South Branch of Upper Bowens Ck, Blue Mountains

With the work conference over, it was time to go into full holiday mode. I met up with Rick Seldon at the Claustral entrance where we exchanged greetings. Rick seemed a bit shy at first, but this was only a front for an amiable gentleman with a very funny yet very dry sense of humour..

The canyon that Rick had chosen for today was the South Branch of Upper Bowens Creek. Dropping my car at the exit point, we drove a further few kilometers to the entry point. Following Rick along a lightly padded social trail, I heard him comment something about “Always dropping off the ridge too soon”. So we dropped off the ridge a bit too soon, arriving in the right hand tributary stream to a full-fun bush bash. Fortunately the fun didn’t last too long…

We suited up at a convenient spot then began with a couple of down climbs to the first rappel in the tributary. It was a slippery two tiered drop that could be walked round, but I opted to descend it directly.

There was one other 10m drop before we reached a really neat 20m pitch that was almost totally enclosed like a tube.

Here we met up with the left hand tributary that was worth a look 50m up canyon. The rope and harness were no longer needed, so I put it all away and strolled after Rick, who had a propensity to walk quite quickly…

The next slot canyon section was quite pretty, with some giant chock stones wedged high above. Before long, we emerged into a wide gorge with Sassafrass trees and wide sweeping river bends.

Rick and I continued down stream for a while before reaching a boulder field that we scrambled over, around, through and under to keep progressing.

Below the boulder field, we entered the second slot section which was by far the highlight of the whole trip. Rick had planned our timing just right, so as we entered this section, the sun was overhead. Amazing shafts of light penetrated the depths giving incredible sights to behold. With the contrast of the light shaft and dark canyon I found it very hard to get good photos, but managed a couple of keepers.

The canyon continued with some fun down climbs and a few logs to slither down. Then as soon as it began, the magnificent slot relaxed into a shallower, wider gorge. From here we breifly explored a couple of tributaries before continuing a way downstream to the exit point.

We took a rest and a bite to eat on a large flat rock, before climbing out of the canyon via small ledge systems, short body cracks, a small cave and a rock climb. A much more mellow day but 4.5hrs very well spent in a beautiful canyon.