West Coast Winter mission 2007

Its July, known to be the most depressing month of the year, its freezing cold, snow and ice is making travelling marginnal......what sounds better than going kayaking for a week???? The first lot of us set off and set up camp at Lake Mahinapua (10 minutes from Hokitika). All that can be said for this night was that it was colder than we had thought, therefore making it the first and last night there before surrendering to the much warmer Hoki campground.

Lake Mahinapua DOC campsite

The first river the crew of Chee, Jared, Angus and Soph headed off to do was the lower Toaroha. This was a good warm up run and was a good day out. The next day this same crew did the lower Kakapotahi. This was a new run to some of us and a good run for a rest from walking in! The put in however was a bit of a mission! Another fun day but the conclusion reached was that a bit more water would have made it more worthwhile. Meanwhile the rest of the crew has arrived and are ripping it up on the lower Toaroha!

Soph and Gus traipsing it up a frosty slope on a portage of the lower Kakapotahi.

The next day we decided to head into the Lower Arahura and drop into the gorge some of us had walked away from earlier in the year. This turned out to be a good call and all had an exciting yet intimidating time in the lower gorge.

Put in for Arahura, unfortunately this machine could not navigate the next part of the washed out 4wd track so a 2 hour walk was still ahead of us.

Jamie dropping into the lower Arahura Gorge.

Another excellent day out! The crew is buzzing after the latest dose of adrenhaline so an easy decision is reached for the next day. A chopper trip into the lower Whataroa. Yeya!

We rise early and get the go ahead for thwe days antics. A bit of a long drive to the pick up spot but the crew is amped up for the day ahead. We preapre ourselves for a long day on the river and wait excitedly for the chopper. I always say pictures say more than words so.....

Gary and Berno taking off.


Chee and Gus looking pretty happy with themselves.

Soph going off the first drop.

Chee going off drop....sweet boof!

Berno in the midst of it all

The crew: Berno, Jamie, Gary, Chee, Sanga, Soph, Leela and Gus (behind camera)

Sanga, final drop of day and still looking fine!

Berno et al on paddle back to car

After another amazing West Coast day we head back to the campground pack up camp and head back home.................until next time!