Gradient and Water

Another Upper Whitcombe - West Coast, New Zealand!

2012-01-26T01:00:00.000-08:00

Usually you try not to double up on the multi-day runs during New Zealand summer. This is due to the cost of the helicopter and you also want to try get all 3 (or more if you start counting the Upper Whataroa and Wanganui) classic multi-day runs. This was different for me though as I managed to get a trip in with Dyl and co between christmas and new years AND when Barny decided it was time to go I just so happened to be off work to kayak! So this time it was a straight local crew of Barny Young, Shannon Mast, Matt Coles (on his virgin trip) and myself! We were all yawning waiting for the helicopter... but there was a fire brewing in the crew. Once on the water the vibe was electric, all keen to get amongst it and only left two things not paddled! Masty even mobbed the slot in the Upper Prices Gorge, and it does flush!

Relaxed boys waiting for the chopper (p. Jordy)

Danny Reedy, the new shuttle driver
on the coast (p. Barny)

Chatting to Danny our chopper pilot (p. Barny)

Barns looking for an exit? (p. Jordy)

Matt Coles on the mob (p. Jordy)

Barny enjoying the boulder gardens (p. Jordy)

It's all good on the big one (p. Jordy)

I seen Severin do it a couple of
weeks ago, so figured its all
good. (p. Barny)

Masty cleaning it (p. Jordy)

Colesy keeping it safe on his maiden voyage (p. Jordy)

The sieve I was protecting for this drop
was heinous (p. Jordy)

Colesy running the lead out of the one
Barny, Masty and I ran. (p. Jordy)

The boys routing (p. Jordy)

Barny on my favourite boof (p. Jordy)

Nasty Masty from downstream (p. Barny)

You can really roll over and launch!
(p. Barny)

Content at the hut before 4pm we bathed in the sun, ate like kings and re-hydrated unlike usual as we had no goon! The next morning Masty asked me, "Are we dressing casually or wearing our business suits?" And my reply was, "All business bro"... and it was. We only portaged one thing from Prices Flat down, which was a mandatory portage, and we all had clean lines. Well sort of, Colsey had an issue with "Soph's Slot" at the very start, and both Colesy and I got a little bit of a working on the tall one in Colliers Gorge... but I stand by my decision to not bother scouting it! Probably the best trip I have had down the Whitcombe and the company at the hut was a delight!!!

Red onion, celery, courgette, capsicum, carrot,
asparagus... eating well! (p. Jordy)

Masty, not Daniel. Shit ay. (p. Jordy)

Barny at the beginning of Day Two (p. Jordy)

Barny on the second drop of the
Lower Prices Gorge (p. Jordy)

I was all over safety! (p. Barny)

Matt Coles, from the cover of Men's Health Magazine
to the Upper Whitcombe. (p. Barny)

Barny catching me about to launch
(p. Barny)

Masty slaying it (p. Jordy)

Barny enjoying the final drop of the Crux
section (p. Jordy)

I am guessing this will be my last trip down this gem for the summer, but who knows. Its an amazing couple of days boating guaranteed. Hopefully we can get on the Perth of Mungo soon!

First Descent of Toaroha Canyon - West Coast, New Zealand

2012-01-18T19:40:00.001-08:00

Daan(gerous) Jimmink all fired up! (p. Jordy)

The West Coast is home to countless classic rivers, with almost all the major tributaries around Hokitika providing great white-water. In recent years we have been adding to these runs by flying further up the tribs, hiking into no fly zones or putting in the effort to open up some of the yet to be run gorges. Last summer Keith Riley, Trent Garnham and Paul Current opened up the infamous Morgans Gorge on the Waitaha, a feat that can open be appreciated by going in there yourself. Earlier this summer Barny Young, Simon Rutherford, Trent Garnham, Dylan Thomson and I opened up the section of the Upper Whataroa from just below Whymper Hut down to Butlers Hut... but on Tuesday, 16th of January a big group of us opened up the Toaroha Canyon. A section I never thought would go after being informed it had a boxed in 100footer, the whole river went underground and that it was totally inaccessible except for dropping in the top at river level. Well I would like to say it was our hard work that gave us the green light to paddle the Canyon but really it was a combination of all the other kayakers on the coast... except us! Jared Mitchell, Keith Riley, Trent Garnham, Justin Venable and Issac Thomson were first to wet our appetite for the Canyon when they put in some hefty ground work and made their way down to river level via a large slip and snapped the shot below... triggering a frantic rush of questions about its where abouts, whether is was run or runnable and plenty more.

Trent, Issac, Keith and JV (and Jared behind the lens) were the first to get their
eyes on the interior of the Toaroha Canyon.
(p. Jared Mitchell - http://thewetsideoflife.blogspot.com/)

Needless to say people were reluctant to reveal too much information, but before long we had worked out that it was indeed in the Toaroha Canyon. But this team has only seen the big falls and a few drops below it, which didn't mean anyone could safely drop into the Canyon just yet.

The canyon is very close to Hokitika, and people even hike
up and run the last 30footer. But for some reason no one
had ever seriously persued it.

This would change, however, on January 8th when Dylan Thomson, Justin Venable, Keith Riley and Zak Shaw sacked up and committed to a canyoning trip down Toaroha Canyon at low later. Zak hasn't put up his photos yet, but check out http://passion4adventure.blogspot.com/ in the near future to get a glimpse of some amazing shots of an even more amazing canyon. Zak commented this about the trip, "first canyoning descent of the Toaroha canyon took 8 hours and involved waterfall jumps, scrambling on smooth schist, some bold decision making and a little luck!". Very bold indeed! True to the West Coast, a day or so after their canyoning descent the rains came and pushed the flow up to high...and it stayed high until Barny had returned to the coast and I had days off, just our luck! The beta was that we would access the canyon via the large slip the first crew used and then paddle the section below there. The upper stuff was described as extremely narrow, and if it was to be paddled it would have to be at a low flow. So Keith and co. decided that it would be the bottom two thirds of the canyon that would be the go... and go it did!

We would use the trail to Cedar Flats Hut to access the slip,
and then went down the slip down to the gorge rim.

Rallying out from Hokitika was yet another big crew, Barny Young, Keith Riley, Justin Venable, Kev England, Zak Shaw, Daan Jimmink, Jess Matheson and Myself. A great crew, perfect weather and what would turn out to be a perfect flow!

Even says there is kayaking up there. (p. Jordy)

The blue-bird is dead. Now it's the time of the
Lancaster... (p. Jordy)

One of the beauty's of this run was that no helicopter was required, although it would of reduced our walk from a fairly arduous 3 1/2 hours to a downhill 45minutes. Barny and I figured shouldering the boats would be the way to go, but I think next time I will use my RGC carry-system as I was hurting by the time I got to the slip. The hike follows the Cedar Flats Hut trail, initially through some bush, then along the river bed and then it gets serious. A steep hill-climb before you drop back down and then it keeps going up and up and up! There a re hydrating creek about 10minutes before you reach the large slip that is unmistakable. From hear head down, to the right, in the bush, to the right, lower boats, lower boats, on to an older slip, back to the left a little, and then emerge out of the bush to see one of the most spectacular waterfalls you'll ever see.

Barny helping the old fella through the walk (p. Jordy)

GWAT making it happen! (p. Jordy)

Zak hiding in the bushes taking photos (p. Zak Shaw)

Only for a moment did the bush open up and let us see
just how epic the canyon was (p. Jordy)

Picking a route down the slip was a bit harder
than normal... (p. Jordy)

The boys just about to make their descent into
the Toaroha Canyon (p. Jordy)

Kev soaking it all in (p. Barny)

JV after the first push, still a long way to go (p. Jordy)

Zak lowering his boat in the
dense bush (p. Barny)

Kev, JV and Me in awe (p. Zak Shaw)

Once we had arrived at the falls there was a feeling of achievement, but also a very real feeling of what we were about to commit to. Fired up to check out the falls I promptly got changed and seal launched into the large pool, followed by Keith, Kev, JV and Barny. After scaling the large rock wall I found the falls wasn't as straight forward as first thought, with the lead in being very pushy, it dropped through a slot and then ramped up on the right before plummeting 50 or more feet into the pool. After a good 20 or so minutes of deliberation none of us had the grit to sack-up. Keith said at their low flow it had a uniform lip, so maybe at a lower flow it might go? We'll see. After this we set off on what I can confidently say is a new West Coast classic!

Keith and I about to climb to scout
the beast (p. Barny)

Keith paddling out of the safety of the pool (p. Zak Shaw)

There is a relatively blind corner between the drop
Keith is running and this one, but its all good!
(p. Daan Jimmink)

The same drop from down-stream, the boys
lining up for their turn (p. Jordy)

Boxed in, JV appreciating the view.
(p. Jordy)

A very isolated drop came next, drive hard right
then charge. (p. Jordy)

Zak and Barny locked in (p. Jordy)

Zak's view from downstream of the two above
drops (p. Zak Shaw)

Daan and I, coming through (p. Zak Shaw)

This is right around the corner and has
a very big recirc (p. Jordy)

The breaks in the canyon only remind you
how high the walls really are (p. Jordy)

Safety first - Kev England (p. Jordy)

Pristine and untoched West Coast beauty
(p. Barny)

Upstream of this we made our only portage
(p. Zak Shaw)

Seal launch straight into this (p. Barny)

Daan's perspective of the same drop
(p. Daan Jimmick)

Kev back in action (p. Jordy)

One of the longer sections of white-water we
ran (p. Daan Jimmink)

Zak charging towards something, too
much to remember in there (p. Barny)

Keith caught at it again, unlocking some
more West Coast goods (p. Barny)

Another long section thats all good
(p. Barny)

Toaroha Canyon (p. Jordy)

Daan first to fire " ", oh yeah we didnt
name anything (p. Barny)

Barny was next to fire (p. Zak Shaw)

Me next, but just after this I flipped and plugged
the hole upside down! (p. Zak Shaw)

Then down into another boxed section (p. Barny)

JV (p. Barny)

Keith Riley coming through with probably
the best line of the crew (p. Zak Shaw)

There was actually quite a bit between the
last shot and this, but we were mobbing
not taking photos. Barny on the one above
the final drop (p. Zak Shaw)

Daangerous on 'the boof to freedom' (p. Jordy)

Me running the last drop (p. Barny)

and down the pool to the final
25 footer... golden!
(p. Barny)

Despite the long walk in, which isnt too long anyway, this run is going to be classic. I know that pretty much everyone in the crew cant wait to get back in there. The flow we had was probably a good medium, with room to move either way. Well there it is, the big T has been knocked off. First Descent of the Toaroha Canyon: Barny Young, Daan Jimmink, Jordy Searle, Justin Venable, Keith Riley and Kev England Zak Shaw. YEAH!!!

Jordan Searle - My picks from 2011

2012-01-11T16:41:00.001-08:00

It would be modest to say that 2011 was just a good year for us, having been fortunate enough to be awarded the Sir Edmund Hillary Adventure Grant, through SPARC (Sport and Recreation New Zealand), having spent three months in the granite paradise of California's Sierra Nevada's AND been in New Zealand for the end of Summer 2010/2011 and start of Summer 2011/2012. During this time we have seen some AMAZING vista's, paddled with some amazing people and taken photos right throughout. Here is my selection of 5 photos I have taken, sort of a top five but not specifically, that I think illustrates the beautiful year that I have seen my lens. Enjoy.

Perth River - West Coast, New Zealand
(http://gradientandwater.blogspot.com/2011/03/upper-perth-trifecta.html)

Paddler: Ari Walker - Details: (s) 1/1250; (a) f/4.5; (iso) 200

This photos illustrates to me one of two characteristics that define West Coast whitewater, that is steep boulder-gardens. And the Perth River has plenty! On this particular trip we were able to access further up the Perth River than Barny and I had ever before, and were blessed with two perfect days of weather. We usually run this one in mid to late summer and is one of the runs that usually kicks off my year, and oh what a year it was!

Mai River - Eastern Highlands, Papua New Guinea
(http://gwinpng.blogspot.com/2011/05/png-time-to-highlands.html)

Paddler: Shannon Mast - Details: (s) 1/320; (a) f/5.0; (iso) 200

I feel absolutely privileged to have been given the opportunity to have travelled to Papua New Guinea in April 2010. This would not of been possible without the support of SPARC, Barny Young and Shannon Mast and all the other sponsors and people that contributed. Almost everything I can remember from PNG is shown in this photo, the droves of people eagerly watching us, children willing to give us advice (sometimes misleading) and telling us things are 'all good', one of my boys routing another sick drop, the clouded but muggy environment and more and more and more. Great place, great people and great memories.

