Newsletter 24
Southland Sea Kayakers
3 July 2005
Dear Southland Sea Kayakers
The next kayak rolling classes is this Sunday 10th July from 4.30-6.30 PM at Splash Palace. The dates of the other classes are Sunday 24 July 4.30 - 6.30 PM, Sunday 7 August 4.30- 6.30 PM and Sunday 21 August 4.30 -6.30 PM. We need one sea kayak per 2 persons and It must be cleaned before it is taken into the pool. Please make sure all gravel/sand is removed from the cockpit before you take it in. The staff at Splash Palace will also hose down the kayaks before they are put in the water. Bring along you PFD and paddle plus goggles or nose clip as this make it a more enjoyable experience.
We will be focussing on the "Backward shaping" technique and to make this easier you should make up a paddle float of 2 sheets of polystyrene slightly wider than the paddle blade held together with duct tape. The paddle fits in between the sheets and assists in learning the technique.
The cost is the admission cost and a dollar or two to Stanley for the lane hire depending on numbers
Network Trips:
I have two planned for the winter on the following dates weather dependent
Saturday/Sunday 16/17 July : Lake Te Anau
Kayak from Te Anau Downs up the Middle Fiord of Lake Te Anau to camp opposite Arran Island ( lovely camping spot) and from there to climb up Flecked Peak ( optional for those with excess energy to burn ). This is a nice easy paddle and a pleasant bush walk of 4,400 feet up hill ( great views). give me a ring the Wednesday before the trip to confirm it is still on track and to register. My phone number is 2157263(home) and 2110999(work)
Saturday/Sunday 13/14 August : Milford Sound
Kayaking weekend on Milford Sound. This is your chance to see it before the wonderful Gondola floods the place with overseas tourists. There are lots of possibilities from camping at Anita Bay to having a look at Stanley's Bivi Rock ( named in my honour of course ) to vying for sea room with the red line boats. It is still a magnificent place despite all the abuse!
Trips Reports:
Paddle on the Waihopai River
On the shortest day of the year, Tues 21st June 12 hardy souls set off from Queens Drive down the Waihopai River in kayaks in the dark. We had a lovely clear sky with mild temperatures and just past the Stead St bridge we pulled out for a snack. Where we landed there is a railway engine and a nice picknic spot . When we were ready to leave the tide conveniently turned and assisted us on our return up river.
Journey to the Promised Land
In recent times my attention has been focused on Lake Poteriteri ( the Maori name for dripping wet). My interest was kindled in recent years by views from the Hump Ridge track and also one misty evening last February as we helicoptered out from Preservation Sound with Giselle after her successful rescue. The lake suddenly appeared through a break in the clouds, a giant body of water disappearing to the horizon fringed by high forest covered mountains. It is about 30 kilometres long and 1-3 wide with no road access thus preserving its wilderness state.
Then one a recent ACR Squad training weekend one of the members informed me about an old hunters track that goes from the Wairaurhiri River as it starts at Lake Hauroko to Poteriteri. The promised land seemed a lot closer after that.
It was a frosty and dark morning that Simon and I left Invercargill with our two kayaks strapped to my car roof. The sky was clear and frost sparkled on the road as we sped west across the plains to the western mountains. Out to Clifton and then onto the Lill Burn valley to arrive at Lake Hauroko at 9.00 AM. There were a few fizz boat enthusiasts also there as we loaded our kayaks and set off . The lake was mill pond calm as we paddled off on the 12 kilometre trip to the mouth of the Waiaurhiri.
When we reached there we landed on a small beach on the true right of the river and had lunch. Then we carried our kayaks into the bush and set off on a disked trail which brought us in half an hour to a walk wire bridge. Here we crossed and on the other side there was no sign of a track. We hunted around and eventually Simon found a few blazes going up a hillside. I thought this was incorrect and dropped into a swamp where we could find no sign at all of a route. This went on for some time and then we picked it up again higher up a hillside among tall timber. There was little sign of a track and only a few blazes with red pint on trees. Where these crossed creeks it was especially difficult to follow. Mid afternoon I knew we were not going to reach Poteriteri as we were only covering a kilometre an hour. We decided to backtrack and reached our kayaks in 1.5 hours. We launched and went to Teal Island where I had spotted a possible campsite on a small beach there.
It was now getting dark so I pitched my tent and Simon lit a large bonfire. We had a pleasant evening lying on the beach eating our meal and then drifted off to the tent.
