Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Young River Summer 2005
Some footage from Ngaio Hart of a summer trip in goodflow down the Young a cheeky wee favourite for an afternoon thrill
Tuesday, August 07, 2007
Bliss fest 07
Check out
http://cabbagetrees.blogspot.com
for all you blissfest 07 information
Check this out from last year!!!!
http://cabbagetrees.blogspot.com
for all you blissfest 07 information
Check this out from last year!!!!
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Lee Stream, High side of Good, Optimal Actually
Having misssed the super high Taieri River, Ollie, Glenn and I managed to quench our thrist with a higher than before Lee Stream.
The level was 3cm above the yellow painted ledge on the outram side of the Ford
It certainly made for good sport providing lots of fluffy water, although some of the manky overhanging tree alleyways you have to duck down, we decided to walk around as the micro eddies were blowing out in to the Vines and branches.
Short clip of Balooga falls, and Ollie Yeoman pencil sharpening himself up for the falls!
PS was chattin to the Rural post guy out there the other day, he said the High water of the big flood last year was just underneath the high bridge at the ford! Wow
The level was 3cm above the yellow painted ledge on the outram side of the Ford
It certainly made for good sport providing lots of fluffy water, although some of the manky overhanging tree alleyways you have to duck down, we decided to walk around as the micro eddies were blowing out in to the Vines and branches.
Short clip of Balooga falls, and Ollie Yeoman pencil sharpening himself up for the falls!
PS was chattin to the Rural post guy out there the other day, he said the High water of the big flood last year was just underneath the high bridge at the ford! Wow
Rain Rain everywhere...
So the rain has fallen and the rivers have been up.
THe leith was very impressive at 65cumecs, some of the filter features that the ORC install in the Leith Valley don't seem to be working like that should be, at the larger flows the fast water sped around the outside of these vertical pillars on river right.
Classic urban adventuresA posse put in above the Woodhaugh gardens (a previously standard move) and paddled down to towards the accellerator.
The word is that the weir you encounter between these two points has had rocks and debris cleared, "Go the ORC" It had been undisturbed for for donkeys ages. Breeding the complacency. Making the Right hand boof move a lil' more challenging.
Three swimmers and a mighty struggle by Callum Brash and Lu Jull in their boats to escape the tow back.
Then with the elevated water level rescuing folks sounded jolly awkward as the slalom wires got into the mix.
All Safe, their boats did the "Grand Tour" to the harbour, With one of them being trashed by the time it reached the harbour.
James Dawson Plus one other (Who are you mystery man?) were doing laps between the accellerator and the gardens footbridge in the afternoon session
The following clip is a blend of footage shot at 11am and 430pm peaked at 65cumecs.
Thoughts:
In the future ORC will be doing some major renovations to the Leith, Seeing what they have done so far makes me wonder how well that will all go!
Eg: The filter that doesn't filter at high flow (Not a bad thing for us), hopefully not indicative of the science and physical modelling that they will be using for these larger changes. The Clocktower Weir is one that will be looked at, Thanks to the NZRCA there is the possibility to make it safer for the humble boater, awesome work.... get on and pay your membership! I will if you will!
THe leith was very impressive at 65cumecs, some of the filter features that the ORC install in the Leith Valley don't seem to be working like that should be, at the larger flows the fast water sped around the outside of these vertical pillars on river right.
Classic urban adventuresA posse put in above the Woodhaugh gardens (a previously standard move) and paddled down to towards the accellerator.
The word is that the weir you encounter between these two points has had rocks and debris cleared, "Go the ORC" It had been undisturbed for for donkeys ages. Breeding the complacency. Making the Right hand boof move a lil' more challenging.
Three swimmers and a mighty struggle by Callum Brash and Lu Jull in their boats to escape the tow back.
Then with the elevated water level rescuing folks sounded jolly awkward as the slalom wires got into the mix.
All Safe, their boats did the "Grand Tour" to the harbour, With one of them being trashed by the time it reached the harbour.
James Dawson Plus one other (Who are you mystery man?) were doing laps between the accellerator and the gardens footbridge in the afternoon session
The following clip is a blend of footage shot at 11am and 430pm peaked at 65cumecs.
Thoughts:
In the future ORC will be doing some major renovations to the Leith, Seeing what they have done so far makes me wonder how well that will all go!
