Sassafrass
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| | Raps:6, max ↨213ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Oct-Apr (avg for this region)
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-30.3686, 152.7874
-30.3621, 152.7980
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Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
River gauges: See the gauge formula for Rosewood_Canyon. Sassafras has no hazards at <345 ML/d. .
In lower/moderate flows, R4 and R5 do not have aquatic hazards and R5 bolts are well clear of the water.
Flow was quite high with gauge formula at "-20" and R5 bolts visible but with water passing on both sides. No aquatic hazards.
Approach[edit]
Park at Never Never Picnic Area. Take the Sassafras Creek tourist track from behind the picnic shelter, and follow it beyond the signposted junction with Rosewood track. Follow the track down the switchbacks to the signposted crossing of Sassafras Creek, with the first abseil cascading down to the left.
Descent[edit]
| Rap | L/R | M | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| For R1 on thick gumtree: Recommend that no permanent anchor material is left, due to R1 starting on the tourist track. Webbing and quicklink can be recovered on the walk out. | |||
| R1 | Tree CM/R | 35m | In flow, into shallow. |
| R2 | Tree CR | 60m | In flow, into shallow. Stepped waterfall sequence, 3x cascades, shallow pools inbetween. |
| DC | CR | 10m | Or abseil from trees CL. |
| R3 | XX CM/L | 25m | In flow into deep. |
| Stem slot CL (possible spillover) to access R4 anchors. Or climb out of pool CR, traverse back towards slot CL and DC 2m to R4 bolts. | |||
| R4 | XX CR | 65m | In flow into shallow (possible strainer). |
| R5 | XX CM | 18m | In flow into deep (possible hydraulic). Bolts under waterfall in high flow, needs high water bolts. Plenty of options available, recommend CL. |
| 10m | DC traversing large ramp L-R | ||
| R6A | XX CL | 30m | In flow into shallow with slide finish. Last abseiler, flick pull side over bulge CR and throw to base to minimise pulldown friction around the corner. Alternatively, scramble up exit scree slope CL to retrieve rope. |
| R6B | Tree CR | 25m | Dry. |
Exit[edit]
Climb scree slope CL of final abseil. Scramble up to the ridgeline and eventually an old snig track (chossy and cliffy if you go up too close to the canyon - traverse until you cross the gully). Ascend the ridge until meeting the Sassafras tourist track. Leaving bags on the track, follow the switchbacks downhill to retrieve R1 anchor material. Then reverse the Sassafras track