Next morning it was a bit windy as we set off for Alexander Peak opposite Mary Island. It was an 8 kilometre paddle there. Landing was not straight forward as I had my skin kayak and had to be careful not to tear it on rocks. We parked them on a rock platform at a waterfall and set off up a very scrubby slope which improved higher up as a deer trail meandered along a ridge. After 2 hours we reached the bushline at about 1000 metres. From here we were in snow and climbed up another 250 metres to a summit. The view was great especially south to Stewart Island and the Solander Islands. As it was now 3.00 PM we raced off down. Just below the bushline we lost the deer trail and made the mistake of hoping we could find it lower down. On we went into steeper country scrambling down near vertical slopes under wind falls and through dripping wet ferns. We became totally lost and decided to keep heading straight down to the lake 800 metres below us. This we reached at 5 PM just on dusk. Which were the kayaks? I guessed north (wrongly ) and we scrambled along the steep forest covered side of the lake till it was pitch dark. Simon elected to carry on and returned 2 hours later having reached a small island we knew was to the north of where we had landed. We had a bit to eat and then headed off to the south. I stopped on a small beach and Simon carried on. Then at 11.30 PM I saw a head light appear out on the lake as Simon arrived towing my kayak.
It was such a clear night sky, so many stars and the Milky Way, the centre-fold of this spectacle. It was a 7 kilometre paddle across the dark lake to our car and then a 1.5 hour drive home.
A kayak/mountaineering trip to Lake Hauroko on 11/12 June 2005 by Simon Marwick and Stan Mulvany
Emergency Kit:
I now have completed an emergency kit for use in the bush and on sea kayaking trips. It weights 450 gms and includes a small dry bag_ packed size 18x20x6 cm. It contains the following
- A polyester metalized survival bag
- A tiny Silva compass
- A whistle
- An Energiser torch_ tiny and only needs 1 AAA battery
- An Illumistick
- A signalling steel mirror with sighting hole and device
- Waterproof matches/cigarette lighter
- Some small camping firestarters
- A small pad, pencil and a few zip lock bags.
- Energy bar
I cannot emphasise how important this kit is on trips. If you do enough trips you will be caught out sooner or later. It has happened to me more than once and I am sorry to say I was not prepared but no longer as I have the magic kit safely tucked into my kayak and or pack now. I can do a costing on the kit if anyone would like to purchase one from me.
Safe kayaking
Stanley
3 July 2005
Dear Southland Sea Kayakers
The next kayak rolling classes is this Sunday 10th July from 4.30-6.30 PM at Splash Palace. The dates of the other classes are Sunday 24 July 4.30 - 6.30 PM, Sunday 7 August 4.30- 6.30 PM and Sunday 21 August 4.30 -6.30 PM. We need one sea kayak per 2 persons and It must be cleaned before it is taken into the pool. Please make sure all gravel/sand is removed from the cockpit before you take it in. The staff at Splash Palace will also hose down the kayaks before they are put in the water. Bring along you PFD and paddle plus goggles or nose clip as this make it a more enjoyable experience.
We will be focussing on the "Backward shaping" technique and to make this easier you should make up a paddle float of 2 sheets of polystyrene slightly wider than the paddle blade held together with duct tape. The paddle fits in between the sheets and assists in learning the technique.
The cost is the admission cost and a dollar or two to Stanley for the lane hire depending on numbers
Network Trips:
I have two planned for the winter on the following dates weather dependent
Saturday/Sunday 16/17 July : Lake Te Anau
Kayak from Te Anau Downs up the Middle Fiord of Lake Te Anau to camp opposite Arran Island ( lovely camping spot) and from there to climb up Flecked Peak ( optional for those with excess energy to burn ). This is a nice easy paddle and a pleasant bush walk of 4,400 feet up hill ( great views). give me a ring the Wednesday before the trip to confirm it is still on track and to register. My phone number is 2157263(home) and 2110999(work)
Saturday/Sunday 13/14 August : Milford Sound
Kayaking weekend on Milford Sound. This is your chance to see it before the wonderful Gondola floods the place with overseas tourists. There are lots of possibilities from camping at Anita Bay to having a look at Stanley's Bivi Rock ( named in my honour of course ) to vying for sea room with the red line boats. It is still a magnificent place despite all the abuse!
Trips Reports:
Paddle on the Waihopai River
On the shortest day of the year, Tues 21st June 12 hardy souls set off from Queens Drive down the Waihopai River in kayaks in the dark. We had a lovely clear sky with mild temperatures and just past the Stead St bridge we pulled out for a snack. Where we landed there is a railway engine and a nice picknic spot . When we were ready to leave the tide conveniently turned and assisted us on our return up river.
