Fish River (Haast Pass)

Fish River (Haast Pass) Canyoneering Canyoning Caving

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‌	Difficulty:‌4C2 III (v4a5 V) Swift water Raps:‌3-5, max ↨131ft Metric Overall: 5h Approach: 2h Descent: 3h Exit: 5min No Red Tape:‌ Shuttle:‌None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Greywhacke
Start:	-44.1120, 169.3330
Parking:	-44.1185, 169.3419
Condition Reports:	3 Mar 2024 "Excellent
Weather:
Best season:	Feb-Apr winter spring summer fall Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regions:	Pacific New Zealand  South Island Westland

https://www.kiwicanyons.org/fish-river/

-44.1120, 169.3330-44.1185, 169.3419https://ropewiki.com/images/7/75/Fish_River_%28Haast_Pass%29.kmlnztopo

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Introduction

Fish River is a magnificent canyon. It is a serious undertaking, and participants should be competent and comfortable in A5. Water levels in Haast Pass should be known low.

Read this entry in conjunction with the KiwiCanyons Fish River notes.

Following these RopeWiki notes, there are 2 rappels into the canyon, longest 40m, and 3 rappels in the canyon, longest 15m.

The first chute with the bolt RL

Approach

Park in Haast Pass at Cannans Creek Bridge 8156. Walk along the road northwards and enter the forest as per the GPX. Follow the ridge edge of the canyon to about 580m altitude (not 600m). Attempt to find a good terrace between steeper sections above and below. There is a good terrace, you just have to find it. Continue along the terrace above the canyon until it narrows out, i.e. it's all steep. Continue further until you are just before the first wash-out slip down the mountainside. Do not cross the slips or go up and around the slips as per the KiwiCanyons description; enter from here.

You now want to abseil down into the canyon in two stages off large trees. Look for an obvious target large tree half way down the slope, then attempt to find the rope sling and maillon around a good tree at the level where you are above said half-way down target tree. Abseil down in two stages, about 40m to the target tree (rope sling and maillon) and 25m.

Given the above, good to bring with you about 5m of tape in case you can't find the two rigged trees. Else you'll be scrambling down some horrible bushy or washed out slope.

Looking down from the top of the first entry abseil. Find the rope sling.

Descent

Follow the Fish River track notes on Kiwicanyons.

Note that the first horizontal chute now has a bolt RL. It helps a bit. Use this to sequence yourself with these photos. These photos follow in sequence in the canyon

First chute, new bolt RL. Water level picture taken here

Why you came. Pretty pool ------------------------------

Second chute. Sneak on the left, then stem across

About to stem across in chute 2. Better without pack

R1 RR is at the end of the pool after the second chute.

Approach on the right of the pool, gain the lip of the spillover and the bolt is downstream side up right

Crossing the pool at the bottom of R1 -----------------------------------------

Crossing the lip to reach R2 RR -------------------

R4 RL, rope sling around rock pinnacle. Looks worse than it is

Jump then scramble out and downclimb RR ------------

Wet downclimb RR -------------------------------------

Exit

Swim/walk under the road bridge. Shortly after, look for an escape RR. Climb up a boulder, into the forest, and back to the road.

Beta sites

KiwiCanyons Fish River

Credits

Fish River (Haast Pass)

Information provided by automated processes. KML map by (unknown). Main photo by (unknown). Authors are listed in chronological order.

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