2022-January & 2022-March combined report
Day-trip ... circuit:
Deception Canyon
to Dry Canyon also known as Nobles Canyon
via Delusional Slot
and detour to Wild Slots
& cliff edges on plateau above Dry Canyon
Wollemi National Park, NSW, Australia
Note: This is Part 1 of the trip report.
Parts 2 and 3 of the report
- Part 2 of trip report
This link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2022/03/deception-canyon-dry-canyon-wollemi-np_6.html
- Part 3, last part
This link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2022/03/deception-canyon-dry-canyon-wollemi-np_11.html
Prolog
Many bushwalkers have been to Dry Canyon.
Some have been to Deception Canyon.
A few hardy souls have even been to
Delusional Slot.
But 2022-Jan may be the first time a circuit
from Deception Canyon
to Dry Canyon
via Delusional Slot
was completed by anyone !
7 weeks later, 2022-Feb,
another group of Chinese bushwalkers
(plus John Graham) repeated a similar circuit
using our 2022-Jan GPS trace.
Hhmmm ...
I should patent this trip and collect royalties
from everyone wishing to do the same 😊
Preview
Deception Canyon
Canyon floor is the small yellow dot.
We'll be down there !
Delusional Slot
It is the fissure on the right.
We'll climb up the cliff that way.
Though you can also climb up
via the fissure on the left.
Dry Canyon - beautiful !
You can preview more photos in these links:
2022-Jan:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1DPpzrFD1DUD8bNvz5N-ONtvvGOBDH57f/view
2022-Mar:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WNzLnkHywoQWdP2gW5lXkcAOCBn35wJ6/view
My bushwalks in this area
I have been to this area a few times now:
2022-Jan / 2022-Mar ... This combined report
- Deception Canyon &
- Wild Slots &
- Delusional Slot &
- Dry Canyon
2022-Jan ... 7 of us: Paul, leader
Frank Liu
Karen Lee
Lisa Li
Lora Ye
Ray Hu
Stanley Wu
2022-Mar ... 2 of us: Paul, leader
Dave knighton
We also went to lookout 1 ... photo #113 ...
Missed this wonderful lookout in 2022-Jan.
2020-Aug ...
- Deception Canyon &
- Wild Slots &
- Delusional Slot
5 of us: Paul, leader
David Hou
Joanne Zou
Lisa Li
Yusrin Mulia
Pictures only:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GFuSRJr_jfJaAtz9XyWZxWjEQq4o-8YG/view
2015-Sep ...
- Deception Canyon &
- Dry Canyon
5 of us: Nick, leader
Fiona
Freda
Paul
Ruoran Zhou
Detailed trip report:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2015/09/deception-nobles-canyon-wollemi-np-nsw.html
Maps
- 1:100,000 scaled 8931 Wallerawang
- 1:25,000 scaled 8931-4S Ben Bullen
and 8931-3N Cullen Bullen
Map 1)
Relevant part of the 1:25,000 topographic map:
GPS tracklog files & route
Warning:
Due to cliffs, GPS recording below
may be inaccurate !
GPX tracklog files can be downloaded from:
Recommended for this trip:
2022-Mar
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1RWLRh9JLAb60Y1IhN9IXriruVk9wjVBZ/view
2022-Jan
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UoGGFP8Jh-VP4kxqWlgscd1yJTnq2cMt/view
Similar to 2022-Mar ...
Difference:
- To pagoda 1 instead of pagoda 8
- Minus pagoda 9, lookout 1, pagoda 10
- Hence not as good as 2022-Mar trip
2020-Aug
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lMeeSdPkd662N3LncwxR1VWKiCuUwrGH/view
- Short trip
- Initially, same as 2022-Jan trip
- After pagoda 1, to different nearby pagodas
- Then head east-ish back to carpark.
Map 2) 2022-March trip.
(2022-January trip is similar.
