The Hollyford had a few strainers extra to my last trip. Its a great trip, and one which is getting more popular by the month. I considered putting in at Martens Bay and paddling to Big Bay to avoid the bog, but the sea looked a tad rough for that adventure. Had it been a bit calmer i would have given it a go.
@matthewcowell22 күн бұрын
Yeah, early on there are a few big trees. Nothing crazy to avoid, but definitely to be mindful for inexperienced paddlers!
@christophermarshall52725 күн бұрын
Thank you for sharing your journey through such beauty!!
@dibzr8281Ай бұрын
Amazing trip insights, and amazing speed!
@matthewcowellАй бұрын
Cheers! Yeah it was fast, quite a chnage from the previous time I did it haha!
@mozdicksonАй бұрын
Thanks for making this. Will need to check a map, can't grasp how you got from coast back in to river! Quite surprised you have walking poles.
@matthewcowellАй бұрын
@mozdickson I take hiking poles on all trips, theybate amazing. There's no downside to taking hiking poles packrafting also. They just go in the pack inside the raft. If you look at a topo map, you'll see the hiking trail connecting the two rivers.
@FleurArbman2 ай бұрын
Absolutely enjoyed your video, loved the factual content, without the usual glamour music accompanying the climbs/scrambles etc. I completed the WAT in march 24, weather meant we cut short the full traverse and went out via moraine K. I’m really interested in doing the Eastern Arthur range, and like a previous commenter would like to ask which you found more challenging. Just to dive deeper into your reply, you say both are challenging, but the eastern has more vegetation sections rather than the scrambling on the westerns. Are you saying it’s physically harder tramping in the eastern but less technical than the westerns? Reason I ask is, I have no intention on climbing Fed peak, I feel the last section is outside my comfort zone for climbing without safety gear. But I’m keen to do another circuit on the range in the eastern section, I have tried searching more experiences and info about the 4 peaks to get a feel for the difficulty, but there isn’t much out there. 😊
@entrancedbywilderness27932 ай бұрын
Appreciate the compliment! I like making realistic videos and blog posts without glamour haha! Fed Peak wasn't really that hard to be honest. It's no more technical than the sections on the WAT. More exposed maybe, but it's really not difficult. Four Peaks is mostly a scrub bash, the trail goes mostly around the back of them. There's only one hard rock scramble part. The hardest section of the whole trip for me was Moss Ridge. So yeah, I'd say both sections are equally as hard really.
@jamesmcintosh38322 ай бұрын
Great video! One question. Which do you think would be a harder walk - just the Western Arthurs or just the Eastern Arthurs?
@entrancedbywilderness27932 ай бұрын
Both are pretty much just as hard as the other. I'm assuming you mean completing both as loops from either side. I'd say that Western has more scrambling, but Eastern has harder vegetated sections. I'd say both are equally as difficult as one another to be honest. The one thing the Eastern has going for it, making life easier, is that it is that there is less pressure for campsites.
@jamesyoung48342 ай бұрын
2 questions, the amount of scrambling did the poles create some difficulty with the climbing and in terms of footwear, any suggestions on soles, I use salomon trail running shoes or hiking boots with vibram soles, both are fine, except wet rocks, where they can be like ice skates. What were you wearing?
@matthewcowell2 ай бұрын
I personally don't fine poles a hinderence for climbing. You just collapse and holster them through shoulder strap, or hold in one hand. When descending, just throw them. I used Brooks Cascadia trail runners. I stopped using hiking boots a long time ago, they are terrible at everything. It's either trail runners or proper mountaineering boots for me (for winter). They were great on this trip, but prepare for any shoe to take a beating when getting into dense scrub.
@jamesmcintosh38322 ай бұрын
My experience of this sort of walking is that you are best off with ONE pole. It's really useful for stability, for stepping down, for feeling the depth of mud holes, or for taking a bit of your weight. It leaves one hand free for grabbing stuff. Also best to have a short pole, not a long one like you'd use for nordic walking, cross-country skiing etc.
