This trip is part of the BME weekend -- to participate in this trip you must also be signed up to the main BME trip.
This is a non-technical canyoning trip, i.e. climbing gear (harnesses, ropes, etc.) are not required. However it is still a canyon in the other senses: there will be scrambling over wet slippery rocks, a steep hike in and out, and swims. Therefore while this is an 'easy' canyon you will still need a good level of fitness.
Due to high levels of interest in canyoning this year the club's wetsuits, dry bags and canyoning backpacks will be in short supply. The roped canyoning trips will be prioritised. We each need to bring the following gear:
Essential equipment:
- Clothes for the bushwalk in/out. Trousers or long socks are useful to protect from scrub.
- Hat and sunscreen.
- Wetsuit (if you have one) OR thermals (long-sleeved top plus long johns). Please do not underestimate how cold the water will be! (If you don't own thermals, go buy some! They are essential for outdoor trips -- or even just ordinary life in Canberra -- especially in winter. Kathmandu in Civic has thermals at $30 per top/bottom; Anaconda in Fyshwick for $20 per top/bottom. Do NOT get the long cotton underwear from department stores!)
- Spare warm clothing. At least your bushwalking clothes plus a warm jumper; ideally a second set of thermals plus beanie. Try to avoid cotton.
- Sturdy shoes you can swim in. Dunlop volleys are best. Old sneakers are OK.
- Daypack. Note this will get wet!
- Drybag (if you have one) OR 2-3 heavy duty garbage bags inside each other
- Lunch and snacks
- At least 2L water
- Personal first aid kit
- Torch/headlamp
- Emergency food -- high energy e.g. chocolate bars.
Recommended equipment:
- Climbing or bicycle helmet
- Space blanket
- A couple of empty plastic bottles in your pack to aid floatation.
PS. Some decades ago this creek was the outlet for treated effluent from Blackheath. While it is now a common canyoning destination, maybe it's still best not to drink the water!
Gather at Cathedral campground 9:00AM. Drive to start for Hat Hill canyon near Blackheath. Hike down to the canyon, change into wetsuits, do the canyon, change out of wetsuits, hike out. The canyon has three constrictions, with the exit just before the third.
[If we are a small group that can move fast we may go somewhere else. Any change will be updated here!]