tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40360458759902819712024-03-05T05:58:18.658-07:00Where Is Baer ? Tales from around the world, usually some place near moving water.whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.comBlogger147125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-14611162168851328392022-10-19T12:10:00.011-06:002023-04-23T23:36:46.819-06:00Heavy Rains in Brazil<h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Rio Santa Maria </b><br /></h3><p><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS<span> </span>(<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B002'54.6%22S+49%C2%B005'31.5%22W/@-27.0453494,-49.1057099,5539m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x15682eebd268db15!8m2!3d-27.0484929!4d-49.0920952" target="_blank">-27.0484929,-49.0920952</a>)<span> </span>Note: Information center and Gate<span> </span></p><p><u><b>Take Out:</b></u> <span> </span>Note: As far down as you want to go<br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> 4-</span>5 Flow dependent<br /></p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, needs some rain<br /></span></p><p><span><u><b>Description:</b></u><span> Located in the National Park of Serra do Itajaí just outside of the fairly large city of Blumenau</span></span><span>. The common light afternoon rain showers make this section flow very consistently. Lower flow days make for a user friendly drop pool style run that is very manageable. With high flows, after a heavy rain, everything starts to link and becomes continuous; a local guide is stronly recommended for these higher flow days. </span></p><p><span> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Rio Forcaçāo</b><br /></h3><p><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Rio+Forca%C3%A7%C3%A3o/@-26.7327393,-49.5350614,6453m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m13!1m7!3m6!1s0x94de5cf4a2d835df:0x8854b614539a4f17!2zUmlvIEZvcmNhw6fDo28!3b1!8m2!3d-26.7327501!4d-49.5165715!3m4!1s0x94de5cf4a2d835df:0x8854b614539a4f17!8m2!3d-26.7327501!4d-49.5165715" target="_blank">-26.7327393,-49.5350614</a>)<span><span> </span>Note: Park and huck, multiple falls</span><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> </span>5<br /></p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, requires heavy rain<br /></span></p><p><span><u><b>Description:</b></u><span> Park and huck options. The upper portion of this river has a tendency to create some fun waterfalls and slides. </span></span></p><p><span><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Caí River</b><br /></h3><p class="bwoZTb" style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/29%C2%B016'11.6%22S+50%C2%B045'15.8%22W/@-29.2698782,-50.7592486,788m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!1m2!2m1!1sca%C3%AD+river!3m5!1s0x0:0x3ae23d3d37431530!7e2!8m2!3d-29.2698826!4d-50.7543829" target="_blank"><span>-29.269822, -50.754375</span></a>)<span> </span><span>Note: Hydro Dam </span><br /></p><p class="bwoZTb" style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Take Out</b></u>:<span> </span>GPS (<span><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/29%C2%B017'31.9%22S+50%C2%B054'36.8%22W/@-29.2921912,-50.9147113,788m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!1m2!2m1!1sca%C3%AD+river!3m5!1s0x0:0x84354feaacfcbb2f!7e2!8m2!3d-29.2921962!4d-50.9102323" target="_blank">-29.292196, -50.910232</a>)<span> </span>Note: First bridge crossing<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> </span>5<br /></p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, requires medium rain, entirely dam dependent<br /></span></p><p><span><u><b>Description:</b></u><span> </span></span><span>Put in is at a hydroelectric dam, so you need a bit of good luck and rain for it to run. Dam personnel seemed very ok with us being on the property; they even gave us a ride down the hill to the water. The section is 30+ km long, so bring a snack. Rock structue looks <i>newer </i>and volcanic, making it relatively sharp with tons of undercuts and sieves. The location is beautiful with huge towering rock formations whose huge walls also make this river very committing and pretty darn remote. </span></p><p><span> </span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Rio Cubatáo</b><br /></h3><p class="bwoZTb" style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS<span> </span>(<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B042'40.6%22S+48%C2%B051'08.2%22W/@-27.7106197,-48.8541049,816m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m14!1m7!3m6!1s0x95273384f930366f:0x4ab65f79c60e2035!2sRio+Cubat%C3%A3o!3b1!8m2!3d-27.7199284!4d-48.8323911!3m5!1s0x0:0x56d9f29d427a4731!7e2!8m2!3d-27.711267!4d-48.852276" target="_blank"><span>-27.711267, -48.852276</span></a>)<span> <span> </span>Note: Small bridge </span></p><p class="bwoZTb" style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Take Out:</b></u> <span> </span>GPS (<span><a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B041'28.8%22S+48%C2%B046'37.4%22W/@-27.6913159,-48.7809207,688m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m9!1m2!2m1!1srio+cubat%C3%A1o!3m5!1s0x0:0x68c9f59104af5f6e!7e2!8m2!3d-27.69132!4d-48.7770661" target="_blank">-27.691320, -48.777066</a>)<span> </span>Note: Side of road<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> 4-</span>5, flow dependent<br /></p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, requires light to heavy rain <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><u><b>Description:</b></u><span> </span></span><span>There are two separate sections here: above and below the conflence near the city of Águas Mornas. Above the city, it feels fairly creeky with a handful of step rapids and one suggested portage. Below, it gets more water and has a full river feel with low angle slides. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b>Cachoeira do Zimbira</b><br /></h3><p class="bwoZTb" style="text-align: left;"><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS<span> </span>(<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B038'52.1%22S+48%C2%B051'50.2%22W/@-27.6477986,-48.864583,234m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x2c33705721d0d685!7e2!8m2!3d-27.6477997!4d-48.8639425" target="_blank"><span>-27.647800, -48.863942</span></a>)<span><span> </span>Note: Tiny bridge, water should be flowing over some of it </span><br /></p><p class="bwoZTb" style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Take Out:</b></u><span> </span>GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B039'51.7%22S+48%C2%B051'21.6%22W/@-27.6643535,-48.8567065,258m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0xd529d35664020397!7e2!8m2!3d-27.6643548!4d-48.8559993" target="_blank"><span>-27.664355, -48.855999</span></a><span>)<span> </span>Note: Side of road as you exit jungle<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> </span>5 <br /></p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, requires heavy rain <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span><u><b>Description:</b></u><span> This micro creek needs a ton of rain, so expect to encounter numerous down trees. Rapids come in quick succession with the ability to scout being massively hindered by the very dense jugle vegetation. A local guide is almost a necessity. The big drop is 20+ feet tall with a very deceptive lead-in and lip; scouting from river right is recommended. </span> <br /></span></p><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>
<div style="padding: 56.25% 0px 0px; position: relative;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/654767217?h=33a1f1c805&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479" style="height: 100%; left: 0; position: absolute; top: 0; width: 100%;" title="Brazil, final episode 2020-2021 .mov"></iframe></div><script src="https://player.vimeo.com/api/player.js"></script>whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-78917052565570763912022-09-22T14:45:00.002-06:002023-04-23T23:39:26.167-06:00Braço do Norte, Brazil<div><p> <span> <br /></span></p><p><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS<span> </span>Put In (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B053'13.5%22S+49%C2%B004'05.0%22W/@-27.9138958,-49.1082293,12.31z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xa1e7d940fd3513f7!8m2!3d-27.88708!4d-49.06805" target="_blank">-27.88708, -49.06805</a>)<span> </span>Take Out (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B057'45.7%22S+49%C2%B005'20.2%22W/@-27.9626852,-49.0911187,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x1ec094f38bb70064!8m2!3d-27.96269!4d-49.08893">-27.96269, -49.08893</a>)</p><p style="text-align: left;"><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> </span>4</p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, needs a solid rain<br /></span></p><span><u><b>Description:</b></u> <span> </span></span><span>One of countless drainages near Floranopolis that are only paddled after a solid rain. It was actively dumping rain on us as we set shuttle. Drop pool rapids in a beautiful valley. Although there is some farming in the area, you are fairly remote. </span></div><div><span><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/654662181?h=ee4ddc4f1f" title="vimeo-player" width="640"></iframe></div>
whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0Braço do Norte, State of Santa Catarina, Brazil-28.273777 -49.1686866-42.896065034087513 -66.7468116 -13.651488965912485 -31.5905616tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-43958043745596507452022-04-09T13:33:00.023-06:002022-04-09T16:13:58.022-06:00Rio Iapo and Tibaji, Brazil <h2 style="text-align: left;"></h2><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL66-2iZuUxY34JUFICFTi8W--dAm5hhNVV4eAO2-MrEEXTiCap23M9Bma4dOCn2rKpm7W-M1CMCTDLcTa2SwVePvLCUblV9i4bKI40n6bpHJf_UrbBIts7-2vuP3TjGI7LVrBO9COv6CN3-EVTxprRMYxZSUNme8Koy8l1n4t1frVWLP63Hd56-wxow" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1856" data-original-width="7254" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgL66-2iZuUxY34JUFICFTi8W--dAm5hhNVV4eAO2-MrEEXTiCap23M9Bma4dOCn2rKpm7W-M1CMCTDLcTa2SwVePvLCUblV9i4bKI40n6bpHJf_UrbBIts7-2vuP3TjGI7LVrBO9COv6CN3-EVTxprRMYxZSUNme8Koy8l1n4t1frVWLP63Hd56-wxow=w640-h165" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span>Stunning views for the mile-ish hike in</span></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span></span> Rio Iapo </h2><p><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/24%C2%B037'54.1%22S+50%C2%B012'38.1%22W/@-24.631704,-50.212777,783m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0xf575a04e4abb88b0!7e2!8m2!3d-24.6317037!4d-50.210583" target="_blank">-24.631704, -50.210583</a>) Note: Hike in through farm land, down hill, and upstream.</p><p><u><b>Take Out:</b></u><span> </span>GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/24%C2%B030'15.4%22S+50%C2%B019'39.2%22W/@-24.504276,-50.3281747,220m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x1b32082b27f58f9b!7e2!8m2!3d-24.5042762!4d-50.3275583" target="_blank">-24.504276, -50.327558</a>) Note: Private property? Bouncy dirt road.</p><p><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> </span>4 (2 class 5 rapids, or easy portages on left) </p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> </span><span>Visual, has flow for longer into the season, large drainage.</span></p><p><span><u><b>Discription: </b></u>This section is a solid day trip from most other paddling locations, but it's worth it. A relatively large watershed holds water late into the year. Mostly a class 4 section with two notable class 5 rapids, both are easily scouted or portaged river Left. Large Rock outcroppings at the put in are gorgeous.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> <iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/513416497?h=7a3bd13267" width="640"></iframe>
