3 words to describe a Fitzgerald’s Creek trip. Steep, Overgrown, Epic. Despite the mouth of this creek being within view of the café at the Penrith Whitewater Stadium, it took 3 years from the PWS opening until this creek had been conquered. Having scouted it while it had 0 flow in December 2001, it was debatable whether or not this would be a goer, but after 170mm rain in a couple of days, in its tiny 29km2 catchment, there was enough flow. In a small group of 3 (Aaron Hemmerle and Andre Hemmerle) we gave it a shot.
The river at the put in is definitely misleading; it begins as a meandering stream not more than 6m wide, and carrying only about 10 cumecs. However, after less than a kilometre, the trees close in and the river begins to steepen. The next kilometre is the most overgrown, and though the rapids are not hard, care must be taken to avoid the trees.
About 2km after the start, the bottom drops out, as the creek enters its steepest section (45 m drop in 300m) Everything is scoutable, and it is worth checking around the next corner and setting safety because there are a couple of good sized falls at the end of some steep technical sections.
Fitzy’s falls, which is 5m to 6m in height has a good suckback and is undercut on river left, so nail the boof.
About 50m later, is ‘The Toaster, a 50m long rapid consisting of a 2m drop before a steep slide into a toaster slot that flushes out onto a big cushion wave.
The section climaxes with an as yet unrun, 10m fall (Cripple’s Falls) at the confluence with Cripple Creek. It can be scouted and portaged on river left.
The creek continues for another kilometre through steep boulder gardens and rock ledge chutes before it steepens again. At ‘Andre’s Accident’ a portage is required over a log across the whole river and a seal launch into a fast flowing flume that flows down into a big boulder creating a nasty weir-like hole. Run it, but be wary, it claimed every member of our group.
Directly after is Aaron’s Undoing, a long steep rapid that created more carnage than was expected. It can be scouted on river left. At the bottom of Aaron’s undoing is an as yet unrun drop where the river passes either side of a huge boulder and appears to seive. From the bottom of this rapid, the powerlines at the take out are visible, only a couple of hundred metres away. The comparatively tiny boulder gardens from here down are a nice cool down.
Advice for the trip: Take a breakdown paddle, a first aid kit, a mobile phone (there is reception) and don’t expect a walk in the park. This is steep creeking. PS. Leuko Spray bandage and op-site are handy for the aftermath. (Elbow pads proved very handy)