@matthewcowell2 ай бұрын
@@jamesmcintosh3832 One pole doesn't help much for me. You can't get much strength off it. It's only really useful as a stability support, where 2 poles can really hold your weight or allow you to push off from. Depends also how you hold them, as I do it unconventionally as I think the usual way is limiting. I guess everyone has personal preferences in the end.
@christineminto44472 ай бұрын
What an adventure - quite the mini series. Will work my way through it.
@Capfka3 ай бұрын
Did that route back in the 70s, but from the Wilkin to the Matukituki. I was going to give up when I saw the route up the waterfall, but my companions decided to give it a go, so I had to as well. Never again - I was a tramper, not a rock climber. You gave me the willies during the clamber down that cliff. Great video, nonethless and I look forward to more of them!
@ripshitandbustin4 ай бұрын
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I checked your blog hoping to find some more details of this, but no luck. Can you share any intel of roughly where you stayed along the way? I realise it was prob a bit 'ad-hock' for some places so prob can't be too specific :-) Did you find K's covered per day fairly consistent or a bit up and down, and did that effect your planning? I guess you had a few stash points along the way? Sorry for all the questions... just love to know more!
@matthewcowell4 ай бұрын
Yeah, I haven't gotten arpund to making a blog post for this trip yet. We stayed at Palmer Hut, Quail Flat, Snowgrass Hut and Matari Flat. It total depends of if a commercial group is active in the river, as they use a few of the bigger camp sites.
@matthewcowell4 ай бұрын
Iur days were fairly consistent and a good length. Enough time to relax at the end and never rush to leave, but never in camp super early.
@valentinebick66164 ай бұрын
The waterfall face looks absolutely terrifying especially holding onto tussock!!! 😖 you must’ve been so relieved when it was finally done. Utmost respect!
@philipwilkie32394 ай бұрын
May 1981 two of us came down the Waterfall Face going on dark and very wet. Like you I got below the route, slipped and nearly died. Sweaty palms watching you - it's amazing how long the body holds onto memories like this.
@entrancedbywilderness27934 ай бұрын
What a memory! I'm not sure if I am glad to have let you relive that memory haha! 😮😅 Something you never forget, that's for sure!
@Jullechiller4 ай бұрын
Hi! Nice to see your tent setup! Did you make any adjustments to the pole-setup since? you wrote elsewhere that you had the same issue as me -- poles keep falling in gusts. Did you use velcro or or rope to fasten them there?
@matthewcowell4 ай бұрын
Actually, you don't need anything extra if you get the tent firmly tightly secure prior to the wind. I wrap the loop over the top of the pole, and tie the loose cord through it as a weak knot now. If I really wanted it tightly secure, I'd just use tape that's wrapped around my poles anyway. Velcro would be great, but it would fall off easy in time I think, so I never used it.
@Stevecollinsclear6 ай бұрын
from Jacks' Pass - yes? and - how high do you think the rover was - 'normal' flow? (awesome trip and great footage - those packrafts are way more manoeuvrable than I ever imagined
@matthewcowell6 ай бұрын
From Jollies Pass! Pretty rough road over the tops though. Go Jacks for 2WD, I did that after if my van and it's good access. We had an AWD this trip though. I'd say this was low-normal flow. At no point did I need to walk in bonier sections, and only some scraping. Very chill paddling conditions throughout for the most part, the final section not in footsge is the most burley, fast and fun!
@Stevecollinsclear6 ай бұрын
@@matthewcowell I have a plastic double seakayak - been thru the waimak gorge in it, Alawys wanted to paddle the Clarence
@matthewcowell6 ай бұрын
I mean, you'd get through! There's nothing too crazy haha.
@Stevecollinsclear6 ай бұрын
I walked - the other way -in 2006. I remember making a nite to self "do NOT do this south to north : meaning ...'do not go DOWN waterfall face'
@matthewcowell6 ай бұрын
Yep, well I doubt I'll be heading down it again haha. Definitely keen to do it in reverse though!
@terrymadams85917 ай бұрын
Knowing people have died going up the waterfall face it looked gnarly as coming down , I hadn't realized you also had the added weight of a packraft and paddle . Well done.
@entrancedbywilderness27936 ай бұрын
I definitely underestimated how exposed it was, most backcountry gnarly stuff I do is easier than that. It's crazy, as it's a well travelled route. I can totally see how people have died there - you need a lot of patience and composure coming down it!