Eg: The filter that doesn't filter at high flow (Not a bad thing for us), hopefully not indicative of the science and physical modelling that they will be using for these larger changes. The Clocktower Weir is one that will be looked at, Thanks to the NZRCA there is the possibility to make it safer for the humble boater, awesome work.... get on and pay your membership! I will if you will!
Taieri River Access Closed just as Season Kicks Off.
So time has come for Wenita to carve a swathe thru there own forest!!
What sort of atitude is that???!?
You would think they owned the place! LOL
So what is the story?
We rocked up, two fridays ago, the white gate on the dirt road near sailsbury road, closed.
Big dump trucks shingling the new roads being built for access to harvest the trees!
I am a cyclist, who lives in Port Chalmers. So no need to explain my perspective on this issue!
Anyhoo i digress, the road closed Sign had a number to call, so i did
Talked to Sally who then passed me on to Aaron, who informed me the road will be
You would think they owned the place! LOL
So what is the story?
We rocked up, two fridays ago, the white gate on the dirt road near sailsbury road, closed.
Big dump trucks shingling the new roads being built for access to harvest the trees!
I am a cyclist, who lives in Port Chalmers. So no need to explain my perspective on this issue!
Anyhoo i digress, the road closed Sign had a number to call, so i did
Talked to Sally who then passed me on to Aaron, who informed me the road will be
completly closed for three months, as they build the roads.
A bit stunned at this point, stunning day, warm temp, 32cumecs in the Lower gorge, a grand day in the making, thwarted.
I understand the reasons, there were six tonka trucks owning the road while i chatted to Aaron. dangerous for sure, these guys are totally not expecting anyone else out there.
Back to the facts after the original three month closure it will be closed during the weekdays and open in the weekends.
Looks like while the trees were growing over the last 20- 30 years Wenita didn't actually have much of an idea on what was going on in the confines of there forest.
Trail bikers, Kayakers, Mountain bikers, Pig hunters, 4WDr's, Pot farmers.... they have been all out there, we have seen them!
So with this closure, i think Aaron is getting the full picture of what has been going on out there in the wilderness.
A bit stunned at this point, stunning day, warm temp, 32cumecs in the Lower gorge, a grand day in the making, thwarted.
I understand the reasons, there were six tonka trucks owning the road while i chatted to Aaron. dangerous for sure, these guys are totally not expecting anyone else out there.
Back to the facts after the original three month closure it will be closed during the weekdays and open in the weekends.
Looks like while the trees were growing over the last 20- 30 years Wenita didn't actually have much of an idea on what was going on in the confines of there forest.
Trail bikers, Kayakers, Mountain bikers, Pig hunters, 4WDr's, Pot farmers.... they have been all out there, we have seen them!
So with this closure, i think Aaron is getting the full picture of what has been going on out there in the wilderness.
Later that day
Asked Jess of the OUCC if they had been notified as a vested interest in the river, No ..
Looking further into it at the council level Kyle passed me on to Don Hill, who informed me that there had been a notice placed in the "Notices" section in a Saturday paper. I ask for a copy of that notice to be emailed to me. After the stunned silence he suggested i look it up for myself.
I am dissapointed that we (OUCC, Poly etc) weren't notified.
Maybe that stems from the fact they have no idea about anyone else out there other than WildEarth.
So at this point we have been left with chicken feed! (Kayaker POV)
The channels are open and i will be discussing the progress of the roadworks in the Mt Allan area with Aaron, I will be keeping you in the loop via the interweb so keep you your eyes open on any future developments
Peace Out
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Wanganui and Lower Kaka's
Howie and Isaac Wilson are lucky enough to have there folks living on the banks of the Wanganui River. Location is everything! Just a short walk up the river is where the goodtimes are located. Proving winter has been pretty sweet for some!
Monday, July 09, 2007
48 Hour Film making
Nevis and i ended up helping out on this fantastic short film!
The Feltastic Four!
It was one of the finalists here in Dunedin for this years Competition
Enjoy
The Feltastic Four!
It was one of the finalists here in Dunedin for this years Competition
Enjoy
Winter Boating!
Well who would have guessed?
The Lee Stream has seen a couple of descents this last week!
We have been probing the lower end of doable, One inch below and a couple inches below the gauge!
and a little bit bumpy in places, still all good to go!
