{"id":3769,"date":"2020-03-08T20:30:02","date_gmt":"2020-03-08T07:30:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/?p=3769"},"modified":"2020-04-23T00:39:06","modified_gmt":"2020-04-22T12:39:06","slug":"8th-march-2020-crooked-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/?p=3769","title":{"rendered":"8th March 2020: Crooked River"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Date:<\/strong> 8\/03\/20
River:<\/strong> Crooked River, West Coast, NZ
River Conditions:<\/strong> Medium flow. Grade 2+, water clear and cold.
Weather Conditions:<\/strong> Overcast with occasional light drizzle build to heavy rain at take out. Cool.
Number on Trip:<\/strong> 18
Time on River:<\/strong> 3 hours.
Comments:<\/strong> I\u2019d been looking forward to running this section of the Crooked River again for some time. I remembered it as being intensely beautiful, with lush native bush and crystal clear, blue water cascading over river sculptured rocks and boulders, but couldn\u2019t remember specific details. I was a little worried about the access track, which I remembered as being a bit rough, and how the low slung Impreza would handle it, especially with the forecast heavy rain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After running the\nArnold, we stopped off at the new caf\u00e9 \/ petrol station in Moana for a coffee\nor some food. I had a tasty steak pie to warm me up and keep me fuelled up for\nthe afternoon paddle. We then drove to the take out, where Bell Hill Road\ncrosses the Crooked as it flows out of the hills. From the bridge, I looked\ndown into the blue water I remembered, spotting a large trout swimming in the\ndepths. We consolidated vehicles and boats, to reduce the number of vehicles\nneeding to be shuttled, Graeme and Hugh didn\u2019t plan to paddle this section and\nwould shuttle the vehicles, while we paddled, before heading back to Christchurch.\nThis was really appreciated as heavy rain was scheduled for later in the\nafternoon and it was already spitting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once everyone and all\ntheir gear had been crammed in, we headed back down the road for about a\nkilometre and through the gate to access the Rotomanu-Kopara Road, an official paper\nroad behind a locked gate, fortunately Sylvie had picked up the key from the farmer\nand paid the $20 access fee. The track wasn\u2019t too bad, as long as you drove\ncarefully and kept the speed down, so the Impreza would have been fine, though\nwith the planned shuttle, I didn\u2019t need to put this to the test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were a few\nvehicles already at the put in, but we didn\u2019t see any other paddlers. In a nice\nsurprise, we bumped into Barry Boyd, who had been doing a spot of trout\nfishing. It was good to catch up with a former stalwart of the WWCC and see\nthat he is still enjoying our rivers, even if he is no longer paddling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We got our gear sorted out. I checked out the top rapid (grade 3 or 4) and decided it wasn\u2019t worth the risk. I also paid my respects at the memorial to Eleanor Rutter<\/a>, a young British kayaker who drowned in 2004 on the grade 5, upper section of the Crooked, a reminder of the potential risk present on any whitewater trip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The optional grade 3 or 4 rapid at the start of the lower Crooked run.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Once on the river, the difference is water temperature was\nvery noticeable and the Crooked felt very chilled compared with the much\nwarmer, lake fed Arnold River and I felt quite glad that I\u2019d put on my polar\nfleece over my damp thermals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Heidi demonstrates how it is done to some of the newer paddlers.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Heidi took many of the newer paddlers under her wing, coaching and guiding them down the river. We formed the second group and let the others get a good head start, before we set off. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Enjoying one of the rapids on the Crooked.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The Crooked was the highlight of the weekend, with great scenery and the more challenging whitewater, with a number of rapids that were grade 2+. Most being relatively straightforward boulder rapids, but some of the trickier ones required some skill at working through the rocks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Some nice rapids on the Crooked.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was great to be back to this river, it was always a personal favourite and it didn’t disappoint. I didn’t remember much from previous trips, but the river was full of magical wonder and beautiful scenery. A real West Coast run at a relatively easy grade, but still offering plenty of fun and challenges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Heidi surfing at a play spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were plenty of nice play spots, and it was a real pleasure to glide across the crystal clear water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sergi making a splash in his play boat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was great to see Sergi make his way down the river, he is a very good paddler and is able to make his little playboat dance and surf down rapids.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Making the moves.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

