8 principles when interpreting scripture

8 principles when interpreting scripture

Why do I read the same scripture passages that another Christian does and come up with a different way of thinking about it? If I step over a line into "unorthodox" thinking, does that automatically make me wrong?

I rarely blog about theology, but several times in the past few months I've been queried as to how I can read the same passages in the Bible that others do and come up with different interpretations.

It's an interesting question in an era where conservative Christians seem to be tightening up on what they believe to be erroneous views (in an ever declining moral vacuum, so they say), while liberals are perhaps more than ever exploring the fringes of Christian thought. Is there only one 'correct' interpretation of any particular passage in the Bible? Is it mine? Is it yours? How do we tell?

I have even recently been told to "repent" because my beliefs are not the same as another Christian person. I didn't actually know that thinking about something differently to him was a sin.

So, partly for my own benefit, I thought I'd pop down a couple of principles I use when interpreting any passage in the Bible. I hope it also helps those of you who are struggling to understand how another Christian can believe such different things to you. And maybe it will help those of you who can't handle the bible because of what you believe it says, to have another go.

1. Trying to see everything in the light of Jesus

At best, the Old Testament writers had only a glimpse of who the coming King would be. They were living in times when their limited understanding of God was very different to how we would come to understand God post-Jesus. Hence, it was no real surprise when Jesus turned up, he turned everything on its head. The stuff they thought they had right turned out to be completely wrong. Whatever passage I read, I try to view it through the personhood and Lordship of Jesus - the way he treated people, the things he focussed on, the things he left unsaid, the principles he espoused. He is the best image of God that we have – God in the flesh – and if we want to know how we are to live in the light, we can do no better than copying Him in word and deed - a God who would choose to suffer and die, crying out "Father, forgive them, they don't know what they are doing". A God who would tell us to love our enemies and pray for them, and to turn the other cheek if someone wrongs us, is a very different being to one who would tell people to destroy every man, woman, child and animal in a different town. I can only try to interpret the latter in the light of the former.

2. Trying to understand every passage in context

Often I think we get tied up on particular words and phrases, rather than looking at the meaning and intent of whole sections of the scriptures. When Jesus used particular examples (mustard seed, lost sheep) he was using examples that made sense at the time. If He had come today, I believe he would use examples like computer chips, planes and mobile phones. So, it isn't the exact words he uses that are important, but the intent - the point of each story. In the same way, a writer such as Paul, steeped in the knowledge, traditions and values of being a devout Jew, describes Jesus's work on the cross in terms of the sacrificial system he knew and loved. Although we can glean meaning from that, I believe that a modern-day Australian Paul would use different terminology to explain to me (someone removed from the sacrificial system) the work of Jesus on the cross. Sections of Paul's letters are written to particular people with particular issues, and although we can garner some Truths that may also apply to us, we need to understand the context in which he wrote them. Likewise, passages in Leviticus or other parts of the Old Testament that detail long lists of "dos and don'ts" were written with a particular purpose and intent. Some people seem very keen to grab certain passages and use them as weapons against other people, but ignore verses either side or just a chapter or two away that show the intent of the authors.

3. Try to understand our own biases
Any study of linguistics and semiotics helps us understand that all of us approach any text with our own set of prejudices, experiences and biases. You, me and Adolf Hitler could read the same text and come up with very different points of view on what it means and its implications. One of the ways in which this plays out in Christianity is the Christian writers we read will always shape our thoughts and our approach to the bible. Theologically, we really are what we read. I have been blessed over my life with a love of reading and access to books, and have therefore read very widely. I grew up on a diet of such stanchions of the faith as Tony Campolo, John Smith, Fuzz Kito and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, as well as more traditional Christian thinkers such as CS Lewis. That means that my thinking, and the way I view the scriptures, is very influenced by such writers. Other people who have had a much more conservative breakfast of Piper and Moody are likely to approach the same passages and theological problems differently. I encourage everyone to break out and read people outside your usual diet. If you want to think about other ways to look at scripture, I can recommend Derek Flood's recent book, Disarming Scripture. Or if you want to try something really radical, jump onto something like Archbishop John Shelby Spong's Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism. It's a bit old now, but a classic of its type and really shaped my thinking when I read it a couple of decades ago. You are unlikely to agree with everything he writes (I certainly don't), but it may give you an idea about why some people view the same passages differently.