@GR-sd4zw7 ай бұрын
That descent was insane. With utmost respect I think good luck was essential unless the steepness was exaggerated by the video. Great courage & nerve!
@entrancedbywilderness27937 ай бұрын
If anything, the steepness of the footage is understated, because it's a fisheye GoPro lens, which makes things look less steep generally. I wouldn't say luck was essential, I mean, it rained on me half way down (no footage of that part). I had my fair share of bad luck haha. There is enough to get you down, but it does require specific tussock or rock grabs to make each manoeuvre! Thanks for your comment! 😊
@lechuck127 ай бұрын
It's difficult to see the steepness coming down the hill at 19mins. I'm going to presume you just filmed it on flat ground for the video 😂
@entrancedbywilderness27937 ай бұрын
It's pretty steep! Bascially a glacial carved cliff face haha. It's a known route, but definitely not an easy one!
@lechuck127 ай бұрын
Awesome video! Would hate to hike up that steep snow.
@entrancedbywilderness27937 ай бұрын
Thanks! 😀 It's not so bad! Wasn't too much snow to climb!
@danielnogueira63657 ай бұрын
Awesome video and adventure. Very brave of you to attempt this route at this time of the year and on the "opposite" direction of what's most recommended! That soft snow going up the pass didn't look very fun haha! I'm impressed of how you kept it calm and chill going down the waterfall face. Just a side note to anyone attempting this trip: unless you are super experienced in the mountains and want an extra challenge, I would definitely recommend doing the opposite direction! The Waterfall face is no joke and there have been multiple fatalities there. After going up it on a perfect summer day a few years ago my first thought was "I would never want to do this the opposite direction." Great video, thanks for sharing!
@entrancedbywilderness27937 ай бұрын
Thanks for that great supporting comment Daniel! I've done some fairly gnarly stuff before, but that felt super exposed with the most minimal handholds if any. It made Gifford Crack look easy, but then, I didn't come down that one. Still, there was a lot more to hold on there. I don't think yhink I'm selling anyone on doing the waterfall face in this video anyway haha 😂 I hope it's as scary as it looks to people, only do it with high confidence for sure!
@Stevecollinsclear6 ай бұрын
can confirm
@bailevs2 жыл бұрын
It's way easier to go up the gut on the right side of the water fall it's a bit steeper but it is way easier to traverse and allot quicker
@entrancedbywilderness27932 жыл бұрын
Yeah, I've heard most people go that way. It wasn't hard the way I went either though to the right.
@adamstepic80832 жыл бұрын
It seems to me that a kayak would be better for this. I don't get this.
@entrancedbywilderness27932 жыл бұрын
Only because it's got road accees, try taking a kayak down the Caples, Greenstone etc without a helicopter. Why would I take a kayak, when I could upskill in a packraft and gain more confidence. Everyone has different hobbies, whitewater kayaking in hard shells is not something I'm really interested in because I love multi-day trips.
@adamstepic80832 жыл бұрын
Considering that I don't really follow this or know much about it, I have to consider your reply as "fair enough". I would like to say that I know white water people who do multi day trips with their kayak. I personally love long distance and weekend trips, so I paddle a 18 foot sea kayak. I live right next to lk Erie in Ohio. My back yard is the lake.
@stephenmclennan9029Ай бұрын
Nice vid, shocking captions.
@danielford24242 жыл бұрын
Absolutely fantastic video. Thank you.
@entrancedbywilderness27932 жыл бұрын
Thanks and your welcome! 😊
@Scoopster2 жыл бұрын
Wow we are lucky with our upland rivers here! What a fun and stunning ride!
@entrancedbywilderness27932 жыл бұрын
Indeed! Couldn't be in a better place!
@Packraftexplorers2 жыл бұрын
😍 woow...nice river. The water color is amazing.
@Chriswilliams-lx9mx3 жыл бұрын
That looked like great fun,I’ll have to give them kopelli packrafts a go 👍👍
@entrancedbywilderness27933 жыл бұрын
It's a good flexible raft that covers a wide variety of usage!
