A long walk for paradise on the Arahura

As the sun slipped behind the hills and the cool winter breeze funnelled down the valley, we put on our very awkward packs and set off up the Arahura valley.  With darkness upon us and our new Hydroscapes carry systems to try out, the 7 of us headed to the lower Arahura hut (6 bunked). After a very close sleep and some stale bread and bake beans for breakfast Phil, Greg and I started our short walk up to the Newton Swing Bridge. The track leading down to the put in was steep and slippery. A 100 metres from the river Greg spotted what looked like a good spot to launch our boats   over it, we lined our boats up ready to take on the 20 metre bank. Greg was quick to push his off and after some impressive aerial manoeuvres by Gretchen’s boat (which he was borrowing) the result was a massive crack in the front. We carried our boats into the bushes, tired and disappointed vowing to be back next weekend.

A week later after a rough and ready welding job by Greg along with some ‘bitch tape’ (A must have on the coast) we were set.  A couple of warm up rapids behind us, we were into it, our first horizon line looking ominous. Greg jumped out to scout the line, but after Phil ran first and got back looped, the need for a new line was decided and relayed back to Greg and I. The rest of the river kept coming with some good boat scouting meant clean lines and nice edge to edge transitions. The trip had minimal portaging besides a single ‘mankey’ section where the whole river seemed to disappear into a sieve. It was a good day out for the Two Dash crew, well worth the 6 hour walk and we will definitely be back!

Phil Palzer stops for a drink
Photo by Greg Lee

The bottom of the last gouge
Photo By Rata Lovell-Smith 

Written By Rata Lovell-Smith