4. Study history

Any study of history will show that throughout the centuries the bible has been used to justify the most heinous things. The same things we accuse Moslems of in regards to using the Quran to promote violence, is what so-called Christians have done throughout the ages. Our mistake is that we think we're  immune from this, and that we are not doing it today. But I look at the way scriptures were used to justify slavery, or the Crusades, or the oppression of women, capitalism, or the Cold War, and I don't see how modern arguments against, say, GLBTI people, are any different.

5. God is a God who has a special heart for the oppressed

When I look at scripture as a whole, I see some wonderful themes. To me, the Bible is the best revelation we have of humanity wrestling with the nature of the divine. And on our side of the equation, as humans, we keep stuffing up and doing things wrong, and misunderstanding the nature of the life to which we are called, and the God who chases, the God who rescues, continues to chase and rescue us, time and time again. He would go (and has gone) to any lengths to rescue us, including coming in human form and allowing himself to be tortured and killed. Another theme that emerges is that God has a heart for the minorities and the oppressed. He seems to have a special place in his heart for the most unlikely of people. Those in power, those who are rich, or with inside knowledge, or considered on the "in" group, are those most likely to be treated harshly, and the poor and the widow, and those in jail, and those in minority groups, are those that he seems to favour. I think any reflection of any one passage and how it applies needs to bear that in mind.

6. Favour mercy over judgment

As I believe Jesus did, I will continue to try to favour mercy over judgment. I will endeavour to try to reserve my harshest judgments for those with the power, those with the clout, those who think they've got it all worked out. Instead of using certain scripture passages to berate, belittle or condemn minority groups, I will endeavour to try to turn a blowtorch on perhaps some things that we in the church are traditionally silent about. What about our nation's ridiculous dependence on gambling? What about the increasing polarisation of the rich and the very poor? What about our continued woeful treatment of asylum seekers? Or the way one Sydney church lost millions of donated funds by gambling on the stock market? And yet, I will try to be very mindful of the "plank in my own eye" and not the speck in someone else's. I desperately need God's mercy and am grateful that through Christ I receive that.

7. If you're going to be harsh with anyone, be harsh with those who claim to know all the answers

Any understanding I have of scripture, and the way in which I use it, I hope will be guided by Jesus's example in this.

8. Understanding that knowledge of the Bible alone is not enough

I reckon Satan probably knows everything in the Bible pretty well. And there'd be plenty of non-Christian scholars around the world who are far more familiar with the scriptures than I. So knowledge of the scriptures alone isn't enough. We need to allow ourselves to be moved by its truths and changed by its power, as the Holy Spirit uses it to inform, guide, convict and mould us. After all, the Pharisees knew their scriptures very, very well, and yet pretty much every idea they had of the Lord was completely wrong. Take time out to meditate, and ask God to speak to you directly. Use music, nature and all of creation, as you wrestle with the truths of scripture.

Brothers and sisters, please don't call me to "repent" because I disagree with you on a theological issue. By all means call me to repent for the sin in my life - you can start with two of my biggest problems, pride and selfishness, or a host of other problems. Unless you are the keeper of perfect knowledge, then me disagreeing with you is not a sin. If you want to have a serious discussion about a theological issue, or look at some passages together with the serious intent of trying to understand a different point of view and a different way of looking at an issue (rather than just trying to prove me wrong), then I'd be keen to hear from you.

As I continue to wrestle with scripture (as Jacob wrestled with God, in one of the most bizarre passages of Genesis, Gen: 32: 22-), and endeavour to keep Jesus as Lord over all my life, I will hold onto two of the strongest codes for living that I get out of all of scripture. May these be true for your life too:

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. And love your neighbour as yourself."
Luke 10.27

"Do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God" 

Micah 6:8

May our Creator, Saviour and Mover and Shaker be praised.
Shalom

Cave Climb

Cave Climb

A classic, great fun multipitch climb off Narrowneck, in the Blue Mountains, Katoomba.