</span></p><p><span><a href="https://vimeo.com/513416497">Rio Iapo and Rio Tibaji Brazil</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</span></p><span>
</span><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p><span> </span><span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4twauU9-ePJsrniqLGe9Xh1hxkKVtDEsMzuYceyYAt4yVpA_hy1EOwo_ssgEp4WQFQlcMlb0jGjl2IyjIugcuyOXYWb4opoAqPf08L4DfNVj5knVkVrBKDrYPXM28V5kuq5shn4VM8TzcPsmJtYxZIHqpOhZWwChtLn5Dw9Ne6XS_3DMiOuUnflXwkQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh4twauU9-ePJsrniqLGe9Xh1hxkKVtDEsMzuYceyYAt4yVpA_hy1EOwo_ssgEp4WQFQlcMlb0jGjl2IyjIugcuyOXYWb4opoAqPf08L4DfNVj5knVkVrBKDrYPXM28V5kuq5shn4VM8TzcPsmJtYxZIHqpOhZWwChtLn5Dw9Ne6XS_3DMiOuUnflXwkQ=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">low lying clouds give scale to the valley<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPN97Ffso2cgqzeRxdGnusuSg2jz54loGvSRn3Nh9aPndvnYjfJD7nILjHb_0im_wfMj_UgpK7j-ZmIDCQy3L8scm3N8FCN9BskRHhDCwT9G9oHZU-98D93jvpCLS9mBwNg8fV6Akk6y3e5eQv5hJGKYExwUDLiE_sLNw37b2vnGgXoft1E8H_1hmgXA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="6000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiPN97Ffso2cgqzeRxdGnusuSg2jz54loGvSRn3Nh9aPndvnYjfJD7nILjHb_0im_wfMj_UgpK7j-ZmIDCQy3L8scm3N8FCN9BskRHhDCwT9G9oHZU-98D93jvpCLS9mBwNg8fV6Akk6y3e5eQv5hJGKYExwUDLiE_sLNw37b2vnGgXoft1E8H_1hmgXA=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">showing the gradient on the hike in</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYiWnddn3YxaC7QsZjPvVkp0KoaInQxWRtzo2nOTB0fxzz0-7Yq0ZC7jGWh5rKDaMvddcQ9vw9ImEI2rZcqaKtAFAUvkp0BB3tIGJO1uUnqckkj6zbFAy1ldNUnsOKzLHRA_boZkkxkn40Id4CU0TX69fe4wSJUK728J3uO_m-Cw66-ng0I57I2HhixQ" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2982" data-original-width="4532" height="422" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYiWnddn3YxaC7QsZjPvVkp0KoaInQxWRtzo2nOTB0fxzz0-7Yq0ZC7jGWh5rKDaMvddcQ9vw9ImEI2rZcqaKtAFAUvkp0BB3tIGJO1uUnqckkj6zbFAy1ldNUnsOKzLHRA_boZkkxkn40Id4CU0TX69fe4wSJUK728J3uO_m-Cw66-ng0I57I2HhixQ=w640-h422" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joao Garbriel Araujo, getting his lean on <br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEionxfkyhEUGG5n-WDoJTtqcALTfGiy0e2CD5cMLvJ9CYqkpKclBrnWMxpHOMabI-c2d-yI5ccuLgxbhvJzGR-dAc9_uRDd-ioIoqnbguEZKuv3rkk4Nuq5DB46GWy_OZIvMOwLR60O-eGeErDU0fMR1V11x0gNIGdRCrDKc7Gf2YM1KzfsIHAE86PJJw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="5181" data-original-width="3454" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEionxfkyhEUGG5n-WDoJTtqcALTfGiy0e2CD5cMLvJ9CYqkpKclBrnWMxpHOMabI-c2d-yI5ccuLgxbhvJzGR-dAc9_uRDd-ioIoqnbguEZKuv3rkk4Nuq5DB46GWy_OZIvMOwLR60O-eGeErDU0fMR1V11x0gNIGdRCrDKc7Gf2YM1KzfsIHAE86PJJw=w427-h640" width="427" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the first class 5, undercut landing zone on the left<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQyXX84fRRN1XP1ynRkF0Lm_ijrYwfVhEAQI3qWGsyhrV-9IA7cbuINw4Jbee96AzWDQdCwAYd7fC9HS32yPIYNu-gAfePB9bkbaZFL8roLbEmUwj00EejSvFLPAjUWeX7dFWpys27tG9bpxUAc24A6DoTYQUMHm1IjmO0EHuuHTH4zPR820xv2ZYwkg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="3535" data-original-width="5303" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgQyXX84fRRN1XP1ynRkF0Lm_ijrYwfVhEAQI3qWGsyhrV-9IA7cbuINw4Jbee96AzWDQdCwAYd7fC9HS32yPIYNu-gAfePB9bkbaZFL8roLbEmUwj00EejSvFLPAjUWeX7dFWpys27tG9bpxUAc24A6DoTYQUMHm1IjmO0EHuuHTH4zPR820xv2ZYwkg=w640-h426" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the abundent class 4 ledges</td></tr></tbody></table></h2><h2 style="text-align: left;"><span>Rio Tibaji <br /></span></h2><p><b><u>Put In:</u></b><span> </span>GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/24%C2%B028'09.2%22S+50%C2%B028'34.2%22W/@-24.469234,-50.478356,784m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x1947ae2737424cd!8m2!3d-24.469234!4d-50.476162" target="_blank">-24.469234, -50.476162</a>)</p><p><u><b>Class:</b></u><span> </span>4</p><p><u><b>Flow:</b></u><span> Visual, always has flow.<br /></span></p><span><u><b>Discription:</b></u> <span> </span>Park and huck. Wide river section that will almost always have flow and an acceptable line. We ran it on the main flow, river right. Great camping options just upstream on river left. <br /></span><p><span><br /><br /></span><span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2wT4q3PZt4KRab5KxYmScbqVHdf_0Pd4JEoq5j44Xx-jicKGZ_7J2ULloR6Z3jBQ9CZjPRuRknNP1Krgl60sLQRzPSJan8iHY9JAEyFOZtdKUmJGV93szeQR0N-MTqKeX0fz_AZD5NgacZP8xX1JYOOnzugEGI7nzqHLEe9fJ3q7J39Uwm-LVqyUKjw" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2974" data-original-width="6000" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2wT4q3PZt4KRab5KxYmScbqVHdf_0Pd4JEoq5j44Xx-jicKGZ_7J2ULloR6Z3jBQ9CZjPRuRknNP1Krgl60sLQRzPSJan8iHY9JAEyFOZtdKUmJGV93szeQR0N-MTqKeX0fz_AZD5NgacZP8xX1JYOOnzugEGI7nzqHLEe9fJ3q7J39Uwm-LVqyUKjw=w640-h318" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">signifigantly more water on the Tibaji<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-55272031083440259242022-04-09T10:55:00.004-06:002022-04-09T10:57:31.151-06:00Hard Core Paddles<p>Let me be blunt: <a href="https://hardcorepaddles.com/">Hard Core Paddles</a>
are awesome. Their durability is solid, they have a ton of power, and
the company offers multiple options on customization. They are well
worth the price.</p><p>Last summer, I broke yet another Powerhouse.
Destroying paddles is something that I have normalized. Every year or
two I put myself in a situation that I stress a paddle beyond what it
can handle… and it breaks. I reached out to a handful of shops looking
for a replacement paddle – 4CRS, CKS, NRS, and even to Werner directly.
All of them were backordered. COVID-19 was impacting the supply chain
for everything from toilet paper to whitewater paddles.</p><p>I then
pondered other options. AT was discontinued years ago. I love Jimi Styx,
and have been using them for guiding rafts for years, but he’s
currently backordered until 2022, and he doesn’t do bent shafts. The
Euro paddles — Galasport, Double Dutch, and VE — all paddle well, but
again are hard to find stateside. Whitewater Technologies is a new
company that I’m excited to check out, but they are still in the
construction phase. Coran’s updated Seven Two isn’t my style. Accent
looks alright, but are known to have a heavy flutter. I was drawing a
blank.</p><p>Then I remembered years ago, while paddling the Tumwater
section of the Wenatchee, that I bumped into Andy and Mike Nash. They
were passing out prototypes of a new paddle and talking up the fact that
it had a wood shaft, a “Hard Core” (still sounds like an ‘80’s rock
band to me). It looked interesting, but the round blades looked a bit
small and we were about to put on at significant spring flows. That day,
I missed a great opportunity due to my ignorance of paddle physics.</p><p>Years passed and I wondered what Hard Core Paddles was up to now. Their <a href="https://hardcorepaddles.com/">website</a>
is simple yet full of solid information. I liked what I saw, but I
wanted more info, so I reached out with a generic instant message. Later
that day, my phone rang. Mike (who physically builds the paddles) was
on the other end. We chatted for over an hour, talking through some of
my concerns and presenting me with insight into the paddle design. I
took a chance, ordered one, and immediately took it to Brazil for a
three-month test drive.</p><p><b><img alt="No photo description available." class="gitj76qy d2edcug0 r9f5tntg r0294ipz" data-visualcompletion="media-vc-image" src="https://scontent-atl3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.6435-9/131458371_10223742553021815_8277652293840424227_n.jpg?_nc_cat=101&ccb=1-5&_nc_sid=730e14&_nc_ohc=6Jo2bFcFalkAX8uCKBi&_nc_ht=scontent-atl3-1.xx&oh=00_AT9TeqLauY4PeLYNNxXzR-lNHZx3OT7NeGP31BVrEW0kKw&oe=62782B77" /> </b></p><p><b>Here are some of my initial questions, and resulting personal experiences, after swinging a Hard Core paddle for three-months.</b></p><p><b>What if I just don’t like it?</b> They have a satisfaction guarantee. Hell, they’ll even cover the return postage.</p><p><b>Durability? A</b>fter
three months of river abuse, and a ton of bouncing around in the cargo
bay of multiple planes, busses, pickup trucks, and being used as a tarp
pole, my paddle showed very limited wear. Yes there is superficial
scratching, but it wasn’t shrinking like a fiberglass Werner.</p><p><b>Power?</b> The
blade is relatively round and the surface area is about 40 cm² less
than my old standard Powerhouse. The blade shape shares a classic River
Styx style. This all initially concerned me. I like a powerful blade and
these seemed like old school designs and techniques. Mike dropped a
knowledge bomb on me here and started talking about dihedrals. Most
aggressively shaped paddles need a fairly aggressive dihedral to
eliminate paddle flutter, hence losing a large percentage of their
power. A balanced, rounder, paddle blade doesn’t flutter nearly as much
and you can limit the dihedral. This effectively gives you more powerful
pull in a smaller blade size. If that is all a bit nerdy for you, just
know there is a ton of power in these mid-sized round blades.</p><p><b>Paddle Length vs Grip Width?</b> As
bent shaft paddles get longer, the grip width gets wider; the idea is
that a bigger person would want a longer paddle and a wider grip. This
ratio of grip width to paddle length has become dated. The modern creek
boat has a significantly larger volume than it did 20 years ago. These
larger boats have created a demand for a longer paddle to help control
them. Hard Core has thought about this, and rescaled their ratio for
paddle length to grip width. This allows you to bump up three to six
centimeters in paddle length and keep your familiar grip width.</p><p><b>Flex? </b>It’s
a carbon paddle, it feels pretty darn stiff. The wood core does manage
to shine through here and work its magic. The wood’s natural flex
patterns elongate the power transfer, just a bit, making the joints feel
better after a long week. The wood core also means that they retain
warmth much better on those really frigid days.</p><p><b>Lead Time?</b> Average delivery time is under a week from order.</p><p><b>Human Factor?</b> Your paddle is built by Mike Nash out of his “garage” in Gold Bar, Washington.</p><p><b>Price?</b>
$440 It’s more than many other fiberglass models out there but it fits
right in with any of the other high end carbon paddles on the market.</p><p>If
you’re in the market for a solid, powerful paddle, Hard Core is making
them, locally, and at a fair price. And mention this article for $15