@packraftingqueenstown57304 жыл бұрын
great times!
@kel97574 жыл бұрын
Do you need a water filter ?
@OutdoorsmanDave5 жыл бұрын
How do you find the crocs normally for campsite and what was your actual pack weight? I would like to do that track some time but I like in the North and still so much more to see here.
@HikingWithShawn5 жыл бұрын
That is a whole lot of gear for 3 days worth. As long as the weight doesn't bother you, more power to you. I bet hiking in the NZ would be awesome! Great video. Hope to see more from you and I hit that subscribe button :) Am I the first subscriber? :D
@entrancedbywilderness27935 жыл бұрын
Hey man! Yes you are the first subscriber! Cheers for that! I'll return the favor :) I've been running my website www.entrancedbywilderness.com for a few years now, and i've never done any video material. So trying to start that a bit more :) In regards to the gear, It was still cold at night, so i really needed the extra layers and there was a lot of snow still (i didn't think there would be). That was also everything including what i would be wearing, it wasn't all in my pack. This weighed hardly anything for me! No tent or sleeping pad. In hindsight, the only real overkill gear i had was the towel, silk liner, PLB and perhaps one upper body layer. Obviously some of my food choices were heavy (fresh fruit). I wouldn't have taken those if concerned with weight haha.
Пікірлер
The Hollyford had a few strainers extra to my last trip. Its a great trip, and one which is getting more popular by the month. I considered putting in at Martens Bay and paddling to Big Bay to avoid the bog, but the sea looked a tad rough for that adventure. Had it been a bit calmer i would have given it a go.
Yeah, early on there are a few big trees. Nothing crazy to avoid, but definitely to be mindful for inexperienced paddlers!
Thank you for sharing your journey through such beauty!!
Amazing trip insights, and amazing speed!
Cheers! Yeah it was fast, quite a chnage from the previous time I did it haha!
Thanks for making this. Will need to check a map, can't grasp how you got from coast back in to river! Quite surprised you have walking poles.
@mozdickson I take hiking poles on all trips, theybate amazing. There's no downside to taking hiking poles packrafting also. They just go in the pack inside the raft. If you look at a topo map, you'll see the hiking trail connecting the two rivers.
Absolutely enjoyed your video, loved the factual content, without the usual glamour music accompanying the climbs/scrambles etc. I completed the WAT in march 24, weather meant we cut short the full traverse and went out via moraine K. I’m really interested in doing the Eastern Arthur range, and like a previous commenter would like to ask which you found more challenging. Just to dive deeper into your reply, you say both are challenging, but the eastern has more vegetation sections rather than the scrambling on the westerns. Are you saying it’s physically harder tramping in the eastern but less technical than the westerns? Reason I ask is, I have no intention on climbing Fed peak, I feel the last section is outside my comfort zone for climbing without safety gear. But I’m keen to do another circuit on the range in the eastern section, I have tried searching more experiences and info about the 4 peaks to get a feel for the difficulty, but there isn’t much out there. 😊
Appreciate the compliment! I like making realistic videos and blog posts without glamour haha! Fed Peak wasn't really that hard to be honest. It's no more technical than the sections on the WAT. More exposed maybe, but it's really not difficult. Four Peaks is mostly a scrub bash, the trail goes mostly around the back of them. There's only one hard rock scramble part. The hardest section of the whole trip for me was Moss Ridge. So yeah, I'd say both sections are equally as hard really.
Great video! One question. Which do you think would be a harder walk - just the Western Arthurs or just the Eastern Arthurs?
Both are pretty much just as hard as the other. I'm assuming you mean completing both as loops from either side. I'd say that Western has more scrambling, but Eastern has harder vegetated sections. I'd say both are equally as difficult as one another to be honest. The one thing the Eastern has going for it, making life easier, is that it is that there is less pressure for campsites.
2 questions, the amount of scrambling did the poles create some difficulty with the climbing and in terms of footwear, any suggestions on soles, I use salomon trail running shoes or hiking boots with vibram soles, both are fine, except wet rocks, where they can be like ice skates. What were you wearing?