What a route! Cave Climb, grade 13, trad.

For as long as I can remember I've adored the Blue Mountains. This World Heritage Listed area on Sydney's backdoor step has always been my outdoor playground. From family bushwalks from the time I could walk, camping trips, Christian camps in my teens, right through to modern adventures mountain biking, canyoning, hiking and rock-climbing, its wonders never cease. There are pockets of rainforest, splendrous sites such as Blue Gum Forest and those gorgeous orange and grey sandstone cliffs that beckon those of us that like getting off the ground.
There is just SO MUCH ROCK! I can spend hours just flicking through the Blue Mountains Climbing guide book finding great routes that I want to do, knowing full well that I'll never have time to do even a quarter of the routes that I am capable of doing, let alone all the harder ones that are out of my league.
One climb that had been recommended to me a year ago was Cave Climb, off Narrowneck. It's a grade 13 trad climb, meaning it's relatively easy and fun, but you'll need a full rack of gear and know how to place it. I've been a climber for considerably more than a decade and have climbed trad and sport routes across Australia (including Mt Arapiles), but I only bought my first decent trad rack a year ago, and – after an excellent day of advanced tuition in placing trad gear – was recommended a few great Blue Mountains routes to go and practice my skills.
First climbed in 1962, this brilliant adventure route isn't done a whole heap, because most contemporary climbers just seem to want to stick to steep, bolted routes that are within a short drive of a good coffee shop. The idea of actually having to place your own protection into cracks in the rock certainly isn't for everyone, particularly when you start getting a long way off the ground or have to carry all that gear a long way. But there are just so many beautiful, big, bold routes that those old timers did – with little more than a rope tied around their tummies – and I'm looking forward to crossing a few more off over the next decade or so.

Access

Spectacular view from the anchors

View down the cliff.

It's a 5 minute walk in through some scrub and then a 40m abseil off reasonable anchors. The guidebook refers to a national park sign, but as far as I can tell that doesn't exist at the moment.
Drive along Glenraphael Drive (dirt road going out along Narrowneck) for 1.4km and park in a little turnout on the right hand side. Walk carefully up the road watching on the right hand side and 20–30 metres later you'll see a small cairn and scrubby track heading off to the right. It heads down and to the right, then you scramble down a gully and past a great little bivvy cave. Follow the track down to the cliff edge and on the left you should see the two anchor chains. They are pretty exposed and there is a ring bolt about 5 m back to belay/safely rappel down to the chains. Our ropes got slightly caught up in shrubs after we threw them off, so best to send someone down first who can sort that out if necessary.
About halfway down you'll see the entrance to the cave that the climb is named after.
For another description of finding the anchors, see https://huckanddyno.wordpress.com/2013/06/11/finding-the-cave-climb-rap-point-at-narrowneck.

Start

Cave Climb Direct Start. The original start is to the left.

The initials clearly marking "CC-DS" (Cave climb direct start) are right at the base of the abseil. The original start is a few metres to the left. We did the direct start, with a little tricky first move (a high step) to get off the ground. There are a couple of carrot bolts within the first 5 metres, but you'll need to place some other gear.
In the guide book, it's listed as a three-pitch climb, but it seems logical when climbing to run the first two pitches together, and aim for the entrance of the cave. A combination of following the corner crack and occasionally veering out onto the wall on the right will get you up there. The moves are enjoyable and the rock solid.
BIG TIP: take a lot of big pro. I really wanted a couple more big hexes and a number 4 or 5 camelot. Higher up I found a few places for smaller gear, but the first half of the pitch really requires a fair bit of big gear, and when you get to the cave it would be nice to have some big pieces to back up the two bolts at the belay station.

The cave

View straight up, into the cave. Note jugs on right

View straight out, looking out of the cave.