bucks back on your purchase.</p><p><a href="https://hardcorepaddles.com/">www.hardcorepaddles.com</a></p><p> </p>whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-45134230449640001832021-02-09T14:04:00.005-07:002021-02-17T09:44:49.795-07:00 Migration<h2 style="text-align: left;">Kayaking Internationally During a Plague<br /></h2><p>Often, I get questions about international travel. “<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2011/04/how-to-travel-with-kayak.html">How difficult is it to travel with a kayak?</a>” “<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2014/12/nam-ngiap-was-supposed-to-be-class-3.html">What about the food?</a> <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2017/02/biggest-class-3-in-world-siang-river.html">Or the culture?</a> <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2011/11/africa.html">Or the animals?</a>” “<a href="https://translate.google.com/">How do you communicate?</a>” One of my favorite questions… “<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2013/12/upper-whitcombe-nz.html">How do you afford it?</a>” Nowadays, I rebut that with, “How do you afford to stay in one of the most expensive countries in the world?” <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2008/12/orange-and-gun-on-rio-verde.html">When I started traveling internationally</a>, it was solely for kayaking! Over the years, traveling has become less about hardcore kayaking and more about <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2019/12/exploration-via-kayak-why-where-and.html">exploring</a>, looking for amazing landscapes, rivers, people, and culture. An open mind is key for these kinds of adventures.</p><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/507086375" width="640"></iframe><br /></div><p><a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2015/03/solo-paddling-big-volume-waterfalls.html">Southeast Asia</a>, 2015, bouncing down the road in yet another bus gave me plenty of time to get introspective. Being outside of the U.S. for prolonged periods was changing my perspective, and I scratched this into a notebook, “I’ve been traveling for so long that when I arrive “home” it doesn’t feel familiar anymore.” This statement feels truer every year, especially after spending time in a destination with a drastically different culture. This year, 2021, is now the fifteenth year that I’ve traveled outside the U.S. for paddling. Typically, when someone asks me, “Where is home?” I simply reply, “No”. <br /></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH1hrozUhN19qYSli62q-OhiMQMNN7GQpw1syw5JnXaDJefUrATweZSpxX9XtFk9U9cHNsUgYd5UjpmqAAaHlxem1LVM3EhRhKUoVoN4h0Ws8u6rG9FpOCBQS-LeO1ypdgexZ5yrtLL3o/s2048/WIB00811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joao Gabriel Araujo, dialing in a second boof on the Black Canyon of the Cubatão kayaker waterfall Brazil" border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLH1hrozUhN19qYSli62q-OhiMQMNN7GQpw1syw5JnXaDJefUrATweZSpxX9XtFk9U9cHNsUgYd5UjpmqAAaHlxem1LVM3EhRhKUoVoN4h0Ws8u6rG9FpOCBQS-LeO1ypdgexZ5yrtLL3o/w400-h266/WIB00811.jpg" title="Joao Gabriel Araujo, dialing in a second boof on the Black Canyon of the Cubatão" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joao Gabriel Araujo dialing in a second boof on the Black Canyon of the Cubatão<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>About this time last year, I was on my way back to the States from China. The Covid-19 virus had started spreading a month earlier, and was spreading rapidly. The Chinese government was in the process of instating a very strict lock-down across the entire country. Flying back to the States, it felt like I had narrowly escaped the encroaching plague. Making the descent into the San Francisco airport, my mind was racing; would we all be escorted directly into quarantine? We landed and there were no special announcements. We exited the plane with wide eyes expecting immediate scrutiny. There were absolutely no precautions, no questions, no temperature checks, nothing! It was at this exact moment I realized we had a global pandemic on our hands. The opportunity to isolate between countries had come and gone. <br /><br />Colorado, summer 2020, in the midst of a pandemic I made the tough decision to continue to work as a raft guide on the Arkansas River (my primary source of income). We were atrociously understaffed, as many of the guides had decided the risk wasn’t worth the raft guide wage. Late in the season, my body was beat down, and I had a light cough. I knew the sore muscles were from the lack of a day off, and I assumed my hoarseness was from shouting out safety talks twice a day through a mask… it wasn’t. Returning to the rafting outpost after a trip, I was pulled aside and informed that one of my co-workers had tested positive for Covid-19. The next day we closed the operation and the entire staff went to get tested. One other co-worker and I tested positive. The entire outpost shut down and the staff quarantined for two weeks. Then, with heavy hearts, and lighter pocketbooks, we went straight back to work. I felt horrible - how many people had I possibly infected? <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGADUGGO8iNU5gE8CWN6iKT4NVImBq3pZfvBlM6Q2PM8n_6xtbS1_i3z0RaGcotml5P3KJZxrKY4IP8bqFnMeiJL6Q2gAa-rVZx1OnX78gGSeU7_LTiNhpKs6S_Eh16ZUpWzgf119jPEYc/s2048/WIB00857.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Jeferson Werner, scouting an upper section on the Rio dos Cedros brazil kayak waterfall whereisbaer.com" border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGADUGGO8iNU5gE8CWN6iKT4NVImBq3pZfvBlM6Q2PM8n_6xtbS1_i3z0RaGcotml5P3KJZxrKY4IP8bqFnMeiJL6Q2gAa-rVZx1OnX78gGSeU7_LTiNhpKs6S_Eh16ZUpWzgf119jPEYc/w266-h400/WIB00857.jpg" title="Jeferson Werner, scouting an upper section on the Rio dos Cedros" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeferson Werner scouting an upper section on the Rio dos Cedros</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Making the decision to travel again this winter was very difficult. Considerations: I had already tested positive and had a very mild experience. The case studies I had looked at showed the reinfection rates had been amazingly low and the chances of me being an asymptomatic carrier and bringing the virus somewhere new was also relatively low. So, I looked at the map. Balancing locations that I had on my personal tick list and cross referencing them with which countries were allowing citizens from the most plague-ridden country on the globe to enter - a ticket was purchased for <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2021/01/brazil-beta.html">Brazil</a>.<br /><br />Air travel, what a shit show. Everyone seemed to be doing their fair share of masking up, washing hands, and trying to distance (in an utterly packed plane). Then the food came… and everyone just dropped their mask and went to town. <br /></p><h3 style="text-align: left;">On the Ground in Brazil</h3><p>The airport staff is all in masks, temperatures are taken upon arrival, and space is given for social distancing, except around the always congested baggage claim. Cab drivers wear masks, keep windows down, and tend to be incredibly kind. Major hotels have made many modifications. Everyone is attempting to distance, and the rooms are allotted “cool down” time between clients. There is still so much contact. People trying to be kind and help with my bags or kayak create so many potential vectors. <br /></p><p>Culturally, Brazilians are beyond welcoming. Being met with literal open arms, hugs, and the quintessential kiss on the cheek is still very commonplace. The local paddlers instantly welcome me into their community. We pack into overcrowded vehicles for shuttles, give high fives, and hugs at take outs. They invite me into their homes, we share meals, and Caipirinhas, (cachaça, which is a sugar cane alcohol, lime, and sugar). While conversing with paddlers in Brazil it seems that everyone has a story of getting Covid a few to nine months previously. Hardly anyone here is concerned about getting a new strain and for almost everyone it’s business as usual.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDKPOWGgD-58eLtCNs6eerzltyUCxVCXiUlwgk2aREMQSnQ2fotWtlnD5yj9Ba6nLVcp4cPeOR6pEgg8BxWcoKiDCRdBw0TWbQGPUBgfz5W8afd0iu0xtZ_Y_GQ_NTEt2Q7DRo4SycVEA/s2048/WIB00875.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcDKPOWGgD-58eLtCNs6eerzltyUCxVCXiUlwgk2aREMQSnQ2fotWtlnD5yj9Ba6nLVcp4cPeOR6pEgg8BxWcoKiDCRdBw0TWbQGPUBgfz5W8afd0iu0xtZ_Y_GQ_NTEt2Q7DRo4SycVEA/w400-h266/WIB00875.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Justicia Rosa? Not sure, who's my botanist?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The Golden Rule, “Do to others as you would have them do to you,” Luke 6:31. The idea is good, but the phrasing could be so much better. How about: treat people how <b><i>they</i></b> would like to be treated. Take a moment, learn the cultural differences, and create empathy with the folks around you. I want to be within the culture when I travel and not just be a tourist. It’s with this care I enter into homes, reciprocate kisses on the cheek, and share cocktails. All of these actions are way outside of my Stateside pandemic precautions. I struggle daily trying to balance being culturally correct with the personal greed of traveling. In the meantime, I continue to try and be on the defensive. Staying masked up well after everyone around me has unmasked and giving space until the hug is brought upon me. <br /><br />Two months in Brazil with one more to go, and it’s been an absolute blast. I have a few more kayak missions lined up, but my mind wanders, pondering the reality of heading back to the States. The rules for travel have changed while I’ve been gone. Now, I need to get a quick test before departure. I don’t have a clue where or how I’m going to get that done, but that hurdle is for another day. What comes to the forefront of my thoughts is what happens when I get back on the ground in the States? How separated do I stay? And for how long? On a more introspective level, was it ignorant for me to travel to a foreign country in the first place? To possibly bring a virus to these kind, welcoming people? To possibly bring a new strain back to the States? Are the risks of travel becoming too great?<br /><br />There are few steadfast rules with this new virus, and I’m sure the information and viewpoints I write here will become dated within a year, or maybe even by the time of publishing. In the meantime, I’m happy. Traveling allows me to be a part of different cultures and landscapes. This continued education allows me to open my perspective on the world.<br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzeRtHFYfvzeQCJ2AKLfkPtbjrEl7-jyaxw3O2nX2qj7bQWLZ-qnG56oX8ZEWIuo1NATDtF56B46kvtOZRtWjfVB-3eKMe1bB9tKQjUCCqZ8QzbWoVQdo7SWsCROgOrSAbh_-A12Tm8Mt/s2048/WIB00887.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hydrangeas framing a dreamy location, upper rio dos cedros, brazil beatutiful farm slide waterfall scenery sunset" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyzeRtHFYfvzeQCJ2AKLfkPtbjrEl7-jyaxw3O2nX2qj7bQWLZ-qnG56oX8ZEWIuo1NATDtF56B46kvtOZRtWjfVB-3eKMe1bB9tKQjUCCqZ8QzbWoVQdo7SWsCROgOrSAbh_-A12Tm8Mt/w400-h266/WIB00887.jpg" title="Hydrangeas framing a dreamy location" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hydrangeas framing a dreamy location<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><h3 style="text-align: left;">Benedito Novo </h3><p><br /><b><u>Put In:</u> </b> GPS (<a href="-26.782261, -49.396129">-26.782261, -49.396129</a>) Note: Roadside pull off, local dogs love to bark but usually don’t bite, walk slightly upstream for a bonus rapid. <br /><b><u>Take Out:</u> </b> GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/26%C2%B046'58.7%22S+49%C2%B022'40.0%22W/@-26.782984,-49.377784,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-26.782984!4d-49.377784">-26.782984,-49.377784</a>) Note: Upstream river right of the bridge allows fairly easy access with one barbed wire fence to cross.<br /><u><b>Alternate Take Out:</b></u> GPS (<a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/26%C2%B046'33.6%22S+49%C2%B022'20.3%22W/@-26.776004,-49.372307,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-26.776004!4d-49.372307">-26.776004, -49.372307</a>) Note: Church parking lot, no barbed wire, and noticeably more sustainable access.<br /><b><u>Class:</u></b> 5<br /><u><b>Flow:</b></u> Visual; gauge is currently offline. When online, go to: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html</a> search <i>Benedito Novo</i> on the site; sister drainage to Rio dos Cedros, runs regularly.