Mohaka - Willow Flat, Boulder Garden 18 April 2010
Mohaka - Te Hoe Section 16 April 2010
Waikaretaheke - Piripaua Release 28 February 2010
Whakamarino - Piripaua Release 7/8 November 2009
Anawhenua Club Camp 23 - 26 October 2009
Tongariro - Access 10 - 18 April 2009
Waikaretaheke - Whakamarino & Piripaua Release - 4 & 5 April 2009
Mohaka - Willow Flat, Boulder Garden 18 April 2010
By: Philipp Otto
Paddlers present: Greg, Tom, Taylor, Steve, Philipp
A great sunny day looked very promising until we got to Willow Flat. The access to Water Wheel Rd and the old quory above Guides Launch was blocked by a locked gate (new edition to the track). After some bush bashing near the old airstrip we knew we could not access the river from that point. Locals informed us that Haliburton station may not particularly cooperative to grant us access to the river right on top of the section which stopped us from driving all the way up to the station.
Eventually we shouldered the kayak for a long walk on the track and an acceptable 20 minutes bush bashing to get to the river a little bit above Guides Launch.
Water was low. Only Greg attempted the drop. He did well, but the narrow chute turned him and we heard a decent graze of the paddle which included Greg's knuckles as we learned later. Greg rolled quickly and got out of trouble with out problems.
Despite the low water level this section offered nice whitewater and its usual breath-taking scenery which made the access efforts worthwhile. However, we knew, we would not do a second run as initially planned. At the get out we tagged on the grade 2 section below the bridge which had 3 little rapids and a play wave to offer. Nice addition which came at a price as we had to carry the kayaks up the steep hill for over 20 minutes to reach the road near the old cemetry.
Overall a great day with a lot of kayak carrying. The club committee will try and sort out some of the access problems. Apparently there is a new track in progress which could provide access to the Te Hoe/Mohaka confluence. I would recommend to contact the forestry company Rayonier before heading up that way to request a key for the water road gate. Rumours also have it that access to the old cable way may also be available in the not to distant future. Let's hope that we can soon enjoy this sensational section with more reasonable access soon. This might be a classic case of use it or lose it. So, get out there and paddle it.
Waikaretaheke - Piripaua Release 28 February 2010
By: Mirka Zatezalo
Paddlers present: Greg, Shaun, Mirko, Bernie, Taylor, Bryn,
Unlike the previous release when bliss stick dominated the boat selection, this time, we had a wide variety of brands and colours. Perfect paddling conditions, sunny, no wind, and warm waters what more could you ask for. Well, a new swing bridge would be nice, maybe a toilet, burger shop etc etc...
After a warm- up shuttle run, we headed off down and no sooner did Mirko peel out of the first eddy he got into, he flipped and rolled. Shame! In my defence others did have a practise play while I and Bernie did a shuttle run.
First run went without any dramas and the usual play wave spot was enjoyed for some time. There is definitely an improvement in the skill level, most noticed was Greg with his ever harder moves, turning on a wave effortless, and even managed to throw the paddle away and ride it out!
Let’s not forget Bryn and Mirko who finally managed to get on the wave without much difficulty and stay on the wave. Now off course getting off the wave would often involve a lot of facial expressions and sometimes a roll.
Down the river we go and what a great river it is, fantastic fast, white water rodeo, until I find myself heading straight for a hole. Too late to do anything now but charge ahead, I found myself paddling but not going anywhere, something isn’t right – not long after that I found myself upside down, and again not going anywhere, I can see the bottom as I try to roll and scrape the bottom. That did not work – still held in the hole, some air would be nice, knowing I am in the middle of the long rapid in the middle of the river any rescues would be a bit hard to do, and no I do not fancy a swim. So the plan was to push off the bottom of the river with the blade and try and free myself, then roll in deeper water – Great it worked! Yeehaaa... first roll out of the hole!
Just before the second run of the day, I decide to grab some snake lollies, Bugger, what on earth was I thinking putting an open bag in a lifejacket, You can only imagine it after all the rolling but the young lads where still keen on them!