Sitting on the ledge at the belay station, the view directly above is of a dark cave about 5 metres high. Somewhere up there to the right is the cave exit. It's a pretty dicey and technical lead through the cave, and some parties may take the easier option of continuing the climb outside the cave, rather than going through it. The trick we found was to head up a few metres to the left, place some big gear with long slings, then traverse across a reasonable foot ledge (with two fairly small handholds) to the big jugs high on the right side, and then out the hole back into the sunshine. It's a great fun start to the pitch if you're up to it. I was thankful for a partner who reminded me to just keep really good stances and stay calm while I was placing the gear, as a fall would be awkward at that point.

View from the top of the cave looking down.

The problem

High wind seems to be common on the last bit of the pitch up to the top. It makes it exhilarating and fun, but also means when you get to the top you can't hear your partner, or see them (because they are in the cave). So you'll need to have your rope tug signals worked out. To make matters worse on our climb, the rope jammed in a crack, so I thought I had my second tightly on belay, but they basically had to climb the cave with loose rope until the jam freed.
The belay at the top however is quite good – there are two carrot bolts a couple of metres to the right of the anchor chains, and a couple of good ledges and cracks to back them up with.
An alternate ending that isn't in the guide book seems to be a more vertical route to the left. It has ring bolts and looks quite entertaining.

Overall, this was a fantastic morning out, with brilliant views, great rock and some interesting pitches. I was pretty slow and careful on lead and it took us about 2.5 hours car to car, but I would imagine more experienced trad climbers would do it in half that time.

For a good laugh at another's experience on this climb, read Huck and Dynos hilarious account https://huckanddyno.wordpress.com/2013/03/22/cave-climb.


 

Tassie's tourism secret

Tassie's tourism secret

What is the problem that Tasmanian Tourism authorities talk about in hushed tones and candid off-the-record statements?

The summit of Mt Wellington, Tas. Too boring for some?

On a recent visit to Hobart I overheard a comment that I've heard several times before from people in the Tasmanian tourism industry.
"There's nothing to do in Hobart".
Bear in mind that this is usually expressed by people who love both Tassie and tourism, but are searching for ways to increase the length of time (and amount of money) people spend in Hobart. Usually the comment is accompanied by "apart from the bushwalkers". Bushwalkers, it seems, get out of Hobart's CBD pretty quick, and find plenty of ways to enjoy what is truly one of our most consistently beautiful parts of the country. Everytime I go to Tassie I am blown away anew by its devastatingly handsome features – its lush gorges, rainforests, sodden wind-swept plains, remote beaches and icy peaks. But I am a bushwalker, so perhaps I'm not the sort of person who needs to be convinced.
Admittedly Hobart, and perhaps all of Tassie, is a place that you can go to in order to slow down a bit and breathe again. It doesn't have crazy theme parks or traffic jams outside major attractions. And that's a bloody good thing, I think.
However, for those who are looking for "something to do" in Hobart though, I thought I'd give a few ideas, based on this latest and other trips.

1. Whisky tasting

Tasting at Larks Distillery.

Tassie's single-malt whiskies are now declared the best in the world. Yes, we are beating the Scots at their own game. I used to detest whisky (thinking it tasted like petrol) until I was convinced to try a single malt scotch. Suddenly I understood what the fuss was about. Apart from all the great pubs around Hobart's wharf area, there is a brilliant place to start developing your appreciation of whisky, at the Larks Distillery cellar door, bar and tasting area. Pick up a tasting palette, consisting of four half nips, for $25 and sip carefully, and you'll notice the subtle differences.

2. Go kayaking

You can either do a gentle 2.5-hour paddle around the Hobart waterfront, including a fish-and-chip meal served in your kayak, or if you're after more adventure, go on a full-day kayaking tour to the Tasman Peninsula with Roaring 40s Kayaking. Either way, a great experience on the water.