- To pagoda 1 instead of pagoda 8
- Minus pagoda 9, lookout 1, pagoda 10)
GPS tracklog, counter-clockwise,
in the 1:25,000 topographic map:
- 2 blue ovals, top to bottom:
1 Wild Slots
2 Deception Canyon
- 14 dark arrows,
counter-clockwise from east along route:
1 Grid Ref 4081 1715 Carpark,
start/end of walk
2 Grid Ref 4074 1729 Small pagoda
3 Grid Ref 4016 1762 Delusional Pass,
lower end
4 Grid Ref 4022 1757 Delusional Slot
5 Grid Ref 4021 1748 Pagoda 8
6 Grid Ref 4027 1747 Pagoda 5
7 Grid Ref 4025 1721 Pagoda 6
8 Grid Ref 4007 1715 Pagoda 9
9 Grid Ref 4003 1726 Lookout 1
10 Grid Ref 3996 1705 Pagoda 10
11 Grid Ref 3998 1701 Pagoda 7
12 Dry Canyon west side entrance
13 Dry Canyon east side entrance
14 Grid Ref 4078 1663 Turtle Rock
- Small blue dot: Grid Ref 4020 1750 Pagoda 1
2022-Jan only
Just north-ish of pagoda 8
Map 3) Satellite image
2022-March trip
GPS tracklog in red, counter-clockwise
In summary:
- Park car ... Refer "Carpark Section" below.
- At Deception Canyon.
- Explore Wild Slots.
- Walk along ledge to Delusional Pass.
- Climb up Delusional Pass & Slot.
- Climb pagoda 8 2022-Mar / pagoda 1 2022-Jan
- Climb pagoda 5.
- Climb pagoda 6.
- Climb pagoda 9, 2022-Mar only.
- At lookout 1, 2022-Mar only
- Climb pagoda 10, 2022-Mar only.
- Climb pagoda 7.
- At southernmost point on cliff edge
above Dry Canyon.
- At middle part of Dry Canyon.
- Through west side of Dry Canyon.
- Explore outside the west side entrance
of Dry Canyon.
- Retrace steps through west side
of Dry Canyon.
- Through east side of Dry Canyon.
- At Turtle Rock.
- Back at carpark.
Carpark
Carpark: Grid Ref 4081 1715
- Small open space
by the east side of Glowworm Tunnel Rd
- Enough space for 2 cars only
Timeline and Distance
2022-March trip
From carpark, walk off-track immediately.
09:01 0.0 km Go west-ish initially
09:06 0.2 km At a small pagoda, GR 4074 1729
09:08 0.2 km Resume walking
09:17 0.45km At top of a ramp.
It'll lead down to a dry creek
which will lead to Deception Canyon.
09:34 1.0 km At south end of Deception Canyon
GR 4050 1781
10:03 1.15km At north end of Deception Canyon
GR 4051 1793
10:06 1.2 km GR 405 179
Leave backpack.
Climb up steep gully
to explore Wild Slots.
The steep gully leads to a flat area.
Keep going forward, we come to a huge rock
with 2 slots on its left and right.
First, enter the slot on its left side.
It is too narrow to pass through.
But it is possible to chimney up a meter or two,
then wriggle further forward to the other end.
Next, enter the slot on the right side.
At its far end, the ground is wet
and too narrow to pass through.
( Perhaps one can chimney up
and exit the slot that way.
Once out, maybe one can climb up
the huge rock in photos #39 to #41 ???
Or climb up the cliffs to the plateau
further east ???
Can some brave souls, after reading this
trip report, have a go at it and report back to me
😀 )
After exploring the slots,
return via a tunnel, photo #65.
NOTE: GPX trace around the narrow slots area
may be inaccurate.
10:49 1.67km Back at where we left
our backpacks at 10:06
Here, we have morning tea.
Take off our boots to dry our feet.
We had incessant rain for the past 3 weeks,
and so Deception Canyon is wet today.
(The canyon was usually dry.)
11:31 1.72km Resume walking
12:31 2.58km Climb up Delusional Pass ... steep
GR 4016 1762
12:40 2.67km At bottom of Delusional Slot
Lunch.
Then muck around ...
Pretend to climb up the vertical cliff
just outside Delusional Slot.
13.22 2.85km Climb up Delusional Slot
GR 4022 1757
13:27 2.9 km At top of Delusional Slot
13:33 3.02km At top of a pagoda, GR 4021 1748
For the purpose of this report,
it is labelled as pagoda 8.