Water was kind that day my friends – Perhaps it could have been the night shifts perhaps a moment of inattention, but Bryn found himself face to face with a log. The old Kendo boat was no match and nose slipped under, just keeping his head above water and pinned across torso. He decided to chuck the paddle away as he wanted to hold his head above water, but soon he could hold no more and down he went. Luckily under the log there were no hidden branches and he managed to come under the log upside down. Free at last! Now there are 2 more things to do. Get the right way up and get the paddle! Although a very good canoe polo player, hand roll in a pool is not going to work down grade 3 rapids! So Bryn went for a swim and got out safely! Water was kind that day and let him go.
Now the kayak, where on earth is his boat? After an extensive search (while Mirko and Shaun where snacking on some blackberries and thinking hmmm.. maybe we should go up and have a look for the others) it was decided that a group will paddle the section again and look for the boat while another group would have a look downstream.
We found the boat pinned under another log almost ½ a metre under the water. Float bags would be nice to have! While we are all looking at the boat and shaking our head how we can’t get the boat out, Bernie decided to turn into a monkey and daredevil and walk on a thin tree branch until he could no longer walk, When he run out of options, he thaught, how about I stand on a kayak in the rapid and see if I fall in. At the same time, Mirko and Taylor are frantically scared for Bernie’s life, getting ready with throw ropes downstream, while Greg is hoping that if Bernie does end up in the juice, he would still hold onto the other end of the rope that Greg is holding.
At last club Captain Bernie hooked a line and the rest was easy.
Thanks to wairoa takeaways I and Bryn enjoyed the burgers next to the Wairoa Rivers, while Taylor was waiting at the shed for his gear. Bernie’s old truck driving job means that, there is no rest for the wicked and he drove on straight home with the others.
Whakamarino - Piripaua Release on Waikaretaheke River 7/8 Novmeber 2009
by Mirko Zatezalo
Whakamarino and
Piripaua release
Present: Lance, Greg, Sam, Gareth, Mirko, Colenso college youngster, Canadians
and I think an Americano as well working for Lance’s rafting company, and a car
load from Auckland doing their own thing.
Very scenic drive toward the takeout and all eyes where firmly planted on the
river with anticipation of what we are up against. Plenty of questions about the
trip were fired at lance from the newbie’s about what to expect. Warren’s swim
from the past into the blackberries got a mention but none of this scared Greg
away. In fact it got him even more fired up to do one better.
Myself (Mirko) and little short fellow from Colenso choose to paddle calmer
waters below Piripaua only. What happened at the top section I have no idea but
it really does sound like a wild fast ride as they made it down very quickly
indeed first time down that is, and joined us two where the two waters meet up.
A very fun section of fantastic white water
was enjoyed by all the right way up until we got to the standing play waves. We
spent a considerable time here having some fun, not so good paddlers did not
stay upright for long but it was great too see the pro’s showing us how its
done.
If Whakamarino release was not hard enough as it is, what would you do to make
it more challenging? How about doing it kneeling down with a single stick in one
hand. This is exactly what 2 paddlers did, one Aucklander and our overseas
visitor. The way this dude played on the wave showed just how much control you
can have in a c1. Leaning all the way back holding the blade at the back of the
kayak like a rudder this guy could have stayed there until the whole
Waikaremoana lake got drained out.
Second run of the day soon followed with plans for a third later in the day but
due to what happened on the second run people where happy to call it a day
early. Lance at the wheel this time round, me and kiddo dropped off at Piripaua.
We find a tree across almost the entire river and decide to walk up and warn the
others. There is a small gap to squeeze through but I can just imagine all 6
paddlers going down at once that would not be a pretty scene.
Waiting and waiting and waiting, no sign of anyone for ages and ages, then an
Auckland group came through. I quickly tell them to find an eddy and warn them
about the tree up ahead. Always nice to see females up on the water but at the
same time makes me look a bit soft not paddling the top section myself.
Waiting waiting waiting, now cooking, cooking and cooking in a dry jacket, and
getting eaten with sandflies. Dehydrated, hungry, and a little worried, decide
to leave the youngster and head for a run down the road and find Lance at the
takeout and lunch!
