Friday-Saturday 16-17 April 2010 Guided Abseiling in the Blue Mountains
Map: Katoomba 1:25000
Getting There
This walk was organised and led by me as a private walk:
Hello friends The couch potato I am, I was watching Sydney Weekender this evening. There was a segment on guided abseiling in the Blue Mountains from the company High n Wild at http://www.high-n-wild.com.au/. I have an aversion to height exposure and a liking for good meals, so I thought pushing my limits on the former and enjoying the latter might be an interesting, but probably expensive, combination. I am seeking expressions of interest in a Friday-Saturday (sorry, I like to be in church on Sundays) trip to the Blue Mountains to enjoy same. Leave at sparrow's; burp on Friday for: The Mega Jump - 125 metres 9:30 am--4.30 pm This is the highest continuous free-hanging abseil in the Southern Hemisphere that is available as a guided trip. This trip is a must for people who want to get the maximum experience from an abseiling day. The walk out includes a ride up the world famous Scenic Railway and a leisurely walk through the beautiful rainforests of the Jamison Valley; and stay overnight in, say, 4-star accommodation with a pub meal. Return to Canberra Saturday am, or first have a wander then return Saturday evening. I have a query in with the company. Cost would be in the order of $189 for abseiling, $70 for transport, say $130 for accommodation and $70 for meals. Not cheap, but possibly an experience of my lifetime. Don't know when; maybe Autumn or next Spring; but let me know if you are interested. Cheers. john
Further Information
The Mega Jump is not available, due to instability. High n Wild recommend:
The Super Jump - 60 metres
9:00 am--4.30 pm
18 storeys of overhanging rock make this abseil an exciting trip even for seasoned abseilers.
After a morning of abseils up to 30 metres at our Mini-Jump site (see below), you tuck into a nutritious and tasty lunch
Then comes 'the big one', an 18 storey overhang! The views are fantastic and the adrenaline will be pumping as you descend to the valley floor some 60 metres below.
which includes:
The Mini Jump - 30 metres
9:00 am--12:30 pm
A brilliant day in its own right, the Mini-Jump is an ideal half day abseiling adventure. Suitable for children from 10 years.
The abseiling starts with a beginner-friendly three metre high cliff. Your instructors are close at hand to encourage and explain the techniques. With your instructor explaining each step, you gradually continue to bigger cliffs, finishing on an exciting 30 metre high drop. The setting is beautiful bushland, making it both a scenic and exciting adventure!
Probably a bit more in line with our beginner status!
4 of us interested. We'll try for 16-17 April. Staying at The Gearin Hotel, pub grub and a band on Friday night. A bushwalk on Saturday.
Photographs
Access all primary pics here. All thumbnails in the walk report are active - click for a larger picture.
Walk
Day 1 - guided abseiling with High n Wild
We left Weston at 4.10am, Jude having driven up from down south. We picked up Greg and Tom in the north and headed via Goulburn, Taralga and Oberon to Katoomba. Got in in good time, at 8am, so time for a very good breakfast at the Savoy cafe. Then to High n Wild to sign up, meet up with Lynette and Chelsea (mother and daughter who were joining us for the morning then, sensibly, going for a facial) and Amy from England, and to receive harness and helmet and an initial briefing. Keiron was our instructor and guide for the day and was excellent. Forecast brief showers did not eventuate and the good weather prophesied by Tom did (just as well, as they stoned prophets in the Old Testament whose prophesies did not eventuate) - the 2 days were perfect.
A short drive via Katoomba St, Katoomba Falls Road, Cliff Drive and Glenraphael Drive to the gate on the trail heading to the pumping station. We walked in a little way and stopped at a 3m high face on the side of the track. A thorough briefing from Keiron and assistance from Amy (who'd done this sort of thing before), then the 7 of us started our tentative practising. After a couple of goes each, we were confident enough to move on.
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| Lynette and Jude take their first abseil | Chelsea and Greg, with Keiron on safety | Lynette and Tom practising on the 3m wall for bigger things |
We walked a little way to the walls of Narrow Neck Plateau overlooking the Megalong Valley and Keiron set up for the 15m abseil. A little more daunting, but we all screwed up our courage and again completed 2 goes.
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| Jude starts the 15m abseil | Tom on the 15m abseil |
Leaving the road, we wandered up through the scrub with longer ropes and, this time, a roller contraption for the safety rope so that it did not pull across the rock on the exposed edge. The abseil rope was also protected by a plastic tube where it lay across the top of the drop. In all cases there was an additional third, green, short belay line to use as we approached the top of the abseil and were attached to the black abseil rope and white safety line. 30m made me (and perhaps some of the others) think a little, but I was determined to extend my limits and made a point of looking down the drop. I guess I should have also checked my attire, listening to Greg's commentary on the YouTube video above. The bottom half of this abseil was in free air under an overhang and there was the opportunity to just hang there (slowly rotating if that's what our body decided to do) and enjoy the view. Again, each of us completed 2 abseils. The walk back up puffed us more than the adrenaline of the drop.
