Clatterteeth Canyon – History

I recently had some correspondence with Ross Wyborn, a resident of Canada, but also a former very active Sydney Bushwalker and mountaineer back in the 1960’s. He had got in touch with me in order to try and locate an old climbing friend. He was successful in this. But I also asked him about the trip he did down Du Faurs Creek back in the 1960’s – which was the first recorded trip through Clatterteeth Canyon as far as I know.

Ross was kind enough to send me a scan from his journal in which he had recorded trips from that era. He also has allowed me to publish it here. I think it is very interesting.

Wollangambe Creek Trip no 1

21st, 22nd, 23rd February 1964

Trip – Mt Wilson – Clatterteeth Canyon – Bell Creek – Wollangambe Creek – Mt Wilson

Distance – 12 miles

Starters – Wendy Butler, Sandra Bardwell, Peter Cameron, Bob Duncan, This trip was led by myself.

Description – Friday Night – Drove up to our block of land at Mt Wilson

Saturday – Walked back down to the zig zag and at the bottom of the hill we followed an old track down the gully to the west. The track soon petered out and we walked across some open ground past some sandstone outliers which we climbed. We had cut out the creek we started to follow and followed another small creek (the next one down) down to the main creek (Clatterteeth Canyon was the name given by us) After about 1/4 mile the creek went into a narrow low canyon with two short swims. The creek valley then opened up a bit then after a side creek came in the main creek flowed into a narrow canyon which was a swim of 100 yards. This was followed by several short swims then a swim of about 150 yards. After a few more short swims the canyon widened and we had lunch on a sandy beach. After lunch we followed the creek down around a sharp corner and had several small swims. When we reached Bell Creek we left our packs and walked up it. In it we found a small tunnel through which you could walk. The lower section was easier though more spectacular than our canyon. We stopped before a small pool which had to be swum and small waterfalls which could easily have been scramble up. Returning to our packs we continued down an easy section of creek to the Wollangambe Creek. Just down from the junction we decided to camp on a sandy flat but a few spots of rain sent us across the creek to a small glow worm cave.

Sunday – The first section of Wollangambe was a bash, then there was a 80 yards swim followed by a 100 yards swim. We then walked to an interesting cave which was followed by a 400 yard swim. After this we swam another 100 yards swim and then had lunch opposite a canyon coming in on the left. Here Peter tried to climb out but failed. We then swam a 50 yards swim then a 150 yards swim (being the best on the trip) and came to small side creek coming in on the right we climbed up this then around a ledge and up a crack. you could not get up the creek here as there was a small falls. We then walked back to Mt Wilson along an easy ridge coming out at “Nooroo” homestead. Here we had a feast of blackberries and walked back to our block of land.

Notes –

• I’m not sure which way they entered Du Faurs Creek. Back in the 70’s the standard access route to Clatterteeth Canyon left the Mt Wilson Rd from the zig zag bend via a track that went down a ridge. Lower down there was a saddle and a choice of routes – left, via a small creek known as October Creek or to the right – more direct, but missed a but of the canyon. Ross’s party may have gone one of these ways or perhaps a little further downstream?
• They spent the night at the campsite where the track comes down to the Wollangambe Creek. There is still a sandbank on one side and a small cave hidden in the rainforest on the other side.
• Their exit is more or less the same one as used to exit the “Tourist Section” of Wollangambe Canyon. Back in the 70’s. I can remember exiting not via the tree roots commonly used today, but instead doing the traverse and crack climb described. This takes you to the top of the cliffs more directly and provides fine views of the canyon from above.
• They swam all the way through these canyons. There is no mention of wetsuits. On a later trip – they went in via their exit and continued downstream. This time they had lilos. Earlier SUBW parties had visited Wollangambe Canyon around 1960 and one such trip was described as being a “swalk” (from swim-walk)
• Ross also wrote an article, with map, for the Sydney Bushwalker Magazine, March 1964 – which can be downloaded as a pdf here. The map shows they entered via the right hand route mentioned above (so who was the first party to go in via “October Creek”? Perhaps a later trip by Doone Wyborn – Ross’s brother.). The map shows their campsite a little upstream of where it would be according to the descriptions.

Thanks to Ross for allowing me to publish this journal trip report.