Adrenalin Addiction - Escarpment Coledale, New South Wales, Australia
By The Rats on 25-Apr-12. Waypoint GC177ZZ

After descend to close to the end of my 60m rope and fair bit of bush bashing I admitted defeat. Facing a long ascent I kept and eye out. Finnly success I spied the ammo tin. Awesome spot and great adventure TFTC

Looks too close to the cliff for a safe search so gave up on rock platform

After finding Phoenix Rising with Noodles22, he kindly offered to come along to this one so I could grab it whilst we had all the gear, and I had a backup in case of problems.

Dropping down the cache was easily spotted from above, and I was quickly tucked into its little cranny. I hadn't read recent logs so was surprised to find the ammo can in such excellent condition.

Signing duties done, and Prussiking confidence increasing, I made reasonable time back up to the top, making sure to take in the stunning views as I ascended.

So great to finally have this one done and dusted - now to get down to the bottom and find Canopy!

TFTC

The journey to the mega resulted in a lot of driving, with a few select cache finds, due to the distance I had to travel. If only there was time to find them all! Once at “The Gong” as there are so many caches, yet again, sadly, only some could be attempted. This morning I met up with a friend and attempted this cache, which has been on my to do list for a few years. Finally, D day! There isn’t much to say other than amazing views and a favourite point. Thanks for placing the cache The Rats

I didn't have 400m of rope with me today to reach the bottom, but fortunately didn't need that much. Met up with beckNmonts and we made our way to the launch platform.
Two semi-decent anchors, plus a third bomber anchor, two ropes set up, stopper knots in place since we were short 340m to get to the bottom, and off to GZ. I almost called it a DNF and was about to start making my way back up when I decided to go down one more level. And indeed the cache was there. Bec then went over the edge and made short work of it too.
Awesome views from GZ.
Thanks for the adrenalin rush, The Rats.

I got a leave pass from family duties to go exploring and doing ‘FUN STUFF!’ While spending the weekend in the area for the Geomuster.
I had been told to put number of caches on my to do list and this was one of them.

I started the day with this cache and after finding my way along the track I was blown away by the view that opened up. Even if I didn’t find a cache today I was happy with just being brought here!
I peered over the edge then decided I was ready to go, fully prepared to use every bit of my 60m rope. After a quick descent I found the cache equally as fast. Log book was signed and photos were taken, then I hung out on the ledge for a while.

Very glad I came here and did this cache. Thank to The Rats for creating it! This type of adventure is a big reason why I love this game!

TFTC

A DNF after an hour on the rope. Had to call it quits before it turned into a rescue mission.

We set off from the obvious point in previous logs and images, but still missed it?

Disheartening result since the CO was here only just recently for maintenance.

Came out today and did some further maintenance in anticipation of the upcoming mega

Thanks to wazza9 for providing a new ammo tin and Team GBS for abseiling down to replacing it.

Next stop was the Escarpment. Team GBS, Wazza9 and Nana Nel and I all arrived at the fire trail and were at GZ a few minutes later. Hmm, the vegetation had certainly grown wild over the years since placement. Not being able to see over the lip even when on a safety standing as close to the edge as possible Sir GBS went first and scouted out some possibilities, we set up in the cleanest possible area but this seemed to be wrong and unfortunately it was decided that we had to abseil over the lip right through all the scrub.... ah.......I elected to scout this time but when a gust of wind almost smashed me against the rock face I bailed out. Sir GBS gallantly opted to scout again and with in minutes says cache sighted. Well what was left of it. Wazza9 had prepared a new ammo box with the CO's permission. Sir GBS retrieved the rusted box and re anchored a new one and not long after was back on top. I decided to try again even though the wind had picked up and knowing that I'd be able to stand and re-sort out the borrowed mechanical ascender and pulley whilst standing, I felt a little more confident. Even though, I took the rack and prussick loops with me. Over kill but familiarity breeds confidence.
The cache was exactly at the altitude my Garmin topo said it would be. The contour lines were spot on. I really enjoyed the short abseil down and manoeuvring into the slot to GZ was a breeze. I didn't get caught up in the tree and GZ is perfectly safe and enclosed as long as you stay on the rope. Signing the log book and sighting the new cache in place anchored as it was before. Nice work Team GBS as there is not much room there. You can't hear anyone up above whilst at GZ and they can't hear you, especially with the wind howling. It took me a few minutes to remember how Sir GBS told me to attach the pulley. I was totally alone and had to figure it out for my self, eventually it all worked itself out and I was on my up, with the wind trying to blow me into the cliff face. Eventually I reached the numerous bushes and crawled up through these to the top.... egh..... finally reaching the flat rock.
Another awesome caching experience and such a fun day with a great bunch of friends.

