Not quite Emerald Canyon

Jethro and Karine take off up the ridge

Ira and I had arranged a day's canyoning with Jethro, Alain and Karine. It'd snowed and rained hard the previous day, so we hoped to find reasonable water levels in the smallest catchment canyon they knew.

Jethro got permission from the farmer for us to access the canyon via a rather steep and very direct grassy ridge. We entered into the bush a little high and had a handful of smaller rappels and scrambling before reaching the start.

Ira suited up and ready to begin

First of our access raps

There was too much water, which we spent most of our time trying to avoid. Thus we were 'bouldering in wetsuits with consequences' and not really canyoning.

Our new sport 'Wetsuit tramping'.. (not likely to catch on)

Alain said that we could continue downcanyon, but the rest of the group weren't really motivated for a high water trip, so we bailed up the access route and back to Wanaka.

Just too much water :(

Ira and I cruised out that night to Cameron's flat campground, just south of Haast Pass to enjoy a warm clear evening with half of the sandfly population of the southern alps...