Penrith Panthers Program

Boars Head

Boars Head Rock is an obvious rock formation in west of Katoomba, clearly visible from Narrow Neck.  Unfortunately, the gullies in the area tend to channel the breeze. The route is quite exposed, so best for experienced abseilers. However, it can be rigged with safety lines, so can be suitable for beginners comfortable with some exposure, Being mostly south facing, it can be very cold and windy. 

Guiding Ratios

Overall Numbers: Guide to Participants Ration  1:5 Max group size 10

Active Participants: 1 x abseil guide/instructor dispatching at top and 1 x abseil guide/instructor to establish the lower belay station to a maximum of 1 x active belay system in use

Non - Active Participants:  This site has no safe space for non active participants.

Safety:

1. Need to manage loose rock, particularly at the top of abseil 4. One guide (Ryan) will be tasked with going through and cleaning area of loose rock before clients or other guides arrive at all abseils, especially abseil 4. Abseil 4 needs good management when running. I'll position myself there to facilitate. 

2. Clients must be encouraged to be move away from the base of abseils where possible. Obviously impossible in slot. 

3. Rope wear. Heavy people and the forecast suggest it could be wet so we must be vigilant with rope wear. Spare rope, preferably 60m to be kept at abseil 4 if needed. Rope pro for all drops expect Rob in the slot. Be mindful of rope wear further down the abseil lines. Consider adjusting your abseil lines to spread the wear out. Particularly on the last abseil, it’s a real rope chewer.

4. High volume of clients and staff. Take your time, don't rush. Slow things down if they're getting to full on. Some staff will be looking at dispatching up to 50 people. Look after yourself and your back. Get clients to help pull up belay lines, sub out with other staff if you need a rest from dispatching. Ask for help if you need it. 

5. Radios need to be stored properly on guides. Lots not drop radios on each other.

6. Friction for heavy people on abseils.

7. Tim will be moving around with media people to get photos etc . just be aware of them

8. Manage groups appropriately in Devils Hole. Make sure guides are aware of the way up, keep groups together and manage any loose rock etc.

9. Can we make sure the first aid kits are at the key spots for the day. 

Practice abseil and traverse line rigged in park area for groups to practice on before doing boars head. First group to skip and get guides to demo abseil on first drop and  traverse line brief at actual traverse line. 

Abseil 1 : Dan Lewis. Two lines rigged. The second line is more so for guides to use to descend while the first groups is going over. Set second line off DRP top anchor. Once final client down, de rig and head down Devils Hole to meet groups coming up.

Base of abseil 1and traverse line in slot: Gabe Colla and James hockey managing clients at base of abseil and taking groups to start of traverse line. 

Abseil 2 (slot): Rob Hoffman Sean Kelly This abseil is going to continue past the ledge below and down to Dec and Marty in one big go. It wont stop on the ledge.

Its gunna be a tight squeeze for some of the big guys. In the slot Keep eye out for loose hair clothing on this drop in particular with the tight confines. Consider having a gri gri and lowering if it bottle necks too much.

Base of abseil 2 and abseil 3 (loose rock abseil) Declan Baker and Marty Doolan. Abseil needs strict management to avoid knocking off rocks. Marty, Dec  and Ben to manage. 

Base of abseil 3: Ben Cammo. Critical that clients are moved well out of the way after abseil.

Traverse line to abseil 5: Pedro  

Abseil 5 (last abseil): Ryan Hunter and Ange. Two lines rigged. Manage rope wear and call for spare rope if needed.

Tim and Cas to be floating between groups managing media and interacting with clients

Needs:

1. Do we have 3-4 radios to use between the key spots?

2. Spare 60m rope to be kept at abseil 4 incase one blows out. Can be pulled up to the higher abseils or lowered down.

3. Gloves for all clients. 

Three initial thoughts:

1. A tip for Rob and Sean running Abseil 2 to avoid rope wear in the crack - on a previous high-traffic TV job I used  a bolt plate on the bolt on the left wall as the guide is facing (the wall opposite to the anchor) to place a short sling to slightly redirect the abseil line so it drops straight down the crack rather than rubbing on the right-hand side.

2. ⁠I think a traverse line between the bottom of Abseil 2 and the top of Abseil 3 would be a good thing.

3. ⁠As detailed in MAG’s protocol for Boars Head, remember to tie in the belay line on abseils 2 and 3 (and probably 4 as well) to avoid jams.

PS. The abseil numbering I’m using here is based on the plan combining what is described as abseils 2 and 3 in the MAG Boars Head protocol. So we will all be talking about four abseils as per Marty’s plan rather than the 5 abseils in the MAG protocol.

JAMES' NOTES:

- Please be at Boars Head at 0650 for a hard start at 0700 (guide brief & rig pitch 1&2&traverse)

- I will bring the team up to the top of boars head ETA 0830

- All guides to be up top from 0830 to welcome group. After initial welcome, guides start heading down wall to setup their pitch while we do safety, harness and helmet brief.

- we need to be super fast (but safe) today. 

- have fun

Test teamwork and survival skills in this exciting activity. 

Participants will set up individual tents, mirroring the experience of an Antarctic expedition. Work together to overcome the challenges of setting up camp in a simulated extreme environment. This hands-on task will help participants settle into camp while fostering collaboration, problem-solving, and adaptability. 

For this program, we had the players run from Scenic World to Narrow Neck (look at Boars Head) then run to Boars Head.

• Too much idle time at Boars Head***:

  • Suggestion - need to setup fitness challenge up top while waiting for other groups to start/ finish abseil. This needs to be a physically hard/ challenging PT session: Sled Pull?, HIIT stations etc

  • Potential - run from Boars Head to Empress Falls?

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