Activities - UTS Outdoor Adventure Club

A Danae Adventure... - Start Date: 12/03/2010

Thu, 4 Mar 2010 12:03:33 +1000

Provided it doesnt affect any other trips on the calendar, I'll be needing some ropes for this trip. We could take 3 x ~30m or 2x 60m ropes (9mm). I'll make sure the Abseiling trip has enough rope, but if anyone else needs ropes for this weekend please let me know.

Intermediate canyoning - Start Date: 17/04/2010

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:49:34 +1000

Tigersnake (or similar) canyons. All participants will know how to abseil (hopefully).

I need a leader and a seconder. Preferably leaders who have done this canyon before. The union van is available for transport. Contact me for more details.

Ellen

Twister/Rocky Canyons - Start Date: 13/03/2010

Tue, 2 Mar 2010 11:35:57 +1000

UTS Union Sport and Rec Fundraiser trip.

I need a leader and a seconder or two. You will get paid for running this trip. The leader must have done these canyons before, and preferably assisted or lead a fundraiser trip in the past. The participants are not club members, but are uni students. Generally total beginners who need a lot of help and supervision.

This trip will need ~10 club wetsuits, canyon packs and dry bags, so please keep this in mind if organising a different club trip on this date.

Please contact me if you want more info.

Thanks

Ellen

Upper bowens Creek South Branch - Start Date: 17/04/2010

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 08:28:08 +1000

Please note this is NOT A BEGINNER CANYON. You must have previous Canyoning experience, be a competent abseiler and have a good level of fitness. This will be a long day and you will need to be prepared to leave Sydney at 6.45am sharp on Saturday and will not be back before 10pm.

Only sign up for this trip if you are 100% Definite. So, if after all of that you are still keen to sign up then please feel the freedom. Members with car's will get priority and there is a strict limit of 8 persons on the trip. Please not that this trip is also contingent on people with cars signing up.

Introduction to Climbing (Session 1 of 4) - Start Date: 11/03/2010

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 21:49:07 +1000

This is the first out of a series of four sessions to introduce you to the sport of rock climbing. While the first three sessions will be held indoors at "The Ledge" climbing gym on the Sydney University Campus, the last one will be outdoors on some real rock.

This first session will cover basic climbing techniques as well as safety measures necessary to climb indoors. It will start on Thursday the 11th March 6:30pm at "The Ledge". If this is your first visit to the ledge you will have to check in with the staff first. Please bring some comfortable gym clothing which allows you to move and stretch. A pair of shorts and a T-Shirt will do.

Here is a link to the Ledge's webpage:

http://www.susf.com.au/page/the_ledge_climbing_centre.html

Snorkeling Clovelly/Gordons Bay - Start Date: 28/02/2010

Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:14:22 +1000

Snorkeling Clovelly/Gordons Bay

Clovelly is a popular, reasonably sheltered and often spectacular place to snorkel onSydney�s eastern shore. There is usually an abundance of marine life to be seen here including various species of wrasse, kelpfish, stripeys, and white trevally not to mention the star attraction �Bluey� the resident local blue goper.

If you would like to join this trip it is highly advisable but not essential that you have snorkelling experience. At a minimum you must be able to swim and be confident in the water. In the event of more than two persons joining the trip without prior experience subsequent places will be limited to people with prior experience.

The club can provide, wesuits, mask & snorkel, fins. More information will be provided via email RE Time and Meeting arrangements when you sign up.

Blue Mountains Climbing - Start Date: 27/02/2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 11:51:40 +1000

A casual one day sport climbing outing in the Blue Mountains. We will do some lead and toprope climbing between grade 14 and 22, depending on who signs up and what they would like to do. To come along on this trip you should be able to toprope climbs graded 14 or harder and have your own climbing shoes.

Beginners Canyoning Trip - Mt Wilson (TRIP FULL-DO NOT SIGN UP) - Start Date: 20/03/2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 10:11:02 +1000

This will be an introductory trip to the sport of canyoning. There will be no abseils, however plenty of swims in some amazing canyoning country in the Mt Wilson area. You'll need to have a reasonable level of fitness and be able to swim more than 30m, although the dry bags we'll provide you with will also give you extra floatation for the swims.

We'll be leaving from UTS Tower building at 8am and returning late in the day, so I wouldn't be making dinner plans as we may not get back to Sydney 'til dark.