13:36 3.02km Leave pagoda 8
13:47 3.27km At top of pagoda 5, GR 4027 1747
13:51 3.27km Leave pagoda 5
14:08 3.77km At top of pagoda 6, GR 4025 1721
Change phone & GPS batteries.
14:20 3.8 km Leave pagoda 6
14:41 4.27km At top of pagoda 9, GR 4007 1715
14:42 4.27km Leave pagoda 9
14:46 4.4 km GR 4003 1726
It is a wonderful rock platform
by a cliff edge with a super view.
For the purpose of this report,
it is labelled as lookout 1.
14:49 4.42km Leave lookout 1
15:04 4.75km At top of pagoda 10 on cliff edge
GR 3996 1705
15:07 4.75km Leave pagoda 10
15:14 4.85km At top of pagoda 7 on cliff edge
GR 3998 1701
15:16 4.88km Resume walking
15:22 4.98km At southernmost point on
cliff edge, GR 3997 1691
15:26 5.0 km Leave cliff edge
15:37 5.25km GR 4017 1696
Turn right into a ramp
which will lead to middle part
of Dry Canyon.
15:49 5.62km At east side entrance
of Dry Canyon west section
16:02 5.78km At west side entrance
of Dry Canyon
16:10 5.85km At top of a nearby rock ...
north-west-ish
of the west side entrance
16:14 5.87km Leave rock
16:16 5.93km Back at west side entrance
of Dry Canyon.
Start to retrace steps back into
the canyon
16:20 6.08km At east side entrance
of Dry Canyon west section;
same spot as at 15:49
16:25 6.25km At west side entrance
of Dry Canyon east section
16:28 6.38km At east side entrance
of Dry Canyon
16:47 7.0 km At Turtle Rock, GR 4078 1663
16:49 7.03km Resume walking
16:56 7.4 km At Glowworm Tunnel Road
17:03 7.9 km Finish at carpark
=====================================
Total: 8 hrs 2 mins
7.9 km Distance is from Google Earth
Pictures
Mostly from 2022-January,
unless stated otherwise.
On our way after parking the cars
1) From carpark, go off-track immediately,
west-ish initially.
- Upper pic: 2022-Mar
• Thick scrub, unpleasant to bash through
- Lower pic: 2020-Aug
• 6 months after the Great Black Summer
Bushfires in NSW, 2019-2020
• Almost the same scene as the upper pic ...
easy hike !
• Yellow oval:
Heading to this pagoda-like rock formation
Small pagoda
Grid Ref: 4074 1729
2) Climb this small pagoda-like rock formation.
(Yellow oval of previous pic)
- 2 pics below are of the same pagoda ...
from different angles.
3) (2020-Aug) Top of the pagoda.
- Left to right: Lisa, Joanne
Dry creek upstream of Deception Canyon
4) Climbing down a ramp towards a dry creek.
It will lead to Deception Canyon.
- Upper pic, left to right: Frank, Stanley, Ray, Karen
- Lower pic, clockwise from bottom:
Lora, Ray, Frank, Karen, Stanley
5) Down same ramp as previous pic ...
to the dry creek
which will lead to Deception Canyon.
- Lisa
6) Walking in the dry creek upstream of
Deception Canyon.
Deception Canyon
7) Deception Canyon ... upstream entrance.
8) In Deception Canyon.
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk
- Yellow oval: Photo #9 zooms into this area
9) In Deception Canyon.
- Left to right: Lisa, Karen, Lora
10) Frank is admiring the canyon,
while Stanley is high up watching everyone.
11) Looking back at where we came from.
- Yellow arrow:
• Direction of walk
• Frank, in the previous pic,
was around where the arrow is now.
12) Deception Canyon.
- Upper pic:
• Yellow arrow: The way through the canyon
- Lower pic: Joanne
- Photo #13 is the scene above these 2 pics.
Lower pic: Photo by Yusrin, 2020-Aug
Above Deception Canyon floor
13) Scene here is above the previous pic.
- Going to explore areas above the canyon floor
- Left to right:
• Stanley ... Near where he was in photo #10
• Lisa
14) Panning slightly to the right of previous pic.
15) Same scene as previous pic.
- Ray
- We are moving forward to explore areas above the canyon.
