Canyoning - Down Under

This photo was taken in Claustral Canyon, one of hundreds of canyons in the Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. These canyons are astonishing places. Narrow gorges created by water carving its way through slabs of sedimentary sandstone. Some are only a few meters wide and very deep.

As you can see from the photo, it’s a different world down here – beautiful weathered rock formations covered with moss and fragile ferns, underground watery caves with glow worms dotted on their ceiling, pools of crystal water filled with bright orange yabbies, chock stones and rotting logs, the occasional Lyre Bird or Tiger snake that’s fallen in from the top, and the whole scene pierced every now and then by a shaft of sunlight from high above.

To get into these canyons you need to abseil down slippery waterfalls 

and then wade, swim and scramble along the creek until you find a place to climb out. 

It’s an exhausting and exhilarating adventure.

I’ve explored many of these canyons over the years and had some challenging experiences, including a few bouts of hypothermia, getting benighted, and confronting an angry tiger snake that I'd disturbed as I clambered through a tight squeeze. I don't know who was more startled, him or me. I'm just glad he didn't strike when he had the chance - I can still see those angry fangs!!

One of the great things about these days is that I get to do them with some of my favourite people. They may look motley but in a tight spot when you need support, they're the best. Front row. Keith and Youngy. Back row. Neil, Simon and Ryan.

This is Kanagra Walls, location of Danae Brook, the 'Everest' of Canyons in the Blue Mountains.

A few relaxed moments before we head into the first of eight abseils in Danae Brook.

Pretty vertical this edge!

Over the years, canyoning has been an important experience I've shared with my boys - it's served as a rite of passage for them - and how well they navigated it! Here goes Simon at Danae Brook.

Lucky his old man is there to belay him (only slightly anxious!).

Very wet, and slightly relieved on arrival!

This slot in Pipeline Canyon is pretty narrow. That's Alex down there...

Where did he go??

Keith Castle, our fearless (and eager) leader on so many canyon trips. (If he had a tail it'd be wagging!)

Drying off after a wet abseil.

Alex on a more open abseil.

Guess who? Guess where?

Great adventures and great memories.