I personally don't fine poles a hinderence for climbing. You just collapse and holster them through shoulder strap, or hold in one hand. When descending, just throw them. I used Brooks Cascadia trail runners. I stopped using hiking boots a long time ago, they are terrible at everything. It's either trail runners or proper mountaineering boots for me (for winter). They were great on this trip, but prepare for any shoe to take a beating when getting into dense scrub.
My experience of this sort of walking is that you are best off with ONE pole. It's really useful for stability, for stepping down, for feeling the depth of mud holes, or for taking a bit of your weight. It leaves one hand free for grabbing stuff. Also best to have a short pole, not a long one like you'd use for nordic walking, cross-country skiing etc.
@@jamesmcintosh3832 One pole doesn't help much for me. You can't get much strength off it. It's only really useful as a stability support, where 2 poles can really hold your weight or allow you to push off from. Depends also how you hold them, as I do it unconventionally as I think the usual way is limiting. I guess everyone has personal preferences in the end.
What an adventure - quite the mini series. Will work my way through it.
Did that route back in the 70s, but from the Wilkin to the Matukituki. I was going to give up when I saw the route up the waterfall, but my companions decided to give it a go, so I had to as well. Never again - I was a tramper, not a rock climber. You gave me the willies during the clamber down that cliff. Great video, nonethless and I look forward to more of them!
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I checked your blog hoping to find some more details of this, but no luck. Can you share any intel of roughly where you stayed along the way? I realise it was prob a bit 'ad-hock' for some places so prob can't be too specific :-) Did you find K's covered per day fairly consistent or a bit up and down, and did that effect your planning? I guess you had a few stash points along the way? Sorry for all the questions... just love to know more!
Yeah, I haven't gotten arpund to making a blog post for this trip yet. We stayed at Palmer Hut, Quail Flat, Snowgrass Hut and Matari Flat. It total depends of if a commercial group is active in the river, as they use a few of the bigger camp sites.
Iur days were fairly consistent and a good length. Enough time to relax at the end and never rush to leave, but never in camp super early.
The waterfall face looks absolutely terrifying especially holding onto tussock!!! 😖 you must’ve been so relieved when it was finally done. Utmost respect!
May 1981 two of us came down the Waterfall Face going on dark and very wet. Like you I got below the route, slipped and nearly died. Sweaty palms watching you - it's amazing how long the body holds onto memories like this.
What a memory! I'm not sure if I am glad to have let you relive that memory haha! 😮😅 Something you never forget, that's for sure!
Hi! Nice to see your tent setup! Did you make any adjustments to the pole-setup since? you wrote elsewhere that you had the same issue as me -- poles keep falling in gusts. Did you use velcro or or rope to fasten them there?
Actually, you don't need anything extra if you get the tent firmly tightly secure prior to the wind. I wrap the loop over the top of the pole, and tie the loose cord through it as a weak knot now. If I really wanted it tightly secure, I'd just use tape that's wrapped around my poles anyway. Velcro would be great, but it would fall off easy in time I think, so I never used it.
from Jacks' Pass - yes? and - how high do you think the rover was - 'normal' flow? (awesome trip and great footage - those packrafts are way more manoeuvrable than I ever imagined
From Jollies Pass! Pretty rough road over the tops though. Go Jacks for 2WD, I did that after if my van and it's good access. We had an AWD this trip though. I'd say this was low-normal flow. At no point did I need to walk in bonier sections, and only some scraping. Very chill paddling conditions throughout for the most part, the final section not in footsge is the most burley, fast and fun!
@@matthewcowell I have a plastic double seakayak - been thru the waimak gorge in it, Alawys wanted to paddle the Clarence
I mean, you'd get through! There's nothing too crazy haha.
I walked - the other way -in 2006. I remember making a nite to self "do NOT do this south to north : meaning ...'do not go DOWN waterfall face'
Yep, well I doubt I'll be heading down it again haha. Definitely keen to do it in reverse though!
Knowing people have died going up the waterfall face it looked gnarly as coming down , I hadn't realized you also had the added weight of a packraft and paddle . Well done.
I definitely underestimated how exposed it was, most backcountry gnarly stuff I do is easier than that. It's crazy, as it's a well travelled route. I can totally see how people have died there - you need a lot of patience and composure coming down it!