You'll need to bring your own food and water, and wetstuit if you have one, otherwise the club can provide one for you. Just let me know your size (S,M,L,XL) when signing up. For the canyon we suggest Dunlop Volleys as the preferred footwear as the grip is very good on wet rocks. Also wear wollen socks (not cotton) and a thermal top underneath your wetsuit if you tend to feel the cold! An old pair of shorts to wear over the wetsuit is also mandatory (I recommend a pair of old footy shorts as they're lightweight and quick-drying). Please bring a change of clothes to leave in the car and a waterproof camera if you have one.

Any questions, please call me on 0414818182.

Cheers,

Max

Intro to Bushwalking - 1 (Trip Full) - Start Date: 20/03/2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 08:21:48 +1000

TRIP FULL

This is the first trip in a series of bushwalks aimed to give you the skills and experience to participate in some of the more difficult club walking trips. You don't need to have any bushwalking experience, just be enthusastic and be reasonably fit.

We are going to head to Katoomba and the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park. We will walk from Katoomba Falls to the Ruined Castle, where we will have lunch with fantastic views of the Jamieson Valley and nearby Mt Solitary.

The walk is all on track, and for the most part flat, with a steep downhill to get from Katoomba Falls down to Federal Pass walking track, then a short uphill to get up onto the Ruined Castle. We will return via the same route.

Abseil Skills 1 training day-TRIP FULL (DO NOT SIGN UP) - Start Date: 27/03/2010

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:47:08 +1000

This will be a training day for those wanting to learn the basics of abseiling, which is a pre-requisite for doing many of the canyons in the Blue Mountains. The topics covered include:

- Maintain personal safety near cliffs.

- Prepare for an abseil activity.

- Get on and off rope

- Conduct pre-abseil safety checks.

- Communicate between cliff top and bottom.

- Perform a variety of abseils.

- Negotiate common abseil hazards.

- Perform bottom belays.

We'll be meeting at 9am on the day in an area North of Sydney yet to be finalised (details to follow once you've signed up).You'll need to bring your own food, water, warm clothing, hat, sunscreen, first aid kit, comfortable clothing that you won't mind getting dirty (shorts, track pants or tights - not jeans) and joggers with good grip. Please call me on 0414 818182 if you have any further questions. Places are limited, so first in best dressed!

Cheers,

Max Pagnin

Editorial for Edition 135 - From 15/12/2009 to 14/01/2010

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1000

New semester starts in a week - get your galleries & articles in for the next newsletter!

Editorial for Edition 134 - From 15/11/2009 to 14/12/2009

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1000

Contributions called for Next newsletter

Editorial for Edition 133 - From 15/10/2009 to 14/11/2009

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 +1000

The end of the year is fast approaching, bringing sunshine, activities and an extra serve of outdoor adventure.

With lots of abseil training and loads of actvities, Summer is off to a good start.
Some have already had their first canyoning experiences with the 'pre-season' trips that have been happening.

As usual climbers have been battling the weather gods making it out to the local crags around Sydney, even gettting the odd climb in! Blue Mountains here we come!

There will be lots more coming up in the summer months so keep an eye on the website and email notifications.

- Greg Myhill

Editorial for Edition 132 - From 15/09/2009 to 14/10/2009

Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:00:00 +1000

So much is happening in the Outdoors right now - with trips to the snow, rogaining championships and of course the inaugural Climbing Competition just finished, it's going to be a busy second half of the year.

The coming highlights for the rest of 2009:

Friday October 16th - Interclub Pubgaine (A navigation race around inner city Sydney pubs)

November 15th - 6hr Socialgaine (Morisett)

Late November - Festival of the Canyon

And more climbing than you can poke a cam at!

So what are you waiting for? Get outdoors & enjoy yourself.

Editorial for Edition 131 - From 15/08/2009 to 14/09/2009

Sat, 15 Aug 2009 00:00:00 +1000

Next newsletter released end of August

Editorial for Edition 130 - From 15/07/2009 to 14/08/2009

Wed, 15 Jul 2009 00:00:00 +1000

Welcome to the new bunch! The students who have arrived for 2nd semester 2009, or those who just joined on a whim for whatever reason.