South Branch, Middle Feather - California, United States
(http://gradientandwater.blogspot.com/2011/07/south-fork-of-middle-feather.html)

Paddler: Barny Young - Details: (s) 1/1250; (a) f/5.6; (iso) 100

The paradise that California is. Going to Cali is becoming an annual pilgrimage, and I don't see any reason why it should stop. Beautiful weather, easy logistics (except big drives) and some very big and hard white-water. Barny is stomping out the Skate-Park (?) rapid on South Branch, but it could easily be on any river in Cali as there are so many amazing drops to be had. Cant wait to get back in June!

Dinkey Creek, Waterfalls Section - California, United States
(didnt do a post for 2011 for some season, but here is out 2010 post:
http://gradientandwater.blogspot.com/2010/07/dinkey-creek-waterfalls-section.html)

Paddler: Will Pruett - Details: (s) 800; (a) f/5.0; (iso) 200

The Jah-Charger Will Pruett, charging on one of the most classic runs that Cali has to offer. Granite up to the brim, that is Dinkey Creek. Granite hike-in, ledges, slides, camp spots, gorges from start to finish. The scale of the rivers and their setting is unbelievable in Cali, and I think this photo shows it. For me, it also tells of the expanding group of friends that Barny and I are making in Cali. Not only Will, but Smurf, Preacher, Mancheese, Boss Hogg, Hale, Ross Herr, Gareth Tate, Rok and many more.

Kokatahi River - West Coast, New Zealand
(http://gradientandwater.blogspot.com/2011/12/kokatahi-river-west-coasts-finest.html)

Paddler: Brian Urmson - Details: (s) 1/800; (a) f/5.6; (iso) 100

The Kokatahi is my favourite kayaking run that I have done, and fortunately it is only 20minutes drive from where I grew up. In the past it was notorious, mainly to do with the carnage Bruce Barnes and Graham Charles had in there on the first descent, but it is now the go to run on the coast. I've run it both high as high, and low as low, I can tell you then pretty much any flow goes. Having said that, when there is some juice in it you need to bring your big set and it really does help to know it. This was B-Rain's first trip down the Kokatahi and at a really juicy flow, stoked to see him having a good time and stoked to get this photo of him in one of the many spectacular gorges.

Well there you have it, my pick of 2011 and a brief explanation why. Hopefully this year I can improve and get some better snaps! Barny is going through his pictures at the moment and will put together his 5 and explanations in the next week or so.

Upper (Upper) Whataroa River - West Coast, NZ

2012-01-08T21:08:00.001-08:00

The West Coast of New Zealand has numerous classic kayaking runs that are famed due to their steep, remote and continuous nature. During the early 1990s through to the mid-2000s it was the Arahura, Whitcombe (Cropp put-in) and Hokitika River's (Nogo Creek put-in) that were sort after, but the times are changing. Not to say those runs have lost their appeal, it's just that the sport has evolved in term of gear design and paddlers ability and mentality. And as a local's to the area we have been searching for more goods anywhere we can find it. Surprisingly we have hit a fair bit of gold this year, getting the First Descent of Rocky Creek, adding a few kilometres to the top of the Wanganui River and now we have taken the cake... bagging the First Descent of the Upper (Upper) Whataroa.

Our shuttle driver - Zeb Laing (p. Jordy)

Dylan looking down on the first section from
our put-in (p. Jordy)

Well for me this trip started off pretty rough. After going up in the first flight and selecting our put-in I made my way downstream to scout the first heinously steep section. After deciding that the first one 'should go' I seen the chopper coming in the distance so snapped a few shots... then much to my dismay I looked to see my dry-top be blown into the river and run the entrance to the first huge cascade before disappearing into a rock jumble.... and that was the last I seen of that. Feeling deflated due to the ominous idea of paddling a glacial feed, high-alpine multi-day trip without a dry-top... I portaged the first one (which then we all decided was a bit dodgey) and then began what was going to be a 'cool' river trip.

Dylan trying to find my dry-top... to
no avail (p. Simon Rutherford)

Although Dylan tried he best to find my dry-top, we had no luck. But there wasnt much time to dwell on it as we had about 4km of the steepest-steep that the West Coast has to offer. Our first section had some thick ledges and steep boulder gardens, and it soon became apparent that we had struck that perfect flow. Plenty of water to move around freely and grab eddies, but not too much where we were flushing straight into the next rapid.

Dylan the Villan, we left the one in the background
for the next crew in there... (p. Jordy)

This is me trying to stay dry, which was
impossible (p. Barny)

Barny running this one after our second
portage (p. Jordy)

Even firing it up didnt help me warm
up! (p. Barny)

We had good lines through the top section, portaged a few, and were relieved when we got to a 'boogie' section. Isn't it funny how class IV+ seems so insignificant when you've been working your way down full-on class V. Next up was the steepest section we seen from the helicopter, and although we didnt know it yet it would be all good to go!

This double drop was the first in the steep
boulder garden that ended in the 15foot
ledge (p. Simon)

Dylan taking charge on the
double (p. Jordy)

Barny on the lead out, the drop below
is in the next series of pictures
(p. Jordy)

Barny entering the following steep section
(p. Jordy)

This was the last hole of the steep section
between the Double and the last 15
(p. Jordy)

Eddy out, scout, SMILE and charge! (p. Simon)

Barny about to complete one of the steepest
sections of river I have paddled in NZ.
(p. Jordy)

Dyl stomping it out (p. Simon)

Having my turn (p. Barny)

After this section we had a good amount of class IV+ boulder-gardens before a portage and then another super steep section. By this stage I was super cold, and not even a clean 15 footer could warm me up... not to mention the dubious drop below it. Barny, however, was not deterred and sacked up.

Barny was first to fire the now named,
'Trent's Trench' (p. Jordy)

Simon Rutherford stoming the Trench (p. Jordy)

Trent about to enter his Trench (p. Jordy)

The photos above show the second of two drops, the first is as high as this but cleaner in the fact that there isn't a narrow exit route. Failing to stick the route mean't you would fall down into a slot and potentially get stuck in an under-cut. Rudders came close, but it was Trent that would be the one to end up in there. Hence the name, Trent Trench. From here we where hanging out to get to the hut, Trent was tired, I was freezing, Simon was under 70kg and what we needed was a feed and some goon. After some more steeps, two portages with one being quite long, we made our way down to the confluence with the Butler... but where was the hut?! Barny and I had gone past it but fortunately turned upstream to admire the view... and there is was, nestled into the bush and overlooking the river. YES!

Always the highlight, reading about all the past
adventures at the Hut (p. Simon)

No dehydrated meals on New Zealand multiday trips
(p. Jordy)

Waking up on day two, much to my delight, the weather had cleared and the sun was shining. We even managed a relatively early departure, on the river before 10am! There are some awesome boulder gardens to start off the day, it all goes if you take the time to work it out. You might even find some hot-pools (river-left) about 1km down. The character is drastically different to day one, much more water and less gradient. But still steep, don't get me wrong. We mobbed hard during the first few kms and made our way down to the 'Portal's of Doom'. There was a track around the mini-gorge on river right, but Dyl, Barny and I inspected on river left. Much like I had heard, we figured it all went except the final waterfall... but it would be hard to stop before it. Wanting to keep it safe, we portaged along river left and made our way back down to river, stoked to see Barrowman Flat (the put in for the commercial raft trip).

The start of the 'Portals of Doom'
(p. Jordy)

Track down river right, we figure lets keep it
at river level (p. Jordy)

Razza dancing and singing about Monteith's
(p. Jordy)

Stoked to see Barrowman Flat around
the corner... not long until warmth!
(p. Barny)

The Villan scouting the last drop of
Portal... (p. Jordy)

All bark and no bite... it's still un-run
(p. Barny)

... and this is why, Dyl looking into the

future? (p. Barny)

The lower went by like a flash, with Barny routing us into everything including the raft portages it was all good. Rudders even disappeared for an awkward amount of time at one stage. Then he just surfaced and paddled into the eddy, being under 70kg must be great ay (only rudders and girls would know). Anyway, we were off the river before 2pm and stoked with what we had found, the next classic Multi-Day for those looking to fire it up when things are low on the coast. We unanimously decided that we'd all go back in there, but there was only a couple more things (before the next flood anyway) that we'd like to fire in there.

The boys all stoked to be at Butler Hut (p. Guy at the Hut)

Upper Whitcombe River - West Coast, NZ

2012-01-05T11:55:00.001-08:00

Severin rocking the tuna (p. Jordy)

The Upper Whitcombe is one of the coast's super classic multi-day kayaking runs. Providing the majority of the flow to the Hokitika River, this run is good to go after a period of prolonged good weather and is definately best enjoyed with sunny weather. With the usual crew away on a Southern Bender mission, I got in touch the Dylan the Villan and his crew of imports and the Okere Massives Lou Jull, to see what the plan was... but it was fairly obvious, the Whitcombe. Fresh of their Upper Kaka's, Waitaha and Mungo charge everyone was feeling good for this trip. So the plan was set, crew locked and heli booked, I was off for another trip down the Upper Whitcombe.

Danny bringing in more of the troops (p. Jordy)

Lou Jull ready to slay another coast classic (p. Jordy)

Benjamin Hjort charging through one of the
many big holes (p. Jordy)

Swiss ball rolling on down (p. Jordy)

...and charging the slot (p. Jordy)

Dyl and Benji charging (p. Jordy)

Sly-operator Keith Riley getting caught on camera (p. Jordy)

As usual I was pretty slack at the hut about taking photos, and I dont even think I got my camera out on the second day even though it has the crux gorge of the run. But I had a great trip with some new friends and cant wait to get to sample their rivers, those of Switzerland and Norway, some day!

California Charge 2011

2011-12-26T12:59:00.000-08:00

Barny and I have been lucky to pretty much skip the New Zealand winter the last two years by making the now OBVIOUS pilgrimage to the sunshine state, California. During this time we have been fortunate enough to assimilate into the local Cali crew and get pretty much everything Cali has to offer! Unfortunately I bruised or cracked or broke some ribs down on the Kaweahs this season so missed the business end but Barny carried on the Charge routing Graceland, Upper Cherry, high water Devils-Postpile and the Middle Kings. Here is an edit of the spectacular white-water that Cali has to offer, and that we were fortunate to get on! Enjoy!

Here is the edit from 2010... so looks like 2012 will be better again!

Kokatahi River - West Coast's Finest!!!

2011-12-19T21:43:00.001-08:00

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?!

Rocky Creek, New Zealand. First Descent.

2011-12-13T21:56:00.000-08:00

Last year a good friend of ours was lucky enough to get a job that involved him being flown into remote parts of Paparoa National Park, giving him a great vantage point for scoping out rivers. For the past 9 months he had been going on about this creek, easy access, slides and it runs regularly. Even with this beta we always chose the 'bread n butter' flood runs opposed to scouting out/paddling this creek. One hungover morning, however, I tricked Barny into thinking it was after 9am and we motivated ourselves to walk into and down this creek to check it out... at around 7am! What we seen we liked, so figured next big rain we should get in there..... But the next big rain was too big (Civil Defence was evening on stand-by for the town of Greymouth) and we missed it. On the Wednesday, 14th of December we got some more rain and gave it another shot, this time accompanied by Skux and the Dream (ing of Whitewater) Team, Daan and Jess.

Putting in at the 'Log Bridge', you want more water
than this but not the whole rock cover (we think).
(p. Barny Young)

We, unknowingly, put on a bit below optimal flow but it was good for the first trip down to work out how everything would go. The creek is quite narrow, and is primarily sandstone. Comprised of about 10 slides, a gorged rapid and a couple of portages due to trees, this short run turned out to be quite cool. At our flow it was relatively low-stress, but as the flow got higher things would get a lot harder. Anyway, here are a few photos of a new flood run on the coast.

There are various boofs and slides (p. Barny Young)

Daan on the first part of the 'Gorge' rapid
(p. Barny Young)

The slides were mainly this angle, with some
taller ones. (p. Barny Young)

Being wrapped in the thick coastal forest just
contributes to this unique West Coast run.
(p. Barny Young)

Here is how to access this run: .... Go with a local. I have found out that access might be a little more questionable than first thought, so its a little locals spot X if you will....

Upper Wanganui - Maybe a first?

2011-11-29T20:42:00.000-08:00

Years ago Bruce Barnes mentioned to me that the Upper Wanganui would be worth a look sometime. That there was plenty of solid class V up there that would now be navigable since the development of new kayak technology and the contemporary paddlers mindset. After some meticulous investigation of the rivers gradient and character (looking from space via Google Earth) and indepth research into the meteorological condition for Sunday and Monday (checking the MetVUW forecast charts), Shannon and I decided that it was on! Barny took no convincing and organised a helicopter and we were set, flying 10am Sunday 27th of November. Our crew was Barny, Daniel (Shannon Mast), Justin Venable and myself.