3. Eat fresh local produce to your stomach's content

I was reminded on this latest trip just how good Tassie's fresh produce is - particularly the seafood. Pick up a whole bunch of fresh fruit and veggies, or special foodstuffs such as mead or a Tasmanian scallop pie, at Salamanca Market on a Saturday morn. Then work out which of the many excellent restaurants, pubs or cafes you want to dine in. I can definitely recommend Mezethes Greek Tavern in Salamanca Place, and, slightly out of the main city area, towards the casino, The Royal Yacht Club of Tasmania, which was surprisingly inexpensive for somewhere with great water views, good food, and a little fire.

4. MONA

Inside MONA, including giant work by Sidney Nolan, Snake.

Yes, the museum of sex and death as it is known is well known worldwide now as a "must-do" in Hobart and . The art is confrontational, objectionable and incredibly clever, and the extraordinary underground gallery is like a dark maze where you just randomly almost bump into various art works. Take a boat from the wharf area, rather than driving there - the fare is worth the relaxing trip up and down the Derwent.

The Derwent River

5. Go for a walk

I know, we were looking for alternatives to walking, but it really is a great town to wander around. The wharf area is particularly interesting, and you'll find a few treasures along there, such as the new(ish) Mawson's Huts Replica Museum, which is only $12 to enter and is right next door to Larks Distillery, as well as other little art galleries and museums. The Botanical Gardens are particularly beautiful, and you can extend a walk there by tromping through the vast Domain area. Or take the drive part way, or all the way, up the winding road on Mt Wellington. In the winter months you're almost guaranteed to find some snow and freezing conditions. There's an amazing network of trails with walks to explore many of the mountains natural treasures, rather than just doing what most people do (which is spending about 10 minutes at the top looking at the incredible view, then driving down again).

And of course, if you have a car and start heading a bit out of town, well... there's a whole gorgeous state out there to enjoy...
See you on the track.
www.kensbigbackyard.com.au

"Tops" destination for the outdoor family

Tops destination for the outdoor family

Canoeing on the Barrington River, near Gloucester, NSW

You'd think a beautiful World Heritage Area only a couple of hours drive out of Sydney would be hugely popular. But Barrington Tops and the area around Gloucester, NSW, is one of our state's forgotten treasures. For outdoor-loving families, it's a no-brainer. Get up there - any season!

The area holds some of the southernmost parts of the vast Gondwana Forests World Heritage Area, and some glorious subalpine areas where it snows. At any time of the year here a drive up into the mountains is likely to see temperatures about 10 degrees colder than in Gloucester. 

At Christmas and Easter camping is popular along the rivers and in the national park. There are plenty of places to camp, including the popular Camp Cobark, which offers horse riding. But if you want somewhere guaranteed to be dry to come home to, and a few more creature comforts than camping usually offers, then I'd recommend Barrington River Hideaway. The website is a little deceptive, and there isn't really much of a hands-on "farm stay" element, but the four 2-bedroom self-contained cottages are in a lovely quiet spot over the Barrington River where you can paddle and swim. There's also a lovely communal campfire area, myriad frogs, and lovely decks on which to enjoy the birdlife.

Activities

Canoeing

Canoeing on the Barrington River, near Barrington, NSW

Most people who holiday in the area seem to have a kayak or canoe of some sort, and shooting the fun, but rarely scary rapids is a common activity. Access points on the Barrington River include Rocky Crossing, Bindera and the junction with Cobark River.
If you don't own any of your own gear, fear not, Barrington Outdoor Adventure Centre will either hire you everything you need, or will put you on a tour with an instructor.
One word of warning: having experienced outdoor adventure companies all around Australia and the world, I am used to efficient, excellent customer service, very knowledgeable, interested and interesting guides, and a feeling after a day of finishing an activity, a high that lasts for a week. I found BOAC overall, the worst organised, most inefficient, least knowledgeable group I have ever encountered in the outdoor arena. Even though we had booked in, paid in advance, checked with them the day before about times and turned up in our own gear (so didn't need to hire any clothing), it took them two hours to be organised enough to get us canoeing on the river. And even though they use the same access points regularly, they were unable to handle our exit point without getting the vehicle bogged, and we had to get out and push the vehicle in the mud.
Despite that, the actual canoe tour was fun (if quite short, for all the waiting around), and our guide on the river was excellent. It cost us a bit over $100 a person for about three hours on the river with the guide, but we didn't cover a lot of territory.
BOAC are pretty much your only option if you don't bring your own gear.