The new club president, Greg Myhill, has been flat-chat pumping out the trips for August. Here's a taste of what's on offer:

Mittagong - Novice Rockclimbing

Saturday, 8 August 2009

City to Surf 2009

Sunday, 9 August 2009

Monday Night - Club Climbing @ The Ledge

Monday, 10 August 2009

Learn to Rock Climb - Part 1

Thursday, 13 August 2009

Overland track in winter

Sunday, 9 August 2009

Lake Macquarie Rogaine

Saturday, 15 August 2009

Abseil Skills 2 - Next level training

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Abseil Skills 1 training day

Sunday, 16 August 2009

Monday Night - Club Climbing @ the Ledge

Monday, 17 August 2009

Learn to Rock Climb - Part 2

Thursday, 20 August 2009

Learn to Rock Climb - Part 3 -The Real Deal

Sunday, 23 August 2009

Monday Night - Club Climbing @ the Ledge

Monday, 24 August 2009

Abseil Skills 1

Saturday, 29 August 2009

Introduction to Mountaineering - Blue Lake

Friday, 28 August 2009

Monday Night - Club Climbing @ the Ledge

Monday, 31 August 2009

Inter-Club Climbing Competition @ The Ledge

Wednesday, 2 September 2009

To join a trip, you need to match the skills required, and be a financial member of the club. That's it- otherwise it's first in best dressed!

So what are you waiting for? Get involved!

Editorial for Edition 129 - From 15/06/2009 to 14/07/2009

Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:00:00 +1000

Next newsletter coming soon - add your reviews and articles now!

Editorial for Edition 128 - From 15/05/2009 to 14/06/2009

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 +1000

Trip Safety & David Iredale story

A story everyone should read and understand why the OAC has a strong emphasis on safety.

By Marty Middlebrook

I've been following the alarming inquest into the death of David Iredale, a 17 year old who died on the Mount Solitary Trail in 2006, for the last few weeks.
Last week wrote an article on our website regarding the similarities between his situation and our club activities.

If anyone is interested - it's not easy to find on the website, so i've included it here - i think it's vital for trip leaders to understand how easily things can go wrong, even on such a popular trail.
http://www.utsoac.org.au/article.asp?ArticleID=94

Editorial for Edition 127 - From 15/04/2009 to 14/05/2009

Wed, 15 Apr 2009 00:00:00 +1000

With the end of summer behind us - it's time to settle in for the cooler months.
That's a good thing! More long walks, climbing, snow activities and it's the dry season in the north!

There have been a range of fantastic activities running - a big thanks to all the leaders in the club!
And a special thanks to everyone who helped & participated in the End of Summer Bash at Palm Beach, with over 50 club members attending - this was a fantastic day out that wrapped up on Glebe Point watching Earth Hour.
Next month will see a new committee take the reigns of the OAC, so all the best for now.

Editorial for Edition 126 - From 15/03/2009 to 14/04/2009

Sun, 15 Mar 2009 00:00:00 +1000

A big welcome to our new members for 2009 - approximately 100 new people have joined the club already.

As always - trips are filling fast, often the same day they are advertised. This is a perrenial problem for the Outdoor Adventure Club, and we apologise to those who feel let down.

There is a way you can help - if you have the skills to run a trip please contact someone in the exectuvite and let them know you want to get involved, or if you have a good idea for a trip, but don't feel confident in running it yourself - then offer to organise it, if someone else takes the lead during the activity.

Many more training trips and weekends away are planned, so stay tuned!

Mud Run - 5/12/2009

Mon, 7 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +1000

The 1rst annual mud run was a success, with 800 participants and 2 OAC memebers running through the mud!

They weren't kididng when they said tie your shoes tight, as a few times I stepped and sunk waste deep in the mud unusre whether or not my foot would ever come out again. Then we ran through the river (you know, like aqua-jogging? That's what we did. But for a long time. In a river that "shouldn't hit high-tide before the competition is over"), then out and through the mud and back in the river again only to finish by crawling through a mud pit.

Everyone needs to try this next year! If you're afraid of the word, "run," don't be. Half the time for safety reasons you need to walk. This year I stuck to the 6k, but next year my goal is to train for the 12!

I wouldn't recommend it for anyone whose ankles are prone to injury, has open cuts, or is squeemish about getting muddy. And you have to be able to laugh at yourself because at some points you're running, soaking wet, covered in mud . . . but otherwise 9 year olds to 70 year olds were doing it so give it a go next year!

