New found wonders

So with all the rivers still flowing around northern Queensland, and the monsoon madness white water festival just passed leaving us eager for more white water, a few of us decided to head south in search of some new rivers. Off we drove with the boats on the roof, until we ended up at place around 300km south of Cairns known as the Paluma range. First up, what an awesome set up. There are 5 rivers all feeding of the same source, and all within a few kilometres of each other. Some of the rivers are nice open granite gorge, with continual class III – V+ for kilometres on end, and right round the corner you will find the steepest V-VI box canyon creeks I have ever laid eyes on, although these are still yet to be run, most of which I would say would be close to un-run able. This area is pretty much unchartered from a kayaking perspective, with the only known descents in the area being completed only a few weeks prior by some keen local boaters from Townsville, keen to find some new stuff to run during the wet season. This weekend saw the crew charging up the second gorge section of Running River and the bottom two thirds of Big Crystal Creek. Check out the video below to see what we scored.

So with all the rivers still flowing around northern Queensland, and the monsoon madness white water festival just passed leaving us eager for more white water, a few of us decided to head south in search of some new rivers. Off we drove with the boats on the roof, until we ended up at place around 300km south of Cairns known as the Paluma range.

First up, what an awesome set up. There are 5 rivers all feeding of the same source, and all within a few kilometres of each other. Some of the rivers are nice open granite gorge, with continual class III – V+ for kilometres on end, and right round the corner you will find the steepest V-VI box canyon creeks I have ever laid eyes on, although these are still yet to be run, most of which I would say would be close to un-run able.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/21769928[/vimeo]

This area is pretty much unchartered from a kayaking perspective, with the only known descents in the area being completed only a few weeks prior by some keen local boaters from Townsville, keen to find some new stuff to run during the wet season.

This weekend saw the crew charging up the second gorge section of Running River and the bottom two thirds of Big Crystal Creek. Check out the video below to see what we scored.

We also attempted a first D from the headwaters of Big Crystal Creek, only to drop into the gorge and bomb the first few stout rapids, before becoming faced with a section of very steep, very tight un-run able box canyon (waterfalls dropping onto dry rock and sieved out). With no easy way to portage due to the over vertical slippy rock walls, we had no choice but to climb back upstream and back out. We came, we tried, we walked for hours up steep hills just to get there, and then we walked back out, but hey, at least we tried and still have a taste for adventure. We are heading back there again this weekend to hit up a few more first descents in the area, so stay tuned.

bondy