16) Above canyon floor.
- Lisa
- Yellow oval: Refer to photo #17.
17) We've crawled through the holes
in the yellow oval of previous pic.
- Stanley ... Photo #19 will be taken by him
at where he is now.
- Yellow oval: Holes we just crawled through
- White oval: Refer to photo #18.
18) Panning to the left of previous pic.
- Left to right: Lisa, Frank ... the daredevils
- White oval:
Same feature as the white oval in previous pic
19) Panning slightly to the left of previous pic.
- Left to right:
• Frank, Lisa ...
The daredevils are on an upper ledge.
• Ray, Lora, Paul, Karen ... on a lower ledge
- We are well above the canyon floor.
(The canyon floor is in photo #20.)
Photo by Stanley
(From where he was in photo #17)
(From where he was in photo #17)
20) Same scene as previous pic.
- Yellow dot: The canyon floor is far down below.
- Stanley's turn to be a daredevil.
- Lora is pointing at him.
Photo by Lisa
21) Deception Canyon ...
Panning slightly above previous pic.
- Yellow dot: Canyon floor
Climbing down Deception Canyon
22) (2020-Aug)
Climbing down Deception Canyon.
- White ovals in both pics below:
They circle the same rock.
- Yellow arrows: Direction of walk.
- Upper pic, left to right: Yusrin, Lisa, Joanne
- Lower pic: Yusrin, Lisa
23) We've climbed down a lot
when compared to photo #21.
- Yellow arrows:
Direction of walk along canyon floor.
24) Same scene as previous pic.
- Lisa ... the daredevil
- Yellow arrows:
Direction of walk along canyon floor
Photo by Frank
25) Same scene as previous 2 pics.
- Top to bottom:
Ray, Karen, Lora ...
They are one level above canyon floor.
Photo by Frank
26) Same scene as previous 3 pics ...
Above the canyon floor.
- Top to bottom:
• Stanley, Ray ... both showing off 😊
• Karen ...
Wondering how is she going to climb down
😊 Refer to photo #27.
- Yellow arrows:
Direction of walk along canyon floor
Photo by Lisa
27) (2022-Mar)
Dave demonstrating how to climb down
from where Karen was in the previous pic.
- Deception canyon is usually dry.
The water here is due to too much rain
throughout February and March of 2022.
- White oval: Same as the white oval in photo #22
Continue down Deception Canyon
The difficult climbing part in Deception Canyon
is over.
We now continue downstream.
28) (2015-Sep)
Still inside Deception Canyon ...
Looking back at where we came from.
- Ruoran Zhou
- White oval: We just came from there.
PS: I'm trying to contact Ruoran Zhou.
If you know her whereabouts, please let me now.
Or ask her to contact me.
( My email address: mntviews@gmail.com )
More details on Ruoran Zhou is in this link:
http://onemanadreaming.blogspot.com/2022/03/ruoran-zhou.html
29) (2022-Mar) Same scene as previous pic.
- Dave
- White oval: Where we came from
30) The beautiful Deception Canyon.
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk
31) Same scene as previous pic.
- Ray
Photo by Lora
32) (2020-Aug)
Same scene as previous pic ...
just a few steps forward.
- Joanne
Deception Canyon downstream entrance
Grid Ref: 4051 1793
33) Deception Canyon downstream entrance.
- Stanley
34) Deception Canyon downstream entrance.
- Group photo, clockwise from upper-left:
Karen, Lisa, Lora, Frank, Ray, Stanley
35) (2020-Aug)
Deception Canyon downstream entrance.
- Lisa
Dry creek downstream of Deception Canyon
36) Dry creek downstream of Deception Canyon.
- Left to right: Frank, Ray, Lisa
- Yellow arrow: Direction of walk
37) Dry creek downstream of Deception Canyon.
- Clockwise from left:
Ray, Lisa, Karen, Lora, Frank, Stanley
- We have morning tea here.
Afterwards, go exploring without our backpacks.
Around GR 4050 1800, leave dry creek
by turning east (right side of this pic)
and climb up a steep gully
heading towards Wild Slots.
Wild Slots
We are now in the Wild Slots area ...
after climbing up a steep gully.