Journey to the Promised Land
In recent times my attention has been focused on Lake Poteriteri ( the Maori name for dripping wet). My interest was kindled in recent years by views from the Hump Ridge track and also one misty evening last February as we helicoptered out from Preservation Sound with Giselle after her successful rescue. The lake suddenly appeared through a break in the clouds, a giant body of water disappearing to the horizon fringed by high forest covered mountains. It is about 30 kilometres long and 1-3 wide with no road access thus preserving its wilderness state.
Then one a recent ACR Squad training weekend one of the members informed me about an old hunters track that goes from the Wairaurhiri River as it starts at Lake Hauroko to Poteriteri. The promised land seemed a lot closer after that.
It was a frosty and dark morning that Simon and I left Invercargill with our two kayaks strapped to my car roof. The sky was clear and frost sparkled on the road as we sped west across the plains to the western mountains. Out to Clifton and then onto the Lill Burn valley to arrive at Lake Hauroko at 9.00 AM. There were a few fizz boat enthusiasts also there as we loaded our kayaks and set off . The lake was mill pond calm as we paddled off on the 12 kilometre trip to the mouth of the Waiaurhiri.
When we reached there we landed on a small beach on the true right of the river and had lunch. Then we carried our kayaks into the bush and set off on a disked trail which brought us in half an hour to a walk wire bridge. Here we crossed and on the other side there was no sign of a track. We hunted around and eventually Simon found a few blazes going up a hillside. I thought this was incorrect and dropped into a swamp where we could find no sign at all of a route. This went on for some time and then we picked it up again higher up a hillside among tall timber. There was little sign of a track and only a few blazes with red pint on trees. Where these crossed creeks it was especially difficult to follow. Mid afternoon I knew we were not going to reach Poteriteri as we were only covering a kilometre an hour. We decided to backtrack and reached our kayaks in 1.5 hours. We launched and went to Teal Island where I had spotted a possible campsite on a small beach there.
It was now getting dark so I pitched my tent and Simon lit a large bonfire. We had a pleasant evening lying on the beach eating our meal and then drifted off to the tent.
Next morning it was a bit windy as we set off for Alexander Peak opposite Mary Island. It was an 8 kilometre paddle there. Landing was not straight forward as I had my skin kayak and had to be careful not to tear it on rocks. We parked them on a rock platform at a waterfall and set off up a very scrubby slope which improved higher up as a deer trail meandered along a ridge. After 2 hours we reached the bushline at about 1000 metres. From here we were in snow and climbed up another 250 metres to a summit. The view was great especially south to Stewart Island and the Solander Islands. As it was now 3.00 PM we raced off down. Just below the bushline we lost the deer trail and made the mistake of hoping we could find it lower down. On we went into steeper country scrambling down near vertical slopes under wind falls and through dripping wet ferns. We became totally lost and decided to keep heading straight down to the lake 800 metres below us. This we reached at 5 PM just on dusk. Which were the kayaks? I guessed north (wrongly ) and we scrambled along the steep forest covered side of the lake till it was pitch dark. Simon elected to carry on and returned 2 hours later having reached a small island we knew was to the north of where we had landed. We had a bit to eat and then headed off to the south. I stopped on a small beach and Simon carried on. Then at 11.30 PM I saw a head light appear out on the lake as Simon arrived towing my kayak.
It was such a clear night sky, so many stars and the Milky Way, the centre-fold of this spectacle. It was a 7 kilometre paddle across the dark lake to our car and then a 1.5 hour drive home.
A kayak/mountaineering trip to Lake Hauroko on 11/12 June 2005 by Simon Marwick and Stan Mulvany
Emergency Kit:
I now have completed an emergency kit for use in the bush and on sea kayaking trips. It weights 450 gms and includes a small dry bag_ packed size 18x20x6 cm. It contains the following
- A polyester metalized survival bag
- A tiny Silva compass
- A whistle
- An Energiser torch_ tiny and only needs 1 AAA battery
- An Illumistick
- A signalling steel mirror with sighting hole and device
- Waterproof matches/cigarette lighter
- Some small camping firestarters
- A small pad, pencil and a few zip lock bags.
- Energy bar
I cannot emphasise how important this kit is on trips. If you do enough trips you will be caught out sooner or later. It has happened to me more than once and I am sorry to say I was not prepared but no longer as I have the magic kit safely tucked into my kayak and or pack now. I can do a costing on the kit if anyone would like to purchase one from me.
Safe kayaking
Stanley