To come......

The continuing exploits of parts of the team exploring Barron Gorge with the aid of some gurus of the NQ kayaking world .

Hiking adventures from around North Queensland featuring Stony Creek Falls, Mount Emerald, and Glacier Rock.

Team Games and Strategies that will possibly be utilised in the Company's business in the upcoming future.

Kayaking the Upper Barron - under the Tinaroo Dam Wall

Barron River under Tinaroo

On a quiet August day, our intrepid travellers decided to try new water. We had heard of a little play area underneath the dam wall where the rapids were Grade 2 to Grade 3 . This set of rapids were only about 3-4 kilometres in length, but the time that we had to check everything it took some considerable time.

However, the trip took us through some very pretty Tablelands area and it culminated in the last expanse of the Tinaroo Falls Rapid. Blakey had told me that this was a Cascade rather than waterfall . He should know.

Please note, on doing the car shuffle, it is wise and polite to contact the owners of the house above Tinaroo Falls and ask for permission to extract the boats from the river after the paddle over their land. Seemingly very nice people, it is by their generosity that we would end up having a good day. Don't forget to flag the exit area for your paddle arrival at the spot.

The intrepid team, namely Flounder (Myself); Tangles (Steve); Flick (Felicity); Bassy (Deb) and Tim-Me (Tim), worked through the early flows as a gun SWAT team travelling two by two to explore the various channels and lines.

The first major enounter of a decent grade 2 was what we called "Drop N Boil". Once picking your line, it was easy enough to get over the drop of a metre, and then have to paddle through the boil which swings you to your right and out into placid water. Tim-Me had a go first and rightly went swimming....but he seemed happy about it. All of the others managed ok.

The next noteworthy set are the "Cascade Rapids" which are a set of cascades that you have to pick your way through for about 200 metres. The set I think actually features Blakey in a YouTube video called "Barron River Beating" . Look it up. However, we did not face the water that he had at that time. On our trip, Flounder decided to slide down the middle rock and all of three centimetres of water flowing over it, and into the boil at the bottom. It is different to try turning in this rapid where you have to use a low brace to grind your paddle on the rock to hope it catches. Tim-Me had a go at a similar cascade but seemingly no turns.

Then it was onto Tinaroo Falls. A set of Cascades features the lead-up to these falls and the team had to pick it's way through flows into various eddies and ended up eddying out on river right and portaging. The final cascade drop was about 15 metres into a boil contained by a rock wall and the cascade, and then a hard left into the flow, a hard right, and a push through the fairly big standing waves through to flatwater at the bottom. On our skills (wished we had Blakey with us) , we made the wise decision to portage. The adventurous Tim-Me, Tangles, and Flounder again tried the bottom of the wash and entered mid flow in the standing waves to push through the final 20 metres.

The paddle ends with a wooded exit and carrying the boats over and through a culvert for 50 metres to the road.

An enjoyable day had by all.

Remember when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints, and take nothing but photos and memories.

Canoeing and Kayaking the Upper Barron, (Koah to Myola) North Queensland, Australia

The Upper Barron - Koah to Myola - 6 hours plus lunch




The Upper Barron (Koah to Myola) is a much more serene river trip , less accessible, but satisfying no the less.

A group of intrepid kayakers did this trip....in single boats and no canoes. Canoes would have choked up the carnage total for sure.

The river winds it's way along the Tablelands but within the river, black rock and shallow portages make the trip a little difficult.



The river starts at Koah with a flatwater paddle but soon gets into edgy Grade 2 rapids.

The first interesting rapid that is worthy of a note is one we called "Three Ways" basically for the three ways that you could approach it.

However, on closer inspection, it was decided to attack it straight down the middle....as River right had a very bony, and a very sharp drop onto unkind rocks. River left contained a few caught up logs and due to the skills of the party at the time...the two drops and turn right was the decision accepted.

























The second noteworthy challenge that the intrepid party had come across was a race of about 250 metres not unlike the Rock Garden in the Mulgrave. However, it had one difference. It contained a little nasty Grade 3 at the end of it....of which a couple of travellers (moir and BC) came to grief... Thus the "Crunch" was born.