My DNF isn't because we couldn't locate the cache.
Even after being shown the CO's spoiler image, one member wanted to go to a different location. Team GBS went over and to the bottom of the rope to check the area out before going down the correct location and locating the container.
We came prepared with a few tools and a replacement outer container which Team GBS secured in place.
By now, I was thinking my fitness level was shot and I decided not to complete this cache today.
It was then that tronador went down and completed the cache. All good and home we went.
It seems that I have done something to my left shoulder/elbow , must have been caused by fighting with myself at the previous cache.
While an ascending device and Gregory are good, I think I need some practice before I try to use them again.
Thanks for placing this cache The Rats, I will be back one day.

This was our next stop having just completed the COs "Adrenalin Addiction - Tree" cache. We parked up and walked to the launching platform with tronador, wazza9 and Nana nel. We consulted the COs photos re the placing of the rope but one of our group still wanted to set the rope off to the left. Mr Team GBS volunteered to go down first to see what he could find. He wasn't too surprised that he didn't find the cache but he had great fun abseiling down as far as the rope would safely allow, exploring around before coming back up again - after all, with the rope then relocated to where we had originally wanted to put it, he then have a good excuse for yet more fun! tronador set off down first but soon aborted due to the strong wind. Mr Team GBS then harnessed up again and down he went. Almost immediately he called out that he had spotted the cache - he had gone down with a replacement provided by wazza9 as we had all seen the photos of what was left of the original container (almost totally rusted away). With the tools he had also taken down with him he was able to secure the replacement Ammo Can in pace, then after signing the log book he came back up again with what was left of the original container. tronador decided to have another go and this time made it quickly down to the cache, arriving back up top again with a big grin on her face. wazza9 had earlier sustained a slight injury and so unfortunately had to decide against the descent - very unfortunate as he been so looking forward to gaining a smilie on this cache. Thanks so much for a truly great cache at a stunning location and a favourite point awarded. Greetings from Zimbabwe

It has been 3 years 11 months and 20 days since this cache was last logged.
This isnt the first time I’ve found this cache. I was asked by DameDixsonsOwn back in 2014 to come along to set the abseil for them. It was the first cache i ever found and was my introduction to geocaching. When i started to find caches for myself this was one i had my eye on right from the start.
I was accompanied today by 8r0ns0n. We arrived at about 11.40 am at the parking spot on the side of the highway and parked by the gate. The rain had been on and off all day and while we walked to the site we were lucky enough that it was dry(ish). Matching the photo to the GZ i began to set up the anchor and thats when our luck with the weather ran out. It started raining and the clouds started to roll in.
I headed down and was able to recall what the alcove the cache was in looked like and found it easily.
I found that the sistema container and the log are dry but the ammo container it is held in has disintegrated. The rust came away in my hands as i lifted the container. It is unusable as any sort of protection from the elements.
After prusiking up in the rain i looked out from the cliff and was unable to see the canopy below let alone the ocean due to the thick cloud cover.
By the time we got back to the car at 1.10 pm i was completely soaked and was appreciative of the cars heater.
Any day i get to do some abseilling is a good day.
Thanks Rats.
#204

While the sistema container and logbook are still dry and in the correct spot for anyone who wants to log this cache the ammo box has disintegrated into a chunk of rust and could do with replacing. The lid of the ammo box came off in my hands when i tried opening it.
Thanks for the cache Rats.

