Leaping Burn Canyon, West Matukituki Valley, Wanaka

I was lucky enough to go with Dave Vass from Deep Canyon Guides to the Leaping Burn.

www.deepcanyon.co.nz

The canyon was accessed via some interesting fixed ropes, including a short 'via nylon' through a cliff band. We entered the canyon as the hillside relaxed back to a shallower angle.

Water levels were pretty high according to Dave, which made for some very exciting canyoning. Big water, wide eyes, great times..

"Via Nylon" through a small cliff on the access route

Chucky slides through a tiny cave to emerge behind the first waterfall

Dave sets up to leap through the powerful white curtain of the first waterfall.

Chucky emerges after the jump through the curtain

The gnarliest drop on the section we did..
The fall line is right through the middle of the water at the top.
Best plan is to go quickly...

Looking calm, feeling nervous.

Big water, wide eyes, great times...

About to enter the bubble bath..

Haast Pass Canyon Recce

I took Graham, who was resting up after a mountaineering injury, out as Navigator on a trip to Haast Pass, north of Wanaka.

The plan was to check out some of the Canyons I'm hoping to visit over Christmas new years. I was rather impressed by what I saw...

Fish River

Cross Ck

Wilson Ck

Robinson Ck

The last fall (90m) in Steward Ck

Woolshed Ck Canyon, Mt Somers

I had a great day hosting some seasoned American visiting canyoners and a couple of new Kiwi Canyoners.

Sonny and Calius had barely arrived in NZ the day before, but were awake and on time in the morning.

The day was more or less perfect, hot, cloudless and windless. Perfect conditions to make the most of the cool waters of the canyon.

Our rope got a little stuck on the second rap, so I got to ascend it to put it right. Sonny put us all to shame with his jumping talent in the two decent jumps in the canyon.

Andy and Rudy both seemed to really enjoy the canyon, hopefully I'll con them on another trip in the future.

Zoomed through the slot in 2hrs giving our visitors plenty of time to get back to thier theatre in the evening.

Calius, Sonny, Chucky, Andy and Rudy

Rudy enjoys R2

Figure 8 Contingency Block in action

Andy under the side ck waterfall

Whatipu, Waitakere Ranges, Auckland

Managed to sneak in a day tramp on Sunday just prior to the forecast heavy rain.

Jodi on the rocks at Whatipu

Overlooking the South Manakau Harbour Head

Omanawanui Track

On Mt Donald McLean

Fishing at Cornwallis, Auckland

Went for a morning fish with my Dad.. We hooked 3 Eagle Ray's between us, which were fun to catch but not worth eating so were released.

Waimak South Branch Trout Fishing

Had a go in the Hurunui, but it was too high

Dan releases "Jaws" in the Waimak South Branch

A nice pan sized brownie

Dan's parking needs improvement

Barker Hut, Arthurs Pass

Our plan was to go climb Mt Murchison, but very warm temps stymied the climb. Instead we ended up having two magnificent days tramping and one drizzly morning escaping from western Arthurs Pass.

Beginning up the Waimakariri River

Ascending the upper White Valley

Steph and I had a delightful walk into Barker Hut, via the Waimak and White rivers. The head of the White river was simply incredible. Amazingly steep rocky buttresses, tumbling glaciers and delightful tumbling river.

Barker Hut at dusk

Instead we went for a stroll up a nearby hillock, with one nice steep bit to savour. We had great views of Mt's Harper, Speight and Murchison.

Plodding up the start of the hillock ridge

Steph enjoys a short steep section

On the top of our Hillock, Mt Murchison and White Glacier behind

Descending the little steepish bit

Descending the sketchy rib beneath Barker Hut back to the White River

The return trip down to Carrington Hut was savoured with a couple of swims, some sunbathing and exploring side streams for waterfalls.

Drizzle on the Waimak

On Sunday morning the bluebird sky had been replaced with a grey drizzle and cool breeze, so we made a quick retreat down the multiple fords of the Waimakariri River.

Harwoods Hole, Starlight Cave

Brendon had been trying to convince me to go caving with him for quite some time. Eventually I gave in and agreed to go to Harwoods Hole, the biggest dropshaft in the southern hemisphere.

After staying in the NCG hut on friday night, we drove to the entrance and lugged the 200m rope to the edge of the hole. (weighs a bit when its wet eh?)

Its a bright rope eh?

We scrambled about 20m down a gully to the top bolt station. From there it was a 30m rap on a near vertical slab to the rebelay station. Then you get to pass the rebelay hanging in space, 146m above the nothingness of the giant dropshaft. Its definatley one of the more intimidating places I've been and definately the most impressive rappel.

Brendon rigs the top anchor

Looking at the rebelay station from the top anchor.
(that ain't the bottom you can see either..)

On the way down, someone began throwing soccer ball sized rocks over the edge, making for a rather quick and scarier than anticipated descent..


From the bottom of the dropshaft, we scrambled down a large scree into Starlight Cave. I was amazed by this cave, which was big enough to drive a mini-bus through for the first half. There were dozens of amazingly green/white/blue pools to rap past, climb around or marvel at.



The second half was a fair bit trickier with a few slightly squeezy sections. I'm not a caver, so they were a little interesting...

Brendon on one of the many short raps in the cave

About to exit Starlight

Once out of the cave we enjoyed a nasty climb back up a loose scree to the rim and back to de-rig and retreive the 200m cord.