Liloing

For all of the above reasons, liloing may well be a simpler, more fun way to enjoy the rapids without investing a lot of time or money. If you and the kids want to just splash around and enjoy floating down a bit of the Barrington River, you can't really go past Barrington Reserve (accessed by turning east just north of the township Barrington). There's several hundred metres here of fun, little rapids, and then a hike back along the grassy camping area back to the start.
If you feel like more of a liloing adventure, you can pick a longer route, working out your entry and exit points. We entered at Barrington Reserve and exited at Barrington River Hideaway. We were warned that "no one has done that on lilos before" and "it'll take you four hours at least". We did it in two and half hours, passing cows, myriad waterbirds and multiple little rapid sections. We were a little sore from all the paddling through the still black water sections, but with smiles on our dials. The water level was up a bit, after a lot of rain, which probably helped keep us moving along.

Hiking

Hiking at Gloucester Tops, Barrington Tops National Park

This area has some absolutely crackerjack walks. The best hikes are in the subalpine areas up in the mountains,  a good hour's drive away from Gloucester. Don't miss the Gloucester Tops loop track, which combines the Antarctic Beech Forest Walk, Gloucester Falls Walk and River Walk. Driving the other way into the mountains, via Barrington, the walks are generally shorter, but there are more of them. Or you can strap a pack on and hike between the two areas on a network of great tracks. There are peaks with views, old scenic huts, rainforest sections and wildlife galore.
Closer to Gloucester, it's worth hiking up the steep Gloucester Lions Bucketts Walk, off Bucketts Road just out of town. It'll take you up the Bucketts Range, which sort of looms off to the side of town and offers sensational views back towards it. It'll take a bit over an hour to walk up and back if you are fit, and well worth the stroll.

Rock-climbing at Gloucester 

Seldom talked about, the rock-climbing at Gloucester is even more seldom undertaken. Although a short guide section appears in the excellent Newcastle and Hunter Rockclimbing guide of 2013, it appears that hardly anyone in town knows anything about the climbing. The main walls are on a dairy farm right down the southern end of Bucketts Range, and include everything from an easy grade 7, 25m climb, to 120m adventure climbs.
We approached the farmer, who has posted "no trespassing" signs, and were careful to be ultra polite and asked if we could try to find the climbs. He claimed not to know anything about the climbing area. Unfortunately the area at the base of the cliffs is very overgrown with a combination of thorny weeds and thick scrub, and we failed after an hour of scrub bashing to find the climbs. On exiting the bush, we realised we should have perhaps stayed walking in the paddock for longer, then tried to head straight up  to the climbing area.
So, the challenge is still there for the adventurous family - using the guidebook and manners of course.

Other activities

Excellent cafes aside, the area has a few other fun activities, including some great mountain biking areas on fire trails through the national park. Also, check out the unorthodox Church on the Hill - a lovely community of people who are likely to call "church" standing around a bonfire singing songs. Well worth checking out.

www.kensbigbackyard.com.au

Exciting new walk south of Sydney

Exciting new walk south of Sydney

With waterfalls, cascades and a canyon, the Tahmoor Gorge and Mermaid Pool area provides a beautiful half day walk near Picton.

The stunning Mermaid Pool on the Bargo River, in rain.

It's always a joy when I discover a new walk, particularly one relatively close to home. This is a fabulous 10km loop and at the moment it is relatively clearly marked. There are lookouts, cliffs, waterfalls, a range of vegetation (from flowering scrub to rainforest) and cascades galore. Would be well worth a swim or two along the way in summer, or see it at its most dramatic, in driving rain (as I did this week).