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| Greg - first down the 30m abseil | 1 John on the 30m abseil | John on the 30m abseil | Amy with Keiron on safety at the top of the 30m abseil |
With the time ticking away, we drove back to base in Katoomba and dropped off Lynette and Chelsea for their pampering. What an excellent mother and daughter morning!
We next drove W along the Great Western Highway to the Sutton Park picnic area on the southern outskirts of Balckheath and enjoyed a tasty lunch prepared by Keiron. Then on to Mount Victoria and via Hooper St and Innes Road to the goat track heading W from Pulpit Rock (4WD 10-seater van?). From here, a short walk to the beginning of the Little Zig Zag Track where, again, Keiron set up for us. 60m was making us all think, I'm sure, but Greg took the lead and went down first. It was huge and I certainly did not look down the first time. Each of us had at least one go on the 60m abseil; Tom and I had 3 goes. An interesting Bushrangers Cave at the bottom.
At last it was time to pack up, drive back, drop our gear and enjoy a beverage at the High n Wild office. We purchased a T-shirt to remember the day (ha ha).
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| View from near the top of the 60m abseil | Hey Jude - confidently abseiling 60m to the valley floor below | 2 Looking up the 60m | Tom in Bushrangers Cave |
The only advice I received in Canberra from old hands when organising this was to choose a company with a sound safety reputation. I must say this was the case and I'd highly recommend High n Wild. There were 2 other guiding companies operating near us at various times of the day and we agreed that they seemed a little more informal. Keiron briefed us that he may 'bark' at us for our own safety during the day and he did - how he could see that my green belay line was through my caribineer rather than the loop on my harness at one stage, whilst running the safety rope for someone else, was beyond me. As well, he was encouraging, friendly and fun. Hats off to Keiron and High n Wild and I think we'll be back.
Day 1 - evening
We booked in at the Gearin Hotel, a pub owned by Jack Thompson, with 'character'. With 2 twin rooms between the 3 boys, Greg and Tom graciously gave way to age and snoring, so drawing of straws was not necessary. Jude scored a single room - directly above the stage where bands played till 2am! A shower, change of clothes and a very nice pub meal. This elder stateman retired at 10pm - I won't report what time the youngies turned in.
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| 3 Entrance foyer in The Gearin Hotel |
Day 2 - Three Sisters, Giant Stairway, Federal Pass and Furber Steps Walk
We wandered back to the Savoy cafe for breakfast then, following the guide books loaned to me by Edwina, drove to Scenic World and parked at no cost.
We found the start of the Prince Henry Cliff Walk via the boardwalk at the back of the wheelhouse, exactly as described. This took us to the Katoomba Cascades then through various lookouts on the cliff top to Echo Point. Excellent views over the Jamison Valley to Mt Solitary, and the Three Sisters as we neared Echo Point. A few walkers and runners on the track, heaps more near Echo Point including tourists in business suits, collar and tie. From here we continued along the broad and paved track to the top of the Three Sisters and so down the Giant Stairway to the valley floor. Tom is super gregarious, so each group we came upon was greeted in his best Chinese or German or whatever. We discovered he's a great story teller, too.
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| View from Prince Henry Cliff Walk - Mt Solitary and Narrow Neck Plateau over the Jamison Valley | 4 The Three Sisters from Echo Point | Sister 1 | The Giant Stairway |
A right turn along the base of the cliffs on the Federal Pass Walking Track, crossing the Kedumba River again and back to the Scenic Railway. The Scenic Skyway passed overhead. Here Greg and Jude took the ride up, whilst Tom and I returned to the Furber Steps and puffed our way up. We took a few detours, including in to the side of the Katoomba Falls (Canadian and Austrian groups here).
At last at the top, we regrouped and drove back to Katoomba for fish and chips for lunch.
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| Tree ferns on the Federal Pass Walking Track | The Three Sisters from near the bottom of Ferber Steps | 5 Ferber Steps | Katoomba Falls | 6 Katoomba Falls |
The long drive back was eventually completed.
A huge time was had by all. The perfect couple of days away - a few adrenaline rushes and great fun with good Christian friends. Thanks heaps Greg, Jude and Tom.
Distance: 10km Climb: 400m. Time:1.5 days
Grading: S/E,X; E(5)
KMZ file for Google Earth/Maps: Guided abseiling and walk in the Blue Mountains
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This page last updated 16Aug22