Aucklanders on their way up for another run turned their car around and gave me
a lift down to Lance at the takeout to raise the alarm. Unable to get water or
lunch, as it’s locked in another car keys in the boat floating down the river.
We all head up to Piripaua. We have been told they’ve just come past! A good
hour longer!
Tired hungry and exhausted we all head down for the takeout with only a brief
stop at the play wave. I catch an eddy on the river right to avoid the takeout
across what Lance said was a grade 4 bridge!
The bridge:
This is an old not maintained, overgrown swing bridge across the river.
It has planks of rotten old wood laid down, All timber is different colour,
shape, thickness, age, size, length, And all timber is placed randomly basically
to cover the old gaps where people fell through. Now off course there are plenty
of holes everywhere and sometimes you can only stand on one piece of wood. And
it’s a bit of a Russian roulette which plank can hold you and which one can't.
We put a few fresh holes in there off course. The Canadians and Americans where
supporting NZ with bliss stick mystic boats but these things are not light! It
really was scary watching others do the last Grade 4 - the bridge! Good thing
they are all wearing lifejackets!
The swim
Hawke's Bay did fantastic! It was a paddler from Palmy and a foreigner
that took a swim! Some of the info I hear was that he was unable to roll in very
very shallow rocky waters as there was no river bead below where he found
himself. He had no choice but to bail out and swim. Somehow found himself
stranded on a small island and had to do a leap of faith jump to get out.
Unfortunately for him. But good for this write up, leap of faith failed so he
was back in the juice so to speak, then out into the blackberries. Apparently
what took so long was the walk through the blackberries to retrieve his paddle
that got stuck down river a bit further and the only way to get it out is to
keep singing I love blackberries and keep walking through it!
The other fellow from Palmy off course also found blackberries as his cut up and
bleeding legs tell the story! I really don’t know what its like up there but one
thing is for sure, when I do paddle it I will get prepared for blackberries.
One thing is for sure those that do make it down the right way up come back for
more until their day in the blackberries comes. The grin on the faces of people
that come through is from ear to ear so there must be a good enough reason to do
it despite the blackberries. Maybe next time I write this I will write it with
my very own red ink.
Paddle on
p.s. thank you genesis for giving us the water
Mirko
Anawhenua Club Camp 23 - 26 October 2009
My Aniwhenua experience
By Mirko Zatezalo
Friday
We arrived at the camp greeted with sunny skies, young lads and me where full on energy and had to get on the water that day so a short paddle down Rangitikei below the waterfall soon followed. Greg, Sam, Mirko, and Bernie had a fun warm up, although Mirko did not enjoy the cliff face put in we all gave the waterfall a miss (this time round that is)
Saturday
Gordon’s cooking the previous night and a few beers opened next to a fire ensured a slow getaway but this man’s cooking ability only improved meal after meal. A selected group of keen paddlers set off in the morning for a paddle down Whirinaki, a solid grade 3 run I’ve been told and my first taste of grade 3 water! Present on this trip: Lance, Greg, Sam, Mirko, Bernie, and Warren
A few practice rolls in frigid but calm waters ensured we where ready for action, although action did not come for quiet some time, instead we where greeted with a very scenic paddle through the low lying branches and a time for a chat. Anticipation was building as we neared the first stretch of white water, luckily we got a bit of a warm up to start off with, as the boulders got bigger and river steepened up. My first must catch eddy went o.k. although little did I know of the danger that lied below should I not have made it across. Lance off course did not find grade 3 water challenging enough as it is so he decided to take a high line on river right a very narrow and steep passage through, and to top it all off why not do it in a leaky boat with steel riveted panels on either side of the hull!
Guided by Lance looking from the bottom and Warren inside the last must make eddy before the drop between the boulders I eddied out and although did not go down where I was supposed to go, committed myself well and made the first drop, yeehaa this is fun! My first experience however soon changed when I spotted my mentor Warren, flapping around stuck in a hole, worried I turned to Bernie and his calm nature and rope in hand satisfied me that Warren is going to be o.k. Eventually air was too hard to resist and Warren popped our with a paddle unable to drag a pinned kayak out the hole. After a lot of effort from Lance (I think) to get the boat out we where on our way again.