2009 Rogaining 24 hour Championships - NSW & Victoria - 3/10/2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1000

24 Hour Rogaining Champioinships - NSW & Victoria

New South Wales:
On a drizzly weekend in October, 4 UTSers travelled out to Oberon to compete in the NSW 2009 Rogaining Championships - a 24 hour race through the bush using navigation & Stamina to get you back to base with as many checkpoints as you can muster.

Despite it snowing the previous weekend, 200 people braved the cold & wet and started out at Midday on Saturday, into the bush looking for checkpoints down gullies, spurs & creeks. You were lucky if your feet stayed dry for the first hour.
As usual, none of us had a hope of winning the event - so we chose the usual fete, beat the other UTS teams.

Marty & Micha fared well till dark, and after a bit of labouring made it to the "All night cafe" - basically a tarp with some scouts cooking cheese toasties. We met Pat & Grant on our way back to camp (there was no way we were going to brave the 10 degrees in the rain on the course) - Pat looked ready to die with coldsores & a horrible cough, and Grant had the look of fatigue as well. We were quietly confident we might beat them at the least.

Sure enough the next morning we found Grant & Pat had the same idea and strolled back into base for a sleep, and we set out to collect another 200 points - bringing Marty & Micha's score to a total of 650 - trumping Pat & Grant's 490 (and annihilating Scott & Laura's 290)
- For perspective, Mike Hotchkis, Rogaine Veteran, scored 1810 to take out first place.
Despite the weather - we had a fun weekend & stayed on Monday to clear up some of the flags and enjoy the nicer weather. Well done NSW Rogaine!

NSW Map - Marty & Micha's course

Victoria
Micha & Marty had such fun on the NSW 24 event, we decided to see what was going on in other states - ACT & Qld were finished, but the Vic Champs weren't far off, and after looking at flights & trains, we decided to drive to Mansfield, 8hrs south of Sydney, to have another try at the Rogaine Madness.

Near perfect weather (perhaps just a little too hot) and great open country made for a fantastic day out Rogaining. The course was marred by half of the map being deemed out of bounds, limiting where you could reasonably go without spending the whole time on firetrails.
We headed up a steep plateau, knocking over checkpoints like dominos. By midnight we had well over 700 points, which we were very proud of. We made a little shelter with a fly sheet, and snuggled up under our single sleeping bag... freezing any body part that fell outside the warm material.
Unfortunately neither of us could muster the effort to rise at 5am as planned, and we only really set off at 7am the next day. Micha & Marty still made it back on time, coming 28th overall (out of 50 teams) with 1530 points.
The winning team nearly cleared the whole course with 3800 points. We're going to have to stop sleeping so much, and start running!

Vic Map - Pink sections are out of bounds.

Side trip to Mt Buffalo
After 24 hours in the bush, despite a bit of a nap halfway we knew we couldn't drive all the way back to Sydney, so planned to check out Mt Buffalo, via Glenrowan - Ned Kelly Country.

We met a mate at Glenrowan, had some food, traveled to the top of Mt Buffalo, where despite the blazing sun the temperatures reached zero overnight, freezing the condensation on the car & providing a stark contrast to the previous days events. Mt Buffalo is a vast plateau of rock sculptures & boulders, We didn't make it out as far as the horn (home to some of Australia's biggest rock faces, including Ozymandias & Lord Gumtree)
Heading back slowly to Sydney via Albury, we had a great time & were very happy with our navigation - now we just need to work on the stamina!

Morisett Socialgaine - 15/11/2009

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:00 +1000

Well done to Grant & Jaff! 38th overall out of nearly 100 teams, and 13th in the Mens - not bad for Jaff's first Rogaine!

Kate & Flynn did well to beat 3 UTS teams as well, though surprisingly beaten by 7 family teams! Next time eh Flynn?

Thanks to Micha for organising - 7 teams from UTS! Awesome.
(I couldn't find Troy & Sarah- maybe their names aren't listed?)

http://www.nswrogaining.org/AboutEvents/Events/09SG/09SGbyScore.htm

Team

Name

Score

Time

Open

Men

Wom

Mixed

Vet

Super Vet

Junior

Nov

Family

First Placed Team:

2280