Highest drop 17m (minimum of two 40m ropes recommended)
4-8 hrs
Public access
Very deep schist slot canyon with many beautiful turquoise pools and significant flow. Difficult to gauge the water level: in normal or above normal flows this is a serious undertaking, requiring excellent whitewater canyoning skills.
Guidebook updates
Flow gauge
The flow gauge can be observed from the road bridge, standing outside the barrier on the true left side. Watch out for traffic, which comes through fast!
The big flat rock on the true right is the current flow indicator.
The photos below show a medium to high level.
On the left photo, notice how the water is flowing over the top of the indicator rock, forming a curtain. The curtain covers half of the downstream face of the rock.
At this flow, you’ll need to actively manage whitewater hazards, using techniques such as body belays to approach anchors and drift (floating) anchor techniques at R5 / “The boil”. At this level there are difficult & committing downclimbs/swims that are in the flow.
This level is only recommended for expert groups, with prior knowledge of the canyon.
The photo on the right shows the flow 24hours later
You’ll notice that water still flows over the indicator rock, but the curtain has reduced to 1/3 of the downstream face. This is still a medium to high level.
What does a ‘normal’ low flow look like?
We are looking for a photo!
When the indicator rock downstream face is completely dry, the flow is considered a normal low flow.
At this level or below, competent teams generally won’t need to use drift anchors or belaying to anchors. However, groups should know how to use these techniques in case they judge it necessary on the day. At normal low flow, it is still an a4 or a5 canyon, so treat it with the respect it deserves!
What is ‘too high’?
Again, not sure! If the indicator rock has just reached a full-width curtain, we’d say that is quite high, requiring very strong teams and excellent whitewater canyoning skills. Things can get very pushy in Wilson at high flow: if you’re unsure, best to go visit Robinson or Cross Creek which are very close by!
Grading
The grade has been revised to a5, as there are currents that can deflect a swimmers path in the water, and committment to IV, since it takes more than an hour to get out of flood conditions.
Friendly low flows and good light! Such a beautiful place…
The GPS point in the guidebook for crossing the tributary stream is certainly worth using… even if you get a little lost near the top of the climb, the GPS point will get you onto the right ridge for descending into the canyon.
New game is guess the number of instagrammers you’ll meet at the end of the trip, closest buys the beers!
We guessed, 3, 6, and 9… The answer was 13!!
Good trip, the path in is easy to follow until you reach the top then lots of smaller paths split off to reach the start. Water level was lowest I’ve seen it, roaring billy level – 153 m3 / sec. Couple of the hangers were loose however did them up with a spanner. Checked the pool for the biggest jump (cave pitch), looked a little shallow unfortunately,
All anchors are in place. A number of the maillions and linking materials are showing rust and signs of age. One day, we’ll need to carefully plan and fund a replacement program. If you read this, please take a good, close up photo of each anchor station, and send it through to president@nzcanyoningassociation.org
Hopefully we can inspire someone to apply for CanyonFund $ for replacement gear. It’ll need an angle grinder plus a very good eye for how to set up permanent anchors.. We certainly aren’t suggesting putting linking material on any of the fantastic unlinked chemical P bolts!!
The final pitch false floor is almost completely gone now. Whilst you can (probably) reach the final pitch anchor, it is possible to absiel the entire pitch from the previous set of bolts.
The abisel goes just under the final bit of the false floor, you’ll see where to go! Its dark down there, so hard to check the rope length is correctly set.
This is roughly a 20m pitch, but didn’t measure it carefully. We had a 60m rope with plenty to spare.. Just don’t get caught short on ropelength if you choose this option!
Also, there’s plenty of places for the rope to get stuck. There’s no water hazard so a simple double rope absiel with no biner block or anything is recommended.
Rope retrieval went well for us, a good tactic is for one of the first people to take both strands down, and do a test-pull before the last person comes down…
Haven’t been down in a few years!
Still one of the best canyons!
Water flow was a nice medium with not much working. Walk in as fun as always with afew random tracks around. Easy to go to high if not watching your gps.
Anchors all good but afew starting to look abit old.
All anchors are okay except for what has already been mentioned, many pools seem quite shallow
No major changes from previous few trip reports. Note the last major abseil is still sinking lower with a new gap opening up in the false floor. Not long now until access to the bolts may be very difficult or impossible. You could use some bolts further back to make this abseil work as a temporary solution should the false floor completely go. Please let the community know if the false floor does collapse and please watch your step around that area. There is a single bolt to clip into to make this safer when reaching for the anchor high up.
Approach: No old wooden bridge was seen. Go up ramp on TL of creek to reach trail. Trail was pretty well worn the whole way. Trail goes to about 860 meter contour line (unless our GPS was wrong).
Canyon:
1) Julie pool can be bridged by a taller person who can then climb back up and rig a rope off bolts on the TL that shorter people can ascend and then DC safely out of the hydraulic.
2) The boil. Didn’t need to use pendulum. Instead got off rope on ledge and jumped out through it with no issues.
3) R7 had 3 bolts. 1 of the bolts was spinning. Just use other 2, they are redundant. The takeoff ledges for the jump was very slippery today.
4) Last DC 2m and J 3m seemed switched. DC seemed like 3m and Jump seemed like 2m.
5) Last DC 6m on log was very helpful going down backwards as rock on TR was very slippery today.
We were most likely the first group through this season. All anchors in good condition. Water levels have been quite low, not much flooding going on from last season so rock surfaces are getting slippery (Wilson is usually known for excellent grip).
R9 is still sinking further with the false floor making the anchor hard to reach, now probably a real tough one to reach if everyone in the group is short.
Most pools were fine, no change from last season. No new log jams ect either.
13-11-20. Wilson Creek anchors are all good, water level quite low today and the temps were warm in the canyon.
Some small changes to pool depths, especially the one after the first abseil. R9 TL anchors, which have been quite a reach for height challenged canyoners for a few years, is getting more so sorry to say. A fair amount has collapsed under it, you can see and hear the rocks falling as you walk along the log. Best prepare for that section collapsing or becoming inaccessible in the near future. I would recommend it as a ‘walking on eggshells’ approach.
08 Feb 15
Slightly below normal flows. Only a few Hydraulics in action today..
Fast party of 4 with good prior knowledge of the canyon;
1h20 access
2h30 descent
17/12/14.
Quite low flow for this canyon. All anchors in good condition.
Party of 5 with good previous knowledge of the canyon.
1h15 access
2h45m descent