In the Shadow of the Mountain.......

In the Shadow of the Mountain..........

Lower Behana Gorge....

Well this was the plan for a sunny Autumn day. Unfortunately, the plan did not come to fruition as when the crew got to the measurement guide, it seemed to be too large for our skills. The Measurment Guide as per our adviser Deb, is that the water running over the causeway below the Behana Gorge Carpark, should be below ankle deep. Unfortunately this was not the case.

Decision making was made and the crew under impromptu pushing from Craig (another gun), The mighty Russell River was chosen as the target. Yep, the crew were about to step up....

The Mighty Russell River....

Rocks, Tree Branches, cold water, ducking, diving, swerving, swinging the kayak to miss obstacles, leeches.....and that was just the hike in !!!!

Yep, the hike in for newby's is a very tough 3k's with a boat on your shoulder. In the team were Craig, Flounder, Adro, Sandy, Laggy, Gonz, and the indefatigable Tarzan. Incidentally, Tarzan had Timme's boat....which was lightweight....but he was uncertain about a smaller boat in a bigger rapid for the first time.

There were two major creek crossings for the hike in, and the crew made the most of the second crossing. Very cold refreshing water livens up the soul.

Not long after we arrived at the drop in. We had a small break (which I sooner learnt that it wasn't big enough).

We received a surprise when Deb and Jeremy turned up. That now made the numbers as 1 gun per 2 novices which were great odds.

Our introduction was the Leichardt Rapid, a solid Grade 3 of which looked straight out of the movie Deliverence. Flounder did a turn of significance due to the fact that he did not panic in the midst of churning water. Tarzan had carried a small gecko transported from Timme's place. Tarzan went for a swim himself and was surprised that the gecko had a bath in a washing machine. The gecko was let go in new surroundings of which he would be very anxious let loose in the jungle in the shadow of the Mountain.

After boats and gear of swimmers introduced to frothing water was collected, we were off for the next small grade 2 followed by a small grade 3. The interesting thing about the Grade 3 which shows Adro's yellow helmet, was that there were two large holes and as paddlers , the group had to cicane through the turmoil one by one.... All passed with flying colours.

Once that was completed, it was now time for yet another step up. We found that we were on a river with big water.....and bigger than Craig had initially thought. The next rapid was "Three Ways". This can be a very dangerous rapid and has been fatal in recent years. The dangerous part being the imposing rock in the midst of the rapid. It is undercut....and to the left of the rock, there are a few sieves which are fatally dangerous to paddlers.

Jeremy, Deb, Craig, Adro, Sandy and Gus were the ones to try this rapid with successful outcomes.

The other crew were just happy to portage around. It was at this point I had realised I was dead tired from carting my boat everywhere in the Shadow of the Mountain.

The Waterfall Rapid. At this level, it was considered dangerous. The crew had spent at least half an hour discussing options. I had landed on a separate rock island to the main crew, and looking around, I realised in horror that we had to run this rapid. there was no portage around.

What made the Waterfall dangerous was that there was a massive hole that would hold you for days if you were caught in there. So we didn't want to go there !!!! Option 1 was the Chicken Shute which seemed viable to the crew, and Jeremy successfully ran it, then Deb also . However, the crew chose option 2... the Chicken Drop . The Chicken Drop, even though is not seen here clearly was the best option for us novice paddlers.

I was worried in regards to reading this rapid (the Chicken Shute) as I was thinking about the recirculation of River right of the big catch rock at the bottom. That is if you were swimming this. However, I was to be proved wrong shortly.

The Chicken Drop was about 2 metres of a hard rock slide of which Tarzan and I had done successfully. Unfortunately, Laggy had made the decision to run it then changed his mind and went down the Shute....indecision kills... From this point I am unsure of what the rest of the crew had done, as I was paddling hard to river left to get to the portage area for the next rapid to aid the guys with Laggys Boat. The next rapid was the Rollercoaster of which the guns ran successfully . Everyone else portaged.

The Rollercoaster....a Grade 4 living hell that you must hit right at the sweet spot. Apparently it is a quick ride down....if you hit it at top speed. River right is the direction and all you have to do is keep your balance....apparently !

Next was a smaller decent Grade 2 of which was to prove my downfall. My downfall was brought about by broadsiding some large standing waves at the bottom of this. I then got separated from my boat of which Craig and Adro chased. The boys had chased my boat until it got hung up on a tree branch on River right just at the gates of the next Grade 2. From there, my boat, with a little bit of adjustment from Adro, then promptly travelled the rest of the river without me. From here my river tales differ from the crew. My experience of the last three rapids were of climbing over Cyclone Yasi trees, dodging Wait-A-While, and uttering very loud technical terms.

I did however get to have a decent view of the bend in the river for which I could see the crew's antics.

The Standing Wave Rapid is a rapid which has a couple of breaking waves in which could unseat the unwary paddler. At this level, it would be one hell of a pushing wave. From my perch high atop the ridge, I had seen Laggy and Adro both go for a swim....whilst the young gun Gonz, successfully negotiated his way through.

Gonz then paddled his way through some splashes onto the last main rapid of the day.

This is where Gonz had his fall from Glory. His brace was not quite correct and thus he went swimming all the way to the get out at Golden Hole.

Jeremy ended up passing his paddle to soapslick hands Adro. As Adro had then lost his third paddle of the day from his grasp. Adro must have been tired as he also went swimming at the last rapid....I would say he would have been tired from the full day out as I can attest to.

At long last we reached the placid water of Golden Hole. However, we did not stay in those depths for long....due to prehistoric lizard sightings made a while back. But it seemed to be a fruitful day and in the aftermath of the journey, everyone from the work team did own up to be very weary over the next few days.