Smyth Hut is a long way from civilization (p. Justin Venable)

Trying to get the cradle back into the Chopper (p. JV)

Flying in, we soon realised that we had caught the flow pretty much perfectly... not to mention the stellar blue skies. We were able to fly right to Smyth Hut thanks for some stellar work by Zeb Laing, and we knew we were in for a bit day. The river was ridiculously steep, somewhere in the realm of 80-100+m/km. Obviously this meant portaging, but we probably ended up with a 50/50 paddle to portage ratio and there were definitely a few big things in there that would of gone... Anyway, the 2km or so down to Galway Creek took us about 4 hours so by the time we got to the normal Wanganui (at high-ish water) we were ready to mob and get down to Hunters Hut. One scout, and 45 minutes later we had covered the 5 or so km of the normal Upper Wanganui and were ready for a night of relaxation and reflection at the a very classy establishment.

Alpine boulder-gradens (p. Jordy)

Getting steeper (p. Barny)

Daniel (p. Jordy)

Slings were priceless on the steep portages! (p. Jordy)

Barny amongst the unparallel West
Coast beauty (p. JV)

Tight and beautiful! (p. JV)

Inspecting... next time maybe?! (p. JV)

The final drop, the one after the section
above (p. Jordy)

JV soaking it in (p. Jordy)

The boys about to go one two (p. Barny)

Shannon on the charge (p. Jordy)

JV cleaning it (p. Jordy)

The one in the background is still
to go... Just so you know (p. JV)

Clean (p. JV)

Steep steep, check the decending bushline! (p. Barny)

Hunters Hut, a place for well earned rest! (p. JV)

In the hut, goon, food and good conversation (p. Barny)

Falling asleep that night to the predicted patter of rain on the roof, little did we know we'd be getting 100mm and be riding out a big brown gravy train the next morning! Perfect!!! Everything worked out perfectly, the access, white-water, weather, food, rain and everything. There is definitely a few more things to go up there for the bold, and the added extra incentive of hotpools at the top and bottom should convince more and more crews to get on this one.

Gradient & Water - Whitewater Calendar 2012

2011-11-24T16:23:00.000-08:00

Well here we go again! Another year has passed and both Barny and Myself have been fortunate enough to have an action packed year, paddling in New Zealand, Papua New Guinea and California. Here are a collection of photos that we not only think illustrate the difficulty of our sport, but also the beautiful settings that we are privileged to visit. This year we have included a few photos of other bliss-stick paddlers Ari Walker, Brendon Bayly, Jared Mitchell and the late Simon Davidson. Principle photography is by Barny and myself, with Daan Jimmink and Tyler Fox contributing photographs. SO here is a preview to get you going... order one for yourself, your mother and get ready for another year of looking at Barny and me!

Cheers for all the support,

Jordy and Barny

Cover: Paddler Jordy Searle - Photo Barny Young

WE'RE TAKING PRE-ORDERS NOW, THESE WILL
BE DISPATCHED IN EARLY DECEMBER!

A little tribute to the late Simon Davidson

2011-11-04T21:07:00.001-07:00

Here is an edit from the two trips down the Nevis on opening weekend. Unfortunately our boy Si wasn't there with us in body, but we all felt him in spirit. It was good to have such a big group of paddlers, as numbers have slowly dwindled over the last few year. The crew was Barny, Willzy, Ari, Dylan 'the Villan', Masty, JV and myself. We ride with Si!

Cheers to Tyler Fox for the opening image.

Nevis River - Central Otago

2011-10-31T17:00:00.000-07:00

It is always an anxious wait for the Nevis River to come in, watching the guage (yes one of the only runs in the South Island that has one), checking the forecast and speaking to the local paddlers of the Central Otago Area. Usually we devote a week or so to the 'Nevis Season', also paddling the Kawarau (Nevis Bluff, Citeron and Retrospect) and taking full advantage of the continual party that Queenstown is. This year, however, there was something special missing. On June 22nd, 2011 our good friend Simon Davidson was taken away from us, doing the thing he loved most. I had previously paddled the Nevis 7 times, 5 of those were with Si and we always crashed at his pad. Hungover Bluff runs and massive nights on the town, these were all things that Si had always been a part of. It was an odd feeling being at the put in of the Nevis without Si, but we all knew that our boy was with us in spirit... he'd never miss the Nevis Season.

Our typical evenings in Q/T (p. Jordy)

Simon routing Freight Train (p. Jordy)

On his way to check out little brother, first
day we ran it... together! (p. Jordy)

Simon looking back up at Big Brother... right before he said
"Not this time my big brother"... (p. Jordy)

Now here are some snaps from our two laps on opening weekend, the crew was Barny, JV, Dylan the Villan, Willzy, Masty, Ari, Eden and Myself. Good lines and good times!

Dyl sitting at the dodgey portage (p. Jordy)

JV hoping to miss the rock (p. Barny)

Willz soaking it in (p. Jordy)

Barny on Freight Train (p. Jordy)

JV... Beautiful! (p. Jordy)

Safety first! (p. Jordy)

Boofing the lead in to Big Brother (p. Barny)

Route this! (p. Jordy)

Willzy having ANOTHER slick line (p. Jordy)

Another clean line on Big Bro (p. Jordy)

Dyl just routing in... the next bit looked fantastic! (p. Barny)

Me rolling in (p. Barny)

Ari the Curry, showing he's hot stuff! (p. Barny)

We spent a fair bit of time taking footage of this trip and hope to put together a little tribute to Si in the next couple of weeks. On this southern mission we also paddled the Young River, Routeburn River, the Marion Creek Section of the Hollyford and I bagged a sunny day on the Okuku with Jared Mitchell and Skux!

Middle Fork of the Kings - MFK B9er!

2011-09-19T00:01:00.000-07:00

The Middle Kings is one of those rivers that rates on the top of many of the worlds best kayaker’s hit lists. And after being lucky enough to experience this amazing run last year I was eager to get back in and enjoy the Cali goodness. Beginning our walk at a leisurely 2pm from the Bishop Pass Trailhead, ready for the start of our five day adventure, this time I wasn’t going to make the same mistake as last time and packed plenty of extra chocolate goodies (into Jordy’s back pack who hiked in most of our food up and over the grueling Bishop pass) knowing that they would come in handy on the last couple of days.

And the walk begins... (p. Jordy)

On the walk we took turns alternating the lead along with Taylor Cavin and his team who started at the same time as us.That evening we camped on the Le conte canyon side of Bishop pass about 2000m below the top of Bishop, Well me Snarly, Pruett and the Jugonaut did, the rest slept where they fell and were re united with us in the morning for the final couple hour slog down to the river.

Barny dwarfed (p. Jordy)

Preacher working for it (p. Jordy)

Barny and Preutt almost at the top of Bishop Pass (p. Jordy)

Little Will Preutt (p. Jordy)

No fires above 10,000 feet... we were AT 10,000! (p. Barny)

Putting on mid afternoon we made quick progress through a couple of miles of manky whitewater before Snarly pulled over in dismay after putting a 20cm crack in the base of his boat. Making the tough decision Snarley decided to walk out knowing that he at least had a track to follow at this stage.Gutted to see Charles having to walk out the rest of us carried on our way paddling through some lush meadows making a few more miles progress before pulling in for the evening. The next morning we awoke to the sounds of Taylor Cavins crew. Putting on again we made some quick progress through some some sick slides and rapids before catching Taylor’s crew at the 7 rivers cover drop. All of us decided to give this one a miss apart from Dan the Man Menton who fired it up. In the next 2 minutes I witnessed one of the most full on beat downs I have ever seen as Dan surfed for 40secs before pulling the pin. After having his hands on numerous ropes he finally held on tight to Pruetts miracle bag penduling him in just in time before he swum of the next drop.

Barny going big (p. Smurf)

With our team carrying on it wasn’t long before we came across one of the coolest things I have ever had the opportunity to paddle through. A Snow Tunnel. This epic tunnel had obviously been created by an avalanche earlier in the year and being witness to just how big a snow year Cali had this year was still in full force in the middle of August!!! Getting through the snow tunnel we all were in a state of awe.

Will paddling towards the snow cave (p. Barny)

Below this we made quick progress with us all remembering snippets of what lay downstream. Before long we arrived at the waterfall Gorge where I pulled over to empty my boat feeling as thou it seemed a bit full. Turning it over I soon realized I had a 30cm long crack in the base of my boat. Knowing I was past the point of no return I left my boat to dry in the sun scouted the waterfall Gorge and with the help of the boys applied a layer of bitchothane to the inside of my hull and got back to business. The next few more miles progress we camped at the sweet 'Pruett' camp, a nice spot on river right at the end of a few miles of cruisey whitewater.

Peacher on his maiden voyage down the MFK-B9er!!! (p. Barny)

The following morning we motivated early putting on at 10am, running some good cruisey water for the first few miles. I was happy to be making good downstream progress with my wounded boat. Soon however the intensity picked up and after another couple of miles of chunky whitewater we reached the “BIG BAD BEAVER”. All deciding to give it a look the only one with the fire in his eyes after about half an hour of chilling at the base of the Beaver was Smurf. Avoiding the killer hole on river left with ease Smurf showed us all how this bad boy should be run. Below the Beaver we were in for a few more sweet rapids and a friendly meadow before reaching the towering dome of campsite of Tehipite at 2pm. That afternoon we chilled out knowing the next day would be a big one as we planned on pumping out the 20 mile section of both the bottom 9 and Garlic falls in one day.

I guess Big Bad Beaver had a pool at the bottom, thats
smurfs criteria for running drops! (p. Barny)

Lifestyling (p. Barny)

Tehipite Valley (p. Barny)

The following day we defied all odds and even had preacher on the water by 9am for what we knew would be a big day. We made quick progress through the steep and continuous bottom 9 section, making a few quick portages and us all taking our turns of probing some exciting lines. In the final mile of the bottom 9 I noticed my boat had started to full again but was stoked it had made it. Reaching the confluence at 2pm we chillaxed for an hour before Taylor Cavins crew showed up who we had met again midway through the bottom nine. Throwing our high fives we were all stoked to have made it. Not before the Garlic falls section was done however!! This 10miles is a complete different style after getting of the Kings with a Big water feel that with some cunky holes and hydraulics that keep you on your toes right until the end.

"Charging", Will Preutt. (p. Barny)

Reaching the car at 7pm, we were stoked to see Pruetts pink shorts hanging in the tree. With cold beers all round it was an amazing finish to another Epic cali season!

Middle Fork of the San Joaquin - Devils's Postpile

2011-09-03T00:27:00.000-07:00

Missing this run was the most disappointing thing about hurting my ribs in cali, as it was right up there with Fantasy on my personal list of runs to get in cali this year. The boys rallied, as they should, and although Snarley hiked out Barny and Smurf had an amazing trip in there. Here is a breakdown of the trip from Barny and some photos from himself and Smurf.

Like Fantasy, the Devils Post Pile or Middle fork of the San Joaquin was another one of the California classic High Sierra runs that had managed to elude us in 2010.Despite tales of epic portages and locked in gorges, after chatting to Taylor Cavin and Dave Maurier decided I would be silly to give it a miss. Luckily our boy Preacher was easily convinced to drive the put in shuttle and as Jordy was injured he offered to pick us up from the take out saving a 10hr drive to set shuttle and making logistics easy – Cheers Boys!!

Smurf at Rainbow Falls (p. Barny)

Putting on below the 100ft rainbow falls just out of Mammoth the team consisted of myself, Nick Murphy and Snarley Charly. After a late start we paddled a couple miles of whitewater before portaging for about an hour around 2/3rds of the first gorge. Putting back on we were quickly treated to a classic 15footer followed by a couple of sweet boofs.

Snarley making it look good (p. Barny)

Barny ... CHARGING (p. Smurf)

The next rapid was a manky wee line through some boulders and after running it first I eddied out at the bottom to wait for the boys. Sitting at the bottom I looked back to notice Snarley pinned sideways in a manky shoot. Running back up the bank with my throwbag Snarley was easily able to climb out of his boat however his boat was not as keen to budge as he was. After close to 2 hours of trying to get his boat out setting up a range of systems we were broken and it was getting on so we opted to remove whatever we could from the back of his boat. By now the force of the water had caved in the whole rear of his kayak making it impossible to grab his split out. Snarley made the tough decision to walk out and with daylight hours now dwindling myself and Smurf got back on the mission quickly knowing we had a lot of miles to cover if we were to meet our rendayvue with jordy 3 days later.

Morning light... Smurf (p. Barny)

Devil's PP looks amazing (p. Barny)

Tired from yanking on a rope and weary of now paddling what I believe is Californias most committing class V run, we portaged and paddled our way to the end of the 2^nd gorge where we set up camp planning on getting an early start with the intentions of catching Taylor Cavins group who we figured were about 7miles ahead of us. The next day we set of at 8.30am, a California early start record and made quick progress down stream. Entering the Boof-a-matic gorge we were under the impression that it all went so followed each other closely. This gorge turned out to be a lot more stout and committing than we predicted with some wide eyes from both of us after immerging from some big holes. Making it through boofamatic with no portages after an hour or so of great boogie and a couple of portages we were stoked to see what looked like a green boat in the distance, Luckily for us it was Taylor ,Daan, Dan and Shannon. Happy to catch them our nerves eased a little linking teams and knowing that now we did not need to run the infamous crucible with just the 2 of us. The rest of the day involved some more classy rapids along with some inventive style portaging requiring some rope work and some crazy in/out of boat action by myself and Daan. That evening we camped before the crucible with the boys laying out a buffet of fresh fish. The following day we got on the water at 9am envisaging a big paddle out.

