Twin Creek, Arthurs Pass NP

Time for a bit of Wheetbix canyoning..

The weather was a little iffy when we arrived at the car park. There had been heavy rain only 12 hours previously and the skies still looked grey and foreboding. Where there had been a mere trickle two days ago when we had checked the water levels now ran a significant flow. The bottom waterfall was cranking, but we figured we'd go have a look anyway.

It took 45mins to climb as high as the entry point and then more than an hour to scout around, find the entrance, absiel in, find the real entrance and arrive in the canyon.

Exploring upstream of the first bolted pitch

Anchor Station inspection

The canyon had been commercially guided many years ago, so all the drops had been previously bolted. We inspected all the bolt stations and all but one were completely solid, with two 12mm expansion bolts. The one rouge station had a little movement in one bolt, but the other was solid.

The first drop was the largest at 50m

First drop was the largest, at 50m, then the other drops hovered between 15 and 30m. At several spots you could escape out some rather steep tussock/scrub banks, so the canyon was not completely committing.

Downcanyon of the first drop

Ira tries to avoid a pummelling


Today there was a fair bit of water flowing and we made use of rappel guides on two drops to make life a little safer and more pleasant for the second rappeller.

Chucky on Guided Rappel

During the descent we had wonderful views accross

the valley to the Otira Face of Rolleston.

Ira and Chucky exit the canyon

We escaped on the true right before the final large drop and traipsed our way back to the car, satisfied with a good day out.

Trying an experimental shoe drying method..