Cave Stream, Halpin's Falls, and Tui Canyon

Another Succesful Weekend!
Van preparation had to take a back seat to getting into the outdoors and having some fun. Saturday morning we headed out to do Cave Stream, our second attempt. Last weekend the stream was very high, not so good if you're planning to travel 1/2 a kilometer upstream through a cave.  This weekend it looked good so into the cave we went. As usual we had an international crowd. Jen, Karthick, Rosman, James, Greg, and myself. I'll have to give Greg the Awesome Attitude Award, a very nice Aussie guy who is literally blind in one eye and doesn't see well out of the other. He has been on several of our outings and is always gung ho to go. I didn't realize at first that he can't really see; he is a fine example of living life to the fullest in the face of adversity.   OK, Cave Stream; wading in at the beginning it felt really cold. We didn't bother with wetsuits for some silly reason and as the water got deeper it took my breath away; I was wondering what we had gotten into. Head lamps are defintitely required as it gets really dark.  We had to wade most of the way through, occasionally able to climb up on the sides, it felt warm getting out of the water. Lots of twists and turns with some side caverns but as long as you follow the stream you come out in the right spot. A couple of spots were difficult as you had to climb up mini waterfalls where the stream narrowed and got fairly strong. At the end you have to ascend a ladder built into the wall and then crawl out a narrow ledge, very exciting.

Greg, Karthik, James, and Me

James. Rosman, Karthik, Greg, Jen, and Paul; just before entering the cave

James and Karthik

It was 12:30 when we were back at the car and dried off so someone said, "what's next?" So we headed up towards Arthur's Pass to go see Halpin Falls.  It began to rain as we got close to the pass but a little rain won't dampen this crew's spirits. So, back into wet clothes, brrrrr, and off to walk up the stream to the falls. I mean up the stream too, there seems to be no path to a lot of these places; in and out, back and forth across the stream, over fallen trees, and scrambling up some cascades we finally got aview of the falls, 25 meters or so with a lot of flow. We scrambled up the rocks to the base but the wind and spray coming off were so intense you could not walk up to it, nor did you want to as it was cold. I'll get some pictures out soon, Jen was in charge of the camera. Back down, in and out, back and forth across the stream and we fonally got back to the car. Back into not so dry clothes and off to Arthur's Pass for hot chocolate. A chilly day but worth it.

Halpin's Falls, not easy to get to but worth it.

We made it! although couldn't get close to the falls because of the wind and spray

Lupens, it's nice to have spring time in December

Sunday morning, four of us headed up to do Tui Canyon, NW of Christchurch.  It was a short Canyon so a half day trip or so.   A very short approach if you go the right way  so we suited up in wetsuits for the walk in. A little more than half way around the loop we figured out we went the wrong way so turned a 5 minute walk into a 45 minute walk.  That's ok but it isn't that much fun hiking in a wetsuit. This canyon has a couple of long water falls to abseil down, one puts you right in the flow at the bottom.

Jen Abseiling down the waterfall in Tui Canyon

Karthick in the flow

These canyons are about more than just the waterfalls

Sometimes you gotta swim

Sometimes you just have to jump 

After we got back to town we headed out to a Christmas Party BBQ in the park, shorts and tees were the preferred dress of the day but sometimes when the sun went in it did get a little chilly. That didn't shorten the line at the ice cream truck though. It's definitely interesting to have summer in December but I like it. Another successful weekend!