Again, where do I start ?!? Well, now that I have largely recuperated from the ordeal I'll start with the abseil. While it is not the worst one I have done I was quite worried when I noticed how the rope loved to get tangled in all the fine but tough bushes. The vertical part was lovely, and it was just the brushy ramp that gave some grief. With not having the GPSr 'on hand' while abseiling we soon found that we had a different place to look than where we landed. So off to find Canopy, then back again. Noodles made good work of prussiking up.
Then it was my turn with a borrowed set of loops. I hadn't tested some new cord I had in the car and I may have been better off to make my own. What with the rope getting caught in everything, and then the knots sliding down I didn't make it easy for myself. Found the cache, but was unable to open it, so I was very glad Noodles had thought to write my name in there. And as I didn't realise he had left a Correct Site Marker in the tin I also left one there.
Completely 'knackered' when I got to the top I was glad Noodles was rested to coil the rope.
The scenery was great, and the day was the BEST, so I am very glad to mark this off my 'Bucket List'.
I will add a book mark for the Challenging Cache elective.
Brought through for mileage: 12-12-12 Event, 2012 Olympic Cab, 3 Bros NSW, Auckland NZ'13, B 2 B Travel ingot, CII-35Z, CITO - Upper Swan and Beyond geocoin, family travel, GCookie EARTH Cache 10 year Celebration Coin, GCookie FIZZY Coin, Geo-Kayaker GOLD TB, Hello Cocky TB, Iconic Bridges 2012, Island Hopper Y'all, Jacqui and Steve, Katniss the Kitty, Kengu, Native American Drummer boy, cache critters Baa, Neigh Neddy, and Oink, NZ Mega 13 signature, Oz Mega 2014 GCookie, Relay For Life Tag, thank you - moliva, 'The Clock Tower', TransAustralia, Trumpey Smurf, Tyler's TB Golf Ball, World Geocoin Series-Middle East, and trackable shirts.
Thanks VERY The Rats for a great adventure.

I had attended an event cache on the Illawarra Escarpment and GCookie asked if anyone had 50+m of rope on them. Iust my luck that I had a boot-load of rope in my car still from abseil training yesterday.
So off we went, after ensuring that we both had enough gear from the car to get down and back up again.
Down I went first, having to complete some gardening with the rope caught in the vegetation, on many levels. Soo I reached the ground and the very end of the rope. Where's the cache?
Soon Cookie was down and we had a hunt around. While we were down there, we went and found Canopy befre returning for the climb back. I went first and made the find.
The new container had a rust level mark over it, but the log was tough dry. I replaced it with another container, new log and plastic baggie. Hope this lasts longer in the rust bucket.
P.s. I noticed why the cache was filling with so much water. These ammo tins are almost air and water-proof. The chain attached to stop the lid from fallibg away broke that seal, so until a new container is placed WITHOUT that alteration, this cache will continue to fill with water.
As written, lying on a rock, waiting for the cookie to make the ascent.

fun cache on a very hot day - couldn't have stayed much longer. The cache is very rusty and needs a larger waterproof container inside it. Left a new notebook but I don't know how long it will last before dissolving.

This morning Baja15 mention he wanted to do this cache!!! Well I was a little reserved as I have a little problem with my knee, soon reminding me of an operation to be had. Off he went and collected all the required robes and harnesses and we were on our way.
Arriving at GZ we could see the fog in the horizon only just seeing the boats. We harnesses up, double checked everything, all good. We went down together with lots of encouragement with the more experienced by my side, helping me overcome the tremors.
Arriving at the treasure, I was so exited, only to find the cache container full of water and rust, contents swimming and full of water also, log book swimming inside sistema container.We mobbed it up the best we could and then I put a kissed sticker in a hope it will make in to a new log book.
Climbing up bumped my knee, ouch, eventually made it up with BIG smiles.
Many thanks for the rush, Rats

Another great cache in a very testing series. Enjoyed the challenge and I will certainly remember this cache as a memorable milestone for J+J.au and me. (Climbing side by side). We have wanted to try this one for some time but one of us took a lot of gentle persuasion. Overall the location is just spectacular and the climb is fairly defined. Shame about the container suffering water damage. Phoned CO with details so something can be arranged to make the necessary repairs. We had a great days caching today riding high on the buzz we got out of this one to kick off our day. Left my mark as per J+Js log. TFTC

