An Aussie Grand Adventure Oct 2017
John Snowball
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A small and eager group of Aussies made their way to Lees Ferry, the put in point on the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon for a 21 day Rafting/Kayaking trip of which none could, or would want to ever forget.

It would be a trip of a lifetime for most as the chance of getting a permit is slim, but after several years of the group applying to the Parks Board, Andrew Maffet (Maff) received the nod in late 2016.

15 months later and with only a month to the start of the trip I was asked if I would like to join the group as 2 had to pull out. As no was not an option I hardly slept that night and needless to say the following days were frantic with passport, flights and gear to organize.

Ceiba Adventures the company chosen to provide everything bar personal gear picked us up in Vegas for a several hour trip to Lees Ferry, a few miles downstream of Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam.

The water temp from this dam is around 12degC requiring dry suits to be worn by the kayakers and the more worried of the rafters. The temp increased only a few deg over the 226 miles to Diamond Creek, the pullout and end point to our trip.

The next 21 days was just a total feast for all my senses physical and emotional and being consumed by every moment in that place that is the Grand Canyon.

4 x 18 foot Rafts carrying everything from the kitchen sink to the “Groover” (toilet) ferried us safely through the largest of rapids with only one hiccup on the first rapid.

Pete Nid oaring the Red Groover raft nicknamed the “Vlad” or “Putin” had a few tense minutes wrapped around a rock with the back half under water and two ladies clinging to the bow.

Only after losing enough beer and firewood did Vlad managed to escape an early disaster. None of the group had any prior experience oaring a raft but a skill picked up quickly by all.

The group had many competent kayakers so the 5 boats were in constant use and provided lots of fun and some butterflies in the larger rapids.

Most days consisted of eating, packing rafts, negotiating rapids, exploring the many side canyons, more eating, rapids, finding camp, unpacking, more eating and lots of drinking before retiring under the northern stars and usually the sound of a nearby rapid to steer the dreams.

What more could anyone want and to be in such a place as this, just magic. – (oh yes the Tonic of life!!)

I still can’t fathom how we managed to stow the 25 cartons of beer, 10 of mixers (oops no tonic) and copious quantities of spirit (but where there’s a will).

If anyone has the chance of doing this trip guided or self-guided as we did, I would highly recommend it although having the experience of ex Perth paddler Andy Griffiths in our group, whose knowledge gained paddling the canyon 4 times previously was invaluable.

A video of our trip by Sam Maffet gives a great overview and feeling of what the trip was like and can be viewed on youtube.

​​​​​​​10km Championships

14th January 

Lake Leschenaultia

After completing 5 Kimberley Expeditions, the last being a 3500km Kayak, Run and Mountain Bike I thought ‘what’s next’. Then the dream of Paddling, Cycling, Walking and Backpacking 24,000kms through the remotest and most stunning parts of Australia and Tasmania came to mind. If I could kayak, run and mountain bike 3500kms surely I could do 24,000kms and so I did.

This trip took one year to complete. Every day except for about 8 days I was on the move doing big distances. I had a support team to carry my two bikes, my two kayaks, my backpacking gear and all the other gear that I needed for such a journey.

This was a dream trip. There were 13 stages. To read about three of those stages the 1600km Canning Stock Route walk, the 800km Cooktown to CapeYork paddle and the 2500km paddle down the Murray River in 21 days - go here

https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/canning-stock-route-walk/

https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/cooktown-to-cape-york/

https://terrybolland.wordpress.com/the-murray-river-from-the-source-to-the-sea/
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1. I Paddled 800kms from Augusta to Geraldton.
2. Cycled 750kms from Geraldton to Wiluna.
3. Walked 1600kms along the Canning Stock Route from Wiluna to Billiluna.
4. Cycled 1350kms along the Tanami Track,
5. Walked 450kms across the Simpson Desert,
6. Cycled 2200km from Birdsville to Cooktown,
7. Paddled 800kms from Cooktown to Cape York,
8. Cycled 5460kms from Cape York to Wilsons Promontory ( including paddling around islands and stunning sections),
9. Backpacked 900kms through the Victorian & NSW mountains from Wilson Promontory to Mt Kosciusko,
10. Kayaked 2500kms down the Murray River in 21 days.
11. Cycled 1000kms from Goolwa to Melbourne,
12. Backpacked & cycled 1300kms around Tasmania (including the Overland Track and Western Arthur Track)
13. Cycled 4,300kms from Melbourne to Perth (via the Nullarbor, Esperance, Albany, Augusta and finishing off with a paddle to and around Rottnest Island).

WA OUTDOOR EDUCATION UNDER THREAT WITH SCHOOL CAMPSITES TO CLOSE

Outdoors WA is alarmed at the recent announcement from the Minister for Education and Training of the intention to close the six camp schools located in Bridgetown, Pemberton, Kalgoorlie, Dampier, Geraldton and Rockingham.

We know that thousands of students and hundreds of schools will be deprived of a school camp experience if these campsites are closed. In addition these camps are assets to the community providing a place for diverse groups to explore and enjoy different regions in our state.

These camp schools are the public face of outdoor learning, where specialist teachers have worked tirelessly to integrate learning with the natural environment in line with the WA curriculum. The decision places a question mark over the future of outdoor learning in public schooling and the essential role it has in providing a holistic education for our children.