Solo Packrafting Shoalhaven River from source to sea - Section 11 Horseshoe Bend to Tolwong Chimneys

Solo #Packrafting the #Shoalhaven River from #sourcetosea - Section 11 Horseshoe Bend to Tolwong Chimneys
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Raft: Alpacka Raft: https://alnk.to/7qdIWtR

I did this adventure solo a few years back (before the fires)

This was a massive day with a stupid ride before a lovely 10km of river through a spectacular gorge, oh and a good heart starting hike down and up to the river.

A day filled with races and pools leading to Welcome Reef.

The hike down to Great Horseshoe Bend always gets the knees pumping, then the river rafting begins. There are good grade 2 and 3 rapids that keep the river bubbling. About 6km down from Great Horseshoe Bend is a challenging grade 4 called the "Washing Machine”. It was easily portaged at low water. The rapid is described as “consists of a chute into a churning whirlpool with a strong suck back. This should be inspected and the alternative run on the left shot if there is doubt, as a paddler caught in this rapid could face difficulties in getting out of the swirl.” Then the Blockup Gorge is next with its spectacular red vertical cliff walls. The rest of the trip was rather quiet until a grade 3 in a group of casuarinas blocking the river just before the Chimneys. Just after the Chimneys the steep hike out begins.


DAYS: 1

Transport: car to start then short ride and then paddle

Entry: https://goo.gl/maps/URjKY5Xs58p9GFm56

Exit: https://goo.gl/maps/dvTdjDmq6ZjEfCRw9


BACKGROUND

Come for a paddle in the Australian wilderness.

A bit of a different format, today I’m packrafting the Shoalhaven River from source to sea, this is about a 330km journey with sections of tall trees with beautiful sandy banks, deep river gorges, remote class 4 rapids, degraded farmland and parts where the river is complete overgrown by tea tree and blackberries.

The Shoalhaven is a truly magnificent river that has its headwaters South of Canberra near the town of Braidwood. It flows north across Yuin Country through spectacular and remote gorges, before taking an epic sweeping turn to the east as it heads for the pacific ocean. Near the coast it joins up with Dharawal County.

This river has some large and dangerous rapids on it up to to class 4. As I have limited skills I portage anything above a grade 2. I’m doing this more as a paddling camping adventure, exploring a beautiful remote Australian river rather than an extreme sports adventure. People have died on the river so I have chosen to take my time and do it at a slower pace and really take time getting to know the different parts of the river.

I made every attempt not to trespass on private property – and if I did I am sorry and it was completely unintentional.

I’m breaking up my adventure into various sections ranging from 1 day to 6 days. I really enjoyed overnight wild camping on remote sandy river flats in the NSW bush.

I acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of County throughout Australia. I pay my respects to Elders past, present and future.

There is a wealth of knowledge on river rafting on the waterwaysguide.org.au, including suitable water levels for rafting (I went at low water for most of my trips).

OALLEN FORD TO TALLOWA DAM http://www.waterwaysguide.org.au/map/...

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Music

Take to the Sky - by Joshua Wellington

Video fly though with the help of Relive


#newsouthwales, #australianwilderness, #australianhiking, #hikelikeagirl, #wildcamp, #womenwhohike, #solohiking, #Shoalhavenriver, #alpackaraft, #shoalhaven