Rocky Creek Canyon

December is a good time to go canyoning and in particular a good time to visit Rocky Creek Canyon. Its a long and fairly cold canyon and best visited on a warm or hot day. Last saturday was warm – but not that warm. Its been quite a cool start to summer (the coldest summer start for 50 years).

A good way to go into the canyon is via a short prelude canyon – Twister Canyon that flows into a small tributary creek of Rocky Creek itself. Twister features 4 main waterfalls that can be negotiated by either doing water jumps or by climbing down them. Its a good “warm up” canyon to do before going into Rocky Creek. However I don’t know if “warm up” is the best word to use in this context. Canyoning is a cold sport!

Wendy starting off down Twister Canyon

We made our way through Twister quite quickly and then headed down a track to Rocky Creek. Just before going Rocky Creek we unfortunately witnessed a most disgusting site. Someone in another party was taking a dump in the creek! I’m not sure if the person responsible had a mental disability or some other problem but there should have been no excuse for this act.

Albert and Asaph in Rocky Creek Canyon

We did not wait around – we headed into the constriction of Rocky Creek. Some of us were carrying a bit of camera gear and wanted to be in the right place if the light was good. On a visit to the canyon earlier in the year I was lucky to have quite amazing conditions – with the most beautiful ethereal light in the canyon. Photos can be viewed here and here.

This time the light was not nearly so good. In fact it was quite poor – quite harsh, quite contrasty. Too dark in some places, way too bright in others. The sort of conditions that produces dark photos with burnt out section where the sun shines down. Its best to try and find subjects that are lit in reflected light. This indirect light is a lot softer and can be very beautiful. A camera with a long exposure can pull a lot of colour out of the canyon walls that may not be so easy to see with the eye.

There were also hoards of people in the canyon. Perhaps the most I have ever seen there. There were several large commercial groups and a lot of other parties. Most people seemed to be enjoying the magnificent beauty and splendour of the canyon. It was good to catch up with old friends – Col and Aine Gliddon, who I knew from the Ramblers back in the 70’s. We had lunch below the end of the canyon, warming ourselves up next to a small fire. Then in the late afternoon went back up through the canyon. The cameras and tripods were out again, but we knew we would get too cold if we photo-pfaffed too much.

Another party caught up to us. They were a group that had been down through Coachwood Canyon and we exiting via Rocky Creek. Another old Rambler acquaintance – Rob McDonald was in that party.

When there are a lot of people -its hard to get a long exposure photo without someone walking through and spoiling things. Thanks to everyone who was there that was patient enough to wait until I signalled that the photo was taken.

More photos can be seen on my website here.