GPS wanted me to go about 3m out into clear air - not quite ready for that much adrenalin! Will try to come back with the geoteen (he's just got his vertical rescue quals) and all the descending/ascending gear

Yeahhh... how cool is that. A week ago i bought a new rope in sydney, because i coudn't bring my own from switzerland because of the weight. I was really surprised to find a abseil cache here in Australia and went with my good aussie friends for a drive to Coledale. We found the spot, but my first abseiling ended on the wrong spot, but from down there i was almost sure, that i saw the right one. So up again and down again thru all the bushes. baaahhhh... here it is. What an amazing spot. I did some abseiling caches in Switzerland already, but never with such a stunning view. Thanks for showing me this spot. Also Karl and Thomas enjoyed the trip and i will practise with them on the weekend at honeymoon bay. Thank you Rats for my first T5 in Australia.

Regards from Switzerland, and please excuse my bad english
Cheers !

Awesome spot to be hanging around. TFTC

We were going to abseil but we figured that it would be hard to get back back up so we did a different geocach. The Arharoo, Koolkat and superki12 were there too.
Happy birthday to the Arkaroo.

came here for my dad's 50th birthday but didnt find it
we were going to abseil down but then we realised that we wouldn't have a way to get back up, so we couldn't go down.
even if we did have a way back up, i don't know if i have the guts to go down in the first place, but the view is so good! you can see so far and the massive ships didn't look like they were far out at all.
next time we'll have someone down in coledale to pick us up and someone at the top to put the equipment away wooo

Me rocksandra, koolkath, and The Arkaroo (on his 50th birthday), headed near the geocache.
We arrived near the cache, prepared our abseil gear, we were going to go down, but how were we supposed to get back up. We could not find the cache because we didn't want to get into any kind of difficulties. We'll have to come back another day, abseil, find the cache, abseil then walk to coledale (or what ever the town is called).

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[purple]50th Birthday DNF![/purple] The Arkaroo celebrates half a century, or 41,67% of his life expectations! Thought it would be a good idea to seek for a cache, and have the kids as well, not just present but also logging! As the weather improved in the afternoon, we came out to this backyard position by driving the Blue Desert Drive over Stanwell Tops. Parked the car along the road. The place was easy to find, as a path was trampled. At the abseil position, there was tape around a tree, still sticky on the inside, so it must be here from our predecessors. Oh, there are cuts in the sandstone, looks like the SRS came out with a steel cable cutting into it!

Equipped with full climbing gear - haha, the kids asked, why do you need that many ropes. Well, I took my 100m double rope, which I only used once before, and which I guard well for this kind of events. Set up a top-rope with bowlines and 2-way redundancy, the service rope over the first cliff edge, still standing in bush. from here 2 carabiner sand 2 eight-knots. The rope went down the cliff, while i bound in with abseil-eight and shunt break. Down the gentle slope, on top of the bush, where a real cacher track was trampled already from previous mates... Carefully, with adrenaline in the veins, I approached the edge of the first vertical part, from where you can see the length all the way down. Probably not so bad, as it seems from the top ... haha, the usual thing, once you hang on the rope, it's all overcome, and you feel comfortable.

Hmm, at what height will it be? How will I get up again? It's foreseen that one gets up again right? Only one group reported, they went out at the bottom! OK, a bit further, I check the first, upper cache locations. Well, would be too easy, I said to myself. I inspected the wall from the top, as I really need to get up again! These cuts in the upper sandstone: Did they just pull them up with the SRS gear, a steel cable over the edge? Wow! Kids said, that's not fair, but I think, even a helicopter would do! I have no gear mechanism and not much training climbing up a rope, so if that is needed, I better practice it elsewhere. Went up to the departure and installed a second rope, 70m single, which I laid in a second chimney. But I was not convinces and may want to ask some pf my predecessors for a few hints, like

* how to get up

* what is the total height? 50m (100m double rope)?

Meanwhile, we better take another cache, there is one still to be done up here in the escarpment. Rain's coming as well at the horizon... Had good fun, and will have good fun again... We'll do it the one way or the other, in the worst, with 2 cars, one waiting at the bottom!

