22-11-2015

Kylie, Hywaida, Kris, Jason, Monhaka, Levis and meeeeee,

We were itching to just get out and soak up the bush.

We may have got soaked in the bush.

It was a drizzly start to the weekend but undeterred we found ourselves making our way along the entry route with overnight packs and a sense of excitement.

Kylie and I had been held up behind a traffic accident so Monica and Jason already had tents set up and camp established by the time we roll in.

We pitch our tarp, cook a warm meal and settle in out of the drizzle.

Levis arrives a bit later, the drizzle is a bit heavier so there wasn’t a lot in the way of introducing him to the gang.

Kris and Hywaida join us at the crack of dawn and we head off to visit Hole in the Wall canyon.

Hole in the Wall is a classic Blue Mountains canyon consisting of 2 deep, beautiful slots separated by a short creek walk.

The top sections contains some scrambles and wades between deep twisting walls, but no abseils

and then straight into the glowworm cave.

The glowworm cave is different every time I visit.

This time was probably the least spectacular display of worms. To be fair it was cold and wet outside, so potentially less insects to attract into their web, and it is early ion the season.

The hydrology of the cave also changes. The exit squeeze down to the left has long since collapsed. But what has been a deep swim requiring a difficult exit in recent years has silted up again resulting in a shallow wade.

Still it’s not as bad as it was in the early 2000s when you had to belly crawl in.

Then there’s the exit. Every year I think is this the year I’m too fat to make it. I’m not built for caving.

From here we head upstream.

Yeah yeah I know this creek has been officially renamed “Dingo creek” and has been since 2006 but that really is an unimaginative name for such a beautiful creek. On the old 1 inch to the mile Wallerawang map Dingo creek was marked as a small side creek (with an impressive rock arch). The major creek was Bungleboori Creek. The Southern branch that creek lower down was called Bungleboori creek, Nine Mile branch in reference to the Newnes Railway.

I’m assuming Bungleboori was the native name.

Anyhoo, we head upstream to the lunch rock at the usual HITW exit, we have made good time and enjoy a quick bite to eat in the drizzle before crossing the creek and heading up the other side for your next adventure.

Continue to Banks canyon