<br /><br /><u><b>Run Description:</b></u><span> </span>This is an absolute classic. It starts off with a stacked triple drop that leads into big slides and bigger holes. Soon you arrive at a dilapidated dam; get out and scout! This is a man-made feature and deserves at least a glance. Be mindful of the major rock formation downstream on river right as it is a massive sieve. Formiga (Ant) is the highlight rapid of the section, and can be seen from the takeout bridge. A long entrance of small ledges lead into a dynamic twisting left-hand turn backed up by multiple recirculating holes. </p><p></p><p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB3lHSTRhr9f8MxHDSRi1lP-AFwXn_DV8pNtv3IOT6zC3IIDL3Wxr_rfVqtusqdyPWozrRdr8e0SjHMmBgn8gZmPUzz7ftL4rxdmq-YRJk9UjS2cWoV8jqAQitpa6gdemMmPOdN79MVLa/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUB3lHSTRhr9f8MxHDSRi1lP-AFwXn_DV8pNtv3IOT6zC3IIDL3Wxr_rfVqtusqdyPWozrRdr8e0SjHMmBgn8gZmPUzz7ftL4rxdmq-YRJk9UjS2cWoV8jqAQitpa6gdemMmPOdN79MVLa/w200-h150/121695669_10107346330292091_8003552342415174850_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer<br /></td></tr></tbody></table></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><p></p>whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com1R. Pedro Maus, 2895, Benedito Novo - SC, 89124-000, Brazil-26.784565 -49.3775651-26.815213723694 -49.411897375390623 -26.753916276306 -49.343232824609373tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-20965760399106253962021-01-22T08:31:00.017-07:002021-02-03T12:00:49.318-07:00 Brazil Beta <div> <div style="text-align: left;">Descending toward the perpetual roar of whitewater, with sweat flowing off your brow and into your eyes, vegetation obscuring the already undistinguishable “trail,” jungle navigation is never elegant. There is the expected amount of cursing, tripping, and slipping. </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsUaNEOHQ2WBWCFn6GegAm6AS7nWfVoVfxURBLC5W7LSZ1AuZGbxR3TtJaJGPwOI6cpZgZgIQoFw5cXr4HkNhflvOKaC1uJ7xC9l1uTtG6uf5Ue4jdr9Tvtz0BtzdsxXBp7LFXCLMo9tB/s2048/IMG_20201216_145927000_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="beach ocean, excited person, landscape, brazil, rocks, cliff" border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtsUaNEOHQ2WBWCFn6GegAm6AS7nWfVoVfxURBLC5W7LSZ1AuZGbxR3TtJaJGPwOI6cpZgZgIQoFw5cXr4HkNhflvOKaC1uJ7xC9l1uTtG6uf5Ue4jdr9Tvtz0BtzdsxXBp7LFXCLMo9tB/w400-h300/IMG_20201216_145927000_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rudnei Ribeiro enjoying some ocean time<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br />What you would assume to be a secure foot placement crumbles into a slick mud skid. Balance falters and that once stable <a href="https://www.astraldesigns.com/shop/footwear/unisex/rassler-2.0" target="_blank">foot</a> is now in the air, your butt is now in the slippery mud and you are starting to pick up speed, sliding through the jungle. You reach out, grabbing for trees, branches, vines, or anything which might slow your descent. “Damn those were thorns”, expletive, thud, expletive! You come to an abrupt stop, relieved that the boulder you smashed into was in its precarious location. </div><div> </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghulRBLqHWLuemUseN57d-zA4OKtIOjZs2hETMIXnOdSxEyTi-fVwJ0D91WdqsY9_gr_VmBY_stcn2x37OsDS-cX4ESIqw90sH8NlzNQxJnxRTpcIEhWUJkYoge6VLA-SvIXN2_yiLkzmf/s2048/IMG_20201211_182436383.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sao Paulo, kayak, traffic, frogger, zet, hardcore paddles, traffic, Brazil" border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2048" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghulRBLqHWLuemUseN57d-zA4OKtIOjZs2hETMIXnOdSxEyTi-fVwJ0D91WdqsY9_gr_VmBY_stcn2x37OsDS-cX4ESIqw90sH8NlzNQxJnxRTpcIEhWUJkYoge6VLA-SvIXN2_yiLkzmf/w400-h217/IMG_20201211_182436383.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">playing Frogger in downtown Sao Paulo traffic<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </div><div>Perfecting the balance necessary to descend this kind of terrain is possible. However, dragging a 9ft <a href="https://www.zetkayak.com/store/product/cross-high-performance-creeker" target="_blank">kayak</a> with one hand, a 201cm <a href="https://hardcorepaddles.com/mangu-bent-shaft-whitewater-kayak-paddle/" target="_blank">paddle</a> in the other, along with encumbering yourself with the entanglement opportunities of a <a href="https://kokatat.com/hustle-r-rescue-vest-lvehup" target="_blank">pfd</a>, <a href="https://www.wrsisafety.com/product/43006.01/wrsi-current-pro" target="_blank">helmet</a>, skirt, and <a href="https://gopro.com/en/us/" target="_blank">GoPro</a>, make these advances a torturous excursion. All of this stumbling around in the Brazilian jungle has led to some spectacular rivers, many of which have little or no written beta. Here is a quick low-down on a few notable sections: </div><div><span style="background-color: white;"><span></span></span> </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/495192305" width="640"></iframe></div><div> </div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Ribeirão do Braço Grande</b></h2> <br /></div><div><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-24.09578386090188,+-47.254910219123175?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjb2JivmqvuAhUDwVkKHYS0Bo8Q8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-24.09578386090188, -47.254910219123175)</a> <i>Note</i>: Follow feeder creek to main river<br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/24%C2%B007'12.7%22S+47%C2%B015'59.3%22W/@-24.1202057,-47.2664757,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-24.1202057!4d-47.2664757" target="_blank">(-24.120205688341642, -47.26647569261122)</a> <i>Note</i>: There is a house on river right <br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 4 <br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>:<span> </span>Visual, consistent light rain (that is very common) will be enough to have good flow. <br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: Bedrock slides, ledges, portages, and a few boulder gardens. Access for this section is a thirty minute hike down the side of a mountain with no trail. Quality rapids start immediately. After half a dozen solid rapids, the river relents back into meandering riffles and overhanging vegetation dodging. </div><div></div><div></div><div></div><div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeM7iT-aE4lFG7Ldz_D8918bW4g2oTL63YlRjkx4qaQAfNKb6Wqxttoxr-k8ZhCTAqDmxHPP8fADYt4fZ3w-isSKYz0EY3bOs8g2v1h19rCvF9LtHVlPp_P2Iu5CAx5DgfPZGOGdTLiBf/s2048/WIB00765.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Renato Costa Guimarães and Rudnei Ribeiro on Ribeirão do Braço Grande, kayaking, water fall jungle, brazil, portage," border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeM7iT-aE4lFG7Ldz_D8918bW4g2oTL63YlRjkx4qaQAfNKb6Wqxttoxr-k8ZhCTAqDmxHPP8fADYt4fZ3w-isSKYz0EY3bOs8g2v1h19rCvF9LtHVlPp_P2Iu5CAx5DgfPZGOGdTLiBf/w400-h266/WIB00765.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;">Renato Costa Guimarães and Rudnei Ribeiro on Ribeirão do Braço Grande</div> </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><b></b></div><div><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>“Little Hell” section of the Rio Inferninho Quinta dos Ganchos</b></h2> <br /></div><div><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-27.36381508850432,+-48.75438122944922?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjOhfLWmqvuAhVoqlkKHTYcAZ0Q8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-27.36381508850432, -48.75438122944922)</a> <i>Note</i>: Small wooden bridge<br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B021'52.6%22S+48%C2%B044'26.4%22W/@-27.3645975,-48.740677,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-27.3645975!4d-48.740677" target="_blank">(-27.364597510074283, -48.740676968134)</a> <i>Note</i>: Large dome slide<br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 5 <br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: Visual, heavy rain needed to have flows above boat abusive levels.<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: Bedrock slides and waterfalls, rapids are large. Multiple portages (60 foot waterfall landing on a rock shelf). Scout every horizon line. <br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJggfbmk7h-qY3-1D5FegU0zEgDZZJTgyOZmEcbQL0u-hjIaDQ80mmlblzpo15OHUulMY9vF2WwrbsRTPm68W-WSd_UjBUhsp-gVZ2KLbhdQLrDM4lNmCxgi6cT4ismVPy-U9KwTAyVJU7/s2048/WIB00787.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Renato Costa Guimarães on Little Hell, huge water fall, portage, escited, happy, brazilian, brazil, white water, helmet" border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJggfbmk7h-qY3-1D5FegU0zEgDZZJTgyOZmEcbQL0u-hjIaDQ80mmlblzpo15OHUulMY9vF2WwrbsRTPm68W-WSd_UjBUhsp-gVZ2KLbhdQLrDM4lNmCxgi6cT4ismVPy-U9KwTAyVJU7/w400-h266/WIB00787.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Renato Costa Guimarães on Little Hell<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnLMlLyWv0JNrNxD-UlAE_1Bl4v6lGVqykJImpbfxZk041KWBlckhWmb2Da_8Tu0i0fztlYJQY1PWRw6oTMirDr3JlsIRvbTEkJsgbTqSZTS_jjZHafunBsBmfHc4REZQIFQePFXWYKDX/s981/IMG-20201218-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><h3 style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></h3><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnLMlLyWv0JNrNxD-UlAE_1Bl4v6lGVqykJImpbfxZk041KWBlckhWmb2Da_8Tu0i0fztlYJQY1PWRw6oTMirDr3JlsIRvbTEkJsgbTqSZTS_jjZHafunBsBmfHc4REZQIFQePFXWYKDX/s981/IMG-20201218-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rudnei Ribeiro behind the camera capturing Chris Baer on the first big slide of Little Hell, huge slide jungle, kayaking, whitewater" border="0" data-original-height="981" data-original-width="736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnLMlLyWv0JNrNxD-UlAE_1Bl4v6lGVqykJImpbfxZk041KWBlckhWmb2Da_8Tu0i0fztlYJQY1PWRw6oTMirDr3JlsIRvbTEkJsgbTqSZTS_jjZHafunBsBmfHc4REZQIFQePFXWYKDX/w300-h400/IMG-20201218-WA0000.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rudnei Ribeiro behind the camera capturing Chris Baer on the first big slide of Little Hell<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2 style="text-align: left;"><b>Rio dos Cedros</b></h2></div>Multiple sections <br /></div><div> <br /><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=-26.655205356249457%2C+-49.35048029377008" target="_blank">(-26.655205356249457, -49.35048029377008)</a> <i>Note</i>: Dam <br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-1-d&q=-26.66130168294995%2C+-49.33309718472249" target="_blank">(-26.66130168294995, -49.33309718472249)</a> <i>Note</i>: Power station <br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 5+<br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: Visual; gauge is currently offline: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html</a> search Rio dos Cedros on the site; usually dewatered due to dam<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/p/another-murdered-river.html" target="_blank">Dam</a> creates a fun auto-boof park and huck. The rest of the section is a sieve pile.<br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbqHPv5DeVnGsqjjzymhdb-3UnkiswKu34BnnWNYdHcgtfBM5IPqWST2cpYzdmM-m-S1tCAbWTS37viMRRoBtxzWQmk1_Egn5UQAGzyAoMtVIG_tm7ntbl9X7u37-RYt-hO-VF5G2DdSB/s2048/IMG_20201218_091434715_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rudnei Ribeiro behind the camera capturing Chris Baer on the first big slide of Little Hell, dog volkswagon van, paddle, drinking, brazil, river, histoic" border="0" data-original-height="1655" data-original-width="2048" height="324" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhbqHPv5DeVnGsqjjzymhdb-3UnkiswKu34BnnWNYdHcgtfBM5IPqWST2cpYzdmM-m-S1tCAbWTS37viMRRoBtxzWQmk1_Egn5UQAGzyAoMtVIG_tm7ntbl9X7u37-RYt-hO-VF5G2DdSB/w400-h324/IMG_20201218_091434715_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">swing into the kayak bar just upstream of the historic bridge <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><u><b>Put In</b>: GPS</u> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-26.66130168294995,+-49.33309718472249?