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[green]The Arkaroo - who loves the mountains and the waters.[/green]

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Caching Team:

* The Arkaroo

* KoolKath

* Suparki12

* RockSandra

Travel Bugs visited:

* Arkaroo's Treasure (TB38AN6)

* Blue Desert Drive (TB3ZQ7E)

* Geodetic Institute (TB2N3HQ)

* Geode (TB3V9BP)

* Lego Luke Landspeeder (TB2JG23)

* Lotus Compass (TB42JTM)

A fun morning had with Walw, Gribby, Ozvixen and Wilbert67. Taken not of prior finders notes the container was quickly in hand before a further descent to canopy. The ascent from the ground certainly tested my fitness, I'd probably settle for the one smiley given my time over!

Another awesome spot Rats - SL tnln tftc!

blue_mars

Completed with Walw, blue mars and ozvixen. Then kept going down to canopy. Thanks rats for another fine morning of caching

Met up this morning with Walw, Gribbly,blue mars and ozvixen at 8 am. Quickly found GZ but still got wet from going through the bush. Anchors, ropes an harnasses were pu in place. As the others were planning on heading on to Canopy and I had plans of going to climb a tree as well, I watch all of them going down, signing the cache and dissapearing into the bush down below.
Then I went to the cache, did my duties, but did not proceed all the way to the bottom.
Great fun and worth the adrenalin and views, even the the overcast today.
Thanks Rats for putting this one here.
TFTC Wilbert67

Met up with Walw, Gribbly, Blue Mars and Wilbert67 to find this one. Set up the gear, headed down one by one to find the cache. Lovely spot to abseil. Then we kept going on to Canopy. TFTC Rats

The weather forecast wasn't looking very promising but I headed to the top hoping the weather was better in the Illawarra than southern Sydney. No, but at least it wasn't raining. Ozvixen, Blue Mars and Gribbly were already there and waiting and Wilbert arrived shortly afterwards. We headed in to set up, the spot was very obvious once you get there.

We used a 100m rope to set up, the idea being to then abseil to the base of the cliff line and walk across to Canopy...Should be easy and avoid all of that muddy rainforest mentioned in the logs for that cache. I abseiled down to the cache for a quick and easy find (if you ignore the abseiling part). Then back up to sort out who was going where on the rope.

Thanks for the cache Rats! This is my 1100th cache, so a worthy cache for a milestone.

Thanks also to Blue Mars, Gribbly, Oxvixen and Wilbert for coming along for the fun!

TNLNSL, thanks for the cache!
best wishes

Well, this one sure had my adrenalin pumping this afternoon but I don't think I'm addicted .

Having not too many caches from home this one (along with the others in the series) has been on the radar since being published. Today I armed myself with the gear I needed and headed up. Parked the car a short walk away and I was soon at the top. I matched the photo with what I could see in front of me and then set up.

It was a long way right down to the bottom after gaining the cliff edge and I slowly went down searching for the cache. I could see how Hoojar went some distance down but with a good set of eyes I soon spotted a likely place and the cache.

Log signed, number memorised and then it was time to go back up. Thankfully I did not have too far to go as my system wasn't really working to its full capacity.

When I got back up and was packing up it was only then time to enjoy the beautiful vista of the Illawarra.

Well thats one down in the series, a few more rushes of adrenalin to go yet . TFTC!

After failure earlier in the day on the water Toadmeister7 & I thought we could have a go at this one. Had all the gear packed ready in the car (thought I did) and on getting to GZ found I had left my GriGri in the car. Toadmeister volenteered to go back to get it while I set up. He came back empty handed. So I sent him back again to get the second rope so we could use an alternative decender. Then using a combination of a jumar and prusick rope I could climb back to the top.

Over I went and spotted the cache quickly enough. Then to start back up. Was a bit out of practice with the gear but soon had it mastered and was back up in a short while.

Now for Toadmeister7 this was going to be difficult. He had only abseiled once bfore and with no GriGri to decend and acsend I was very reluctant to let him attempt it. So with that in mind on my way back up I devised a plan for him to complete the cache, now called the Bill Clinton Abseiling Method. I will not go into specifics but the find was made at GZ and the log duly signed.