Getting there

Heading south from Sydney as if going to Canberra, pass the Pheasants Nest roadhouse, then take the next turnoff (Avon Dam Road). Cross over the freeway, and take the first right (Arina Road). Follow it for 8km.
Park near the Rockford Road bridge that goes over the Bargo River at Tahmoor. (Turn left into Charles Point Road just before the bridge, then immediately right and follow the dirt track down to the parking area and bridge.) I met some police here who assured me that car break-ins here are NOT common.
There is a wading/swimming area near the carpark that may be popular.
More instructions can be found on the Wollondilly Shire Council site.

The walk

Walk under the bridge, then follow the river for a few hundred metres until you cross a small creek. Once across the creek, take the higher track and follow this for 10 minutes or so. A small sign on a tree will lead you down to the See Through Pool cascade.

See Through Pool and cascades.

A little further along the main track, another track leads down to Mermaid Pool. You'll follow the river downstream for a bit and come to a large overhang, a cascade and waterfall beneath you, and the huge Mermaid Pool. A sign warns you that there is no "safe" exit from the pool. Two ring bolts in the rock may allow you rope access down through the hole in the rock, but if you go down there, you will need to be able to get out again. Some fixed ropes near the cascade may be present to help. If you swim right across the large pool, it is possible to evacuate on the far side, on the downstream side, by hiking and climbing up the steep ridgeline that comes down.
Anyway, the view down the bottom isn't as spectacular as the views from the top. The adventurous may like to cross the river a little higher up, and work your way up to the top of the cliff on the other side (there is a chute near the pool that is easy to climb). A thin track goes along the top of the cliff and provides some great views. There are also brilliant views further along the pool on the same side as the overhang (the side you come in on). A difficult track goes up from the "No safe access" painted sign to a hanging ledge way above the pool. It has two bolts in the rock, which I assume are used for a high and fairly scary abseil.
To continue to the canyon, make your way back up to the main track. You'll pass by some great lookouts of Mermaid Pool before coming to the canyon turnoff. From here it is a loop walk, and I recommend doing the loop anticlockwise - stay high, and follow the cliffline until the track (marked with flagging tape and markers in trees) starts to descend. You'll then be walking back up the canyon back towards the way you came.
Allow at least an hour to walk along the bottom of the gorge. There are enough flagging tape markers at the moment to follow the track, but be warned, it does cross over the river for a while, and then back again. The rocks can be very slippery and you may need to take it slow. Before the track crosses back, the flagging tape and markers became indistinct for a few hundred metres, but keep an eye on the original side of the river and you will eventually see where to cross (just above a small cascade on the bend of the river. I did need to do a little bit of scrambling here to safely get across in wet conditions with the river rising.

The bottom of Tahmoor Gorge, with waterfalls, cascades and rock features.

There are some great little overhangs, pools, rock features and cascades to enjoy along the gorge, so if the weather is good, take your time and enjoy it. Soon enough the track wanders fairly steeply back up to the top and you'll rejoin the original track. Turn right and head back to the car.
Along the walk keep an eye out for a small brown and orange bird in the rock overhangs and cliffs - it is the rock warbler, the only bird endemic to NSW. It has been called the cave bird.

How long will it take?

It's signposted as a 10km walk, but there are a few steep ups and downs in there. With my 12-year-old son, in very wet conditions, we took 4 hours, so it should make for a pleasant half day walk for most people. If you are unfit or not used to bushwalking, it could take longer. It is not recommended to drink the water in the Bargo River, so take water and food.


I've visited the spot twice in a week, and have plans to head back in warmer weather to enjoy some of those pools.

www.kensbigbackyard.com.au

Did I kill Andrew McAuley?

Did I kill Andrew McAuley?

Photo on the cover of Rock's guide to The Rock, photo by Greg Claire.

You won’t find my name in the coroner’s report. You won’t find my name in the story in Australian Geographic written after his death. No one, to my knowledge, associates my name with the death of one of Australia’s greatest modern adventurers.

But every so often, as a particularly dark cloud crosses the sun, something triggers a memory in me: a memory of a particular meeting, where I argued strongly to support Andrew McAuley in his daring quest to be the first person to kayak from Australia to New Zealand. Having crossed huge open seas and ridden through gale-force winds, completely alone, for 29 days, snatching moments of sleep imprisoned inside his wildly bobbing kayak, he tragically disappeared within sight of New Zealand’s mountains on 8 February 2007. His upturned kayak was eventually found, but he never was. He left behind a young son and dedicated partner.