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiy0Irbm6vuAhXPs1kKHTeiBUAQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-26.66130168294995, -49.33309718472249)</a> Note: Power station<br /><u><b>Take Out</b>: GPS</u> <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-26.672412956279782,+-49.32129836646087?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjr5afrm6vuAhWltVkKHXgYBlAQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-26.672412956279782, -49.32129836646087)</a> Note: Historic bridge<br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 4+ <br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: Visual; gauge is currently offline: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html </a>search Rio dos Cedros on the site; large watershed, usually flowing<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: Rapids and rocks come at you quickly with long, boulder choked rapids. A local guide can make the difference between this being a quick lap or an all-day scouting mission. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmE-E8e_lcm40NdD2tTZaRfmpsLm2bi52cPOyjh0EFKQpDsqo9etzVyrXQ3eOTHJFWn9dYZ6mVqXGZq3jfqmt5P7MmRPTjKSkKKag5A8HfrubajzFOco8tjnzsuLqkRUxosHTojrHNtf6/s2048/IMG_20201228_164535270_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="historic bridge over the Rio dos Cedrosm, with pink flowers, rustic, whitewater," border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKmE-E8e_lcm40NdD2tTZaRfmpsLm2bi52cPOyjh0EFKQpDsqo9etzVyrXQ3eOTHJFWn9dYZ6mVqXGZq3jfqmt5P7MmRPTjKSkKKag5A8HfrubajzFOco8tjnzsuLqkRUxosHTojrHNtf6/w300-h400/IMG_20201228_164535270_HDR.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">historic bridge over the Rio dos Cedros</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><u><b>Put In</b></u>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-26.672412956279782,+-49.32129836646087?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwj1zMCAnKvuAhVDuVkKHR5NAuMQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-26.672412956279782, -49.32129836646087)</a> <i>Note</i>: Historic bridge<br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/26%C2%B040'20.9%22S+49%C2%B019'15.0%22W/@-26.672479,-49.3208256,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-26.672479!4d-49.3208256" target="_blank">(-26.672479012772477, -49.320825566464634)</a> <i>Note</i>: Small footbridge<br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 5<br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: Visual; gauge is currently offline: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html</a> search Rio dos Cedros on the site; large watershed, usually flowing<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: If you enjoyed the section above, this is a step up. One massive sieve that is usually portaged river right, and two very bouncy boulder garden rapids. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJna0c35-ktDF96dPRZPtwQ-DK9PVI2i-5W9Y4CqUXz5butq_VyCNRa8XGvzqoynqQSV2mE6rjJv-AIIn06fCdrCRy3B_zMCdT4MGMd4P4GxYMzola-oJY7WdO5BPqE3rIR01hhsfan2l/s2048/IMG_20210101_100634670_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="farm house, kayak, river, whitewater, trees, flowers," border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="2048" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJna0c35-ktDF96dPRZPtwQ-DK9PVI2i-5W9Y4CqUXz5butq_VyCNRa8XGvzqoynqQSV2mE6rjJv-AIIn06fCdrCRy3B_zMCdT4MGMd4P4GxYMzola-oJY7WdO5BPqE3rIR01hhsfan2l/w400-h211/IMG_20210101_100634670_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">private take out on the Rio dos Cedros<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-26.68411207759926,+-49.31353274517334?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjDm_mfnKvuAhUjxVkKHSYlCGQQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-26.68411207759926, -49.31353274517334)</a> <i>Note</i>: Small footbridge<br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-26.701225044973278,+-49.287494734592016?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjvqeywnKvuAhUCy1kKHY35B0kQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-26.701225044973278, -49.287494734592016)</a> <i>Note</i>: Private, kayaker-owned farm <br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 3+ <br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: Visual; gauge is currently offline: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html</a> search Rio dos Cedros on the site; large watershed, usually flowing<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: A perfect warm-up stretch for this rocky river, or maybe just a cool-down after one of the upper sections.</div><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><h2>Rio Garcia </h2></div><div> </div><div><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-27.04832886973124,+-49.0921790976178?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiZ8ZnRnKvuAhXEtVkKHYDuClIQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-27.04832886973124, -49.0921790976178)</a> <i>Note</i>: Gated park entrance<br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-27.028249001720194,+-49.0930442596256?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjxz8n4nKvuAhUDyFkKHUwxATUQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-27.028249001720194, -49.0930442596256)</a> <i>Note</i>: Small drivable bridge<br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 4+<br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: Visual; typically looks low, but the flow gets constricted in a micro-gorge<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: Micro-creeking on the outskirts of <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Blumenau,+State+of+Santa+Catarina,+Brazil/@-26.8563406,-49.2395347,11z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x94df1e408b5c3095:0xacfb8520bc1a7644!8m2!3d-26.9165792!4d-49.0717331" target="_blank">Blumenau</a>. Fun bedrock features. One big double drop that is usually portaged river right. Crystal clear water coming out of a national park. (Possibility of more good rapids upstream?) <br /> <br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm0Nc7yX8iUoN3-YGtszfgUodUbM9ktQXq9B18YRtmasusdb_nxf1ZI1JZkosjT7B1yhi5QAlkI8lrbXTOTLezmYIh8A0N0jApNJEthoryw1plMMF_FYh2y2nbm-H7cWj0Da2Nar9dJXR/s2048/WIB00792.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joao Gabriel Araujo scouting the "portage" on the Rio Garcia , portage kayak, whitewater, crazy, waterfall, brazil," border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1365" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDm0Nc7yX8iUoN3-YGtszfgUodUbM9ktQXq9B18YRtmasusdb_nxf1ZI1JZkosjT7B1yhi5QAlkI8lrbXTOTLezmYIh8A0N0jApNJEthoryw1plMMF_FYh2y2nbm-H7cWj0Da2Nar9dJXR/w266-h400/WIB00792.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joao Gabriel Araujo scouting the "portage" on the <span style="font-weight: normal;">Rio Garcia</span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><h2 style="text-align: left;">Itajaí-Açu River</h2>Multiple sections<br /></div><div><br /><i>Note</i>: “Paradise” section further upstream has a much smaller flow window and is typically dewatered by a <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/p/another-murdered-river.html" target="_blank">dam</a></div><div> </div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_X64GeKZO0q-sa-qzahjG6b0-_TzhpguNgRiFSWLVk5-N1_6eb4JNxzRXO_7oOi3cWCrD5LREmr4GJDX1HRSm2PhUuhKhIOSxP1jnp2HODFTMhXKJK30MXKUurOPh1IR53DWSE9yNP2l/s2048/IMG_20201221_181351233_HDR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="sunset, looking down on the Itajaí-Açu River, rich colors, river, trees, brazil mountains" border="0" data-original-height="1163" data-original-width="2048" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_X64GeKZO0q-sa-qzahjG6b0-_TzhpguNgRiFSWLVk5-N1_6eb4JNxzRXO_7oOi3cWCrD5LREmr4GJDX1HRSm2PhUuhKhIOSxP1jnp2HODFTMhXKJK30MXKUurOPh1IR53DWSE9yNP2l/w400-h228/IMG_20201221_181351233_HDR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking down on the Itajaí-Açu River<div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-27.080805786301287,+-49.513652261165326?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjkxqW_oKvuAhWxslkKHd6yApUQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-27.080805786301287, -49.513652261165326) </a><i>Note</i>: Side of road pull-off<br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/27%C2%B004'36.4%22S+49%C2%B026'06.4%22W/@-27.0767676,-49.4350986,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x0!8m2!3d-27.0767676!4d-49.4350986" target="_blank">(-27.076767560704273, -49.435098606638086)</a> <i>Note</i>: <a href="http://ativaraftingvaleeuropeu.com/" target="_blank">Ativa Rafting Company</a><br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 4<br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html</a> search Apiúna on the site. <b><u>Range</u></b>: Low 1.0 meter - High 2.6 meters<br /> <br /><b><u>Run Description</u></b>: Spectacular big water fun. A few steep ledges should be scouted. The general characteristic of the river is read and run big, rolling waves. <br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2K6MGy1ZpSbgrbXT8dwgs-hNcehqD0o5hEsIG202xl3lbyjBY7uZx_zExWXgDLPI10ymRNXkuOkJbPg7tDBU-od0eeuDMQNuCAVP5pZTQ4SIDdbKjZckWhRol3WlBdYLd3moVvjDJT87/s2048/IMG_20201221_204249910.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Joao Gabriel Araujo enjoying a fairly large caiparinia, drinking alchol, kayak, rafting ativa, freinds," border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU2K6MGy1ZpSbgrbXT8dwgs-hNcehqD0o5hEsIG202xl3lbyjBY7uZx_zExWXgDLPI10ymRNXkuOkJbPg7tDBU-od0eeuDMQNuCAVP5pZTQ4SIDdbKjZckWhRol3WlBdYLd3moVvjDJT87/w300-h400/IMG_20201221_204249910.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joao Gabriel Araujo enjoying a fairly large <a href="https://www.liquor.com/recipes/caipirinha/" target="_blank">caiparinia</a><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <br /><b><u>Put In</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-27.08034395994515,+-49.442244208502295?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwijwd6moavuAhVFmlkKHUHaCG4Q8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-27.08034395994515, -49.442244208502295)</a> <i>Note</i>: Looks like small private driveway <br /><b><u>Take Out</u></b>: GPS <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/search/-27.076767560704273,+-49.435098606638086?sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjQnrayoavuAhVR2FkKHdupCwwQ8gEwAHoECAIQAQ" target="_blank">(-27.076767560704273, -49.435098606638086)</a> <i>Note</i>: <a href="http://ativaraftingvaleeuropeu.com/" target="_blank">Ativa Rafting Company</a><br /><b><u>Class</u></b>: 3-4 with an enormous flow window <br /><b><u>Flow</u></b>: <a href="http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html">http://ceops.furb.br/restrito/SisCeops/views_pub/tabela_nivel.html</a> search Apiúna on the site. <b><u>Range</u></b>: Low 1.0 meter - High 3.5 meters<br /> <br /><b>Run Description</b>: Large volume bedrock ledges. Fun class 3 at low water, huge dynamic waves at high water. </div><div> </div><div> </div><div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpF9Sy0hJViPmYngnUv6orRTJt8COBRB5ZkiY-JAHSvzeBMFwhG5cpe1KuNi4EfmffJimCnOBOLwYov6-vj7SWM6WP6uewt4-CTXxvkV23uPAZBTRnmtQec2ZA4JPoLzHUbTPsBQEkuSd/s1667/121695669_10107346330292091_8003552342415174850_o.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tubes, gauley, two ladies, Chris Baer, upper, unicorn, dragon, smiles excited, whitewater, helmet, wrsi" border="0" data-original-height="1037" data-original-width="1667" height="124" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmpF9Sy0hJViPmYngnUv6orRTJt8COBRB5ZkiY-JAHSvzeBMFwhG5cpe1KuNi4EfmffJimCnOBOLwYov6-vj7SWM6WP6uewt4-CTXxvkV23uPAZBTRnmtQec2ZA4JPoLzHUbTPsBQEkuSd/w200-h124/121695669_10107346330292091_8003552342415174850_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer<br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: 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center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /><br /></div>whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0Terminal Aterro - Plataforma - Desembarque - Salto Norte, Blumenau - SC, 89069-001, Brazil-26.8704091 -49.0958693-27.115163090228716 -49.370527503125 -26.625655109771284 -48.821211096875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-78744772264177163152020-04-29T16:10:00.003-06:002021-02-03T11:17:03.721-07:00Eddy Lines, another pod cast...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2 style="text-align: left;">
