The first day of our trip had been very good despite cool wet weather. The weather on the second day was better – still cool but mainly dry. Our plan was to visit Crooked Crevice Canyon and then Tiger Snake Canyon – both fairly dry and conveniently close to each other.
We walked out along the track towards Tiger Snake Canyon, and then at the saddle we left the track and walked down to Crooked Drive Canyon.
I was in the first descent party of this canyon. I think this was in 2002, and I was with Dave Forbes and Chris Berwick. I think we must have been quite bold, as it is very narrow – and we could not have been sure we could get through the tight sections or find belay points.
With bushfire regrowth and high rainfall events, it was quite slow walking the short distance down to the start of the canyon.
The fires and flood had also weakened our belay point tree. It was now unusable, but we found a ring bolt nearby and used that. This took us down into a narrow bit of canyon.
Our second belay point, a dodgy looking bollard was still in place. You need to be very careful using this, as it would be easy to pull the rope off the top as you start. Once down bait, it is a lot more secure. But the drop is very narrow. We thought it would be better to descend without packs and pass them down on the rope.
Once down a few metres, the canyon opens up a bit.
But, this drop is followed by an incredibly narrow section. A child may be able to fit through, but for an adult, you need to travsere higher up – bridging off the walls. Fortunately there are plenty of nice foot holds.
Then you enter another chamber, but this immediately is followed by another narrow bit.
This is possible to squeeze down –
Then a short, easier drop –
And the last drop, a nice abseil through a hole –
That asebil takes you to the end of the canyon. then there is a short walk along the base of the cliffs to a very easy and convenient pass back to the top.
And on the top – nice views and open walking.
But the open walking did not continue too long. It became very scrubby – with all the very thick regrowth. We were glad to make it back to the Tiger Snake Canyon track.
We continued along the track and soon reached the canyon. Another part was designing the first drop, and let us pass, as we scrambled down. We continued through the upper constriction.
The belay point for this last drop has changed. The old tree has fallen down, and a new one, a bit further back was set ip with slings. The 45m rope only just made it down the drop from this higher belay point.
Surprisingly, this drop can be scrambled down if you look carefully.
We then continued downstream to the lower constriction. This one is very nice. We had intended to use the lower down the canyon, but higher up belay point. That is a very nice abseil – which a single 45m rope makes it down OK. But the rout to it looked scrubby, so we kept going at creek level and used the traditional short entry abseil.
Both Bob and myself had been on the trip in 1977, where we had found this canyon from below. We had climbed up to the base of this drop and unsuccessfully tried to climb up it. Later going back down the canyon, our way was blocked by an angry Tiger Snake. The snake was in narrow section and it was impossible to climb around it. One of the party who was below the snake, Rose Maxwell, suggested throwing shirt on the snake. This worked, and we could get back past it. We later retrieved the short with a very long stick. And we now had a name for the canyon.
in the photo below – Bob is standing where the Tiger Snake was.
This lower section of canyon is very good. At the time of its discovery, it was perhaps the narrowest known canyon.
The canyon ends with the usual boulder section.
Then we climbed up the exit track and stopped for lunch. And then a nice walk back to the carpark. More Flannel Flowers and good views.
Back at Bob’s car, we headed back to our campsite at the Dry Canyon. We had enough time to walk down the Dry Canyon.
On the way down, I spotted some flowers growing on a sandstone pagoda. I thought it was an orchid, but later found it was Rock Isotome (Isotoma axillaris) –
And on the way down, we also visited an Aboriginal art site. On previous trips, we had seen a single white hand stencil.
I used my stretching app, to enhance the image –
And it also revealed two more hand stencils. They were much less distinct. Here is one –
Original –
Stretched version –
And here you can see all three –
Original –
Stretched version –
And now to the Dry Canyon. First the upper constriction –
And then to the much better and longer lower constriction –
This high quality canyon is very easy to walk through.
Walking back up –
This had been a very good day.