Fortress
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| | Difficulty:3B III (v2a2 II) Raps:1-2, max ↨20ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Dec - Mar
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-33.6445, 150.3593
-33.6582, 150.3642
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Introduction[edit]
Fortress is somewhere between the open swim through canyons and the narrower, more technical slot canyons at ends in a stunning lookout.
Rope: 20m Wetsuit: Recommended Walk in: 40min- 1hr Walk out: 1.5-2.5 hours Descent: 2 -3 hours Rating 1.5/4 V2A2__ Elevation Gain: 350m Distance 8Km Car to car 4-6hrs
Approach[edit]
Fortress Ridge Car Park (Google Maps link) at Corner of Mt Hay Road and Fortress Ridge trail. MGA556726
Follow the Fortress Ridge fire trail. Head right where the road forks after about 700m. After another 700m you will see an old fire road heading off to your right. Ignore this and instead continue west along the Fortress Ridge walking track. After 500m on this track, turn right onto a foot track that heads north, then NE, down a ridge. Continue for approximately 1km before arriving at the creek. If you are wearing wetsuits you can put them on here, but in warm weather you are better off following the creek downstream until you need to start wading.
Descent[edit]
Walk alongside the creek, or walk in it where you need to, occasionally climbing over branches, logs and rocks. The first, short section of canyon starts with a short down climb that can also be jumped, followed immediately by a 20m swim. The canyon opens up again following this. The next section of canyon starts with a scramble down a large boulder that takes you to a 2m water jump. After some more scrambling and wading you come to the third and most impressive canyon constriction. It starts with a 6m abseil from a bolt on the left hand side of the canyon. This can also be jumped, but the water is not particularly deep (usually less than 2m) and there are rocks that need to be avoided. After some more swimming and scrambling the canyon comes to an end. Continue along the creek for about 100m to the very end, where it plunges over an impressive waterfall. This is a spectacular spot for lunch.
Exit[edit]
Exit. The canyon ends at the top of a 70m waterfall known as Fortress Creek Falls, MGA427752 with great views. To exit go back upstream 50m and exit on to easy track to the west, keep left at the top cliff line to access the Fortress Ridge Track and follow that back to car. There are some spectacular views available from the track, or with a quick detour onto The Fortress.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
https://ozultimate.com/canyoning/track_notes/fortress.htm
Trip reports and media[edit]
https://sleepwhenwearedead.net/2016/01/10/empress-and-fortress-canyons-10-01-16/
