Macaulay / Godley valley 9 & 10 January

[handydog]

I am planning a drive up the rivers on the 9th and out on the 10th. Most likely overnight at the Macaulay hut.

Any other vehicles wish to come along?

[hippy_]

Bugga crossing the Macaulay river when its flowing like that...... That big hole will be well hidden. If the rivers down to semi normal flows, I could be tempted.

[handydog]

the holes move around. Just need to read the river flows and walk the crossings first if they look at all doubtful or deeper than a foot. Pillocks managed to submerge their truck Christmas eve in a hole.... and the river was very low....
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8120875 ... deep-water

[hippy_]

I hear ya. Ive been up that river a few times, mostly by myself for a day trip. Im well aware of the pit falls.

[Taz]

Don't go unprepared mate. You'll need at least one vehicle with a sun roof

[hippy_]

You'll need at least one vehicle with a sun roof

Check.

You coming down, if I went, I'd need a boy to do the swimming!!

[IcedJohnno]

You will need at least three I-phones then!

[handydog]

No i-phone here... river crossing will not be a problem.

sunroof only opens 3 inches so will be a tight squeeze, lol

[hippy_]

I-phones

Whats a I-phone??

[handydog]

Still going tomorrow... Any other vehicles?

[hippy_]

There are heavy rain warnings for the area tomorrow....

Good luck.

[handydog]

...will post some pics when i get out again then. ....saturday?

[Taz]

I'm there in spirit mate haha. Have a good one and lay off the pies in case you need to make an emergency dash to your roof for cell reception.

You doing any hunting?

Check.

You coming down, if I went, I'd need a boy to do the swimming!!

Sorry Blair budgie smugglers are in the wash. Can't make it.

[handydog]

River was low and clear on the way in. Just the normal three crossings at the end of the road about 18 inches deep.

Got about 10km up the valley and the river had gone from milky to a nasty brown with a lot of new rubbish and bits of trees coming down it. Run into one lot of quick sand in the riverbed but managed to find reverse in just enough time to get out.

Unable to cross the river safely onto the next section of grass flats so abandoned the trip and headed out.

Final crossing to road end had gone from easy to dangerous in the couple of hours we had spent trying to find a route up the valley.
Got washed / floated about 20 metre past the desired exit.
Same crossing that was a foot and a half on the way in, was 6 inches up the windows on the way out