Thanks for the day go to Craig, Deb, and Jeremy for not only their humorous remarks on our paddling styles, but their ever consistent lookout for our safety.

Remember : if you are paddling in the fabulous waterways or our great country, please do not leave any more than a ripple in the water and a footprint in the sand, and take nothing away but photographs and memories of your wonderful adventure

Blue Skies everyone

Flounder

Proud Supporter of Adventure Equipment Cairns, and Top Knot Climbing

Upcoming Date Claimers

Confirmed Upcoming Date Claimers for April Hi all, this is just to keep you in the loop... Sunday April 10 : The crew ventures to the Lower Behana Gorge : A 30 min hike in with the boats on the shoulders, and then hopefully an exciting Grade 2-3 paddle back down to the Behana carpark or the causeway further down. Trip photos and stories will be on here next week. Sunday April 17 : Top Knot Climbing takes the adventurous crew (plus some others) through the rigours of abseiling Split Rock on Barron Gorge. Sunday May 1 : This date sees the crew tone it down a little and head to the wondorous national park containing Nandroya Falls. This will just be a hike and some lunch after a 90 minute drive from Cairns. All in All : a natural way to live life. Proud Supporter of Adventure Equipment Cairns

Proud Supporter of Top Knot Climbing Cairns Please remember : if you paddle the fantastic waterways of this great country, or if you hike through the wondorous landscapes, please always only take out just photos and memories....and leave nothing behind except for a ripple in the water....or a footprint in the sand. Blue Skies Flounder

Barron River - Tinaroo - under the Dam

Barron River - Tinaroo - Under the Dam

Well it's raining still in the North. However, does that matter to kayakers ? I think not.

The crew had a plan to head to the Mighty Russell River, however due to the river undergoing a "Deliverance" transformation....we decided that brains are better than valour . Hence, the decision was made to head to the Grade 2-3 river track of Tinaroo.

In the crew for the day were (left to right) : Tarzan, Flounder, Oppa, Dene, Gonz, Yank, Tooey, Laggy, Adro, Deb and Dano. A delightful mix of skills and competantly led by Deb for the day.

The river itself was higher than our last visit (at least by 60cm). After setting up the vehicle transfer for pick-up vehicles, we were on our way.

First rapids on the menu were the holes and waves used for the recent Freestyle National Titles. There was a nasty looking hole in the middle of the river and we easily slipped around it ....except for Oppa who charged through it with his sturdy Steed the Hero.

We powered on led by the untiring Deb through the Drop N Boil rapid. The water in this was more pushy and as we lined up, unfortunately Gonz fell straight in front of me.

I added a bit of red plastic to his helmet, not that he felt it. I had slowed right up to not totally park my boat on top of his head searching for air, when unfortunately I had hit a rock and promptly went swimming myself. Fortunately, after going sideways through a couple of small holes where water flooded the attic of the helmet, we settled down into the big pool following....much to the chargrin of the others.

A decision was made to portage the boats back upriver, and do the fun rapid again. Apart from Oppa who practised his roll midrapid, all kayakers made it through in the glaring spotlight of the truth recorder...(camera)

Of course, doing the rapids also means a heap of surfing practise on any hole we can find. Here, Dano and Tarzan show their wares.

After paddling through some obstructing pine trees, the crew then made it up to the Cascade Rapid leadup for some more surfing practise.

With the Cascades rapid looming, Deb broke the group up into a few smaller teams of three/four. This made it easier for each group to eddy hop the 300m rapid. The Cascade Rapid features a lot of rocks where we ground our boats over, skipping around holes, and taking the right lane to safely get through the rapid. All except for young Dano, who right at the end of the rapid, had got stuck in the large hole at the end. In Dano's defence he was practising his rolling skills....but unlucky that the water kept catching the edge of his boat and tumbling him around again in the washing machine. His decision to pop out of the cockpit was absolute flawless timing , as I had then added the red colour of my boat to his grey helmet. Alas, it seemed the momentum of the day....oops. Dano's boat then promptly wrapped around a rock, and his paddle went walkies down river quickly pursued by Deb and Flounder. Alas, we were followed by a riderless boat of Dene's which was followed by Dene's paddle....and then humbly by Dene.... All over the Rock Drop rapid in that order. After much collection of kayakers and gear, we had successfully lost nothing at all....much to Deb's surprise. But this is the S-Teem Crew....we only lose gear in dead calm areas... At a long flatwater area, people had tried their rolls and Adro pulled off a magnificent hand roll to the applause of the crew. Tinaroo Falls was looming.....

Deb quite rightly led the group into the Chicken Shute. This shute skirted the main Tinaroo Falls of which we heard thunderous water. However, the chicken shute featured little grinding rock drops and were easily manouvered by all the crew with all of the enjoyment of children flopping down on tyre tubes. A lot of fun....

It was time to check out the falls. They definately were Grade 4. Deb took the group to a decent viewing platform and I personally think each of the crew were saying a silent prayer overjoyous that we were not doing this rapid. PHOTO TIME

Once the falls were successfully negotiated via portage, the crew set about playing in the bottom rapids and waves. Deb discreetly advised that the main catch rock, hid a dangerous sieve and overhang to catch unwary paddlers.

We could not leave until some of the paddlers experienced the bigger water with Deb.

Adro, Yank , and Dano had a go at ferrying out to the main eddy right under the falls, and then promptly passed their way through the large wave at the bottom of the flow.

Successful it was.....with Adro picking the best line across the frothy water.

All in all, complete with fantastic Coffee at the caravan park cafe, so ended the adventure of Tinaroo. Remember : if you paddle the amazing waterways of this great country of ours, always take nothing more than photos and memories, and leave nothing but a ripple in the water, and footprints in the sand. Blue Skies Flounder