do as her first one! Note to self do these wet canyons when the temps are in the 30s.
On the bright side, it was a 9 hour day, and here I was thinking I couldn’t do any of these long days again!!!
Big thanks to Jim for taking the photos for me, the battery on my camera was flat. It’s easy to see that being so cold, taking pictures was the last thing on our minds!