Ore Stream
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| | Raps:4R + 6J, max ↨82ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Granite | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 2 Mar 2025
"Two parties (one of 6 people, one of 4) combined to descend the canyon. Low to moderate water conditions. Water went up from day before after small am |
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| Best season: | Feb-Mar
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-44.1771, 169.2459
-44.1907, 169.2575
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Waterflow
Introduction
Biggest water of the classics in Haast Pass region with a5 rating. Expert canyoneers only due to must-make swims at pour-overs and undercut on CR at the large pool at the bottom of the final rappel.
Flow check
After reaching the Blue-Young Link Trail, cross the footbridge, and head up stream one hundred meters. Across the water you can find a track with a distinct horizontal crack in it (roughly -44.18248, 169.25344).
This marks the "max runable flow" mark. Note that flows being lower than this mark doesn't remove dangerous features (undercuts, re-circulations, etc), just that they might not be quite as strong.
The distance below the mark can be measured more accurately in "number of fingers" as you exit the canyon.
Approach
Heinous approach, probably the steepest in Haast Pass, and probably steepest drop-in of about 100m may require hand lines. 1:45 to 2 hours. Beautiful crossing of the Makarora River.
Descent
- Technical jump before R1 anchors can be down-climbed on CL, when water level was 3cm below the mark getting onto the ledge on CL before R1 anchors was easy.
- R1 bolts CL stay on slab edge and to avoid falls and jump bottom 1m to get across boil.
- R2 rap off log jamb CR staying CR in the pool and out of boil, must get over log under water possible strainer, was not a problem but can not be jumped due to log under water.
- R3 bolts CR slightly exposed climb, stay slightly CR do not swing into rooster tail and hanging boil, was not difficult to avoid pendulum.
- R4 bolts CR slightly exposed, rap follows edge of massive falls, jump off ledge at water level to get across.
- R5 bolts CR, have to cross flow, keep flow on legs not difficult. Biggest danger in the canyon was the undercut on CR of big pool. Do not get swept under. Upon getting off rappel, jump off ledge straight into middle of pool at edge of boil and swim hard straight across - do not head right or let yourself get carried to the back right wall. If pulled into the wall and undercut keep feet up against wall lying on back and use arms to steer down stream.
2 hours for a proficient group.
Exit
20 minutes beautiful hike down calm end of stream and across Makarora River and wheatin fields.
Red tape
Beta sites
KiwiCanyons.org : Ore Stream- CanyonChronicles.com : Ore Creek
Descente-Canyon.com : Ore Stream