Hoping to get in to the first rapid/portage, "Gated Community" and hack up the witches finger log and clear the woody seive at the exit of the pool, so we can bomb that first section till "Head High Tackle" a definite portage. and the shortened "Depravity" portage, nice
have put together some of the footage from the two trips, it will be available soon hopfully here, just need to compress it!
all your fav rapids! (mine actually, soon to be yours!)
pinball
headbangers
balooga falls
pencil dick falls
slide
no free lunch
rimshot
all documented
hoping to get some other folks down this classic so we can indeed be peer reviewed on our find!
It took five hours on Monday and Thursday three hours fifty minutes!!!!
I'm sure after some more rain that will be stretched out again!
The Lee Stream has seen a couple of descents this last week!
We have been probing the lower end of doable, One inch below and a couple inches below the gauge!
and a little bit bumpy in places, still all good to go!
Hoping to get in to the first rapid/portage, "Gated Community" and hack up the witches finger log and clear the woody seive at the exit of the pool, so we can bomb that first section till "Head High Tackle" a definite portage. and the shortened "Depravity" portage, nice
have put together some of the footage from the two trips, it will be available soon hopfully here, just need to compress it!
all your fav rapids! (mine actually, soon to be yours!)
pinball
headbangers
balooga falls
pencil dick falls
slide
no free lunch
rimshot
all documented
hoping to get some other folks down this classic so we can indeed be peer reviewed on our find!
It took five hours on Monday and Thursday three hours fifty minutes!!!!
I'm sure after some more rain that will be stretched out again!
The drought is over on the Taieri,
Its been quiet times of late here in Dunedin!the Taieri River has been empty!
Hell its only 9.5 cumecs in there in these photos, lucky as you have to go under the wood!
In the brief moment of of flooding, two large trees were thrown down on the Pipeline rapid, top and bottom.
Nice work.
Certainly hoping the working bee this sunday with the wildearth adventures crew will get the colander situation sorted!
Should we be messing with the habitat?
Just for recreation?
Good to ask questions, and see what you can come up with to support your stance?!
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Dawn Patrol, Waipori Slalom site
Overcoming the seasonal change mind meltdown or whatever you want to call it!
We (Holly, Emma, Rikki, Vaughan, Andy and i) headed out to the sla site this AM for an early session to get the cobwebs blown out.
Much thrashing about in the long boats, retro cool Reflexs and a mint Hurricane!
It did wonders for highlighting some lack in technique on my part! Good to keep the fire lit for improvment and more Dawn Patrols.......
Love winter People are cold, turn their heaters on, and voila' the water flows.... some kind of magic!
might see you out there!
Dawn Patrol
another day at the office
We (Holly, Emma, Rikki, Vaughan, Andy and i) headed out to the sla site this AM for an early session to get the cobwebs blown out.
Much thrashing about in the long boats, retro cool Reflexs and a mint Hurricane!
It did wonders for highlighting some lack in technique on my part! Good to keep the fire lit for improvment and more Dawn Patrols.......
Love winter People are cold, turn their heaters on, and voila' the water flows.... some kind of magic!
might see you out there!
Dawn Patrol
another day at the office
Thursday, May 03, 2007
Autumn, Fiordland
After last years debacle of a paddling trip to fiordland. We needed to readdress the prioroties.
Number one: the pub is for after the paddling has been done with! Critical ..
Number two: Ensure there is enough water!
Sophie, Vaughan ( 900 Km from Westport, Howie) and I bolted early on a monday arvo making a bee line for Te Anau to met up, then went on to Homer Hut.
The Stationary front parked over the fiords topped up the rivers, with just enough for us to have a couple of days of good boating.
Tuesday morning had us down at the legendary "Paddle on Inn" sipping cups of tea with Blake Reed, sea kayak guide extraordinaire, a morning off!! Nice life in the Fiords.
Number one: the pub is for after the paddling has been done with! Critical ..
Number two: Ensure there is enough water!
Sophie, Vaughan ( 900 Km from Westport, Howie) and I bolted early on a monday arvo making a bee line for Te Anau to met up, then went on to Homer Hut.
The Stationary front parked over the fiords topped up the rivers, with just enough for us to have a couple of days of good boating.
Tuesday morning had us down at the legendary "Paddle on Inn" sipping cups of tea with Blake Reed, sea kayak guide extraordinaire, a morning off!! Nice life in the Fiords.
