Closet (Newnes Plateau)
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| | Difficulty:3B (v3a2) Raps:2, max ↨115ft
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| Best season: | Oct-Apr (avg for this region)
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Introduction
Closet canyon is a nice day out in the wilderness, often combined with one of its neighbours. The upper and lower slot are relatively short, but pretty. The highlight is likely the long abseil in the lower slot.
As you descend the upper slot, it is worth considering the incredible canyon genius of Tom Brennan who traversed this section in 2004 without swimming. The OzUltimate.com author sure could canyon in his 20's.
Quality
- The canyon is rated 5 out of 10 on the Brennan Quality Scale.
- David Noble rates the canyon 2 out of 5 for quality and Medium for difficulty.
Approach
Start along the overgrown Mt Galah fire trail, then branch off along the Rocky Creek exit track. Then you'll need to navigate north along a scrubby ridge, where you'll find various footpads at times but no distinct track.
Descent
The upper cliff band (Banks wall) starts with a bit of an amphitheater, you can scramble in ~20m right of the watercourse down a series of ledges, then walk ~100m to the actual slot.
- Either down-climb the watercourse, or, most parties seem to walk along a ledge on the right and abseil from a tree ~8m to the bottom of the down-climb.
- 2 short down-climbs, the 2nd has tree roots for holds.
- Abseil ~15m from a tree on the left into a pool, swim out, subsequent abseilers can be pulled across the pool to a ledge on the right (looking down canyon)
Side note, it was here in 2004 that Tom Brennan passed this pool without swimming, requiring a dynamic move on the rope and stemming. As you dangle on the rope halfway down and just above the pool, look around and consider what is required for this move - one of the greatest pieces of canyoning in Australian history. Members of the party recount they wouldn't believe it was possible unless they had witnessed it. Tom Brennan of the 2020's can't believe the Tom Brennan of 2004 was capable of such a feat. A testament to the agility, bravery and foolhardiness of youth!
- Walk ~15m, then squeeze down a chute and drop into a swimming pool, swim ~30m
Side note, Tom Brennan in 2004 also crossed this pool without swimming, using a combination of high stemming and full body span with high penalty points.
The walls widen and you walk through large overhangs. If you need to exit for any reason, follow the cliff to the right around the point to join the exit.
The creek enters the lower cliff band (Burramoko) soon, you can enter the creek bed using a loose and dusty downclimb on the left.
- Many will abseil the first slippery slab using a tree on the left. You guessed it, 2004 Tom Brennan down-climbed this.
- You encounter a fairly large drop, you can work your way around to the left and down a ramp to avoid an abseil.
- The impressive ~35m abseil from a threaded sling between boulders. There is a safe re-belay option roughly midway down, where a large boulder is slung.
Walk out to Rocky Creek.
While the guidebooks say the longest abseil is 40m, to help with rope selection, Richard Pattison says "we used 2 x 40m ropes, the short strand had about 5m spare at the bottom, maybe a little more, so the drop is 35m at most".
Exit
Head up Rocky Creek 500m, passing a right-angle right halfway, to the right-angle left. Exit Rocky Creek here on the right (looking up canyon), heading up beside the cliff, eventually the cliff on your right becomes a damp gully and ends with a ~6m cliff. Climb out on the right (looking up) with the help of various tree roots. Head up to the top cliff-line, then turn right (looking up) and follow this around to the point where you'll find a break in the cliffs. Excellent views of Rocky Creek from the ridge top. Follow this ridge back to your entry route.
Red tape
This is in a designated wilderness area of Wollemi national park.
Beta sites
OzUltimate.com : Tom Brennan's notes- OzUltimate.com : Tom Brennan's LiDAR map
Trip reports and media
- OzUltimate.com : Tom Brennan - Closet & Contradiction, report with link to photos
- OzUltimate.com : Tom Brennan - Closet & Thunderstorm, report with link to photos
- Sleep when we're dead : Craig Fynn, Closet Canyon