The Crucible (p. Smurf)

Entering the crucible gorge the commitment factor was more of the style of the Mungo on the 2 day Hoki as opposed to anything I had paddled in California. I guess the reason why I had never seen very many photos from in here is because people are always so focused on doing the job and in awe of the surroundings to think about getting the camera out. Arriving at the Crucible Myself and Daan decided to paddle a high water sneak line down the right before setting safety for the other boys to run the conventional line. The next drop broken arrow was a pretty straightforward boof down the middle. With Taylor discussing the idea of paddling a new line down the centre on the third drop, nick quickly put an end to the confusion firing up the double boof down the right line, I was quick to follow with the rest of the boys firing on down and providing a couple of nice tail stands to wall smears as they emerged through the final hole. At the bottom Taylor charged straight off the 4^th drop and we were free.The rest of the day had plenty more amazing drops, coupled with spectacular scenary and a few more intricate portages. This run was action packed and committing with sweet whitewater right to the reservoir.

Barny on some lower boofs (p. Smurf)

Arriving at the lake myself and Daan set about charging the 7mile paddle out with the boys following behind. I did my best to draft the powerful Daan while hitting up every passing boater for a ride. Before long my persistence paid off and a couple of jet skiers set about trying to give us a tow, this wasn’t as efficient as it could have been so they upgraded us to the luxury of the boat.

Lifestyling... golden! (p. Barny)

Arriving at the take out in style Jordy and Snarley continued the trend with cold beers and Chipolte waiting!!! Five hours of driving later and broken we were at the take out of The Middle Kings, setting shuttle for what would be the final run of this epic season!!

Upper Cherry

2011-08-19T11:25:00.000-07:00

Upper Cherry has to be one of the most well-known runs in the world... and this is justified! Amazing granite slides, dome gorges and pretty much everything is good to go. Although I tried to sack up and carry my boat in there, after I had an a nights rest I realised I still wasn't up to it so ended up hiking it out. But not after hanging out at Flintstone for a few days with the drove of kayakers that were around there. Barny, Snarley, Cheese and the Canon were the first crew down to me at Flintstone, with Barny, Snarley and Canon running Cherry Bomb at high flow late in the evening. The next day was lifestyled at Flintstone, ate dank food including a 2 1/2 pound steak, done some laps of the tea-cups, caught fish and just chilled! The last day I hiked out to the trail and took my boat out and the boys walked up to run Cherry Bomb and then mob out in time to make San Fran for Barny's Birthday celebration. Barny's camera died on this trip but here are some of the photos he got from this super classic trip!

The canon on the early slide (p. Barny)

Snarley entering Gorilla Slide (p. Barny)

Peacher rolling into Cherry Bomb... switch! (p. Barny)

Cheese on the Tea-Cup's (p. Peacher)

Barny about to fly after a HUGE seal-launch (p. Peacher)

Needless to say, this was a sick trip for the boys and even for me just chilling at Flintstone... and we definitely had a sick time in San Fran for an more than memorable birthday!

West Cherry ... and the end of my season

2011-08-19T10:45:00.000-07:00

Well unfortunately this would be the end of my paddling season in cali. After Fantasy we made the annual pilgrimage to Three Rivers, for some laps on Hospital Rock. But on my second lap I took a kayak to my ribs in the hole below little Niagra and that was that... no more boating for me Cali 2011.

ANYWAY, Barny and the boys would obviously continue to charge and the next thing on the agenda was West Cherry. After our low water trip last year, Barny and Snarley were keen to catch it with a lot more water and also walk up to check out the infamous Graceland. The crew for this trip was Barny, Snarley, Smurf, Korbulic and Jake. Barny fired Graceland first, followed by all the boys! But it wasnt over, Charles had some how managed to piton on the 15footer in the top half of Graceland... he decided to clean it up and Korbulic thought he might run it again. After this was a series of burly rapids, portages and good times. From the confluence the boys found a huge amount of water in Upper Cherry, most notably in the Bottom Gorge. The boys took care of it all and had a sick trip in there. Here are some of the snaps of their trip.

Graceland (p. Barny)

Barny routing Graceland (p. Snarley)

Charles roosting on his second lap! (p. Barny)

Jake cleaning the West Branch (p. Barny)

Barny on chuck's (p. Smurf)

Korbulic dropping in (p. Barny)

Smurf charging! (p. Barny)

The boys had a sick trip and the next thing on their agenda would be a lap on the bottom section of Middle Cherry while they waited for Upper Cherry to come in.

North Fork of the Mokelumne - Fantasy Falls

2011-08-17T12:15:00.000-07:00

After last season's exhaustive schedule there were still a couple of torns in our side, and Fantasy was one of these. By doing Royal twice we had missed the minute 2010 window for Fantasy but were told that not to worry as if there was one to miss, Fantasy was it. Bullshit!!! We had a group of virgins on our trip, Mancheese, Snarley, Barny, Pruett and Myself and we basically moulded in with Smurf, Nugget-Charger, Riley and Josh Hill. We had a healthy flow, not high but everything was well cushioned, and such an amazing trip. White-water that rivals any run I had done or know of, scenery that is unbelievable and some of the most amazing camping I have done. Apart from the lake paddle at the end, I cannot fault this run at all. Yeah there are a few portages, but I would say all but 'The Untouchables' go, and the start of day one is manky... but both of these facts are overshadowed by how amazing the rest of the run is. Here are some of the MANY shots we got of this run, enjoy.

Me charging a mushroom (p. Barny)

Cheese Greasing it (p. Barny)

Snarley.... smiling! (p. Barny)

Barny lapping the Fantasy Falls (p. Jordy)

Smurf between the two Fantasy Drops (p. Jordy)

Pruett CHARGING... (p. Jordy)

Cali 2011..... Mob-a-thon!!! (p. Barny)

There is nothing else to say really, this is one of my top 5 favourite runs in the world... hands down! Do not ever think about passing this one up!

Royal!

2011-07-27T14:00:00.001-07:00

This seems to be the HOT run in California at the moment with lots of people looking to go big, and this is the place for it. After umming and arring for a day or so, Snarley finally got his way and convinced us to sack up and put on at just above 1300 (lows 1100), and we would be the first crew to go in for 2011. This time the crew was the usual culprits (Barny, Snarley and Myself) accompanied by Preacher, who was the only Royal Virgin in our crew. We enlisted the Canon for our drop off (thank-you), and the trip was on. Between Snarley and myself we remembered the first few miles of steep low-volume creeking down to Heath Springs Gorge.

Preacher! (p. Barny)

Barny the Carny, loving a good water leverl (p. Jordy)

This gorge is infamous for how is can hold up a teams progress... and this would be more then true for us, we had a mini-epic! Firstly, heath one... our lines were good but then Preacher lifted his knees at the lip, causing him to land SUPER flat and hurting his back. This would be the end of the trip for him, as he elected to hike out the following day...

Too flat! (p. Jordy)

Another angle (p. Barny)

Next, Snarley decided to fire up Heath Two. A 60 footer with a magnetic (for kayakers) cave on river left. Although he styled it, with his paddle intact, he was pushed left at the base of the falls and after numerous attempts accepted that he could not ferry across the base of the falls to freedom. So, as is with Heath Two, it was time to vertically extract him... twice! When we was almost at the top, after handing his paddle to barny, the bag his was attached to tore and he fell 30foot back into the watery prison of the cave. After he was finally extracted the next tragedy struck, literally. While Barny was trying to get around for a vector pull on the line to Snarley's boat he accidentally dislodged a soccer ball size rock, sending it careening down the crack that everyone was standing. The rock kicked up as Barny yelled and it struck Taylor Cavin, who along with Smurf and Chris K were now helping extract Charles and his boat, in the chin/should/chest knocking in to the ground in a daze. Fortunately Taylor had his full-facial helmet on and is tough as houses, and after an hour was smiling albeit in pain. This would be the end of this trip for Taylor, who elected to walk out the following day. So we decided to camp at Heath Gorge that night and then carry on the following day, with a new group of us three, smurf and Chris K.

Snarley firing (p. Jordy)

Chris K running Heath One after all the mess

(p. Jordy)

The next day was sick! We elected to portage the Crux Gorge, I felt the hole with the narrow exit looked dodgy so made the short portage and then it was all on. Lower Crux, Rattlesnake, Perfect 20, Split Falls and plenty more. We all elected to portage Scotts Drop, its burl, and just when I thought everyone was going to portage Wabena I heard a 'whoop-whoop' to see barny in the eddy right above the lip. Fire! Barny had a pretty good line, actually great considering some of the stories and footage I seen of other lines in the ensuing days, and then we were on the paddle out, pushing down almost as far a the Dream Gap section.

Chris in the hallway (p. Barny)

Barny routing into Rattlesnake... blind (p. Jordy)

Snarley watching me route the

rattler (p. Barny)

Smurf about to take a hit (p. Jordy)

The next morning, after waking up at a lifestyling 9am, I was startled to see three paddlers charging towards our camp. An older man and two younger fella's. The man introduced himself as Phylex, and his two sons, Sven and Lars, and then went to to pronounce that all three of the had paddled all the big ones. I would be lying if I didn't say I was dubious, but this would be my first of many encounters with...."The Swiss"!

South Merced

2011-07-27T13:15:00.000-07:00

I was super stoked when Tera gave Barny and I the call with this to say, "You boys should think about the South Merced, it looks like it is dropping in"... music to my ears. Last year Keith Riley, Jared Mitchell, Barny and Myself has an awesome trip down this run, none of us knowing it and plenty of flow. So I held this run in high regard. This year the team was going to be Barny, Snarley and Myself, the old campaigners from last season. I think we put on around 1300-1400 at Wawona so it definitely had a bit of juice in it. We decided to take it slow, take plenty of photos and footage and keep it safe... but somehow we still managed to bang it out in about 9 hours, why did we bother taking all that food and over-night gear! Anyway, here are some pictures from one of my favourite multi-day runs in California!

Big moves on the Sth Merced (p. Barny)

Great moves, curlers, buffers, holes.. all

the stuff we love (p. Jordy)

Snarley on a class V sneak (p. Jordy)

Cali tongue with Juice (p. Jordy)

Barny about to plug this (p. Jordy)

The boys routing this (p. Jordy)

This run usually heralds the beginning of the High-Sierra season, meaning things like Royal Gorge, Fantasy, Dinkey and the likes should be coming in soon....

Rubicon

2011-07-26T10:18:00.000-07:00

Since I first set foot in cali this season, all I had heard was the RUBICON was running, that some of the boys hiked out of the RUBICON, the RUBICON had not run in years, that the RUBICON was coming in again and its was $2.50 pint nights at the RUBICON bar. We took this as a sign and when the stars aligned Barny, Cheese and Myself decided that we needed to make it happen. In trying to find a fourth we contacted the Canon, who turned out to be putting on the same day with Rok and his band of Slovenian's. Inevitably we decided to combine and make it a multi-day mob. After setting shuttle, a gormet lunch at Rok's mansion and some pissing around we put on at 5.30pm and banged out the first few miles before the first ledge. Due to our late put in we took no photos... also the servere lack of eddies wasn't encouraging either. We camped on a nice sandy beach and got a nice shady sleep until late morning.

Canon enjoying the fire (p. Jordy)

Our beach-side accommodation (p. Barny)

Day two was pretty sick, lots of class IV-V and boarderline read and run. Again we were lazy and didnt get out much to take photos, but sometimes you just have to go!

Barny routing through the first ledges (p. Jordy)

Me running a hole to hole (p. Barny)

The Canon firing! (p. Barny)

This is an amazing trip and a must do if it is flowing. Put on a little earlier and make it two shorter days, take a fishing pole and plenty of food. Inevitably we made our way to the Rubicon a week or so late for $2.50 pint night... I suggest the Monkey Knife Fight!

Big Kimshew and Secret Stash

2011-07-26T09:31:00.000-07:00

What was one of Californias best single day's of kayaking has got even better! With no access to the usual Big Kimshew take out you have two options... hike up a hill for an hour or so OR paddle out through the secret stash, adding about 6 miles of goods to an already long day if you do know it. Fortunately for us we had the SE mob of Hale, Smurf, Adrien, Toby, Snarley, Will Pruett, Eric Chance, cali local's Drew Duvall and Sean Manchester and the ring in Kiwi's Barny and myself. Usually a group of this size means a slow pace and a fair bit of carnage but not this day... a mob-a-thon through Big Kimshew, only getting out for the trippler, frenchies and tay's and then through the stash being routed by Smurf. I feel that some of the hardest white-water is in the Stash, so think about this before you send some people in there instead of paddling Big Kimshew with you!

