With a great organizational effort by Jordy Searle members of UCCC [of which I’m not one ;-)] set off from Christchurch bound for the Ruatapu (West Coast, South Island), where we were to stay the night before flying the next day.
After a good nights kip we set off for the landing zone to meet our West Coast shuttle drive Bruce Dando. With the pro’s flying in first, to hit up the upper section Brian, Brian, Ari and myself we left with loading up the beginners. They were bound for the confluence and at the conclusion of them flying in we were to head upstream of them [to an unknown destination!]
An 8 minute flight saw us at the put in. The boys who had run the top section had clambered up a bank to cash in (no pun intended) on some rare sunlight! The rocks were frozen over and the valley had not seen much of the morning sun so to say it was cold would be a bit of an understatment. But thats the Coast and we grow to love it.
So on a low Wanganui we were crashing down what would have been nice semi steep section if it had a bit of juice in it!! After a couple of kilometers we were at the confluence and meet up with the beginners who were no doubt cold and amped to go boating, after what would have been a long wait!!
This river is an amazing river which is not characterized by any major gorges. From the get in that we put in at (with the low flow that we had) the river provides some technical class 3+ boating easing to class 3 then 2+ as the take out nears.
The main rapid ‘landslide’ (below the confluence) at the flow we had was cruzy as. It is made up by a large poor over at the top, which is the entry move, and finishes with about 150m of boulder garden type water. At high flows I am told the poor over is a sweet as hole which requires a good boof.
All in all the day was a good, I felt sorry for some of the beginners having the odd swim, however they were all kitted out and by in large stayed pretty warm. The hot pools were enjoyed by all but one. That person will remain nameless, however when interviewed later he stated that he “had no regrets” and still thought all the people who enjoyed them “were suckers!”
After a good nights kip we set off for the landing zone to meet our West Coast shuttle drive Bruce Dando. With the pro’s flying in first, to hit up the upper section Brian, Brian, Ari and myself we left with loading up the beginners. They were bound for the confluence and at the conclusion of them flying in we were to head upstream of them [to an unknown destination!]
An 8 minute flight saw us at the put in. The boys who had run the top section had clambered up a bank to cash in (no pun intended) on some rare sunlight! The rocks were frozen over and the valley had not seen much of the morning sun so to say it was cold would be a bit of an understatment. But thats the Coast and we grow to love it.
So on a low Wanganui we were crashing down what would have been nice semi steep section if it had a bit of juice in it!! After a couple of kilometers we were at the confluence and meet up with the beginners who were no doubt cold and amped to go boating, after what would have been a long wait!!
This river is an amazing river which is not characterized by any major gorges. From the get in that we put in at (with the low flow that we had) the river provides some technical class 3+ boating easing to class 3 then 2+ as the take out nears.
The main rapid ‘landslide’ (below the confluence) at the flow we had was cruzy as. It is made up by a large poor over at the top, which is the entry move, and finishes with about 150m of boulder garden type water. At high flows I am told the poor over is a sweet as hole which requires a good boof.
All in all the day was a good, I felt sorry for some of the beginners having the odd swim, however they were all kitted out and by in large stayed pretty warm. The hot pools were enjoyed by all but one. That person will remain nameless, however when interviewed later he stated that he “had no regrets” and still thought all the people who enjoyed them “were suckers!”
I got up in the morning to take some shots.
"Red sky in the morning, shepards warning"
Quality West Coast.
Cheers to Jordan's Grandparents- good nights sleep is key.
The beginners all siked for their first heli.
8 hours by foot, 8 minutes by helicopter.
The icey rocks provided a slippery time at the put in.
Waiting in the sun, up a bank for the last crew to be dropped in.
Jared and Jordy enjoying a moment.
Feel the serenity.
One, Two, Three BOOF.
"I love running blind"
"Yeah boi"
"Sweet as bruva" 
MMMn....
From above looking down....
Three more strokes
Mission accomplished....nearly
"Everyday's a good day on the river" 