We sped up the process and fitted in a couple of short runs on the Cleddau River (not enough water to run from Slip Creek). Access for the get in at the Guliver/Donne is so sweet, The trail is on the Homer hut side of the Guliver bridge, down to the Foot bridge.
Craig waiting for the crowds to die down at the get in.(H. Wilson)
Sophie Ballagh and Blake Reed
(Photo: H Wilson)
(Photo: H Wilson)
Vaughan Gribben warming up (photo: H Wilson)
Sophie Ballagh (Photo: H Wilson)
After dropping Blake back, to his afternoon clients, we scoffed down lunch and elected to walk up the Tutoko River for 30minutes, best idea of the trip!
After dropping Blake back, to his afternoon clients, we scoffed down lunch and elected to walk up the Tutoko River for 30minutes, best idea of the trip!
30 minutes of consisitent walking put us at a rocky stream bed, so we turned right 25 minutes of walking ducking, diving and dragging had us river side.
430pm we peeled out, all boat scoutable, (until it got dark enough near the end to reduce the 3rd dimension of the 3D) continuous goodtimes, nothing chunky, just fun fun fun. Standing by the van stoked at 630pm
Note:
The water in the Tutoko held looking good till the next afternoon! Whereas the Cleddau drops like a rock!
Photos
: H Wilson
Note:
The water in the Tutoko held looking good till the next afternoon! Whereas the Cleddau drops like a rock!
Photos
: H WilsonThe view downstream from where we popped out, Sweet!
View upstream, still looks good, more for next time... Just perfect for us, timewise.
Times have changed and getting to the Arthur River legally is now a little bit of a rigamarole!
Thought i would spell it out here for everybody
Didymo is not present in the Arthur, rumour has it!
Before you get there you should probably ring Alan at Fiordland Lobster 03 249 8093
He is in charge of issuing the required permit to get over there and paddle.
He will want to see that your kit and boat has been cleaned in the Black and blue barrels that are stashed by the sea kayaking drying tent. (Check in with the crew at Paddle on Inn, they could smoooth the whole process for you).
Thought i would spell it out here for everybody
Didymo is not present in the Arthur, rumour has it!
Before you get there you should probably ring Alan at Fiordland Lobster 03 249 8093
He is in charge of issuing the required permit to get over there and paddle.
He will want to see that your kit and boat has been cleaned in the Black and blue barrels that are stashed by the sea kayaking drying tent. (Check in with the crew at Paddle on Inn, they could smoooth the whole process for you).
Then the crux of the mission is getting transported across the sound to Sandfly Point so that none of you or your kit touch that polluted sound.
Real Journeys run the Anita Bay and at a cost of $29 a head, Wow I know thats what i said!!
So we met a fishing charter guy and he got us across on his tender for a case of beer! Sweet
Real Journeys run the Anita Bay and at a cost of $29 a head, Wow I know thats what i said!!
So we met a fishing charter guy and he got us across on his tender for a case of beer! Sweet
Little boat full of little boats, mind ya toes getting in wouldn't blow the whle cleaning process
Vaughan Gribben hanging on!
After all that, the walk was a pleasure, Lake Ada and we were off
Brian Prince from Mephis, Tennesse
After a great couple of days boating, it was time to celebrate over a fantastic meal.
more blue cod, and crays than you can shake the stick at! then a hard earned trip to the pub to wash it all down!
A big shout out to Blake and Rosie for turing on the hospitality for us, it made this trip a complete success!
The next morning folks were a little bit washed out so for most the crew flagged the paddling option. Howie managed to rouse hinself for a run thru the drops on the Falls creek section of the Hollyford River.
Cheers guys for A GREAT TRIP!
West Coast Dreaming
Easter Thursday, van was packed and we were gone....
Missioning towards Greymouth, Bridg, Nevis and I made it to the Broken River Ski Area Carpark. Sweet, that meant a sleep in, and a cheeky ride on the Craigieburn tracks in the morning. Great way to start a holiday!!!!!!!!.
Eventually we made it down to Bee and Nicks new house on Marsden Road, Greymouth. Perfect timing for us to take off with them up Noname Road on the mountain bikes.
My hope for the trip was to get some kayaking done, the best laid plans and all that... with little rain and eveything, especially the walkable boating not working, it was lucky we brought the velocipeds!