Obviously we didnt take much time to take photos, I actually didnt even take my camera, but here are a few snaps that Barny got of arguably the best single day in California.

Me running into frenchies (p. Barny)

Pruett earning his Frenchies (p. Barny)

It goes better than it looks from the top (p. Barny)

If I get some more photos from the other people on the trip I will throw them up, but we didnt really stop for photos. Its just so damn good to go!

South Fork of the Middle Feather

2011-07-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

This river is like a skate-park. amazing waterfalls, slides and rapids. We were lucky enough to get on this gem twice, once putting on after 5pm. Beautiful water, the ever present cali sunshine and good times all around. Here are some pictures for your enjoyment.

Barny showing everyone the line (p. Jordy)

Snarley reaching for it (p. Jordy)

Denise the Menice (p. Jordy)

Chance on the 30 (p. Jordy)

Tip-top Katie Scott, styling it as usual (p. Barny)

Its a play-ground! (p. Barny)

Cheese rolling the 50 (p. Jordy)

Barny about to fire.... yeah right! (p. Jordy)

The view from just down stream... amazing

Well we all know what comes around the time of South Branch.... Big Kimshew!

Clavey

2011-07-16T10:12:00.000-07:00

On the 2010 Cali Tour we didnt manage to get on the Clavey but fortunately for us this year there is a heap of snow and that it didnt warm up until we arrived on June 17th. After trying to sort logistics, we enlisted the local expertise of Allen Speiring who pimped the shuttle and managed to get both our cars from the top and dropped to the dodgy take out the day we were getting off. The Clavey was kind of high, I am not going to say really high but it was well above Allen had ever done it, and although one of our team took off at the brigde I thought it was perfect!

Camp One.... A pull out just up from the put-in (p. Barny)

Gnarley Snarley (p. Jordy)

Big rapids on the Clavey (p. Jordy)

Allen... Life Styling

Jono ripping (p. Jordy)

Me on the last ledge before the confluence (p. Barny)

Snarley and I... One two (p. Barny)

Allen the Fallon! (p. Jordy)

Snarls on the final ledge (p. Jordy)

This is a sick overnighter with heaps of rapids in the class IV-V realm. With water is is no joke but also 100% manageable. Stoked we got it!

North Fork of the Middle Fork of the American!!!

2011-07-13T08:04:00.000-07:00

Well we knew nothing about this run before going in really, apart from it rarely flowed and that it was the goods. Although our crew blew out, as it does in cali, we had a sick trip! Here are a couple of snaps.

Me following Katie's clean line! (p. Barny)

Barny routing a typical 'Barny' drop (p. Jordy)

Me running the 15footer (p. Barny)

Barny roosting it (p. Jordy)

The Devils Throat of something... (p. Barny)

More cali goods, more goods times... more to come!

PNG Video

2011-07-05T21:00:00.000-07:00

Here is a short edit from our recent expedition to Papua New Guinea. Barny, Shannon and I were in PNG for 26 days, where we achieved 8 class IV-V descents and had an amazing experience. click the lick below the photo to see the clip. Enjoy

CLICK HERE: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJ0i_FQsVuA

UMC

2011-07-05T20:12:00.000-07:00

As everyone does in cali, we made our obligatory trip down the Upper Middle Consumes. And as it always happens, our group blew out to about 10 paddlers. After setting shuttle we ripped up to the put in and began what is always an amazing day out. Dont listen to anyone who bags this run it is sick, action packed and clean. Check it out.

Barny on the first 15 footer (p. Jordy)

Gordy following suit (p. Jordy)

Gordy again (p. Jordy)

Me on the double drop (p. Barny)

Thomas bringing 'er around (p. Barny)

Will routing the first 'portage' (p. Jordy)

Boys routing down (p. Barny)

Gareth... Boom (p. Jordy)

Cody greasing it (p. Jordy)

The Cess-Pit Drop (p. Barny)

Running UMC this late in the season shows just how late things are going this season. With a few options for the next days paddling we were ready to fire.

From PNG to CALI!!!

2011-06-28T15:29:00.001-07:00

Well after a month of being back in New Zealand cashing up and re-setting we were ready to break out of the cold weather and get some sunshine... fortunately we already has some tickets booked for cali and on June 17th we were on our way. But not before we were interviewed by TV3 news for our PNG expedition... here is the link and we're on at about 38minutes...

http://www.3news.co.nz/3-News-Full-Bulletin-June-18-2011/tabid/315/articleID/215625/Default.aspx

After this we held a presentation at Bivouac Outdoor - Tower Junction, where a crowd of over a hundred people turned up to listen to us talk about our expedition, see our slide-show and see a short-film that I made. Backed up by a huge UCCC night out then an midday flight, we arrived in Cali ready to relax and enjoy the sun. We decided that we'd go on a weekend mission with good friends Tera Muir and Jimbob down to the Tuolumne area. Leaving logistics to them we just jumped in their car and went with the flow. We ended up paddling the South Tuolumne, which wasn't super classic but a sweet little creek ending at Rainbow Falls and the Lower T at about 12,000 cfs which was pretty awesome with big holes, waves and smiles all around.

South fork of the T (p. Jordy)

Single and looking, Tera Muir (p. Jordy)

Some of the harder stuff (p. Barny)

Jimbob (p. Jordy)

Me on Rainbow Falls (p. Barny)

Barny on Rainbow Falls (p. Jordy)

California (p. Jordy)

Warmed up and ready to go, we linked up with 10/10 Sean Manchester and are ready to find some of Cali's finest.

Wara Mai - Chimbu Province

2011-06-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

After having some success in the Morobe Province we couldn't ignore the temptation to go to the highlands. After speaking to some locals we established it was mainly the South Highlands that were the 'no go' zone, so we decided that we'd go and check out the Eastern Highlands, the Chimbu Province and if we felt boisterous... the Western Highlands. After a night in Goroka and then finding out the Asaro needed a lot more water than we had, we headed over Daulo Pass to find the amazing Wara Mai. We put in above the first class IV+ rapids you can see from the road and paddled about 10km to a road bridge, check it out!

Our boy Bonny, so you know he is newly single
and looking for love (p. Jordy)

Shan at our put in for the Mai (p. Jordy)

Coming to the Confluence of the Mai and the
Koningi (p. Barny)

First rapid after the confluence (p. Barny)

Barny in paradise (p. Jordy)

Shannon Mast (p. Barny)

Amazing kids following our progress (p. Barny)

The bulldog (p. Jordy)

Amazing limestone walls, and luckily one of
the few flat stretches of the Mai (p. Barny)

Barny in awe (p. Jordy)

FIrst Descent of Kick-Right Falls (p. Jordy)

Barny selvaging a precious tube from below
the falls (p. Jordy)

My turn (p. Barny)

Local kids watching the local-lover (p. Jordy)

Shan getting in for the last 400m (p. Barny)

After this falls was what I though and easy rapid, and I guess it was really but I just got subbed out and dragged into a sticky backed-up hole and swam. Then another 100m of quite pushy class IV-V and then we hiked up to meet our car. First Descent number four!

Papua New Guinea - Wara Busu

2011-06-08T11:45:00.000-07:00

After have some success in the Middle and Upper Watut we made our way back to Lae for a couple of days. After some more than continually urging from our local contact Murray Fletcher and a discussion of whether we should do a recky of Wara Busu or just commit to the upper, we found ourselves on the back of a Landcruiser and on our way to put on the Upper Busu. All we knew was it was about 40km, there might be a substantial canyon and that no one had done it before (we were told and Murray would know). Here are some photos from the trip:

Sweet bridge (I was to scared to walk out - it felt dodgey)
(p. Jordy)

The Big Busu (p. Barny)

Barny amongst the Busu (p. Jordy)

Staying on top through some big water
class IV+ (p. Jordy)

Beautiful (p. Jordy)

Shan soaking it in (p. Jordy)

The Bull-Dog (p. Jordy)

Always posing (p. Jordy)

We had prepared for a 3 day trip and were ready for a serious canyon but it turns out this river sat at about 15m/km for its entire 40km. No pools, big and nice pushy rapids and nothing too serious. No of us had been on a river that maintained its gradient so well for its entire length and we all agreed that although the Busu was big, it would be very tempting to paddle it during the wet season... if you could make it up to Boana that is.

For a more detailed breakdown of this part of our expedition check out our expedition blog on
http://gwinpng.blogspot.com/2011/05/wara-busu-boana-to-road-bridge.html

Mangke Gorge - Upper Watut

2011-06-07T22:11:00.000-07:00

This was the first descent of the trip, a section between Society and Baiune on the Upper Watut River. Intially we thought we had been skunked as the river looked as if it was going to remain flat, but then some locals frantically waved us to the side and said that it was too rough and we were going to die... perfect!

Being told that I was going to die (p. Barny)

The lead in to Mangke Gorge (p. Jordy)

The first of the big rapids in Mangke Gorge (p. Barny)

Barny following suit (p. Jordy)

Shan peeling out above the secone one (p. Jordy)

Me on the second one (p. Barny)

Paddling infront of a live audience (p. Jordy)

Shannon the Canon? ... we'll see (p. Jordy)

Me entering the last steep section in the gorge (p. Barny)

After this run we rallied to the Snake River but it was to low. On our way back to Lae, however, we found a small creek called the Lopogo. The upper was to low, but would be sick with more water, so we paddled the class IV lower section that we were told was a first descent.

Shan with his make-up crew (p. Jordy)

The only photo we took... it was getting dark and FAST! (p. Jordy)

For a more detailed breakdown of this part of our expedition check out our expedition blog on
http://gwinpng.blogspot.com/2011/05/upper-watut-society-to-baiune.html

Watut River - Papua New Guinea

2011-06-07T11:32:00.001-07:00

Recently Barny Young, Shannon Mast and Myself had a successful kayaking expedition to Papua New Guinea. During our 26 days there we visited 5 provinces, all on the deck of a landcruiser, and were able to tick off 8 class IV-V first descents. During our first couple of days we were invited to Middle Watut to paddle the infamous rapids that took the lives of an Isreali rafting group more than ten years ago. Here are some photos from that trip...

Barny coming into the first rapid (p. Jordy)

Shannon in the Brown (p. Jordy)

Middle Watut (p. Barny)

Barny dropping into the narrows (p. Jordy)

Myself and Shannon hiking up to Kapin (p. Barny)

For a more detailed breakdown of this part of our expedition check out our expedition blog on
http://gwinpng.blogspot.com/2011/05/gwasak-to-bamjim.html

Upper Whitcombe

2011-05-22T11:45:00.000-07:00

Back on the band wagon and spending a bit of time converting and editing some of the film from late last summer. This is an edit from the Upper Whitcombe, an amazing high alpine run with good accommodation at Price Flat Hut. Keep an eye out as I will have a perth edit up soon, but probably after I make a quit teaser for our PNG expedition.

Papua New Guinea

2011-05-10T01:34:00.000-07:00

All posts for our Papua New Guinea Expedition will be posted on a different blog that then can be used as a direct resource for other people intending to go and paddle or explore PNG in some other format. The link to this blog is http://gwinpng.blogspot.com/ or you can access this by clicking on the Papua New Guinea flag on the top of the right hand column.

A teaser for the Whitcombe and Perth will be coming soon, its just a balancing act as there is a heap to do with those, our PNG media and we are flying to Cali June 17th... Shit yeah!!!!!

Upper Perth - The Trifecta

2011-03-14T21:37:00.000-07:00

This season we have been trying to get on anything and everything in hope of putting together a film that truely represents what kayaking is like on the West Coast. It is uncertain whether we will get all the footage this summer or if we will need to do some filming during the spring, but one achievement this summer is that we have paddled all three of the West Coast class V multi-day runs. With a forecast of amazing weather and the perfect flow in the Perth. Barny and I gave Ari the call and the mission was on... My day started at 4.10am having to get in both herds of cows before rallying an hour south to Hokitika, Ari started at 5am as he had to drive over from Christchurch and Barny got up around 8am, perks of living in the right place ay. Anyway, we rallied south to the Whataroa River (the Perth is the North Branch), got in a helicopter, flew in a HEAP of food, got dropped further up the Upper Perth than I have ever been and then had two of the sickest days kayaking possible. Clean lines and good times. Here and some of the photos from the trip.

Barny charging way up there (p. Jordy)

Air cleaning the cool corner boof (p. Jordy)

If you are lucky enough to get this high... its stacked (p. Barny)

Me sporting the Hydroscapes F.O.V pfd... and about to sort out Ari! (p. Barny)

The golden stroke (p. Jordy)

Ari launching towards the mountain you paddle at ALL day (p. Jordy)

The Perth! (p. Jordy)

Our accommodation - Scone Hut (p. Barny)

Ari the Curry!!! (p. Barny)

Pulling clear after a sick section on day two. (p. Barny)

Well after this we just need to get on the Waitaha and some more footage of the Kokatahi... it seems everytime we put on there we just end up bombing it. Hopefully I can get a quick edit of the Whitcombe up before we head off to Papua New Guinea in April.

