Thread: Copeland Valley - First Thar and/or Chamios Trip

Hey Guys,

I'm travelling down to the West coast from AKL next month for my Birthday to have an attempt at a Thar or Chamios,

Im looking at heading up past Welcome flat to the Ruera River or Possibly up to some of the creeks around Scotts Creek,

Can anyone think of any pointers for hunting up in that area, I'm not looking at heading to far up the side due to avalanche risk but keen to have a nosy around any way,

What are the odd's of animals being further down low as the snow grass ends up covered etc?

While the coast side of the hill may be different, these ones on the east side of the pass were at 1400m. But the bulls were still higher, closer to 2000m. The snow is currently high, but there is plenty of time for that the change!

Expect to see people too, not just Tahr.

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Originally Posted by Uplandstalker

While the coast side of the hill may be different, these ones on the east side of the pass were at 1400m. But the bulls were still higher, closer to 2000m. The snow is currently high, but there is plenty of time for that the change!

Expect to see people too, not just Tahr.

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Ones on the west side were about the same height a couple weeks ago

You could try lame duck or Christmas flat huts for easy side creek access

Good nature viewing in the hot pools at welcome flat. Maybe less so now with the lack of tourism though...

Originally Posted by Uplandstalker

While the coast side of the hill may be different, these ones on the east side of the pass were at 1400m. But the bulls were still higher, closer to 2000m. The snow is currently high, but there is plenty of time for that the change!

Expect to see people too, not just Tahr.

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As the snow line decreases in altitude would you expect to see then get lower.. I'm not to fond of the idea of heading up some of the creeks depending on the avalance risk. Will have to assess on the day of course.

Yea I'm expecting to see people between the trail head and welcome flat, kind of hoping people don't venture much past welcome flat.

Originally Posted by ecw23able

As the snow line decreases in altitude would you expect to see then get lower.. I'm not to fond of the idea of heading up some of the creeks depending on the avalance risk. Will have to assess on the day of course.

Yea I'm expecting to see people between the trail head and welcome flat, kind of hoping people don't venture much past welcome flat.

I've found when it snows the tahr move UP.
The big old bulls will be standing on an exposed ridge in the wind where its -freezeyournoseoff degrees.

A few people will go past welcome flat up to Douglas Rock hut, often for a day trip. It's around 3-4 hrs no glassing up to Douglas hut, past there it's snow poles and a fairly decent trail up to the base of the main divide.

http://www.avalanche.net.nz is a good resource. Along with calling the Franz and Mt Cook DoC office.

Originally Posted by Joe_90

I've found when it snows the tahr move UP.
The big old bulls will be standing on an exposed ridge in the wind where its -freezeyournoseoff degrees.

A few people will go past welcome flat up to Douglas Rock hut, often for a day trip. It's around 3-4 hrs no glassing up to Douglas hut, past there it's snow poles and a fairly decent trail up to the base of the main divide.

http://www.avalanche.net.nz is a good resource. Along with calling the Franz and Mt Cook DoC office.

Cheers Joe.

I'll head up that way and check it out. Yea I think it's going to be a matter of checking out the avalance conditions on the day and heading up..

With any luck there will be some safe routes up to hopefully pop a cham.

Douglas Rock is a nice spot
Stay out of the creek if theres snow about....its farking cold and some nice ledges
Ask @wekaman

Hang on, is this your first attempt at tahr hunting?

I'll be in the rough area on the 23rd

Originally Posted by hotsoup

Hang on, is this your first attempt at tahr hunting?

I'll be in the rough area on the 23rd

Yea dude. First time. We are heading down for my bday The partner wants to do Copeland and knowing that there are animals I said ok sounds good. I'm taking a rifle and may disappear late arvo and every early morning..

I'm very keen to head up towards Douglas Rock hut and check out some of the routes up and seeing what I can see.

Back when I was but a mere boy... about 1978... before it became a "Hotspot to visit (intentional Pun there) with a flash hut... a couple of us did a mid winter trip up there on a full moon weekend... the snow level was much lower than Welcome flats and fresh.

Sitting in the pools that cloudless crystal clear night as the full moon came over the mountains... was somewhat of an experience.... I recall the wekas and other small wild life getting close to the pools for warmth...

The next day we bolted back toward the road before sun up, at a good sweaty pace, in the heavy frost, in typical attire ...boots shorts and old scratchy woollen singlet and met an American couple dressed to the hilt coming up the valley... his were the first words... "you must be kiwis"....To this day I cannot figure out how he knew?

Was up there over 20 years ago when animal numbers were low. We could glass Chamiois on the faces opposite the hut on the other side of the River. Animals up most of the side creeks and Thar where it opened up past Douglas Rock hut - about 20mins past it opens up.

Scott Creek had Chamois but you needed mountineering skills to get past the waterfall. Wouldn’t go up there alone.

Good luck

On the topo map, from the last "t" in scott creek, just below the waterfall, there is a steep chute heading SE that can get you to the ridge at the 1100m mark from there, the 1800m peak is accessible... but it is one hell of a scramble... however Scott creek is an avalanche chute and should be avoided during winter earl spring.

Just came out of South westland this morning, weather been unseasonably warm and all animals up very high (ie: inaacesably high..) trying to keep cool, snow level very high for thisbtime of year also, conversation with chopper pilot on the way out seemed to point to reports of the same from most parties last week or so, few unlucky animals taken but serious legwork put into getting them, hopefully things cool down a bit and some good hunting is had before the aerial assault gets under way again