Andy: Surprise, woke up to wicked rain - like every other day in New Zealand. Today's run was the Lower Kokatapathi (say that five times fast!), a class 3-4 run through an amazing gorge... with a catch. The catch? A heinous put-in and an even more heinous portage. Getting to the put-in involved a 20 minute descent through mud, bush, and finally a short cliff w/ rope work. And after five minutes on the river, it was time for the portage. The portage was 30 minutes through mud, logs, and a creek bed. Once we got back on the river, it was all good fun for the rest of the day. It was one of the prettiest rivers we've paddled - amazing moss covered gorges and golden colored water (from tannin in the soil).
Peter, running another fine drop
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Wendy, running a drop while Steve and Peter look on |
 Steve and Wendy on the heinous portage
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Looking at the rapid we portaged in the gorge
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Check out the amazing gorge behind Wendy! It was a whole day of scenery like this.
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