Mungo Teaser

2011-03-08T00:42:00.000-08:00

Well things are getting pretty hectic these days with Bullerfest just passing, Papua New Guinea only a month away and lots of footage from all our multi-days to sort through... However I have taken some time to put together this short edit or the Upper Mungo. Enjoy.

Upper Whitcombe - Another Kiwi Classic

2011-02-10T17:33:00.000-08:00

Well what can I say really, two days of pristine white-water situated in the Southern Alps. This run is a little less 'committing' than the Mungo but its rapids a just as hard and more numerous. White-water in the range of 60-100m per km and no drops over 20 foot... the definition of steep. Logistics for this one is easy, don't do it with to much water, take heaps of food and a goon, fly early and your golden. On day one it was Barny, Daan and Myself. Moving quickly with some brave eddy hoping and some knowledge from Barny and my trip down last year, we knocked out the first day pretty quickly. Sadly the big rapid we all ran last year has changed for the worst, what was a beautiful 5-tier 'you better make the moves' drop has become ... well ... shit really. At the end of the day we meet Soph, Jess and Krissy at the Prices Hut for the night, lots of food, goon and good conversion until the fire burnt out.

Early on day one (p. Barny)

Barny in hydro-paradise (p. Daan)

How perfect? (p. Barny)

On day two Soph and Jess joined us on the river, also with Ari and Matt Coles who flew up in the morning. The section down from Prices is awesome, with clean drops, only a couple (or less?) portages and then the Colliers Gorge section at the end to test your energy levels.

Daan-gerous (p. Barny)

The Preachers Son (p. Daan)

Me running the second from in the Inner Lower Gorge (p. Barny)

Daan about to take flight on the third drop (p. Barny)

Stomping out the third drop (p. Daan)

The trip was good, soph did her two booties and we finished with some fish 'n' chips at the beach in the afternoon... pretty much a perfect day really. Now we're just waiting for that Perth to come in... Watch this space

Mungo - New Zealands Best River Trip

2011-01-26T22:11:00.000-08:00

I have finally bagged it! After living on the coast and paddling for the past five years, I have heard whispers about the Mungo River. Every thing I heard was about committing, being very remote and gorge after gorge... well the rumors were true its just that people neglected to talk about the feeling of exaltation that only a trip like the Mungo can produce. Well here is our story...

As is logistics on the coast, all the local players had been waiting for an extended period of good weather that would allow the high alpine runs to come in. A period of high rainfall over the xmas break, topped up by regular rainfall in the Westland Ranges had been keeping flows just above the 'good' level. But this would eventually dissipate and it was those who had the free time when it happened that would be on our trip. Barny and myself were always going to be there, joined by Zak Shaw, Daan Jimmink and the man himself, Justin Venable. Plans were made, Dando was called and we locked it in... mission on.

A relatively relaxed 10.30am pick-up started off our day with Zak flying up solo with Dando, a flight that we thought was going to include some thorough scouting of the gorges, then Daan and I flew up followed by Barny and JV. After waving off Dando we all began the usual verbal breakdown of what we seen from the helicopter... a lot... but little detail. Something that we all noticed, or thought we noticed, was that Frisco Canyon had changed for the better since the recent floods. Another more concerning feature we all faintly noticed was that there was some wood in the second drop of the Upper Mungo Gorge. Nevertheless, we had a lot of paddling to do so we quickly got on the river and began bombing our way down.

Zak getting it right very early on (p. Barny)

Mungo River - not a place to compromise safety. (p. Barny)

After an hour or so of read and run, or follow Barny Young, class IV+ we made our way down to the Upper Mungo Gorge. Barny routed Justin and I down the first 10 foot boof into an eddy. From here it was a tentative class II ferry into the last chance eddy, above the drop with the wood in it. It was now that I was getting my first true introduction to the commitment facet of the Mungo River. The scenario was this, a gorged out boxed in drop that was blocked on the right by a couple of logs and branches that you could put in behind but you would only get two strokes in before trying to get over a very nasty hole with a cave on the right, the left had a rock that would momentarily come out of the water from time to time and a slot against the left wall we could hardly see and we couldnt protect either! After five or so minutes of deliberation Barny and I were pretty keen to charge the left and work out the res from the inside. Zak and Daan, however, felt inclined to have a quick peak from the gorge rim to try and see what was downstream. After 20 minutes, and our own small attempt to have a little look, the boys came back looking a little more settled. "Is it all good?". "Yeah, I think we can see more from the eddy down on the right.... I think". Well with that reliable beta Barny sacked up and probed the left side, followed by JV and then the rest of us. We were locked in.

Zak making THAT eddy. (p. Barny)

The next two drops were all good and then we found our way into that eddy on the right... right above a very serious portage. This is where there used to be a class II+ ferry into a must catch eddy, now it was a class IV ferry with several moves into a must catch eddy. Commitment moment number two. I think all of us were looking for bankside options, and there was a possibility of making it work on river left. Barny, however, had other ideas, giving me the nod before sacking up and going for the eddy. After making the moves in true 'Bulldog' fashion Barny gleefully pulled into the eddy looking back at us to say, "Well I made it boys, your turn!". Again, we all had to strap on our big set and commit. This would have to be the most intimidating moment I have ever had in my kayak or even my life, never before had I been so focused on everything I was doing. We all made it without a hitch and began our short portage. Three more tight stacked drops down the right and we had made out of the gorge, exaltation moment number one. Although we had a lot more river to go, there was a definite sign of relief in the group once we were through.

Daan charging off the first of the three down the right. (p. Barny)

Me fitting right in on the Mungo, so sick!!! (p. Zak Shaw)

From then down to the famous Gateway Gorge we were treated with some classic New Zealand class V boulder gardens and clean boofs up to 15 or so feet. Pretty much the business. Although I had seen pictures of Gateway Gorge before, they do nothing to show the true beauty of this amazing sight. Exaltation moment number two. The photo of me below paddling into Gateway Gorge is amazing, thanks Zak, but it cannot, nor can I in words, capture or portray its real beauty. This something you will have to go see for yourself.

This is me entering Gateway (p. Zak Shaw)

JV entering paradise. (p. Barny)

After Gateway there is still a fair amount of white-water to be had, with Barny sacking up to run the rarely paddled entrance to Frisco Canyon. There were rapids in Frisco and below, but there is only so much white-water I can commit to memory. Just know it was good all the way to Serpentine Hut. After picking up our food bags from the middle of the river, cheers Dando, we clambered up a barely recognisable track to our creek side accommodation. Literally. The duly named 'Sweetfruit Chutney Creek' (from the Hut Book), has eroded away the area next to the hut where Dando used to land, so far that in the foreseeable future the Hut itself maybe taken too. Over the next 16 hours, we devoured a ridiculous amount of food and even slept in past 9am! Gone are the days of extreme white-water enthusiasts, we just forgot the damn goon!

Me just soaking it all in on the veranda (p. Barny)

The big American Grizzly (JV), eating some more food. (p. Jordy)

Day two was short but sweet, with the extra water keeping things interesting. After the first boulder garden, what used to be Viagra I think, we were down at Breakthrough Gorge heralded by the 20 foot entrance waterfall on river right. This time JV thought he would take the lead, firing off the unscoutable 20footer. I followed, then Zak, then Daan and then Barny. All pretty much doing the same thing, back loop... roll up... smile!

Following in JV's footsteps, me running the waterfall. (p. Barny)

Barny getting a sick line off the waterfall. (p. Daan Jimmick)

After portaging Mikey's drop we noticed a substantial change in the rapids in the gorge below. We werent able to see much from within the sheer-walled gorge but Barny seen enough to give'er and we all followed. Sound like too many gorges to be true? Well there is another two! Just down river, after a rare portage for this trip, we entered what I call Gates Gorge (not sure of its real name). This had yet another must run entrance rapid with 3 or 4 stack moves. JV, again, stepped up to the plate and paddled this first, getting to where we all wanted to go on the left and then deciding to paddle down the right which was the meat line. All was well, as to was our lines and then we see it... the Gates of Argonath. Again, like Gateway Gorge, a picture or a description doesnt do this sight any justice. You have to see it! After this we routed down the (now) much easier 'fat lady must sing' rapid before bombing out the Lower Hokitika run in a crazy 16minutes.

Barny floating towards the Gates. (p. Daan Jimmink)

Classic Gates shot, so amazing. (p. Barny)

Although you know the rapids are all over, it is not until you are at the confluence with the Whitcombe River do you really feel the river trip is complete. Even though it sounds gay, I really do feel privilaged to have paddled the Mungo River. There are less than 30 kayakers names in the Serpentine Hut Book, and I plan on getting mine in there a couple more times when the opportunity next arises.

Upper Kakapotahi

2011-01-14T17:28:00.001-08:00

Hey guys here is another update of what we have been doing here on the coast. Although its a short run, the Upper Kakapotahi is a West Coast gem. One of the only runs that does not require a helicopter or brutal walk to access it. This run contains some uncharacteristic granite type drops, some tight slots and most of all, as per usual, unparalleled West Coast beauty. Check it out!

"Worthy" Teaser - Kokatahi

2010-12-20T20:13:00.000-08:00

With the Styx Race over and done with, hungovers worn off and a public holiday on monday... it felt as if we should go creeking... and we did. Poor motivation gave us a delayed start, but after rallying hard Barny and I made our midday pick up from the Kokatahi bridge. After what I think is the most beautiful heli-ride on the coast, we were sitting at Crawford Junction above about 6km of the West Coast's best white-water!

This is just a bit of the footage that we got that day... there is plenty more AND we'll be getting on this gem a couple of more times this season for sure. Enjoy.

Styx Hard-Man ... Barny Young!

2010-12-12T13:56:00.000-08:00

Well after all the build up and everyone wondering who will it be... the Styx Race has come and gone and there is a champion! Thanks to the hard work of Pat Connell, with the support of Barny, Kev and Jeanna, the Styx Race was a major success. The event attracted 26 of New Zealand's hardest kayakers, with Keith Riley being the suggested favourite. From the very beginning of the race, however, it was apparent that Barny 'the bull-dog' Young was after the title. I foolishly tried to keep pace but after about a third of the walk in I faded hard, and decided that I should just keep a steady pace to finish in a reasonable position. Barny, however, kept charging and by the time he reached the put in he had put 2 minutes on his closest competitors who were Andrew 'Bug' Butler and Keith the "ripper" Riley. Being his home run, once on the water it would be hard to make up anytime on Barny which turned out to be impossible with Barny putting another minute on the field. Keith's turn around at the put in put him in front of Bug and that is how the top three turned out. 1st: Barny Young (59.49) 2nd: Keith Riley (62.38) 3rd: Andrew Butler (63.39).

Off to a good start.

The rat race.

Barny Young - 2010 Styx Hardman

After an afternoon in the sun, all the real kayakers congregated at the Kokatahi Pub for an evening of good music, cold beer and just a general good time. The prize giving saw every competitor receive a good prize, with the hard men being duly rewarded for their mammoth efforts.

Till next year, start walking those shuttles with your boat on your shoulder, walk to the next bus stop, park further from the supermarket... it all helps. The 2011 Styx Hard Man tested is going to be biggest and most contested title on the extreme race circuit!!

Gradient and Water Calendar 2011

2010-11-18T15:59:00.000-08:00

Well the word is out, Barny and myself have put together a professionally made calendar in co-operation with Dave Kwant and Too-A-Tee printing. The reason for doing this is that we are planning on making a grass-roots white-water film of the West Coast. This film will aim to rekindle interest in New Zealand as a world-class paddling destination and to raise awareness of West Coast Rivers. Rivers that are under-threat from hydroschemes and other forms of development.

So simply we are trying to sell as many of these as we can, and for $15 bucks the price is right. The photos in this calendar are from the West Coast of New Zealand and from our latest trip to California. Getting one is easy, transfer $15 (or multiples of that if you are buying more than one) into:

National Bank

06 0471 0706296 38

With you name in the particulars and reference fields. Then email taipos07@hotmail.com or barny500@hotmail.com with your address and number of calendars ordered. Simple! Get one for yourself, your mum, girlfriend, mistress or whoever... every one purchased helps us out heaps!

Cheers guys, see you on the river.

Start of the Summer

2010-10-27T18:22:00.000-07:00

Since arriving back in NZ the weather has been terrible with heaps of rain, snow in October and just outright dismal weather. Last weekend, however, this all changed and we managed to get some great weather and bagged the Whitcombe Prices. This season I am turning my focus towards video, in hope of producing a grassroots white-water film at the end of the summer and because of this I am going to throw up some short teasers of the trips we get on. Here are some snaps Barny got and the short clip I made. Warm weather is on the way, get after it!

