Morong Deep ~ 4 ~ 5 February 2005
Party: Ashley Burke, Greg Salway, Martin Pfeil, James Bucknell, James Bevan
Ashley's trip report:
Despite being early February the weather the was decidedly autumnal, quite cool with clouds scudding in from the west. Not weather conducive to a day involving lots of swimming. At around 8am we set off from our camp at Morong Creek, taking the Kowmung River Fire trail which crosses the Kowmung at the head of the rugged granite gorge known as Morong Deep.
The river at the fire trail
As soon as we reached the river we realised that it was going to be a very interesting trip. The river was well up due to recent rain and flowing very swiftly. What this volume of water would be like when constrained in the vices of this deep gorge with us in the middle of it only time would tell. Our first taste of it came soon enough. At the first bend in the river a rib of granite blocked what had, for the first 10 minutes at least, been easy riverside walking. The only way through was to hop in the water and let the swift flowing river do the rest. Around the corner we drifted, until we drew ourselves out, soaked and shivering, onto the river bank downstream.
Morong Deep
James enjoys one of the many swims
Our journey continued in much the same vein for the remainder of the morning, sometimes walking, sometimes swimming, sometimes drifting in the current as the layout of the gorge dictated. We had to be careful to always keep clear of the thundering and foaming rapids, still in spate after the mid week rain. Lunch was had opposite Morong Falls, a spectacular curtain of water tumbling down from the plateau high above. Greg inspected his waterproofing, and sadly discovered that a billy full of water could be rung out of his sleeping bag.
Lunch
Martin and Morong Falls
Soon after lunch the gorge became even more spectacular and more serious. The entire Kowmung River pitched downwards in a tumble of rushing water. Below us, encrypted in a vault of granite, a cauldron of foaming water thundered so that we could almost feel it through the rocks. This section at least we would not be swimming. We had to carefully find a route through, and on more than one occasion were forced to sidle some way up above the most dangerous sections. But remarkably, we were able to keep to the waterline most of the way and we continued the routine of slipping into the water and riding the current where we could, leaning back on our packs for floatation and heading down legs first. Then we would pick our way on foot through the bouldery banks searching for routes downstream.
Rapids
The along way across was - jump!!
Martin
James and Greg
We passed some very poor camp sites, but desiring a comfortable night we pressed on until we reached an open grassy area of sufficient quality to be deemed adequate. It was the only respectable camp site in the entire gorge and was very comfortable. Wet sleeping bags were laid out to dry while the sun lasted. After that, we stationed ourselves at the fireside for a very pleasant evening.
Soon after setting off the next morning the roar of rapids became louder and soon we were back in the thick of it, working our way through a thundering gorge. There were several long swims and some more spectacular waterfalls, effusive torrents of white that we carefully negotiated before slipping into the water downstream.
an early morning swim
Martin, being a nimble rock climber skirted many of the swims but in one section of canyon there was no choice but for all of us to hop in for a swim through a very long deep pool.
Massive waterfalls
Hard to believe its the Kowmung!
Martin avoids a swim
Finally we approached the last bend before our exit ridge and were confronted with another section of rugged gorge. This one we simply could not climb into due to the high water, and to get around it would have required a very long, high sidle. So we decided to head out at this point by climbing directly onto Megalith Ridge. This we did easily and by now it was warming up to a warm summer's day.
This section was too difficult to negotiate so we exited up Megalith Ridge
James and Ashley at the exit point
Monkey - true to form
Morong Deep from Megalith Ridge
Lunch was had in a saddle and the jaffle iron did the rounds. We returned safely to the car by mid afternoon. Another very exciting and adventurous weekend!
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