Easter Sat had us trying to do some boating and eventually managed at the crack of 1 pm managed to fly in to the Lower Hokitika (Howie Wilson,Bee Robertson, Mister Magoo)
Since two of the Free Ranger posse moving to the coast, Howie to Westport to do.....?, and Bee teaching at Grey High School.
It was great to get together and go for a float
Mister Magoo and Mister Dando
(Photo: H Willson)
Talking smack at the get in! not a long run no need to rush!
(Photo: H Wilson)
Missioning towards Greymouth, Bridg, Nevis and I made it to the Broken River Ski Area Carpark. Sweet, that meant a sleep in, and a cheeky ride on the Craigieburn tracks in the morning. Great way to start a holiday!!!!!!!!.
Eventually we made it down to Bee and Nicks new house on Marsden Road, Greymouth. Perfect timing for us to take off with them up Noname Road on the mountain bikes.
My hope for the trip was to get some kayaking done, the best laid plans and all that... with little rain and eveything, especially the walkable boating not working, it was lucky we brought the velocipeds!
Easter Sat had us trying to do some boating and eventually managed at the crack of 1 pm managed to fly in to the Lower Hokitika (Howie Wilson,Bee Robertson, Mister Magoo)
Since two of the Free Ranger posse moving to the coast, Howie to Westport to do.....?, and Bee teaching at Grey High School.
It was great to get together and go for a float
Mister Magoo and Mister Dando
(Photo: H Willson)
Talking smack at the get in! not a long run no need to rush!
(Photo: H Wilson)
Good fun! (Photo: H Wilson)
Beezal Carving up (Photo: H Wilson)
Remember, the deep fryer only gets turned on at 630pm. It was a desperate wait quenching our thirst!
To be Continued....
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Murchison
Murchison has been a little bit dry of late, just in time for us as we rocked into Murch last week the rain had filled up the catchment.Great five days, good boating and great people...
Trip list
Doctor's Creek x 2
Granity x 4
Middle Mataki
Lower Mataki x 3
O'Sulli's to Ariki, but not the falls....Earthquake
Couple of Lads nipped down the Glenroy as well
Who new work could be so much fun!
Andy, Aaron, Bert, Vaughan and Sam after the 20min lower Mataki, slowed down due to the Sam and Aaron in Wee Rads.! Sorry about the car, Sam.
We had a great week and was stoked to have Aaron and Sam make it down from Marahau to boat with us for a couple of days!
2nd Year Diploma of Outdoor Leadership and Management 2007
(Photo: Andy T)
Penny Stark and Jethro Hardinge
(Photo: Andy T)
Disco Stu says" disco ain't dead"
(Photo: Andy T)
Isaac Wilson
(Photo: Andy T)
Vaughan Gribben
(Photo: Andy T)
Penny Stark
(Photo: Andy T)Vaughan and the naughty wheel that didn't want to hang out with us anymore on the way home. Thanks to some good directions from the motorist that flagged us down, Penny managed to spot it, Then the great oh my god its friday 430pm rush to find a workshop open to fix it.. a huge shout out to the guy in Waipara. A huge session of mongolian wrestling to fill in time and then we were off to the chipie in Amberly.. homeward bound.
(Photo: Andy T)
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Summer
It seems that summer has just showed up
just in time to leave this week.
So lets hope it actually rains sometime soon with this southerly airstream.
The recreational kayaking has been thin on the ground since the TeeCarPo/PooCarKey release.
Couldn't believe it six hours in the same wave, and it wasn't crowded. It could do with some more depth and a smooth coating, although can't complain too much, had a great time, with a grand dunedin turn out. Stu, Waster, Liz, Vaughan, Sophie, Muz, Howie........ awesome
36 degrees phew....
Grand day had by all
Simon Callaghan looping for his country.
"Do you think you could run it?"
just in time to leave this week.
So lets hope it actually rains sometime soon with this southerly airstream.
The recreational kayaking has been thin on the ground since the TeeCarPo/PooCarKey release.
Couldn't believe it six hours in the same wave, and it wasn't crowded. It could do with some more depth and a smooth coating, although can't complain too much, had a great time, with a grand dunedin turn out. Stu, Waster, Liz, Vaughan, Sophie, Muz, Howie........ awesome
36 degrees phew....
Grand day had by allSimon Callaghan looping for his country.
"Do you think you could run it?"
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