38) Wild slots ...
The 2 pics below are of the same scene.
- Upper pic: Lisa
- Lower pic, yellow arrow: Direction of walk
39) Wild Slots.
- We'll keep moving forward,
along left side of this pic.
40) Wild Slots.
- 3 yellow ovals, left to right:
1 Left-side slot
2 Entrance to right-side slot
3 Small waterfall ... photo #62
Wild Slots - left-side slot
41) Wild Slots.
- Gap on left side is the left-side slot.
42) Inside the left-side slot of Wild Slots.
- Top to bottom:
1, 2 Stanley, Lisa ...
At the upper/far end of the slot.
They didn't reach there by
going forward along the slot ...
... because the slot is too narrow.
They reached there via a tunnel
connecting the right-side & left-side slots.
Refer to photos #46 to #47.
3 Ray
Photo by Frank
43) Inside the left-side slot.
- Top to bottom:
1 Ray chimneying towards
the upper/far end of the slot.
(Because the slot is too narrow
to walk through.)
But he backs out soon.
He says it is difficult to chimney through.
I reckon if one is game enough,
it is possible to get through.
But none of us is willing to try ...
apart from Ray's half-hearted attempt 😊
2 Lora taking photos with her phone.
She is at the upper/far end of the slot.
She reached there via a tunnel
connecting the right-side & left-side slots.
Refer to photos #46 to #47.
3 Frank ... on terra firma
44) Looking down at the entrance.
- Top to bottom: Ray, Paul, Karen, Frank
Photo by Lora
At upper/far end of the slot
At where she was in prev pic
At upper/far end of the slot
At where she was in prev pic
Wild Slots - right-side slot
45) Entrance to the right-side slot.
- Lisa
46) Inside the right-side slot.
- Karen is at the entrance of a connecting tunnel
between the right-side & left-side slots.
47) Photo taken from inside the connecting tunnel
between the right-side & left-side slots.
- Left to right: Frank, Ray ... in the right-side slot
Wild Slots - left-side slot again
48) One end of the connecting tunnel is
the upper end of the left-side slot.
- Stanley ... at the upper end
- In photos #43 and #44, Frank was down
at the bottom of the slot.
Wild Slots - right-side slot again
49) Back in the right-side slot.
- Left to right: Ray, Lisa
50) (2020-Aug) Further into the right-side slot.
- Joanne
Photo by Yusrin
51) And further into the right-side slot.
- Left to right: Stanley, Frank, Lora, Ray
52) At the really wet end of the right-side slot.
- Lisa is at where we won't be venturing any further,
as the water is ankle-deep further on ...
Except Ray ... next pic
53) Only Ray is willing to get his feet wet
by wading into the ankle-deep water.
- The far end of the slot is blocked.
But is it possible to chimney up to get through ?
Perhaps another dare-devil is willing to have a go
and let me know.
Photo by Frank
Wild Slots - Backing out of right-side slot
54) Now backing out of the right-side slot.
- Left to right: Ray, Stanley, Lora, Karen
55) Karen
56) Close to the entrance of the right-side slot.
- Top to bottom:
1 Stanley
2 Lisa ... just outside the entrance
Photo by Lora
Trip report continues ...
Part 2 of the report ... this link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2022/03/deception-canyon-dry-canyon-wollemi-np_6.html
Part 3 (last part) ... this link:
https://mntviews.blogspot.com/2022/03/deception-canyon-dry-canyon-wollemi-np_11.html
Similar bushwalks in this area
2015-Sep ...
Deception Canyon & Dry Canyon only
Detailed trip report:
http://mntviews.blogspot.com/2015/09/deception-nobles-canyon-wollemi-np-nsw.html
2020-Aug ...
Deception Canyon & Wild Slots & Delusional Slot
Pictures only:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1GFuSRJr_jfJaAtz9XyWZxWjEQq4o-8YG/view
Another super detailed report, which brings back all the joys from the trip. Some of your photos are simply amazing (or your PS skills shall I say?). I should get up much earlier and join you guys for GOS trips. Once getting older, no longer feeling that comfortable to be a lone wolf in the bush.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment. You are always welcome to join our bushwalks, just contact me :-)
Delete