River caves Canyon Trip

Scouts Canyon Trip                                                                                                

2/3/14

By Lachlan Hibbard

On Sunday, March the 2nd, we met at Zig Zag Train Station, after we met the other scouts and leaders, we got allocated to cars and headed off to the first canyon.

At the first canyon, Wolgan View Canyon, we had a talk about the safety rules and then after a brief Scouts' Own we had to get into groups. I was lucky enough to be given the job of Walk Leader. So when we got started it was myself at the front and leaders at the back.

Soon we came to a fork where we could climb down some rocks or we could walk around. A few climbed down the rocks while the rest of the group went around. Then we came to a drop where we had to go down it one by one, the leaders were there to help us down the difficult rock path. Then we came to the beautiful canyon itself, we could see different shapes that were formed in the rock and how the rocks by the river that flowed there hundreds of years ago. We were siting at the end of the canyon, we had a walk and we looked around the canyon and the beautiful valley below us. Then we headed back the way we came to the car, where we headed to the next canyon.

At the start of the second canyon, River Caves Canyon, we changed  into our water shoes and put on our rain jackets on.We started to head off with myself again at the front and leaders at the back.

We started to head down the slippery track with care, then we came to a saddle, a ridge joining two hills, where we waited till everyone caught up. At the saddle we headed off to a very overgrown track to the left, with all the sticks and plants soaking wet. We got plenty of scratches as we headed along the wet track and some people were complaining. We came to many forks in the tracks and luckily I took all the right turns.

Finally got to the start of the wet canyon,  as we walked we enjoyed the scenery and great views, but not the cold water. We continued through the canyon even though we had cold, wet feet, we reached a point where the water was head high.  We all tried to go around, but some of us fell into the water. We came to a point where it was a challenge to get up. After a few of us were up, Alex and I were helping people up.

After all the scouts were up, we headed along the canyon until we reached the end, where we had to turn left, and follow the water downstream and so we followed that for about 300m. Eventually we reached a point where we had to go up the cliff, after we climbed up for 15 minute walk, we all regrouped to have some food, a drink and a rest.

We headed up the track for about 2.5km and we were back to the road heading to the cars. Once we were all at the cars, we got changed and planned to meet back at Zig Zag Train Station.

Once we arrived, the parents or guardians came to take their children home. We said thank you to all the leaders for their help. Then we all headed home after a exciting and long day.

It was a great day and we all had fun. It was awesome to see the different shapes and forms in the rocks. We didn't want it to end, except the rain.