Eddy Lines, another pod cast...</h2>
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<a href="https://anchor.fm/gregory-cairns/episodes/2-15ft-Standing-Waves-edaphl">Gregory Cairns</a> gave me a ring the other day, asking me to be on yet another pod cast. Of course I said yes, it's not like my schedule is packed during these quarantine days. A few unique questions in there and a great conversation.<br />
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The article about the <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2017/02/biggest-class-3-in-world-siang-river.html">Siang/Brahmaputra</a> river we chat can be found <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2017/02/biggest-class-3-in-world-siang-river.html">here</a>. <br />
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0Unnamed Road, 79110528.997474484663368 94.90067049316786628.983585484663369 94.880500493167872 29.011363484663367 94.920840493167859tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-20275536127218819962020-02-17T09:21:00.005-07:002021-02-03T11:19:37.941-07:00UnderCurrents, the Wing and Baer show <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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UnderCurrents</h1><h2 style="text-align: left;">The Wing and Baer show </h2>
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Episode 3: Chris Baer – OG #vanlife and Outrunning the Kung Flu</div>
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Feb 16, 2020
Season 1
Episode 3
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Chris Baer is enigmatic to say the least. He shirks the common lifestyle almost seemingly to just laugh in the face of it, because he can. That said, he’s not a jerk about it either, quite the contrary. He has managed to learn everything it takes to get along in any foreign place in the world without stressing out. You would imagine that this skillset is cumbersome to travel with but Chris travels light, fast, and almost everywhere. He is a walking contradiction to typical assumptions and it has developed him into one of the most fascinating characters in the outdoor world.<br />
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See more about Chris at <a href="http://whereisbaer.com/">whereisbaer.com</a> or visit our show page at <a href="http://h2odreams.com/podcast">h2odreams.com/podcast</a></div>
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Chris Wing,<br />
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-13735617623398126652020-02-04T23:58:00.002-07:002021-01-24T20:12:46.525-07:00Pod Casting with Zach Collier, raft guide quiz? <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
</div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 style="text-align: left;">Pod Casting with Zach Collier, raft guide quiz? </h1></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><iframe frameborder="0" height="150" nbsp="" scrolling="no" src="https://app.stitcher.com/splayer/f/231712/67096573" style="border: solid 1px #dedede;" width="220"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/goog_842380525"><br /></a>
Link to River Talk below and full interview above <br />
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<a href="https://www.rivertalkpodcast.com/podcast/ep-68-talking-with-chris-baer-about-china-and-the-river-guide-quiz/?fbclid=IwAR2EeZfdD5KVBS0N6dUFMQ7DJOBIPEJhqCnhmzxr31lrX_BZF7Zg-qBwbg4">https://www.rivertalkpodcast.com/podcast/ep-68-talking-with-chris-baer-about-china-and-the-river-guide-quiz/?fbclid=IwAR2EeZfdD5KVBS0N6dUFMQ7DJOBIPEJhqCnhmzxr31lrX_BZF7Zg-qBwbg4</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA4qX-RSfzHcRERWcb5FzydI6ETMPKecZ_oltdNRIORf2th5We4IrKJYw4PFQaXh8oBEwi7uFIP7l4I-HMHdDPutab7hq4N6ust0JgSqdo5p3nqE3HbtZpuQMfgD-nD3iLLp8bjYWuzf3/s1600/470608_3524502721266_238380170_o.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="raft carnage, upper gauley, chris baer, WhereIsBaer.com, pillow rock, upper, whitewater rafting" border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="959" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieA4qX-RSfzHcRERWcb5FzydI6ETMPKecZ_oltdNRIORf2th5We4IrKJYw4PFQaXh8oBEwi7uFIP7l4I-HMHdDPutab7hq4N6ust0JgSqdo5p3nqE3HbtZpuQMfgD-nD3iLLp8bjYWuzf3/w200-h132/470608_3524502721266_238380170_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Baer</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-37442565532920369882019-12-06T12:51:00.003-07:002021-01-24T20:13:19.639-07:00Exploration via Kayak: The Why, Where, and What’s Next?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;"><h1>
Exploration via Kayak: The Why, Where, and What’s Next?</h1></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="432" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/331043113" width="768"></iframe><br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/331043113">Explore</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Kayaking has a myriad of peculiar niche groups under its umbrella. Some paddlers are devoted to the freestyle aspect; from getting vertical on the Green to looping at the local park-and-play spot. Others have a need for speed; maybe racing the North Fork of the Payette, ducking gates in a manmade slalom course or trying to do the Grand Canyon of the Colorado in a day. Some push the difficulty spectrum such as with Grand Inga or Palouse Falls, making your local Class 5 seem like a kiddy pool. Others have found their niche in exploratory boating. <br />
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The whitewater kayaking community, as we know it, is still relatively young. Most of the people that pioneered your favorite local river are still alive today. Paddling all over the country and globe, I have had the opportunity to meet and chat with many of these pioneering paddlers. As an avid expedition paddler my conversations quickly turn to sharing epic tales, and aspirations for what is next. <br />
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In this article I have reached out to a variety of folks that have inspired me to explore. The questions are simple, yet every paddler returned with wildly different responses. Except for one… the map! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoAbbMrrQj6A6_P2Azd7Ofrh4dnct3gyVDYGfes0MO9pjhJ1XYxMrAkKcwEmx8aAKxV7vkYYox99vddo33OsGP2FwBOhCeRopTkVf5RJCf5FY-sgTDcZB68Ps-TrSz1YZFAde8Z7DipwE/s1600/DSC05751.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="waterfall AZ whitewater kayaking red rocks WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoAbbMrrQj6A6_P2Azd7Ofrh4dnct3gyVDYGfes0MO9pjhJ1XYxMrAkKcwEmx8aAKxV7vkYYox99vddo33OsGP2FwBOhCeRopTkVf5RJCf5FY-sgTDcZB68Ps-TrSz1YZFAde8Z7DipwE/w266-h400/DSC05751.jpg" width="266" /></a> </h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Why explore, why leave your comfort zone?</h3>
First off, “comfort zone” might not be the best wording,<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Comfort zone means so many different things. To some it’s working 80 hours a week on a drill rig.”</i> <br />Ben Stookesberry. </span></blockquote>
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Ok Ben, we get it. Everyone I reached out to in this article would be considered crazy by many. Many on this list would also consider working 40-80 hours a week and spending few moments outside crazy. Neither is correct, and we all pick and choose our priorities wildly differently. So, maybe a better phrasing is, where does that push, that drive to explore come from? More than a few paddlers seem to think it’s embedded in their psyche, something they were born with or drawn to naturally.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“As far as exploring, I think it’s a natural reaction to want to explore, and some of us have a desire to get out and see even more. Seeing rare earth and whitewater is amazing and putting together a trip successful or not is one of the most satisfying feelings I’ve ever had. It’s pure love. And being able to share that with friends is what it’s all about. Most people don’t quite get it and I usually don’t even try to explain, but those who know, know.”</i><br />Thomas Herring <br /><br /><i>I explore because the desire to find the next challenge is always there. There are always new places to discover and the thrill of the unknown creates a sense of adventure that is an unmatched feeling for me while paddling. Kayaking is a sport that can encompass so many things that can be enjoyed in such a variety of ways. 30 years after I started, I am still fueled by the drive to try something new and difficult, whether it is a new river or a new line on a rapid I have run countless times.”</i><br />Bobby Miller<br /><br /><i>“The whitewater kayak is this tremendous opportunity to go places that you wouldn’t or couldn’t go for any other reason or by any other means. It is a hypothetical ticket to the ubiquity that rivers represent on this planet. And so to relegate ourselves to only the well known rivers where the experiences are mostly prescribed is to miss out on the pinnacle opportunity that is facing the unknown.”</i><br />Ben Stookesberry <br /><br /><i>“Exploration is just a physical response to curiosity. It is really no different than wanting to try something new on a restaurant menu, or rather than just wondering why the sky is blue, taking the time and effort to research it. In my case, the object of curiosity is geography, and more particularly rivers. I have always been drawn to waterbodies and the desire to be by them or on them, and for rivers, to follow them. In short, I just want to personally see what is there.”</i><br />Ed Gertler<br /><br /><i>“In the ‘70s I was in Big Bend, TX, and it’s just beautiful. It was my first time seeing whitewater, and I had the quick realization I could explore via the river.” </i><br />Eric Lindberg</span></blockquote>
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Is this drive to peer around the bend natural? Or is it simply the means that allows us to spend an extended period of time in remote places we find beautiful? Yet others talk about the desire to problem solve. Expedition paddlers typically spend countless hours looking at maps, setting up travel logistics, and scouting rapids. Is this what we find so enjoyable? <br />