That descent was insane. With utmost respect I think good luck was essential unless the steepness was exaggerated by the video. Great courage & nerve!
If anything, the steepness of the footage is understated, because it's a fisheye GoPro lens, which makes things look less steep generally. I wouldn't say luck was essential, I mean, it rained on me half way down (no footage of that part). I had my fair share of bad luck haha. There is enough to get you down, but it does require specific tussock or rock grabs to make each manoeuvre! Thanks for your comment! 😊
It's difficult to see the steepness coming down the hill at 19mins. I'm going to presume you just filmed it on flat ground for the video 😂
It's pretty steep! Bascially a glacial carved cliff face haha. It's a known route, but definitely not an easy one!
Awesome video! Would hate to hike up that steep snow.
Thanks! 😀 It's not so bad! Wasn't too much snow to climb!
Awesome video and adventure. Very brave of you to attempt this route at this time of the year and on the "opposite" direction of what's most recommended! That soft snow going up the pass didn't look very fun haha! I'm impressed of how you kept it calm and chill going down the waterfall face. Just a side note to anyone attempting this trip: unless you are super experienced in the mountains and want an extra challenge, I would definitely recommend doing the opposite direction! The Waterfall face is no joke and there have been multiple fatalities there. After going up it on a perfect summer day a few years ago my first thought was "I would never want to do this the opposite direction." Great video, thanks for sharing!
Thanks for that great supporting comment Daniel! I've done some fairly gnarly stuff before, but that felt super exposed with the most minimal handholds if any. It made Gifford Crack look easy, but then, I didn't come down that one. Still, there was a lot more to hold on there. I don't think yhink I'm selling anyone on doing the waterfall face in this video anyway haha 😂 I hope it's as scary as it looks to people, only do it with high confidence for sure!
can confirm
It's way easier to go up the gut on the right side of the water fall it's a bit steeper but it is way easier to traverse and allot quicker
Yeah, I've heard most people go that way. It wasn't hard the way I went either though to the right.
It seems to me that a kayak would be better for this. I don't get this.
Only because it's got road accees, try taking a kayak down the Caples, Greenstone etc without a helicopter. Why would I take a kayak, when I could upskill in a packraft and gain more confidence. Everyone has different hobbies, whitewater kayaking in hard shells is not something I'm really interested in because I love multi-day trips.
Considering that I don't really follow this or know much about it, I have to consider your reply as "fair enough". I would like to say that I know white water people who do multi day trips with their kayak. I personally love long distance and weekend trips, so I paddle a 18 foot sea kayak. I live right next to lk Erie in Ohio. My back yard is the lake.
Nice vid, shocking captions.
Absolutely fantastic video. Thank you.
Thanks and your welcome! 😊
Wow we are lucky with our upland rivers here! What a fun and stunning ride!
Indeed! Couldn't be in a better place!
😍 woow...nice river. The water color is amazing.
That looked like great fun,I’ll have to give them kopelli packrafts a go 👍👍
It's a good flexible raft that covers a wide variety of usage!
great times!
Do you need a water filter ?
How do you find the crocs normally for campsite and what was your actual pack weight? I would like to do that track some time but I like in the North and still so much more to see here.
That is a whole lot of gear for 3 days worth. As long as the weight doesn't bother you, more power to you. I bet hiking in the NZ would be awesome! Great video. Hope to see more from you and I hit that subscribe button :) Am I the first subscriber? :D
Hey man! Yes you are the first subscriber! Cheers for that! I'll return the favor :) I've been running my website www.entrancedbywilderness.com for a few years now, and i've never done any video material. So trying to start that a bit more :) In regards to the gear, It was still cold at night, so i really needed the extra layers and there was a lot of snow still (i didn't think there would be). That was also everything including what i would be wearing, it wasn't all in my pack. This weighed hardly anything for me! No tent or sleeping pad. In hindsight, the only real overkill gear i had was the towel, silk liner, PLB and perhaps one upper body layer. Obviously some of my food choices were heavy (fresh fruit). I wouldn't have taken those if concerned with weight haha.