Kokatahi River - West Coast's Finest!!!

Waiting to enter Carnage Gorge (p. Jordy)

The West Coast is home to numerous classic kayaking runs, from the Styx, Crooked and Kaka's to the Arahura, Whitcombe and Upper Hoki. But I think it is the Kokatahi, however, that is now the West Coasts premier class V run. Granted it doesn't have the overnight facet of the Mungo, Whitcombe or Perth, but it has EVERYTHING else. Spectacular scenery, steep boulder gardens, big rapids, committing gorges, the ever-present remote feeling, deep blue pools and anything else you could want in a kayaking run. It pretty much all goes, there were maybe 5 things that didn't get run on this high-water trip ('cover-shot' and the 'direct-slot' usually get paddled at normal flows). Our crew was Barny, Razza (Simon) Rutherford, B-Rain and Myself, the flow was Juicy and we all had good lines and safe times!

Old Razza about to loose his Kokatahi virginity (p. Barny)

Its a long an intimidating flight, even more
so when you know its high! (p. Barny)

Straight off the bat, the Kokatahi is solid
class V (p. Barny)

B-Rain getting over his initial Kokatahi
apprehension (p. Jordy)

The upper section is comprised of steep open
boulder gardens (p. Simon Rutherford)

Stacked, remote, beautiful. (p. Simon Rutherford)

This flow meant everything had holes of
consequence, lucky rudders is a master in
deal with holes (p. Barny)

Everything goes, you just need to sack up or get
Barny to scout it for you. B-Rain running
an alternate line in fine form (p. Barny)

Barny and B-Rain enjoying one of the
numerous pushy boulder gardens
(p. Jordy)

Scenery that speaks for itself (p. Jordy)

Barny charging into the infamous 'Carnage Gorge', aptly
named after the events from the First Descent.
(p. Jordy Searle)

There used to be a boxed-in waterfall in Carnage Gorge,
so it always a good idea to find out what the status of
the gorge is (p. Simon Rutherford)

B-Rain entering class IV gorge, which comes straight
after the 'direct-slot' (p. Jordy Searle)


I think this is in 'Nothing Gorge', class III
entry then nothing... or is there?
(p. Simon Rutherford)

Enough said (p. Jordy)

The 'Twin-Towers', which we portaged due to high
water. (p. Simon Rutherford)

If you get here with plenty of time its worth scouting
before lowering boats as you're pretty much done,
just the portage to go really.(p. Simon Rutherford)

A trip earlier in the week had some real carnage, with
two lost boats, a dislocated shoulder (heli evac), a hike
out, numerous resues... Just before 'Portage Gorge' we
noticed this boat and decided to pull it out... destroyed!
(p. Jordy)

My beast in a familiar spot, I think that was my 12th
trip down and Barny has done as many, if not more!
(p. Simon Rutherford)

Well we got a fair bit of footage from this trip, so looks like we're back on track! The weather is good and levels are now holding... Whats next?!