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Abseil into twilight

Mogens JohansenThe West Australian
Abseiling at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount. Rob Loermans and Juanita Kinnane begin their abseil down the big wall.
Camera IconAbseiling at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount. Rob Loermans and Juanita Kinnane begin their abseil down the big wall. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian, Mogens Johansen

I feel like Batman. I’m hanging upside down in total darkness about 30m above the ground, swinging from side to side. I should be scared but I’m not. I’m loving it, and it feels completely safe.

To explain how I got here, I’ll have to rewind about six hours. It involves a space chameleon, ropes and pizza — an unusual combination but bear with me.

The space chameleon is Sven Borg, the owner and brains behind Spacechameleon Adventure Company. The ropes are for abseiling over the cliff faces at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount. And the pizza ... well, that’s just to satisfy the hunger after a six-hour adventure session.

Sven calls this Twilight Abseiling and Gourmet Pizza.

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Spacechameleon Adventure Company owner Sven Borg.
Camera IconSpacechameleon Adventure Company owner Sven Borg. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian, Mogens Johansen

The afternoon begins with a bit of nervous banter as our group of seven is kitted up with a harness, helmet and gloves before Sven leads us through the bush to the top of the nursery slope — a 15m drop near the quarry entrance.

He calmly explains the procedure and technique as we stare into what seems an abyss below. It didn’t look that intimidating from below but from the edge looking down, it looks different. Who’s idea was this? (Damn you Stephen Scourfield!) Even though I’ve abseiled before, my bravado is diminishing by the minute.

I busy myself taking a few pictures as Sven prepares his first victims for the plunge over the edge. There’s a few nerves as Juanita Kinnane edges backwards but Sven’s reassuring manner coaxes her over and before long she and partner Rob Loermans confidently abseil down the quarry wall.

I go last and I surprise myself. Even though it must have been 15 years since my last abseil, it all comes back as I hop down the wall.

Abseiling at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount. Sven Borg give the group a safety brief before the event.
Camera IconAbseiling at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount. Sven Borg give the group a safety brief before the event. Credit: Mogens Johansen/The West Australian, Mogens Johansen

We all have a couple of practice runs on the nursery slope before heading for the big one. And it IS big. It’s a 60m drop and really raises the heart rate. From the top, we can see Perth and the setting sun bursts through the clouds as we get ready to take the big plunge. I look down at the “toy cars” and hope the rope is good and long enough.

Again, thanks to Sven, everyone drops over the edge without drama. It’s a more challenging abseil, with a few small overhangs and, once on the wall, there’s no Sven to help. But we all make it and quickly begin the walk to the top again for another go.

After our second abseil down this, Sven calls for pizzas while he sets up for our final and most exciting descent. And, bellies full of pizza, we don head torches and make our way up the side of the quarry again to a 40m overhang.

Mogens Johansen gets ready for the overhang abseil at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount.
Camera IconMogens Johansen gets ready for the overhang abseil at Mountain Quarry in Greenmount. Credit: Sven Borg

This is totally different. It’s dark now and once we’re over the edge, we swing in free air and slowly glide down the rope. The first time is with the head torch and then, for those who want to try, it’s torch off and upside down once you’re over the edge.

Look out Spiderman and Batman — a new crew of superheroes just graduated.

  • Spacechameleon’s Twilight Abseiling and Gourmet Pizza event comes with all equipment, drinks and snacks, and gourmet pizzas. spacechameleonadventureco.com or call Sven on 0423 182 663.

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