v4a4III***

Haast Pass,

Mount Aspiring National Park

Descent with Gavin Barry-Morgan, Hugh Simons, and Rachel Jones.

After getting Hugh back into canyoning with a post-lockdown lap of Cross Creek the previous evening, we were joined by Rachel to crank it up a notch and make a descent of Mathers Creek (or Mather Creek according to the maps).

The walk in starts from Pleasant Flat Campsite and after checking flows at the final Arch Pool, climbs steeply up the true right of the creek. We tried to follow a GPS track on Gavin’s phone, which was mostly successful. At one point we managed to lose the tattered old pink tape markers on the trees, but regained the trail further up.

The flow was generally low, but the pools were still deep enough for jumps, including the sendy 14m. None of us were feeling brave enough to jump the final pitch into the Arch Pool, so abseiled it instead. After a very slimy scramble up the arch itself, we all jumped the 6m into the foaming water.

Rachel sliding into a deep pool

Rachel abseiling an early pitch

A bit of a zig-zag pitch requiring a crossing of the main flow. Gavin provides a fireman’s belay for the next person>

Gavin leaping off a slippery takeoff. Access to this is via an equally slippery abseil/sidle. Disconnecting from the rope while keeping your footing was a delicate procedure

Rachel leaping off the same slippery takeoff

Gavin abseiling a short pitch…

…while Rachel just takes it in her stride

Hugh abseiling one of the final pitches

Me leaping off the 14m jump

Me dropping off the slimy arch into the final pool