- The heli in a beautiful setting

- Barny POV punching through a big hole

- Me landing the sweet boof at the end of the inner prices gorge

and here is the short clip...

Bliss-Fest

2010-10-17T14:50:00.000-07:00

Just a quick update from the WET - West Coast. At the start of the month was the annual Bliss-Fest kayaking event in Dunedin, which comprised of a extreme race, grand slalom, surf competition and short-film competition. Barny rolled down a day or so early to get on the Waikaia and although I wasn't able to go down, I thought I might throw a quick edit together and submit it for the film competition. Turns out it was a pretty sweet event down there, with a good turn out... Barny took out the Extreme Race and I even took out the film comp!!! Not a bad result for us down there, now its the styx extreme race to look forward too. Here are a couple pics of Barny from down there and a link to the California clip that took out the comp. Enjoy

- Barny ahead (P. Simon Davidson)

- Barny making his way back to the top for the final (P. Simon Davidson)

Here is a link to the winning short-film

http://www.cumecmagazine.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=142%3Amonday-morning-motivation-the-bliss-fest-peoples-choice-film-winner&catid=44%3Avideos

Cali Video

2010-10-01T23:50:00.000-07:00

Well after a great six weeks in Europe and a month of being back in NZ I have finally found time to make a short clip of Barny and my trip to California. This clip also features Postman (Justin) Patt and Snarley (Charles King), who we did a lot of our paddling with. This video has footage from Royal Gorge, Big Kimshew, South Merced, West Cherry, SB Feather, Upper Middle Consumes and more. After this I have decided that I might try turn my attention towards video for this summer and hopefully I can produce a worthy film of the West Coast... Hope you enjoy this AND watch this space

A-Team rubbing it in my face!!!

2010-08-10T12:02:00.000-07:00

After my departure from California, for a more than worthwhile reason, Barny and the other A-Team members having been getting on the SUPER-classic california high sierra runs. Less the canon and myself, the A-Team got on Upper Cherry Creek and more recently Barny and Snarley got on the Middle Kings... here are some photos of the boys killing it at a high-water flows where is spiked up to 2000cfs at one point. Chur boys!

- A Team having a scenic stop

- Barny loving the tight and technical

- Middle Kings living up to its name

- Snarley Charley loves is Gnarly

- Barny now at home on the big cali rapids

- Barny... you bastard!!!

Well I dont want to say much more about this, I will be seeing you next year Mr Middle Kings!

West Cherry - All good things come to an end

2010-07-23T03:21:00.001-07:00

In 2008, while on Upper Cherry, I noticed some cascading drops coming in on river right halfway through day two... little did I know this was the "not so but should be classic - West Cherry Creek. With the beta from Josh Hill and some uncanny fortune that seen the A-Team, less the Postman unfortunately, come together... I was walking into West Cherry with great enthusiasm knowing this was going to be my last trip in California for 2010! Flows were a little low but what it took away on day one, it gave back on day two because me and Shannon knew our way down from the confluence and the flow was perfect to run everything.

- Us failing to find the trail head the first time (P. Barny)

- Soaking it all in (P. Barny)

- The Canon (P. Barny)

- Loving one of my last granite slides (P. Snarley)

- Barny on Chuck's Drop (I think) (P. Snarley)

- Snarly on it (P. Barny)

- Me keeping it straight (P. Barny)

- The final boof out of Chucks (P. Barny)

- One for mum ay (P. Barny)

- Pot hole boofs! (P. Snarley)

- Snarley... being snarley (P. Barny)

- Daan featuring in the final gorge, great flow (P. Snarley)

- Yeah... that how we roll! (P. Amazingly kind boat owners!)

What a fitting end to the trip really. Throughout the hole trip things really fell into place logistically in terms of flows, people turning up and pretty much just everything. With the exception of Fantasy Falls, Barny and I pretty much got everything that we were hoping to get and much more. 49 to Bridgeport, Purdons to Bridgeport, Upper Middle Consumes, Devils Canyon of the Middle Feather, Yuba Gap, Little White Salmon, North Fork of the Clackamas, South Branch of the Feather, Kimshew through Secret Stash, Upper Summit Run, South Mecred, Golden Gate, Royal Gorge, Dinky Creek, Hospital Rock, East Kaweah, West Cherry... some of which we got a few runs down AND I am sure I have forgotten to mention a few! This has just made us even more hungry for cali granite and there is already a plan for a 2-3 week stop over on our way to Norway next year. Now its time to be a tourist in Europe before heading back to NZ for a big summer there. Watch this space

- A-Team Salute!!!

East Kaweah

2010-07-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

Last time I was in the states I missed out on this gem, much to my distaste. This year, however, I was fortunate enough to get in there with a great flow (some people thought it was a bit too high). A good friend of mine got a nasty beatdown in double drop and elected to walk out early in the day, which left Barny, Daan, Taylor and myself... a good team, with good lines and an amazing day!

- Barny on double drop (P. Jordy)

- Taylor on the East Kaweah stout (P. Jordy)

- Barny waiting for it (P. Jordy)

- Daan doing it for the cameras (P. Jordy)

- Me about to get it (P. Barny)

- "Barny Young the Preachers Son" (P. Jordy)

- Taylor Havin' a good time (P. Jordy)

- Banry dropping into the Gorge of the Slides (P. Jordy)

- Stout little gorge drop, so good (P. Barny)

- Daangerous Daan (P. Barny)

- Barny showing off his photography skills (P. Barny)

- Hey! Look at Daan boof (P. Barny)

With pretty good access and a reasonable flow window this is a sick run. I would go in higher but am also gutted we didnt get to run triple drop. Moral of the story is go to Three Rivers, paddle the East Fork and Hospital Rock and go bear hunting!!!

- Mumma Bear! (P. Jordy)

Dinkey Creek - Waterfalls Section

2010-07-11T09:07:00.001-07:00

Well the name of this run sum it up really... waterfalls! Plenty of clean waterfalls over 6 miles, in one of the coolest places I have paddled. Once you've got the shuttle sorted, thanks Airika and Katie, you have a 45 minutes hike (try do it faster) down to the put in. Due to a fast pace and fading light, thats what putting on at 4.45pm does, we didnt get many photos of day one's bigger drops but I tell you its all good! Here are some of the photos of our trip.

- Me sorting out some foot issues on the hike. (P. Barny)

- Brendon on the first slide... welcome to cali! (P. Jordy)

- Barny firing a shallow drop (P. Jordy)

- Me running the clean 20 footer (P. Barny)

- Portaging is always interesting (P. Barny)

- me running the most stout drop on day one (P. Barny)

- me running the drop right before camp (P. Barny)

- Just chilling at camp

- Snarly early on day two (P. Jordy)

- Barny firing it up (P. Jordy)

- Coming in hot (P. Barny)

- B and Snarley in the gorge, such a sweet section (P. Barny)

- Barny rocking the old school werner (P. Jordy)

- Me boofing into the gorge (P. Snarly)

- Snarly entering the crap shoot (P. Jordy)

- Snarly and Barny running as B put it, "the cleanest waterfall you'll ever see" (P. Jordy)

- B running a sweet slide (P. Barny)

This run is pretty damn good. Not super hard but just a whole lot of fun, definately not a thing to miss if its in while your in Cali.

Back to Royal... this time with the Canon

2010-07-04T09:51:00.000-07:00

With my lost post you can gather how much I like this run. This time the water was a lot lower (boo) but we recruited Shannon the Canon who was all fired up. After testing the structural integrity of AT paddles (failed twice), we made our way down in very good time running the same drops we did last time and the Canon fired Heath Two and Snarley and Shanon ran Wabena. Here are some photos from the trip, much less camera work this time... more routing. Enjoy.

- Me on Heath One (P. Barny)

- The postman (P. Barny)

- The Canon on Heath Two (P. Barny)

- My view of the pre-cave drop (P. Jordy)

- Snarley on Rattlesnake (P. Barny)

- The Canon on Rattlesnake (P. Jordy)

- Snarley coming into Wabena (P. Barny)

- Pre-paddle ditch (P. Jordy)

- The A-Team stoked on Royal (P. Jordy)

There is a big week ahead with heaps of things flowing in Cali... watch this space

Royal Gorge - Not for Mothers Eyes

2010-06-25T11:56:00.000-07:00

I know I say this about a lot of river trips but this is the best multi-day, or even single river trip, I have ever done. Although the original team of six was eventually reduced to four, due to work commitments and and just not feeling it, I could not have picked a better crew to go in there with. Logistic's worked better than imagined with Shannon driving our shuttle (thank you), Corey taking our car back to Auburn (thank you) and for Rach, Dee and Matt who walked into the generation gap put in, day two camp, with steak, pesto, pasta, bacon, bagels, avacado, cheese, beers and even goon! With a good flow on the guage we decided it was on... it came up and it just made it better. Here is some photos from the first day through the first gorge and Heath One.

- Barny and Charles routing the first gorge (P. Jordy)

- Charles punching a big hole (P. Jordy)

- Barny rocking the mystic (P. Jordy)

- Stomping early on day one (P. Jordy)

- Me coming into a sweet boof (P. Barny)

- The postman (Justin) delivering the goods on Heath One (P. Jordy)

- Snarley Charley searching for the pot of god (P. Jordy)

- Barny going big...kiwi style (P. Jordy)

- Yeah boy, me greasing my drop (P. Barny)

Without Justin showing us down the lower Heath Gorge we would of had more photos, had spent more time on the river and probably had less fun... we all love follow the leader class V. Arriving at camp with plenty of day light, we went for a swim, laid naked on the warm granite, drunk some whisky, had a sick camp fire and ALL had Rattlesnake Falls on our mind... a 60 foot waterfall only fifty metres downstream of camp.

- Barny and Charles stoked with the Whisky (P. Jordy)

- Justin 'Postman' Pat and Snarley Charley caught in the ambience on the fire
(P. Jordy)

- Barny doing the same, showing some thigh (this one is for Airika)(P. Jordy)

- Man I love camping (P. Jordy)

Day two starts heavy with the 'White Gorge' before Rattlesnake Falls and never really relents. With everyone stomping the drop in good fashion, the scene was set for another incident free day in the Royal Gorge.

- Snarley having some class V for breakfast (P. Jordy)

- Barny running his drop... so sick! (P. Jordy)

- Me on Rattlesnake... sorry mum (P. Barny)

- Barny stomping perfect 20 (P. Jordy)

- The postman on split falls (P. Jordy)

- Barny running left on Split falls (P. Jordy)

- Charles and Myself trying to run split falls at the same time, almost (P. Barny)

- Me checking out the valley from Wabena (P. Barny)

- Postman and Snarley below Wabena (P. Barny)

- Our heros... cooking some fat steaks! (P. Jordy)

- The postman trying to clear us a campsite (P. Jordy)

- Some pretty amazing wilderness (P. Jordy)

Day three was a 20 mile paddle out through the Generation and Giant Gap sections. After some good rapids in the Generation section we played some nalgene passing for about 2 hours to pass the time of the paddle out. This is such an amazing trip I cannot say enough about it. This is a LOT of paddling in the class IV+ - V area with a lot of harder stuff if you want it. Again, put this on your bucket list.

South Fork Merced River

2010-06-21T09:28:00.000-07:00

After reading the pages from the Californian Bible about the South Merced being one of the most quality multi-day trips in the world, I have forever been keeping my eye on the flows in that area. After a day off and recruiting another West Coaster, the man the legend Jared Mitchell, the flows were down the a level we we're confident we would handle so it was time to rally to Yosemite. This is a long run, almost 40km and involves a LOT of paddling. With a lot of West Coast of New Zealand character boulder gardens and then a random massive slide chucked in, this was an amazing trip that I would do again in a heartbeat. Here is some, of the numerous, fantastic rapids.

- Keith coming through a big rapid early on day one (P. Jordy)

- Barny running a rapid with a NASTY sieve (P. Jordy)

- Barny and Keith is some classic boulder gradens (P. Jordy)

- Me avoiding a big hole (P. Barny)

- Keith and I routing a long rapid (P. Barny)

- Keith punching a big hole (P. Barny)

- Me with plenty left to do in this long rapid (P. Barny)

- Barny looking to avoid a big hole (P. Jordy)

- Barny firing a HUGE slide (P. Jordy)

- Keith coming into the entrance of the big slide (P. Jordy)

- Jared checking out a solid drop (P. Jordy)

- Me on the lead in to the big slide (P. Barny)

- Barny getting artistic with the artistic rep (P. Barny)

- Barny running a solid ledge drop (P. Jordy)

- Keith punching a big hole (P. Jordy)

- Me coming down a sweet ledge (P. Barny)

- Dodgey undercut anyone? (P. Barny)

- Me on the last big slide (P. Barny)

- Barny running our lunchtime drop (P. Keith)

With a setting like Yosemite, countless white-water, being remote and the people you elect to go in there with... this is surely going to be an epic adventure one way or another. Put this on your bucket list.