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<blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Exploration by kayak has got to be my favorite aspect of the sport. A kayak on a river makes huge landscapes so accessible in a way that no other mode of transport does. You can live out of it for days, even weeks at a time. On many a good river the flow will carry you through the landscape without much effort. Having a guide is nice for expediency, but I love the feeling of solving each bend in a river with a group that is all new to a place. There's nothing quite like it. Maybe it's one incredible image that will draw me to a place, but it's all the rapids that aren't in the image, all the incredible views of the looming mountains framed by the canyon, the animals whose paths you invariably cross that make up a true experience of exploration.” </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Evan Stafford</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“The drive to explore via my kayak comes from the fantasy of being in a place where very few have probably ever been. It’s pretty thrilling to be in an untouched area when you know how busy the rat race is outside of those canyon walls. Many first descent rivers are remote and require lots of logistics as well as critical thinking to navigate and it’s these challenges that are appealing to me.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shannon Carroll</span></blockquote>
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Shannon brings up the idea that even though exploring is stressful, it often can be a vacation compared to the stress our daily life puts on us. Darcy goes yet a step further referring to it as an escape.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“It’s a great escape. As we all know, life is stressful and full of problems. Exploring remotes areas is a way to forget about a certain set of problems and embrace a new set namely survival which I often find refreshing to just worry about the basics. It makes you really focus on what is important and to learn to let the rest fall away. To suffer, I get worried when I get too comfortable and life is too easy. Getting out there and experiencing physical and emotional suffering (and hopefully rising above this suffering) makes me feel good.”</i><br />Darcy Gaechter</span></blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAm_6uf4GlK_zKbBOxYBtjhvC60XGI9S9P63sJBmi2_-m4CRdfZ3Vxsl-kjCwqANU-oq4PdfPIf5_IurHc58y1zGaTBzRLTlKMkrHyKJRAlDcU0_PcM0Y9q2EGzPVUlwPcHQDcPU4-T1D/s1600/DSC05673.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="arizona scenery sunrise, canyon, beautiful valley river" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAm_6uf4GlK_zKbBOxYBtjhvC60XGI9S9P63sJBmi2_-m4CRdfZ3Vxsl-kjCwqANU-oq4PdfPIf5_IurHc58y1zGaTBzRLTlKMkrHyKJRAlDcU0_PcM0Y9q2EGzPVUlwPcHQDcPU4-T1D/w400-h266/DSC05673.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Did Kirk and Ed dive into kayak exploration to purposely mold themselves, or was it fortuitous that their experiences augmented them? Does spending a large portion of your life in the wild make you more existential? <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">"Is it not our nature to peer around the corner? To fixate upon the horizon where the limits of our vision and the birth of our imagination intersect, is to honor in a single instant, all that has come to pass, all that will be, and what it means to be right here, </span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">right </span></i></span><span style="font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">now."</span></i></span><br />
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Kirk Eddlemon</span></span></div>
</blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /><i>“I know I’m going on an adventure when I commit to something, somewhere unknown to me. A new door I step through. Before going forward, I think: what to take? What could help if things get complex? Less stuff but the right stuff? The warm, the light and the bright stuff? I’ve learned to know I’ll never know until I go but must react as it happens. The adventure of stepping through invisible doors to emerge home new and safe. Learning living and loving this life is why I must go."</i><br />Ed Lucero<br /><br /><i>"I personally was looking for rivers with as much variety and difference as possible, and ended up in places where I paid for it. Fortunately I was able to get out of them alive. This extended far into my soloing, but I was happy to have partners too, it's just that some of the runs I couldn't get anybody to go with me. I had a high pain threshold. And the attitude was closely entwined with what I was looking for in paddling, and my goal, which was to integrate every kind of paddling into my style and find rivers that demanded all those techniques - including climbing - to run them. And the aesthetic is: learn to solve your own problems. Be independent. Never take somebody else's word for anything, always test it pointedly to come to your own conclusion. This is a philosophy of independence and competence. Some perception of danger is physical and affects the difficulty, but most of this is purely a psychological barrier that can be overcome by soloing (whether one wants to do this is another thing altogether). It's probably not advised to push off into an unknown vertical walled canyon like the Tsangpo at 80 grand, or the Stikine at 20K without knowing a lot about what's downstream. But it all comes down to having the people embrace making decisions based on their own experience and outlook. I found in my own paddling that I was willing to push far beyond all my partners, and I got massively criticized for it, so I started hiding my runs. Be your own explorer at all times, and make your own decisions.” </i><br />Doug Ammons</span></blockquote>
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Yet other paddlers seem to have simply stumbled into exploration. How often do we consciously choose our path? <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Exploring isn’t for everyone and people should enjoy kayaking however it suits them. I didn’t start kayaking to explore it’s just where kayaking took me.”</i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mike Ferraro</span></div>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4YeE67UmZUOxtjsnAzf6_LDLy6H9xc6AfBMC9SqfwrkFgHdSG2foCq2LFhH3jg6u_pbBtlESXd4nL8_-DECxqguhmYSrJm6PIq5FgSQ_fUWMgY__lMJk7nGOmqkiPYa21DWGOTnjkbWZ/s1600/DSC05744.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="slot canoyon az arizona whitewater kayak," border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR4YeE67UmZUOxtjsnAzf6_LDLy6H9xc6AfBMC9SqfwrkFgHdSG2foCq2LFhH3jg6u_pbBtlESXd4nL8_-DECxqguhmYSrJm6PIq5FgSQ_fUWMgY__lMJk7nGOmqkiPYa21DWGOTnjkbWZ/w266-h400/DSC05744.jpg" width="266" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<br />How and where did you find these unexplored places?</h3>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“We had to guess every step of the way, on the basis of watershed size, geology, altitude, similar drainages, etc., and spend a lot of time on the ground scoping things out.” </i><br />Doug Ammons</span></blockquote>
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Seems like there may never be a better substitute than being on the ground seeing things firsthand, but it’s the rumors that get us there in the first place.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Mainly by talking to people and scouring maps. Kayakers are a great source of info, but I’ve also found amazing places by talking to non-kayaking locals about their favorite hikes, places their grandparents used to go, etc…But at least 4 or 5 times a year someone will start taking about a place and I will mentally file it away as a “must check out.”</i><br />Darcy Gaechter<br /><br /><i>“One of my friends would move to a cool new location or there would be a rumor or myth of something being in the region, really a lot of hearsay. Sometimes we just went for a walk with a chainsaw and a map.”</i><br />Eric Lindberg <br /><i></i></span></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“I used to study topo maps and look for steep streams. I would compile a list and go hike the creeks during low water periods to see if they were worthy. I also received plenty of tips for where steep streams might be located over the years. Three of my all time favorite streams: White Oak Run, Laurel Run (Cheat Canyon trib), and Moore Run, were adventures that were made possible by the beta people gave me.”</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Bobby Miller</span></blockquote>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
The only steadfast answer I obtained during this research is that all of these folks are nerds, and love looking at maps. <br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“I was utterly fascinated by maps and spent hours poring over gas station road maps, dreaming about visiting the places and features they represented. When someone showed me my first USGS topographic map, it was like discovering fire.”</i><br />Ed Gertler<br /><br /><i>“My first explorations were all local, none of my crew had done them, and we didn't know anyone that had, and weren't sure if anyone had. We bought all the topo maps around the Chattooga and started picking them off one by one.”</i><br />Shane Benedict <br /><br /><i>“I used to pore over maps, measure gradients and drainage acreage etc.”</i><br />Evan Stafford<br /><br /><i>“Quarry and Sovern (which flows into the Big Sandy at the put-in) were known to all but regarded as "unrunnable" due to their steep nature. We also bagged the first D on the Upper Blackwater. It had been run before the devastating Election Day flood of '85 but was a portage fest. The river changed dramatically with the flood. We ran it in April of '86 at high water (750cfs) which may still be a high water record. It was super intense and led me to name one of the last rapids "I Can't Take It Anymore, My Nerves Are Shot”. Fikes Creek was one truly found by study of topo maps as it was hidden away</i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>.”</i></span></i><br />Phil Coleman<br /><br /><i>“I find new sections using Google earth and CalTopo.”</i><br />Mike Ferraro<br /><br /><i>“For info, almost all internet. Google, YouTube, blogs, maps. Sometimes a dry run like hiking or driving around the area can be useful, too. Always good to get eyes on the river.”</i><br />Thomas Herring<br /><br /><i>“At first, we used Exxon road maps to find the rivers; then guidebooks. Usually, a first descent was a creek I'd seen or heard about from someone who thought it would go.” </i><br />Charlie Walbridge<br /><br /><i>“Trips that I have been a part of were always a group effort and derived from simply looking at a topo map and reading gradient lines and then figuring out your approach, since most often there isn’t a road leading directly to the put in.”</i><br />Shannon Carroll</span></blockquote>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubh3tbTLcvIcjthA00S77gx_t6hCdRumjfxeSJota129sBVSytt17ZwtZZFNkp7c16jtvx6Jk28OphIFtk8ZY56_rLchZZ8S96EXbmQCcUQkgYymZp9jIgtw8BeNYUnoRAemdLj667Vet/s1600/DSC05713.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="waterfall arizona kayak whitewater, slot canyon" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiubh3tbTLcvIcjthA00S77gx_t6hCdRumjfxeSJota129sBVSytt17ZwtZZFNkp7c16jtvx6Jk28OphIFtk8ZY56_rLchZZ8S96EXbmQCcUQkgYymZp9jIgtw8BeNYUnoRAemdLj667Vet/w266-h400/DSC05713.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<h3>
</h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Who inspired you?</h3>
For some, it’s the pioneers. Although often not really whitewater paddlers, they definitely had the exploration bug, <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<i>“John Muir”</i><br />
Eric Lindberg<br />
<br />
<i>“Boomer and his partner Sarah constantly inspire me with their Arctic Missions and multi sport tendencies. When I began my career in the late 90’s, Scott Lindgren, the Knapp Brothers, the Kern brothers, Abbot, Ellard, Alardice, were paving the way of modern kayak exploration. I love hearing stories from the olden days before my time of Lars and Chuck, Lesser, Andrew Emmbick, Brits Dave Manby, Mike Jones, Peter Knoles, Mick Hopkinson (the Relentless River of Everest). But I think it’s worth looking beyond all these historic patriarchy to the females that also led the way and are leading the way in our sport. I.e. Mary DeRheimer, Eva Luna, Niki Kelly, Darcy Gaechter (small world), Shannon Carrol, etc. We know they don’t get as much notoriety as guys, in large part because they are generally less ego driven.”</i><br />
