Tigersnake Canyon

A week or so after getting back home from our epic New Zealand mission, it wasn’t long before the adventure itch was itchin’.

We had plans to meet friends on Sunday for a trip through Claustral Canyon, which, being my first time was very exciting!

To sweeten the deal, we (and by strong recommendations from Ethan) decided for a quick trip through Tigersnake Canyon on the Saturday to warm things up!

Tigernsake is a dry canyon in Wollemi National Park, and is known for its very tight squeezes! As you can see, from my very squished demeanour above. This is the entry abseil into the canyon.

It quickly drops into a very tight, and very beautiful, canyon slot.

It was a nice dry change from the aquatic New Zealand canyons we were used to navigating for the few weeks prior. Not needing to wear a 5mm wetsuit felt like an ultra light luxury!

Another much ‘loved’ and much identifiable feature of Tigersnake canyon is the dodgy anchors! This being, a bundle of sticks and ‘logs’ jammed between the narrow rock walls. I guess it did the trick…

More tight squeezes!

The canyon then drops down into this otherworldly deep and dark constriction where head torches are a must. Of course, more squeezes! (whilst trying to not disturb the masses of spiders).

At this point, the canyon is quite different to what I have visited previously. Mossy, ferny covered walls with the thunder of water rushing through is replaced with dry, barren rock, eerily silent but oh so peaceful.

Some of the many friends and critters we accounted along the way. I am NOT a huge spider fan… I can bear them as long as they don’t move.

In the middle of the day, it was an experience in itself to require head torches to navigate our way through how dark this constriction was.

All smiles nearing the end of the canyon! Canyons are better when shared with friends.

A bitter sweet end to an otherwise rememberable trip, is an abseil out of the tight canyon constrictions down this sluggy mess…

The views then opened up into the valley and it was time for our pretty leisurely exit hike back to the cars. Which, you can’t really complain with views like these along the way!