Pay attention to this junction, as you will need to recognise it when exiting the canyon. In all habitats live animals and plants that deserve respect, please minimize impact on the environment and observe the local ethics. Mon 07 nov, 2011 7:25 am.
Claustral Canyon, 1986 Negotiating water sections in
Following a rest at thunder canyon junction, there is more excitement with water jumps, slides, downclimbs and swims before we reach the rainbow ravine exit point and our famous lunch.
This is the the start of the main section of enclosed canyon which has 3 x 15m abseils followed by deep cold swims.
When returning from the camels hump use the old track across the camels saddle to the minor saddle, and down into claustral brook. Plunging you into a cathedral of ferns, giant boulders and intense jurassic vibes. Flash floods do happen and the exit is hours away. A landholder has built a house on one of the key access blocks on tomah south and no longer permits access.
Claustral is the quintessential blue mountains canyon.
Make sure you know exactly were it is! The exit is also shown roughly on a map. In light of this, i won't include detailed descriptions or directions for this or any other canyon trip on this site, but i will add a note of warning about the exit from claustral. It goes down a spur a short way before following a minor ridge to the south.
If you haven’t seen his photos do yourself a solid and look him up on the book of faces or find him on flickr.
It boasts a rich environment, full of life and greenery, towering sandstone walls and intricate rock architecture. Npws still recommends people use the traditional exit route, which is where the arrow points. The track crosses a large rock outcrop before skirting around mt bell. Once in you are committed, the slot can be as fearsome as it is beautiful.
Claustral canyon, blue mountains, australia.
A warm day (30° c) was forecast and there had been no recent rain, so conditions should be ideal. Both bob and myself had been talking about another trip to claustral canyon for a while. Claustral is a highly rewarding experience suitable for fit, adventurous people. I understand he is not willing to negotiate with npws.
This canyon has been described as one of the most beautiful places in australia.
But now conditions seemed to be right. It then turns left and goes down into a gully. Follow this gully to claustral brook. Use of inappropriate fixed handline for downclimb, higher than normal water flow / use of fixed handline in water flow.
This canyon is very long and difficult, the exit track alone taking on average 4 hours.
At the end of our canyon, the difficult walk out begins. Visiting claustral canyon is no stroll in the park. On thursday 6th december ian knapp, a 61 year old sydney man with ten years canyoning experience, died in claustral canyon. We climb up through “rainbow ravine”, gaining 320m of elevation as we top out on the camel’s hump, before descending back in to the top of claustral brook for another section of vibrant canyon and a few cold swims.
So ed had just about run out of awesome photos to edit awesomely into awesomer photos of our awesomest trip to claustral with lewis last season.
But we had been put off by cool weather and too much rain. For over a million years it has remained locked in a time capsule away from outside interference. It occurred on the australia day long weekend in 1982, when a freak thunderstorm claimed the lives of three people in claustral canyon. Claustral canyon, with a side of thunder.
Ed, ethan, garry, jodie, dick and me.
Detailed information on claustral canyon can be found in abundance in guide books and on the internet. The black hole of calcutta. It is a long, hard day. It is recommended that canyoners have previously.
It boasts a rich environment, full of life and greenery, towering sandstone walls and intricate rock architecture.
Claustral canyon is an amazing piece of history. Canyoneering, canyoning, caving and other activities described in this site are inherently dangerous. Claustral canyon is a beautiful, deep and sustained slot canyon in the blue mountains. The victim and another experienced canyoner.
Authors are listed in chronological order.
The npws requests that canyoners use the exit route as described for claustral canyon, and not to form new tracks. A deep, dark, sustained slot accessed by a series of abseils down a dark hole known as the black hole of calcutta. The problem of access to claustral canyon (and from thunder, claustral and ranon canyons) has proved quite difficult. Be prepared, claustral is a beast.
People who are fit, keen and are looking for a big adventure will find this to be one of the most rewarding.
In the old days that track to the left was mainly a false lead when people went the wrong way. Following the thunder canyon junction, there is more excitement with water jumps, slides, downclimbs and swims before you reach the rainbow ravine exit point. The notes below describe this route. These days it is the start of an alternate exit that avoids the upper section of claustral (and one short swim) but adds an abseil to the exit.