Thanks Rats for a great cache in a great location.

Just wish I had gone earlier in the week to beat Hoojar to the FTF.

As mentioned by Woody figtree, we had failed earlier on the sister cache to this one in Lake Illawarra this morning and so we were in need of a find to restore our caching ego's. Also as I was sitting on 1099 caches this was going to be a good find for my 1100th.

We arrived at GZ and Woody Figtree setup for the descend, but was missing some gear. He made me do several trips back and forth to the car but the GriGri was nowhere to be found. Eventually though with two ropes to get down and a plan to use the Jumar and a small rope with a prusick knot to get back up Woody Figtree was ready to go.

Now this didn't look particular easy but he was soon down, and called out to say he had reached the cache. After signing the log he slowly made his way back up and onto the ledge.

I was definetly not confident of making the absiel down and getting back up as I have only done this once before and with the GriGri which was one of the bits of gear we had left behind.

Also I suffered a lot of grief from my Geowife last time I went with Woody Figtree and I made my first abseil on the "In Extremis Cache. She was adamant - NO MORE ABSEILING.

But Woody Figtree had come up with a plan to get me to the cache, and to not "technically" abseil. We have now christened this the Bill Clinton Abseil (as in he did not technically have relations with Monica Lewinski).

Without giving the method away, we used all our 50m of rope and I arrived at GZ safely and signed the log before making my way back up. Unfortunately I forgot to pick up the "Third to Find" pathtag, so whoever completes this next, it would be good if you could retrieve it.

A big thanks to Woody Figtree for getting me down and back (safely) with his sure fire method and thanks to the Rats for this great cache on the escarpment.

I'm not going to log a find on this one as today I did not personally make the descent. Given the difficulty and terrain ratings, if you're going to log this one you have to get to the cache! I'll be back when it's not a work day. Congrats Hoojar on the FTF.

I was away last weekend, and as I was driving home Steeba called me to let me know that this had been published. I think I've known that Mr Rat has had a cache 'hanging somewhere on the Escarpment' for maybe three or four year... and finally it was time to find it.

These parts are my old stomping grounds. And this kind of cache really is one of my specialities, so I felt that a FTF really was mine to chase. But... these cache are best not attempted alone. So I called my Brother-in-law, and usual partner-in-crime for such adventures, Rumplstiltskin. I pestered and annoyed him all week, ever fearful that someone would pip us at the post. Alas he had a monstrous week at work, and just about every morning and evening our plans had to change.

Until today that is. Due to reasons best left alone I wasn't in bed until 0100. Not a great start when the alarm is set for 0520! But sleep is for the weak, and there was a FTF to chase. Once at GZ it was a balmy six degrees Celsius, but the brilliant sunrise more than made up for the fact. We easily found a couple of trees to rig off, and were heading down the rope in no time.

Without wanting to give too much away, I missed the cache on the way down, but found it easily on the way up. That is, to say, that the 60m prussic that I did before breakfast was a little more than would have been necessary if I had been more watchful.

Eventually the log was signed, and the path tag was in my pocket (Chip, who would have come but for the fact that she hates early mornings, will appreciate the path tag!). The prussic was a lot easier than I expected, maybe because I was pumped about the FTF? Eventually finished, we dig-rigged, and headed back to the car 200m away.

We had a bit of a chin-wag, and then I got changed into more appropriate attire and headed to the office. And I wasn't even late! And so now I sit here, drinking coffee and eating cereal and thinking about how much I'd rather still be out in the scrub instead of working.

Another high quality cache ticked off. Favourite point awarded. A great adventure. But really, did I expect anything less from a Rats cache?!

Cheers!

Dam you Hoojar!!!. You beat me to it.

I was going to go by myself last Monday arvo after I just got back from China and whilst on my way to Newcastle. Toadmeister sounded dissapointed so I left it thinking we could grab it tomorrow. Now it will be even longer between my FTF's! DAM YOU!!!! hahahahaha.

After years of waiting, this cache is finally published!! Three clues as to how long this one has been out there, Mr Rat has his Goatee, his old GPSr, and the GC Code has a 1 at the front!

Published

Passing TB through the cache