One of these dark moments hit me recently. I pulled out an old rock-climbing guide, and there he was, on the cover. On a sheer rock wall, his toes smearing on tiny footholds, he looks poised and relaxed, yet coiled like a spring, with an inner strength that is almost visible.

 In my decade or so working at Australian Geographic, it was always a joy to mix with adventurers like Andrew. Just hanging around them inspired me to be bolder in my mini-adventurers – whether canyoning, hiking or climbing. Andrew was always one of the harder core adventurers, a step up from some of the other doorknockers. He was also my age, so gave me a direct comparison. I remember him telling me of his commute to work in the city from his home in the Blue Mountains. He would get up at some ridiculously early hour, cycle or drive to the Parramatta River, and then hop in a kayak and paddle the rest of the way.

A keen and accomplished rock-climber and kayaker, he really blew me away when he paddled across the Gulf of Carpentaria. Alone, he watched crocs and sharks bigger than his kayak circle around and under him, as he paddled 530km over seven days. When he got to the other side he couldn’t walk, because his legs had been inactive and pinned in the vessel for so long. He also had salt sores all over his back.

Andrew’s other kayaking adventures included crossing Bass Strait three times, and a 1000km sea-kayaking expedition along the Antarctic Peninsula. Believe me, this bloke knew his stuff. He was renowned for being painstaking in his planning and preparation, and yet still able to occasionally pull the pin on a trip. 

So when he came to the Australian Geographic Society for sponsorship to cross the Tasman Sea, his case had serious merit. At that stage I was part of a small team that helped determined what projects the Society would sponsor, in science, the environment, education and adventure. In most cases, the Society’s emphasis was on granting smaller amounts of money (usually in the low thousands) for lots of people rather than larger sums for one or two. An exception was the extraordinary project by Lloyd Godson to live underwater for a week, and he received $50,000.

But even with smaller amounts of money, there was fierce competition for the limited funds, and we sometimes had fiery debates. In this case, I have clear memories that several people in the room said we shouldn’t support such a high-risk venture as kayaking alone across the Tasman. I argued strongly that Australian Geographic should support him. “If anyone can do it, this bloke can,” I said.

If I hadn’t argued so strongly, and he hadn’t got sponsorship from Australian Geographic, would he have still gone? Would his four-year-old son, Finlay, have been left fatherless?

Probably. The amount of money we supplied wasn’t a deal breaker for Andrew. But if no one had supported him – if everyone had said to him “sorry mate, not this time, not this adventure” – then he probably would have had to reconsider.

When the dark cloud moves on and the sun shines brightly again, what do I do with my thoughts that I may have contributed to his death? Do I shy away from my love of adventure, and my firm beliefs that adventurers and adventurous activities should continue to be supported? It certainly would be easy to do so in an increasingly litigious and scared society.

No, I continue to believe that our lives here on this planet are a precious and very short gift. We are just a “vapour in the wind” as the Old Book says, and I believe we are to use our gift of life in exciting and interesting ways, not locking it away in a bank. Adventuring is part of that. Bear Grylls says that when he gets to heaven he wants to come in dirty, bleeding and limping, with a huge smile on his face saying “what a ride!” As many have said before me, it is more scary to think that people like Andrew – or any of us in our own ways – might never really get to “live”, than that misadventure may occasionally occur.

Other adventurers sponsored by Australian Geographic also died on various trips, and that affected other members of staff. Sue Fear’s death on Manaslu in 2006 had a huge effect on one colleague.

But for me, Andrew McAuley will be a reminder of the struggle between the value of human life, and yet the importance of adventure and a life lived to the max. Even eight years after his death, he still inspires me and troubles me.

Vale Andrew McAuley.

1968–2007

www.kensbigbackyard.com.au

The start of the excellent Australian Geographic article that tried to discover what happened to Andrew McAuley.