Karamea?

We ran it a couple of weeks ago at just under 1.1 on the gauge from Crow Hut. We had a couple of folk in a two person cataraft - not really enough water for it from Venus but would be OK I guess in a kayak. We did it in two days, the first down to Roaring Lion, then out the following day. Day one was pretty mellow mostly 2-3 with a couple of harder rapids just above the Lakes, and from memory a maybe one about halfway down to the Lakes. Day two was a big day; we portaged RL rapid, ran the middle bit and then portaged the bottom - It all had lines but also some consequences especially up top. I read Riverplay's description of the portage after and thats exactly what we did. It took quite a while, especially with the little raft. After that it was just heaps of read and run all the way out. Couple of harder rapids on the way down to Grays (about Ferris Creek) boulder gardens mostly. From Kakapo Stm down there are some chunky rapids that kinda take you by surprise - not class three. We didn't even see Grays hut on the paddle out and I still only have a vague idea where it is - its hard to see from the river. It was a fantastic experience; my paddling bro who has paddled all over the world put it in his top five. Still the weather was great and it all seemed tame, I reckon it would be nasty in big water. I think Riverplays comments are on the mark. Have a great time.

Check out my comment on the River Guide page for the Karamea.