The crunch gave absolution to the ladies of the party and we found that a chicken shute on River Right which had a drop and flow of about 1.5 metres in height. Don't forget this was in medium to low water. Apparently the safe journey is river left with a small chicken shute granting you access to the flatwater easier













The last noteworthy challenge is a very pretty cascade drop of three of which we called "The Step Down" . That's exactly what it was with the last one being a turn as soon as you enter the boil.

This then pretty area would push you out to a local named place called "Big Sands" a very popular swimming area.












Once that was completed the journey leveled out into pretty river being flatwater most of the way. A few little flows through at the Mantaka Bridge and closing on Myola helped aid the sheer boredom of flatwater paddling.

Remembe, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints, and take nothing but photos and memories.

On a sad note, one of our group of paddlers left us for the big city Brisvegas and we hope to see her back again in the future....good luck Ms Victoria Carillo....we all miss you.

Rapids and Challenges on the Mulgrave River, North Queensland, Australia - Challenge 3 - "The Rock Garden"

The Legendary "Rock Garden" Rapid

The final chapter for a days play on the Upper Mulgrave is the pinnacle of the day....a 250 metre collection of rapids involving large and small boulders called "The Rock Garden" . As the name implies, the rapid is a collection of granite boulders that can unseat our intrepid paddlers and place them unceremoniously into the water flow.

After a day's paddle and enjoyment, the kayak safety crew are bemused at the serious faces on the travellers of which they see a stark determination for the culmination rapid.

Having come out of the boats at a few times themselves, the kayak safety crew sets about placing their boats and aid into the various safety spots to aid our adventurous participants.

The Rock Garden does place a culminating effect upon our travellers and it is here we see the grit and determination as they paddle past us dodging rock after rock, boulder after boulder.

It is the last gasp of the 250 metres (some 50 metres worth) in which the canoe crew have to face some devastating decisions of which track that they must travel. Beware of the last few boulder lips and the standing waves. Water has been known to flood our ships of the river and turn them into the Titanics of the Valley.

Hint : The best track for this particular rapid, is to follow the kayaks crew versions of "keep left until you come close to the large boulder in the middle of the rapid....and then the way will open to you if you look to 2 o'clock and follow the track into the middle after the boulder. Then you track either down the middle...or down the right to success". Beware....there are only a few novice canoe crews to make it intact...however, success and acceptance into the Mulgrave River Hall of Fame awaits.

Again , a clean up ensues...and once again the travelling troupe sets off for the final flatwater paddle to the warmth and comfort expectations of dry clothes awaiting in the pick up vehicles. All participants then leave the river sated until the following weekend and they are sure to get good sleep that night.

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints in the sand, and take nothing but photos and memories.

Rapids and Challenges on the Mulgrave River, North Queensland, Australia - Challenge 2 - The "Sharks Tooth"

The Legendary Sharks Tooth

As a possible Grade 3 Rapid on the serene Mulgrave River, the Sharks Tooth strikes fear and anticipation to the unblooded intrepid canoeist.

Once a paddler has completed it after a few times, the paddler gets used to the line to be taken. This rapid alone supplies the chance for the first timer to obtain their second but more heartier challenge. "Let them rise to it" goes out the cry.... Once the kayak team settles into their customary role of running safety, it is on for young and old.

The Sharks Tooth enables the beginner to get a taste of changing track/line mid rapid....and does provide the odd hole if their is sufficient water. If the paddler had not tasted the exercise of mid rapid floating, this is the place to supply it. Being only really 50 metres long, the rapid ride is over fairly quickly....and the rapid opens up into flatwater where the paddl...sorry swimmer is able to take stock of the new surroundings.

Kayakers are able to play in this rapid with a few holes, ferry gliding and eddy play all being accustomed to the Shark's Tooth.

However, for the canoeist, there are some brave souls who do complete the challenge.

Once all gear is accounted for....it is off further down the river to confront only "Melaleuca Corner" and the infamous "Rock Garden" to go until the end of the day.

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints in the sand, and take nothing but photos and memories....

Rapids and Challenges on the Mulgrave River, North Queensland, Australia - The First of Three Challenges

Challenge 1 : "The Waterfall"

The Mulgrave River for the area located in the upper Goldsborough catchment serves as an interesting part of natural North Queensland. The river portion that we travel is located from Kearneys Campgrounds down to the low bridge of the Mulgrave named "The Fisheries".