Upper Summit Run - South Yuba

2010-06-21T09:04:00.000-07:00

Another sun soaked day in California and another stretch of granite. After planning to have a rest day, and a similar plan on shannons behalf, we decided since we were going to be in the area we should get on the extremely scenic Upper Summit run. Apart from the inital, and aparant, roadside nature at the beginning this run if a nice chill way to spend the afternoon. If we were going back we'd link it with the lower summit run but we were all content with out run.

- Barny on a sweet slide

- Me trying to get right

- Barny on the lead in to Rainbow

- Shannon on Rainbow

This a pretty good run and with more water would be sick. Link both runs and make it a full day or anything.

Big Kimshew

2010-06-16T19:45:00.000-07:00

For years I have heard that Big Kimshew is one of the biggest days in California. After getting the Yuba Gap, South Branch and Upper Middle Consumes, and a quick trip up to Oregon for the Little White and NF of the Clackamus, the stars aligned... flows were right, our boy Keith joined the A-Team and it was on! With fantastic beta for the shuttle from Taylor Cavin we found the river and oh what a river. Big Kimshew was big... and we liked it.

- Charles on the first 20 footer

- Barny entering Kimshew

- Me on Kimshew... yes!!!

- The drop below Kimshew... boof centre?

- Keith weighing up Frenchies

- Charles firing off Frenchies

- Keith... money shot!!!

- Me of Frenchies

- Just another stout drop... so good

This run is truely fantastic, drop everything and go. Between 400 and 800 on the middle feather guage means calling in sick, cancelling a date or what ever... Everything goes if you want it to and add secret stash to the bottom if you want to avoid a terrible walk out.

South Branch of the Middle Feather

2010-06-16T09:15:00.000-07:00

Being kayakers we all have dreams of the perfect run. Clean granite drops between 10-50 foot, drive to access and of course beautiful weather. Well that is South Branch. If you get beta that this might be running get in your car and chance your arm because if and when you get it... its oh so worth it.

- Barny getting into the SB groove (P. Jordy)

- Barny entering the pre-goods gorge (P. Jordy)

- Boon on the first big sick clean drop... of many (P. Jordy)

- Me running the same drop (P. Barny)

- Boon stomping the 'Tony Hawk' drop (P. Jordy)

- Barny getting flat (P. Jordy)

- Yeah boy! (P. Barny)

- Barny entering the sweet double drop (P. Jordy)

- Me exiting the double drop... amazing! (P. Barny)

- Boon liking what he sees (P. Barny)

- Barny on pressure 20 (P. Jordy)

- Barny rolling in (P. Jordy)

- Boon casual as (P. Jordy)

- Disconnecting way up there (P. Barny)

This is such an amazing run that I cannot say enough about, just get there and get it done! Oh... and there is a brutal hike out...

- done (P. Barny)

Yuba Gap

2010-06-03T14:54:00.000-07:00

What a run! After hearing reviews like 'the hardest run in cali' and 'some of the stoutest white-water you'll ever see' we were always interested in trying to bag this seldom run gem, but with dubious flows and little beta we didnt actually think it would come into fruition... we were wrong. While enjoying some whisky at the plush accomodation of 'The Ranch', Barny and I were getting onto logistics for the Summit Run section of the South Yuba. Phones calls, txts and checking flows... things were coming together. Out of the blue someone suggested we think about Yuba Gap and after calling around we got the put-in and take-out information but still had an issue with shuttle and there was only two of us. Fortunately Shannon Carrol's name arose, who was eager to get ANOTHER run down this season. So the plan was set, 10am meeting at the Route 20 and Washington Road corner... it would of probably been smarter to slow down on the Whisky... nah! Here are some photos of this stout run.

- Barny on the first drop of the day (P. Jordy)

- Shannon on the 'hour glass slide' (P. Jordy)

- Barny firing the big one (P. Jordy)

- The view of me running the monster from the bottom (P. Barny)

- Lining up the next drop below the slide (P. Barny)

- Me running a seldom run double drop (P. Barny)

- Shannon boofing off a clean drop (P. Jordy)

- Barny running a clean 15 footer (P. Jordy)

All this and a LOT more was before lunch, also during this time we noticed there was an increasing amount of water in the river. We later found out that the 230cfs we put on at rose to almost 600! After some well needed snacks, stretching and relaxing in the sun we put back on for some more solid white-water at a much higher level.

- Shannon soaking it in (P. Jordy)

- Barny preparing for the next four hours (P. Jordy)

- Barny running the slide after lunch... high water (P. Jordy)

- Shannon firing it up (P. Jordy)

- Me coming through the bottom (P. Barny)

- Me boofing clear (P. Barny)

- Shannon and Barny routing a big slide (P. Jordy)

- Barny running a sick 25 footer (P. Jordy)

- Barny's perspective of me running the 25 footer (P. Barny)

This was a sick mission with so much white-water that it blurs the memory. It was a long day even though we had Shannon who knows the run well and without a 'guide' I would think it would take a minimum of 8 hours. We are hoping to get on this again but for today we'll have a rest. Chur.

Devil's Canyon - Middle Branch of the Feather

2010-06-01T13:56:00.000-07:00

In preparation for some of the more full-on multi day Califonia river trips we decided to check out the Middle Feather. A two or three day river trip that boasts continual white-water in the class IV+ - V realm and unparalleled scenery, this was sure to be a good time. With plenty of time in hand, and some severe hang-overs from a Kiwi bender at the Caloma Club, we elected for a 3 day mission. After a lazy morning, midday and afternoon we made our way to the put in at 6pm! Charging through about the first 8 miles in the evening twilight, we were doubting we would meet our other three more organised counterparts waiting at the camp sight. Fortunately just before nightfall we found the others, fire already lit and smiles were all around. Day two and three packed plenty of read and run white-water, a few bigger drops, another amazing camp site and of course a few hairy moments... with Sanga winning the involuntary rodeo competition closely followed by Jamie and Rach Moore. Here are some photos of this must-do classic californian multi-day trip.

- Camp 1 on the second morning (P. Barny)

- Me running Franklin Falls (P. Barny)

- Chilling out (for like 6 hours in the sun) at camp 2 (P. Barny)

- Rach Moore dropping in

- Me rolling the dice on a big hole, thankfully coming through clean

- Me coming into the final drop before the portage (P. Barny)

- Rach Moore loving life

This trip was very worthwhile and I will try get on it before I leave Cali. It was three short days for our crew but would be a good river for some class IV - IV+ boaters to take their time and test there skills... make sure you have a good forecast, it makes the trip SO much better!

Upper Middle Consumes

2010-05-28T14:54:00.000-07:00

After a few days of paddling on the South Yuba and partying at the Auburn River Festival we checked flows and all signs pointed to the Upper Middle Consumes. The character of this river is more low volume steep creeking in a sort of pool drop fashion. Barny and I got on this run two times in the last couple of days. The first trip was a late start on a sunny day with the Kiwi/Auburn boys, where we got down pretty quickly with smiles all around. The second trip, thanks to Charles King, was a long day in cold wet weather, a large group and a variety incidents. However, all made it to the take out before dark and only gear was broken. Anyway, here are some photos of this amazing little creek. Enjoy.

- The boys getting ready for our first trip down the UMC (P. Barny)

- Jared M waiting for the line (P. Barny)

- Me running a sick double drop early in the day (P. Barny)

- Me smashing into an eddy through a big hole (P. Charles)

- Barny running the big ski-jump type drop (P. Charles)

- Barny running what we called UMC Cess-pit (P. Charles)

- Me running the blind 25+ footer (P. Charles)

- Skux coming on down (P. Barny)

- Me dropping over ANOTHER horizon line (P. Barny)

- Barny on the class IV+ boogy (P. Charles)

The Upper Middle Consumes is a great class V run, with nothing too hard or stacked but a few things that are there to fire if you want it. Our first run was at around 325 cfs and the second was over 400, I think there is room for a bigger flow but you'd want to know it, have good granite gripping shoes and your big set for that day!

First Run in USA - 49 to Bridgeport

2010-05-28T10:24:00.000-07:00

After flying to Auckland to meet Barny, flying to 12 hours to San Fran and dropping off our boats, flying to Seattle to pick our car, driving 13 hours back to San Fran to get our boats and driving to Caloma to set up camp we were ready to get down to business. My good mate Skux suggested a run down 49 to Bridgeport on the South Yuba River, so that is what we did. Here are some pics of this classic low elevation run.

- Barny boofing through one of the many classic drops (P. Jordy)

- Me coming through the same rapid (P. Barny)

- Barny boofing through a tight slot (P. Jordy)

- Skux feeling small in a big river valley (P. Barny)

- Barny going crazy horse (P. Jordy)

- getting ready to launch (P. Barny)

- Barny charging into the "bishy-bashy" stuff (P. Jordy)

- Me on the lead into the "bishy-bashy" (P. Barny)

- Barny eating the meat (P. Jordy)

This is a super classic that reminded me of the Whitcombe but with a greater number of and diversity of drops. We also got on the Purdons section of the South Yuba, above 49 to Bridgeport, but because we we're travelling at MACH - Justin Pat I only got to take photos from one point.

- Justin doing his crazy boof (P. Jordy)

From Behind the Line - Upper Upper Perth

2010-02-28T00:46:00.000-08:00

Due to its wide flow range, open river character allowing complete scouting and portaging options and the plethora of fantastic whitewater it possess', the Perth River has always been known as a classic New Zealand helirun. Two years ago, admittedly before I/ most our group was worthy, I paddled the Upper section of the Perth River with a disastrous outcome... but two years on this would be a very different story. With a plan forged in the bar the night before and a late start due to the lasting effects of a very good night, Barny, Joe Keck, Brian Urmson, Ari Walker and Myself found ourselves at the Whataroa Heli area trying to sort a helicopter.

Barny and I trying to explain B-Rain and Ari's relationship (J. Keck)

Our shuttle vehicle (B. Young)

After getting a cradle brought over from Fox Glacier township, educating the pilot to our shuttle plan and exchanging some cold hard cash, we dropped B-Rain and Ari at Scone Hut and Barny and I were dropped 'well' up the Perth River. This would turn out to be a much longer day than we'd thought. During the first couple of hours I was amazed at how much the river had changed since my last time down... little did I know we had put on about 4km higher than last time. Putting on at 2pm usually isnt much of an issue but this 'higher' put in took us 6 hours to break down and seen us rolling into the hut around 8pm tired, beaten and grinning ear to ear. Here are the photos from day one.

Landing well the the Perth Branch above Scone Hut (J. Keck)

Barny ready for business (J. Keck)

Barny lacing the first notable drop (J. Keck)

Me running the lead out (B. Young)

Barny bringing out the Fish eye... (B. Young)

Boofing another amazing drop (B. Young)

Joe Keck blending into the background (B. Young)

Joe didnt like the look but Barny and I loved the taste... stout (B. Young)

I wanted it on video so had to go first... through the lead-in (B. Young)

and boofing through the hole (B. Young)

Barny hucking into the hole (J. Keck)

Barny running a sick boof... this photo is taken from the middle of the river!!! (J. Keck)

Joe experiencing NZ at its best (B. Young)
Me getting ready to launch (J. Keck)

This photo does not, in any way, reflect how continuous the upper section is. (B. Young)

The funny thing is that all of these drops and many more not shown here are all above the section that I ran two years ago which took us 4 hours back then. This time round Barny, Joe and I flew through this section in about 2 hours with the help of pieces of Barny and my memory and some brave eddy hoping. Photos would of taken time and we were well past 6pm at this stage.. Sorry. Anyway, arriving at Scone Hut where B-Rain and Ari had the fire going and water on the boil for some much anticipatd Ravioli. After catching the last little bit of sunlight while eating dinner, some lethargic goon drinking (or lack there of), we drifted off to sleep in the fire warmed accommodation provided by the Department of Conservation.

Day two started, and as you will see finished, like a dream. Blue-bird sky, bacon and egg breakfast and pretty much dry paddling gear... this was going to be a good day. Here are some of the photos from the second day.

Scone Hut up the Perth Valley (J. Keck)

The first thing we scouted out properly (B. Young)

Joe smiling on Day 2 ... well we think he is smiling (B. Young)

Bliss-Stick Mystic (B. Young)

B-Rain boofing the hole (B. Young)

The alternate line to Pinballs (B. Young)

Ari... Boofing? (B. Young)

Joe coming through the hole... (B. Young)

NZ Pure... Straight from the river

Boofing a sweet drop towards the end of the first steep section on day 2. (B. Young)

This river trip really had it all... steep technical white-water, good friends to share it with, perfect weather and most importantly no serious incident. With three options for get-in's, the lower at Five Finger Stream(IV-IV+), Scone Hut (IV+ - V) and the Upper (V), this river has plenty of options for trips and is definitely a must do for anyone paddling on the West Coast... Check it out.