Skipper and Captain invincible Lance found himself slowly sinking down, upon further inspection it has been discovered that boat had another crack so he took off to the take out in a hurry.
Plenty of small drops and boulders made things fun, however a moment of hesitation and I am in the juice. I am sure that boulder moved and jumped out in front of me! In a small pool upside down and heading towards the drop, welcomed to grade 3! A quick attempt at the roll in a hurry still upside down I felt the surge of water. This is where swimming and underwater hockey was a great idea. Squeezed myself tight and hopped for the best, as I went over the drop luckily my head found a rock or two and helped to flick me the right way up, yeehaaaaaa !
In the afternoon a family trip down a little higher level Rangitikei grade 2 stretch and bigger train waves than previous day ensured that some kid’s first taste of white water is the one to remember! All did extremely well and managed to stay upright, it was a fun sight looking at the doubles going over the waves with kids going high up in the air.
Evening was Gordon’s turn to shine again with plenty of food for everyone, wine, beer, desserts, and if that was not enough some choose to get their own dinner out of the lake!
Sunday
Rangitaiki grade 3 -4 trip, Above Jeff’s Joy and Fantail ?? Driving up to the put in: Monique, Lance, Bernie, Sam, Greg, Mirko.
This is the one I had something to worry about, just graduated from grade 3 the day before. Monique was a passenger at the front of Lance’s double raft as his kayak was no longer able to stay afloat. Drive up to the put in was an excitement in itself with Lance at the wheel. This gave me little time to worry about the paddle. At the put in the river was high so we have been told, Monique and myself where a bit worried about that one, but Monique has more bad news after discovering a hole at the bottom of the raft!
Lance helped us to calm the nerves although I am beginning to get to know this fearless guy, this might not be a good thing.
A very challenging and fun, steep section with big boulders and small drops, I am on a roll, this is so much fun although only just staying upright! Very soon the river starts to drop down even more and I hear we got to get out before Jeff’s Joy grade 4. At this stage very scared not to miss the portage, I move to river right a bit too close too soon and find myself hitting very small boulders hidden below the water while trying not to go into the trees. Thinking if I don’t get out I am in serious shit, frozen solid at the sight of the tiny rock in front of me I flipped and found myself dragging half the forest with me as I was upside down in the trees. Earlier rolling practise ensured that I got up just in time for the take out, Bernie unaware of the drama behind, waiting at the portage, while young lads helped to guide me in safely.
Only 10 months ago I could not kayak in a straight line and now I am looking at Jeffs Joy at big flow, a massive amount of water and a very nasty hole (in my amateur view). Portage it is for sure! The rest of the crew make it look so easy and so fast it looks a lot of fun! I say to myself, next year it will be my turn.
The rest of the paddle was the most fun I have ever had in a kayak, with Warren not present I stuck to Bernie’s guidance who wanted me to get better at picking my own lines. This is so much like mountain biking, so much fun! Now that I learned I can steer with my blade at the back of the boat I felt invincible and charged at the front of the pack but behind the raft, a few times crashing into the slower rad’s in my path!
Water became harder to find as small island’s appeared across the river. I was on my limit here all coming at me too fast, too many decisions to make. I see a rock with a single tree in front way in the distance, Decide I am going to the left of it, One young kid in a rad charges past me on my right and swoops around the right side close to the trees where I did not want to go. Now I am thinking right must be a better way, So I paddle hard to make it across to the right, and rock is coming closer and closer to me. I freeze give up the fight go straight for the rock, still calm as I have seen in on the video, you just lean onto the rock have a rest and go either way. Easier said that done! Lean with one arm, paddle in the other, now what? The powerful river made a decision for me, my mentor Bernie disappointed in my performance, a million and one thing go through my head.
Try and roll on one side, nope don’t work, water is very strong and powerful as I am not moving with it! Thinking, this is not a good place to swim I feel sorry for the rest of the crew to have to chase me and my gear down boulder infested waters. While thinking what to do something comes to my mind, some air would be nice! Decided that my paddle is no longer any good to me as its getting pulled around with the water I let it go and immediately regret the decision as my hands touch the bottom! I picture $300 floating down the river and disappearing.