There were plenty of eddies to catch and boulders to duck behind, and it was good to see people taking advantage of these, rather than just bombing down rapids. This is where new skills are learned and honed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Carving it up.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It was great to see everyone challenge themselves and try new things. Within our group there were few dramas, though apparently some in the other group, having spent their energies elsewhere, didn’t fare so well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Running one of the harder rapids while the newer paddlers watch and learn.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Coming up on a new rapid, I spotted members of the first group standing on the river bank and members of our group pulling over to the side. I slowed down and began boat scouting down the rapid, working down the river eddy to eddy, while the rest of the party watched from the river bank. The rapid was a larger boulder garden, with slightly more complex lines that, that weren’t so easy to pick and required moves to be made at the right times. I pulled into an eddy near the bottom of the rapid to act as safety and take photos of those running the rapid, though many of the newer paddlers chose to portage. There were some bumpy rides, but no dramas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Getting some air!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Some rides were bumpier than others, with not quite so much water covering this particular rock, this particular aerial attempt didn’t have quite the intended result.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
“Um, still getting some air, but I seem to be stuck”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

The sudden realization that all forward momentum had evaporated, and you’re stuck, perched on a rock with your kayaks nose high in the air.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
“Yeaaaaah!”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately by a little wriggling, rocking back and forth, holding your tongue in just the right way, the nose drops into the white water and you are free at last.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Blue water, green bush and some brightly coloured plastic in the middle.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

About two thirds of the way down is a flat section, where the river passes through a narrow gorge of water carved rocks. The water was deep and blue, and the occasional eel could be spotted. The smoothly sculptured rocks were covered in an emerald green moss, ferns and native bush, making it into quite a magical location, only accessible to kayakers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The blue waters, the green moss & forest, the water sculpted rocks make this a very magical spot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Everyone posed for photos, as I watched the battery icon flashed red. I was trying to capture one last photo of this special place when the battery finally gave out. Fortunately there weren’t too many more photo opportunities so I focused on enjoying the river and surfing where I could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The hills retreated, the end neared and as we paddled under\nthe bridge the rain came down and became increasingly heavy as we got changed\nand loaded up vehicles. I kept my wet top on while I packed up and loaded the\ncar so my dry clothes didn\u2019t get soaked. It was nice to be warm and dry, as I\ndrove off and headed for home. The bush and the mountains looked magical,\nwreathed in clouds and the pouring rain was the dust from my car. I crawled\nover the pass behind a very slow truck and then on down to Arthur\u2019s Pass, where\nwe stopped for dinner at the Wobbly Kea. Everyone else had ordered when I\narrived and another big group ordered before I did, so I was surprised when \u201cmy\u201d\nnachos arrived so promptly. Turned out Heidi had also ordered nachos and I felt\nvery guilty when she had to wait, while everyone else ate their meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

After dinner, continued the homeward drive, the rain cleared\nup as I moved out of the mountains, the sky darken as the sunset and the moon\nshone large through the clouds. I stopped briefly in Darfield to rest as I was\nstarting to feel pretty fatigued. I was glad when I rolled in to Christchurch\nand finally made it home, to unload the car and wash a mountain of damp\nkayaking gear, before finally getting to bed.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Date: 8\/03\/20River: Crooked River, West Coast, NZRiver Conditions: Medium flow. Grade 2+, water clear and cold.Weather Conditions: Overcast with occasional light drizzle build to heavy rain at take out. Cool.Number on Trip: 18Time on River: 3 hours.Comments: I\u2019d been looking forward to running this section of the Crooked River again for some time. I remembered it as being intensely beautiful, with lush […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":204,"featured_media":3799,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3769","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kayaking","category-river"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3769","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/204"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=3769"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3769\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3840,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3769\/revisions\/3840"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/3799"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3769"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=3769"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/deltaprime.net.nz\/whitewater\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=3769"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}