Kokatahi: Reunion, Introduction and a Great Day Out

After going hard at summer uni for the last 6 weeks it was time to have a blow out and get on some creeks on the West Coast. My friend Chris arrived from Colorado, Robin Scott from England would meet us in Hokitika and Angus Robb decided he wanted to step it up and try his luck on the Kokatahi. Our flight was at 10am and even at a low flow we expected and got an awesome day on the river. Here is some photos of the action...

The ominous looking Kokatahi

Goody, Myself, Robin and Angus

Goody watching Dando come in

Poke 'n' Hope

Goody loving his first heli-trip and West Coast river.

Goody weaving through the amazing Kokatahi boulder gardens

I love the Kokatahi

Goody nailing the RIGHT-hand boof

Steep is the theme of the Kokatahi

Robin running it clean as usual

Angus charging into Carnage Gorge

Such a Mystic-al river

Portaging Kokatahi style

Robin charging off the new 10 footer

Myself on the new drop

The Kokatahi is definitely my favourite heli-trip on the West Coast and I feel that this run offers the most continuous quality white-water and spectacular gorges for a one day trip on the West Coast. We are hoping to follow this trip up with the Wanganui River and maybe another trip at the end of the week.

Upper Hokitika - GORGEous

After a night out with the boys in Hokitika we got up early and headed out towards the Hokitika/Whitcombe Valley. As we were gearing up a maroon Toyota Surf came charging around the corner with Kev England and Keith Riley in it. I quietly thought to myself, "yes, we have a guide". However, this was a double edged sword as the first thing Kev said was, "this is a juicy flow'. Mike was pretty nervous in the helicopter, only because of the flying, but when we got dropped off it was me who was nervous. As soon as we put on the nerves subsided and the Upper Hoki experience began.

Kev showing the North Island boys

Sam styling it

Scouting the waterfall

Kev firing it up

Sam on the waterfall

Brad on the waterfall

Mikey Drop

Inside the second gorge

Below the tight corner drop - second gorge

Me watching Keith come down

Brad hucking into the new drop

Sam on the new drop

Kev doing it in style

Kev

The Gates of Argonath

The Upper Hokitika was an amazing run, with unbelievable scenery, stout whitewater and a real adventure feel to it. Cheers to the boys for giving me the invite and to Kev for saving us a lot of scouting. I cannot wait to get back on this run and plenty of other runs of this caliber.

Got to get some action - Upper Kakapotahi then what?

Over the last couple of weeks all I had been able to get on was a couple of runs down the Styx and even with good flows I was starting to feel the itch. Barny mentioned some of the boys were in town so I packed up my car and headed down to Hokitika to see what was up.

Classic class IV creeking.

Styx boulder gardens.

The afternoon I arrived there I met up with Mike Dawson, Dylan Thompson, Sam Sutton and Big Bad Brad Lauder. After a brief introduction we were en route to the Upper Kakapotahi for a lazy afternoon after creeking. Simon and Bill Shepperd were at the get out waiting for us and before soon we were on the water and squeezing down the narrow entrance slot. Here are some photos of the run courtesy of Mike.

Sam on Postmans Falls

Me on Postmans

Mike having fun in his plastic boat on Airmail

Bradley throwing down

Dylan stomping out Airmail

Loving my life at this moment.

The Upper Kakapotahi just added to my hunger for whitewater. The plan was for the Upper Hokitika the next day which had plenty of water and was going to be my first trip down it. Surely this would mean an early night... Yeah Right!!! Here is a couple of photos to illustrate how wild that night ended up.

Quiet post paddle drinks

This was less than two hours later (about 10pm) and we were out until about 4am...

not need to guess how things went

Waitaha

The weekend was approaching, fine weather was the forecast and plans for boating were starting to develop. Barny and myself had great plans of hiking into the Arahura, staying in a hut and paddling out the next day. About five minutes after Gareth arrived at the team meeting at Stumpers Bar and Cafe he was on the phone to Dando organizing our heli into the Waitaha, flight time 9.30am. An 'over punctual' Gareth made sure he, Mike, Barny, Simon and myself were at the pick up at 8.30am... Perfect weather, perfect day for kayaking.

Dando knows where to go

Gareth warming into it

My coach Barny watching from the eddy

GORGEous

Barny Young, come on down.

Centre right on the second of the big three.

Gareth getting it done

Barny on the Cave Rapid

Gareth on the lead in to the cave

Hitting the line

Me on the lead in to the cave

Line it up and...

Boof!

Mike coming in hot

Getting a little left but its all good!!

Off into the blue and towards the portage.

The Waitaha is an amazing river with some of the best scenery I have ever experienced. The white-water is full on and I am looking forward to go back in at a bit of a higher flow. Cheers to Barny and Gareth for showing Simon, Mike and Myself down and cheers to Mike for the majority of the photos.