Geronimo Canyon - track notes

Entry

Park at the fire station at Mt Wilson, and follow the main tourist track towards the Wollangambe. At about 2km a track branches left below a large (10m) sandstone outcrop, which you should follow. This contours around a gully eventually dropping in to a small steep saddle. Head left off the saddle to reach the Wollangambe at AMG542913 (Wollangambe). Cross the river, walk up to the cliff and traverse around to the left until you can easily walk up. At the top of the ridge, you should be on a track that start west and curves around to the north following the ridge. Just after a high point the track begins to fade - drop off the west side and scramble down to meet the creek at the junction at AMG538920. The canyon starts soon after.

Notes

The first abseil is a relatively easy 7m from a tree - watch your head as the gap is narrow. Immediately this is followed by a slightly harder 7m from a pile of logs - needs a long sling. These can potentially be done together from the original tree, or combined by climbing around onto a ledge to the left and using a small tree as anchor.

The next abseil is 8m using a large rock as anchor, and a long sling. This has a tricky start. Try to keep the rope out of the crack for the pulldown. The abseil can also be jumped ("Geronimo!") if you have checked the water depth. Note that the water is usually not much more than person depth, so be very careful

The last abseil is about 14m from a tree. To get to the anchor requires a scramble along a narrow ledge to the left. Alternatively this could be done in two 7m abseils, the first from where the scramble starts.

Exit

It is a short walk from here back to the Wollangambe and then head downstream. You will soon get back to the point where you crossed the Wollangambe, and you can exit from here.

Comments

Geronimo is a nice canyon, relatively sustained but without being particularly deep or dark. It could be done in less than half a day by an experienced party, so a bit of a wander up the Wollangambe is worthwhile. There are a few cold swims, although none particularly long.

Rating: 3/5

Time

About 40min to the Wollangambe, another 40min to the start of the canyon, about 2h back to the junction with the Wollangambe, 20min to the exit point and 50min back to the cars. About 4h30min all up. Party of 7 (all fit, a few relatively inexperienced canyoners) with 2 ropes.

Tom Brennan : website@ozultimate.com: updated 20041206