In this portion of the river, and apart from all of the smaller negoitable river rapids, are three main rapid challenges for the intrepid canoists. They way that this trip pans out is that the challenges for the canoes get more and more harder.

Please remember that the Mulgrave ranges generally from a foot deep to a metre deep of water and is usually 20-30 metres wide. So if you happen to go swimming as part of your canoe training....you can usually recover boat and gear pretty easily.

The first major challenge occurs about morning tea time. It enables our intrepid travellers a chance to stretch their legs, have a bite to eat, and a first look at the rapid.

The first Challenge is called "The Waterfall". Whilst being a low cascade more than a waterfall, it allows the paddler to negoitate the "Catch" rock that awaits with open arms at the bottom of the rapid.

It is not uncommon for crews to come unstuck and sample a bit of swimming time however, with corrwect safetys set up, generally everyone has a laugh and if they do make it, feel the exhillarating rush of meeting the first challenge head-on.

From there, once the group has composed itself, the intrepid travellers then paddle minor rapids to the area of the lunch spot known as "Safe Haven".

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except footprints in the sand, and take only photos and memories

Rapids and Challenges on the Mulgrave River, North Queensland, Australia - Introductory Rapids

Unlike most people's ideas about Whitewater paddling, the Mulgrave River only is graded as a Grade 2 -3 River depending on water level.

Some of the challenging aspects of travelling the river with us, is that :

• You get to understand about river dynamics
• You get to learn about paddling in a safe environment
• You get to learn about yourself
  
  Some of the rapids that you would endure are named as such :

S-Bend
This rapid twist and turns itself through a few strategically placed treelines. This does give the intrepid traveller a "thrown to the wolves" aspect of what can be expected.

Second Run
This one then settles everyone down so that they can understand that not all of the rapids inlvolve hazards in the MIDDLE of the river....

The Strainer

Named so as there was an existing tree across creating a hazard of which now has been removed. The Strainer supplies a nice little standing wave in which, if the participant hasn't got wet before....they will now.

Once these rapids have been passed, the team settles and understands that with the safety plans in place, the aid crew has the knowledge to pass onto the participants to enable them to have fun and at least attempt the challenges that will confront them further down the river.

For Now.....yours in Paddling....Flounder

Canoeing and Kayaking the Mulgrave River, Queensland, Australia

For a few years now, I have enjoyed exposing the natural backyard of North Queensland to many of my friends. Generally, our playground is the serene setting of the Mulgrave River in North Queensland.

North Queensland is a haven to get out and away from the hustle and bustle of city life and practise the skills to paddle a river. The Mulgrave is graded at generally a Grade II river with a few challenging rapids for the hard shells of canoes and kayaks.

As a team of friends which get together regularly, it is a great time to spend splashing about in a safe and stress-free environment.

As a team, the adventurous paddlers search out for the fun of negotiating the challenging rapids in their bushranger and Rover Canoes. Aided with the river knowledgeable crew of kayakers, bold paddlers explore their own limits of excitement and courage.

Crews from various organisations have taken up the challenge to strengthen their bond together. Some of these are the legendary Sea Eagles Swimming Club and staff from LJ Hooker Edge Hill Cairns Real Estate.

Groups end the day feeling sated and tired of course but overall, happy and contented.

Some come with us to play on the river. Remember, it is not a tour....it is not a business when we paddle like this....it is just a group of friends enjoying the natural fun and beauty of the North.

Remember, when paddling the fabulous natural watercourses of this great country, please do not leave anything except for footprints in the sand, and take nothing but photos and memories.....

About S-Teem Training and Coaching

S-Teem is a company which enables all persons to understand team ideals and the working relationships within, whilst enjoying the Australian Outdoors, and also being able to exist outside their own personal comfort zones.

There are a multitude of courses available. Courses range from Team Building + Hiking + Canoeing and Kayaking; to Personal Esteem courses in which Canoeing and Kayaking is taught; and to One or Two day Team Building Short Courses and Activities.

Courses also can be tailor-made to suit the clients needs.

As this blog is created, you will explore more about this exciting business which will be open to the public soon.