At least let’s save the boat I am thinking. If the rest of the crew is looking for the paddle I better keep the boat it’s almost new! So I start my amazing hand roll, oh shit this does not work pinned against the rock, dammit, After a few goes I pull the cord and start the roller coaster ride swimming down the rapids, holding onto my boat, a few hits here and there and I grab the smallest branch I could find and hold on still in the current.
Now I realise that all is under control, Bernie has my blade, I get a ride at the back of Sam’s rad across the river and launch again, shaken and stirred, clear my head and carry on.
Another moments inattention and hesitation led me to roll but along the way I had so much fun, the rest of the crew made it down no worries. Ahh yes, almost forgot along the flat piece of water since Monique did not come out the boat at Jeffs joy, Lance had to push her out for a refreshing swim!
Thanks everyone for making this trip happen and looking after me and my gear! And thanks Gordon for the mean feed! Mirko
by Philipp Otto
Quite frankly it took an extra effort to get out there in these cold and rainy conditions. However, 4 die-hard paddlers: Warren, Sam, Bernie and myself, drove up to the Mohaka in persistent rain which turned into sleet at times. The river was up and brown, sure to rise. So, we changed our plans to paddle the Te Hoe section and put our boats in at Fisherman's to paddle Bridgets section which was nice and short. At the junction of the Waipanga we got a surprise as the water coming in from the Waipanga was clear and quite low in volume. This would have been a better choice today, but we expected far more water in the Waipanga.
After an hour and a half we were pleased to call it a day and get in the warm van.
Tongariro - Access 10 - 18 April 2009
by Philipp Otto
I love this trip. It is a full on day (we made it in 10hrs return), but is there a nicer grade 3 run around? Jeremy had his first Tongariro experience and was joined by Matt, Rinie, Bernie, Sam, Gareth. We also caught up with Stuart, Glen Roberts and Steve. As we took to the water the sky cleared up to give us a sunny day.
As usual there was a good crowd at the get in, not massive but good (Robin, our lovely shuttle driver noticed the crowd was even growing after lunch). To my surprise we were the first group on the water, just before 11am. What were they waiting for? The river was ripe for a good paddle. The first rapids always feel a bit shaky but eventually paddler warm up. The water is just freezing.
Today, the trip went really fast and with no events to speak of. The traditional rolling session on the fan tail in the top third is fun to watch. However, a few of us negotiated even that rapid with a dry face. The 70 odd rapids were a blast and the kind water was a joy to paddle in. We were off the water by 2pm and we were not rushing. Excellent company! Gareth, Sam and Stuart stayed to paddle Access 14 & 13 the next day.
The next release is already marked in the calendar. 20 September!!
Waikaretaheke - Whakamarino & Piripaua Release - 4 & 5 April 2009
by Philipp Otto
This was a big weekend. Genesis insisted on their registration process, but we had sufficient numbers registering well in advance. This is essential otherwise there is no release. Registration can be done via the rivers webpage. We had 8 paddlers on both days (2 different groups) with 2 paddlers (Warren and Dave) from out of our club (both Rotorua I think).
Bernie
and his chainshaw gang did a terrific job on the Whakamarino section. Thank you!
2 big tree trunks had to be chopped up. Quite amazing given our thorough working
bee efforts in Spring. This shows, don't paddle this fast flushing water without
prior checking the section. The Piripaua section has a few trees that need to
come out.
The Whakamarino provided the amazing excitement which satisfied the brave thrill seekers. Certainly worth the long travel if you are up to that sort of water.
Our Sunday group enjoyed a sunny day on the river. Cian and Scott had their first taste of grade 3 water on the Piripaua section which went really well. However, both experienced how fast flowing the water is, especially from the swimmers perspective. Scott gave us a bit of a fright by parking himself among the wood work in his kayak. However, he was able to bash himself free. To his credit he handled this situation extremely calmly. The last run saw the water rising considerably. We had to duck to go under the arched tree and the play waves were flushed out. Still a good finish of this exciting day.
