S-Teem Training and Coaching: Flexible Date Claimers

Hi Crew

This post is just to sort out some of the targets for the Year of the Rabbit .ie 2011

Paddling :
There is not much left of summer as in one and a half months to go. So the main aspects will be on paddling the lesser creeks and streams that we don't have a chance to do most of the year around. These would be generally Freshwater Creek (from Crystals Bottom Pool down) and Little Mulgrave River. However, a couple more may be added into that now. But with these, special circumstances are to be applied. These are the Russell River, and Harvey Creek.

To add weight to the circumstances, these would be shown to us by a paddler known as Gunny.

Special Circumstances would be weather, river levels, expected rain, and guide availability.

Also a target is the Barron river under the Tinaroo Dam. This would only be to special circumstances also. Mainly due to river levels. We have to catch it when the water drops for going over the dam wall to the river drying up. So a constant look is required.

With the top trip of the Mulgrave being affected from the floods and Cyclone Yasi, there will be limited supply for the start of the year. Either I or Tangles will let people know of the top trip availability.

I would expect to be taking canoes again by about late April early May.

So dates for paddling weekends should be :

Feb 19/20; Mar 5/6, 19/20; Apr 2/3, 16/17; 30; May 1, 14/15, 28/29; Jun 11/12; 25/26

Hiking
I expect us to start doing a few hikes from April as to when the weather calms down a bit. First in the hit list will be Behana Gorge for a chicken champagne lunch....and a swim. Other targets will be as always....the ever-elusive Mt Emerald (backpack hike and camp), a year for the Pyramid (groan).... and possibly a partial Misty Moutain hike into Nandroya Falls.

Dates for these would possibly be:
Apr 16/17, 30; May 1, 14/15, 28/29; Jun 11/12; 25/26

Candleight Dinners
With the wind and rain around, I don't expect to kick the dinner off until about May. The locale for the first dinner will be Freshie Creek at the Wall Rapid. It is not too far to take the tables and gear in....we may even get in a swim if we get there early enough. So once the weather calms down....it is on ! A few people have expressed interest in this , but it still should be capped though. But for now, I leave the number for later consultation.

Abseiling
On speaking with Pete Dumson, who is the proud new father of the business "Top Knot Climbing", Pete assures me that we can organise an abseiling day at Split Rock in the Barron Gorge. Split Rock is a nice Granite Boulder with a perfect descent for a really large boulder, and has the descent of about a 20 metre drop. People will be able to perfect their abseiling technique, and harness work. There is also a possible chance of abseiling from "Slippery When Wet" at Lovers Leap in the Gorge. However, this will be for the more brave.

Pete is a respected member of the climbing fraternity and also works at Adventure Equipment in Grafton Street.

Pete's fees are usually in the range of $70....but he may be able to get the price down to about $40 for a three hour jaunt on Split Rock.

Abseiling in the Gorge would need a beautiful day and hence this would also be generally in May.

Possible Abseiling dates are :

May 1, 14/15, 28/29; June 11/12, 25/26