We had a late start on Boxing Day, and had to reschedule plans at the last minute, so the first day we just walked in for a couple of hours and camped. As this was our 7th extended trip to the general area we spent a lot more time exploring smaller creeks rather than descending canyons we had some knowledge of. Consequently while there were some good canyons there were also a lot of fairly average ones. We moved around quite a lot to try and fill in gaps of areas we hadn't explored previously - there is still lots to be explored out there.
Day 2 (27/12)
The bottom of our first crappy canyon. It's not all beautiful canyon formation!
Our second canyon is looking a bit more promising though!
Sue enjoying a decent canyon after her previous 5 days of creeks (not so many canyons)
A very dark, somewhat narrow downclimb (artificially lit)
Tom in the canyon
Canyon formation
Looking back up a section of canyon
Tom's pack trying to dislodge him on a short hand-over-hand
Looks like the end
Sue trying to keep as dry as possible
Our home for the next couple of nights. Sue and I sat out going to visit another crappy canyon that afternoon (and also stayed dry when a thunderstorm hit)
Day 3 (28/12)
Some canyon section high up in the creek
Tom emerging from the raspberry bush blockade
Rich squeezing through a hole
Hmmm. This doesn't look like canyon.
The beautiful but short canyon section at the end
That afternoon Tom, Rich, Sue and I climbed up one creek and then descended another one close by. The trickiest part of the climb up the creek was this section.
Tom descending the second creek
Tom bridging
Sue avoiding the deep water
Canyon formation
The group in the canyon
Day 4 (29/12)
Today we explored a creek near our camp cave and then moved camp over into another creek system via a couple of canyons.
Looking down canyon
An abseil
Tom abseiling
Tom bridging high to see what is around the corner
Smiffy emerging from a narrow section towards the end.
The final drop to get out of the creek
Looking up the canyon
Climbing out on to the ridge
After descending a long way down our creek we hit some high quality canyon.
Rich abseiling
Canyon formation
At first we thought this guy was dead but he moved when we walked past. Probably not happy to be stuck in a canyon
Very pleasant campsite for the evening
Day 5 (30/12)
The next morning we head upstream through a canyon before heading onto the ridge and into another creek system. There were a few challenges along the way. Come on guys who can get up first?
Looks like Tom won this one.
Interesting rock formation
Tom in the upper section of our canyon
Once in our new creek we climbed out via a side tributary and climbed over the ridge to descend another tributary. This canyon was reasonable but I didn't take many photos. This is an abseil in the upper section of the canyon
Tom trying to keep his feet dry
We then headed downstream and explored up a side tributary. The others explore some other tributaries before we all climbed out.
Eventually we made camp not long before sunset
Day 6 (31/12)
Tom looking forward to a swim on another hot day
Interesting arch formation
Tom abseiling into our second canyon of the day
Small snake
Excellent canyon formation
Tom abseiling
Tom in the canyon
Looking up the canyon
Smiffy at the top of the final drop
Lunch cave
Ascending a creek - Rich demonstrating how he climbed up to place a rope for the rest of us
Excellent happy hour views for New Years Eve
The fire meant we had an interesting sunset
Helicopters were a constant for our trip as they went back and forth to the fire
Day 7 (1/1)
Dawn views
Lace monitor