Ben Stookesberry</blockquote>
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Many of these adventurers found their friends to be their inspiration. “My friends are my Heroes!”<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“The handful of first D's I've had were really led by Phil Coleman- which includes a 667 fpm Quarry Run way back in 1978. Phil was the map and 'new idea' guy. And, of course, he also originally coined the terms "Boof" and "Squirt"- terms still in use today. But, I've never been the front edge of anything like that, it's just not my thing. The guys who do the searching and mapping never get enough credit.” <br />Jim Snyder</i><br /><br /><i>“In my early days, I was inspired by people like BJ Johnson and Clay Wright, who were out running big drops on tiny creeks that few people would ever get the chance to run. The video Falling Down made extreme kayaking so real for me since most of the drops in the video were within reach, only a few hours away in West Virginia. As I got older, I considered dialing it back but then drew inspiration from the big waterfall craze. I saw how much fun guys like Evan Garcia and Pat Keller were having while running huge waterfalls. I knew there was more for me to accomplish in a kayak and I needed to step into that realm.”</i><br />Bobby Miller<br /><br /><i>“Tons of people! For paddlers, Nouria Newman—I think she’s the most bad ass person I know (male or female) I’m constantly impressed by what she is doing. Ben Stookesberry, Chris Korbulic, Scott Lindgren, and Maggy Hurchalla also come to mind. You all probably know the first 3, but <a href="http://www.slappmaggy.com/">Maggy</a> is my 78-year-old bad ass kayaking friend from Florida. She took up kayaking when she was 65 and is still at it now. She’s also a life-long environmentalist fighting against big corporations for what she believes in. What I really appreciate about all these people is how nice they are. Kindness really goes a long way in making an impression.” </i><br />Darcy Gaechter</span></blockquote>
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As Darcy points out it’s not always the top tier paddlers that influence us. Sometimes, it’s significantly more personal.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“My dad has always been a huge inspiration for how I live my life. Not because he is a great explorer, but because of the values he instilled in me at a young age; including courage, commitment, and perseverance. “Building character” as he would call it. These are all some of the prominent qualities I’ve brought to the table exploring in my kayak. I’ve looked up to Ben Stokesberry a lot as an explorer.”</i><br />Mike Ferraro <br /><br /><i>“Nobody. I do this just because I like doing it, not because I want to be like somebody else. But I do enjoy the company of similarly driven people and knowing they are out there. Chasing rivers is not exactly a mainstream (no pun intended) pursuit. So, knowing others share your passion at some level is reinforcing, i.e. comforting evidence that you are not completely insane.”</i><br />Ed Gertler</span></blockquote>
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Ed never saw someone else holding the proverbial bar. On the other hand Shannon is now inspiring another generation: her daughters.<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Things have changed a lot for me in the past 10 years, as I’ve started my family and become a mom. So currently, who inspires me, is Mariann Saether for continuing to pursue class V paddling. These days I put my energy towards different passions of mine. Obviously, none of us are guaranteed another day on this precious planet and I’m unable to paddle class V Rivers and canyons with the same ease that I used to before being responsible for raising my children. And, it took me a while, but I am at peace with this in my life. I am thankful for the many days of extreme kayaking that I enjoyed and the safety I had during those days, but as we know; kayaking is a particularly dangerous sport and I’m not willing to lay it on the line like I used to. What’s next for me personally is teaching my daughters the ways of river life and sharing with them the magic within the canyons. My father taught me to raft and kayak at a very young age and to have a healthy respect for the river and its power.” </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Shannon Carroll</span></blockquote>
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span>
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<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpAPAn8q67cbH_19_GxA-veNiy8usMpnfMHkGp3cSiXaDlJdHTDAcqd5fz8glXDhheXpZbvgOJeP-CypOz-L0mXsiXnyLVSuTtu8MIwnvxFCbrY_EID4Kq65BDLUVrfpI31MXXhXg5ce-/s1600/DSC05680.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="waterfall slot canyon arizona red rock kayak boof" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1286" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpAPAn8q67cbH_19_GxA-veNiy8usMpnfMHkGp3cSiXaDlJdHTDAcqd5fz8glXDhheXpZbvgOJeP-CypOz-L0mXsiXnyLVSuTtu8MIwnvxFCbrY_EID4Kq65BDLUVrfpI31MXXhXg5ce-/w321-h400/DSC05680.jpg" width="321" /></a></h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
With so much exploration completed what’s next?</h3>
For many, it’s the continued quest for another river.<br />
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“My goals, for now, are to travel to new places outside of the United States to paddle. I have trips to Chile and Norway on the horizon. Working for Calleva’s Liquid Adventures has opened up a whole new world for traveling, instructing, and sharing the stoke for paddling with others.”</i><br />Bobby Miller<br /><i><br /></i><i>“Labrador, Canada”</i><br />Eric Lindberg<br /><i><br /><br />“Next Is the <a href="https://kokatat.com/expeditions/a-colombian-whitewater-renaissance-exploration-of-southern-colombia">Rio Guayas</a> in Amazon Colombia, Lane, Jules and I tried it a few years ago and hiked out. We are going to give it another shot with Rafa Ortiz coming up in December.”</i></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br />Ben Stookesberry <br /><br /><br />“Right now I’m exploring the world of book writing and publishing! It’s been an epic journey and scarier and harder than most I’ve done. But I’ve managed to find a publisher—Pegasus Books—and my book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/AmazonWomanFacingChasingLargestebook/dp/B07VLPCF9M/ref=sr_1_1keywords=darcy+gaechter&qid=1574271473&s=digital-text&sr=1-1">AMAZON WOMAN</a>, is coming out March 3! You can pre-order now." </i><br />Darcy Gaechter<i><br /></i></span></blockquote>
Darcy and Mike are both changing gears in wildly different directions. Darcy is interpreting familiar material in new mediums, and Mike is taking his cool under fire prowess to its preverbal match. <br />
<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>“Next on the list for me is becoming a Marine. It will be a new challenge and have lifelong benefits. I go to basic training at the end of January. If I had any advice about kayaking it would be “Always believe in yourself. In reality, it’s all you’ve got. Anything else is a distraction and a weakness. If you hit it going a hundred you’re gonna make it across.” The sport continues to change and "progress" - the ways in which it changes depend strongly on vision, equipment, experience, appetite, social reward, and in some cases, ignorance of consequences.” </i><br />Mike Ferraro<i><br /></i></span> </blockquote>
<blockquote>
<i>“Well, if I had the time, skill, and money, I would love to run every inch of every stream on the planet (not that canals of Mars don’t appeal to me too). But I haven’t lost touch with reality, and I am more than happy to just catch another section of stream, anywhere that I have not seen. There are some places I would particularly like to visit, but really, just covering some new water is good enough. It would be a nice feeling to think I am the first to have the foresight to give some stream a look, and I think in my earlier days, some of my runs probably were first descents. But nowadays, there are enough boaters in enough places that just about anything has been run. No big deal. The joy of discovery is still there.”</i> <i><br />Ed Gertler</i></blockquote>
<br />
Exploration allows me to immerse myself in foreign locations and culture, forcing me to adapt, and become acquainted to just a bit more of our amazing globe. <br />
Chris Baer <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q-MN4iDfbZKVhzI7pNLdVJJbOutTso1rLhBW8XoqpEpXITeWNTk-guMaM4-tNVfJVdqxCoD9qOnolusSJbDMjK9mWa_2I7uev-75fVEMm6EXXE_NgGJAS-CzbmBN0lDR3pLXy3QXgr4T/s1600/WIB00089.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="whereisbaer, van, vanlife, beard mountains snow caped kayak motorcyle pearl snap" border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Q-MN4iDfbZKVhzI7pNLdVJJbOutTso1rLhBW8XoqpEpXITeWNTk-guMaM4-tNVfJVdqxCoD9qOnolusSJbDMjK9mWa_2I7uev-75fVEMm6EXXE_NgGJAS-CzbmBN0lDR3pLXy3QXgr4T/w200-h133/WIB00089.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-14928094143846733462019-04-14T20:12:00.001-06:002021-01-24T20:13:44.698-07:00Green River Narrows Race 2018 <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 style="text-align: left;">
Green River Narrows Race 2018 <iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="564" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/326941045" width="640"></iframe></h1></div>
whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-21713168812279230492019-01-29T18:59:00.008-07:002021-01-21T17:01:35.522-07:00A Day in the Life of a Winter Grand Canyon of the Colorado Trip<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<h1 style="text-align: left;">
A Typical Day:</h1>
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="564" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/307597291" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br />
You know what you’re going to do tomorrow, sort of… First you’ll wake up. Crawl out of your warm <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/Gear/Sleeping-Bags/Big-Agnes-System-Bags">cocoon</a> of a bed/nest. Get dressed in the first of multiple costumes for the day. This attire will undoubtedly include a warm hat, extra layers, and at minimum one article of <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/Gear/Apparel/Mens">down clothing</a>. Rowan took this to extremes on our trip with a down jacket, pants, and slippers! Create a delicious, filling, and hot breakfast. These meals usually contain either bacon, sausage, or chorizo! On the truly magical mornings, all three of these delightful breakfast meats can be combined. This combination feels like winning the lottery while having a heart attack! There will certainly be Baileys on the coffee table and no one will even blink when you add a glug or two to your coffee.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMhffrhIg2siL0KwhVDDlEDwe-cJgfMDpWEh2TXvO8REW5Jcthls3-gfpLdN0wuIpGEIL3P1Edd3O77EageST8pSB4pbaAeNclBnjGSl9a6qlDUqngYs8G-VhyjAxWi5hVFu3b3KsNYj5/s1600/DSC04798.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="grand canyon, river colors green and blue little colorado rafting beautiful red rocks" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsMhffrhIg2siL0KwhVDDlEDwe-cJgfMDpWEh2TXvO8REW5Jcthls3-gfpLdN0wuIpGEIL3P1Edd3O77EageST8pSB4pbaAeNclBnjGSl9a6qlDUqngYs8G-VhyjAxWi5hVFu3b3KsNYj5/w320-h213/DSC04798.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">water colors colliding, Little and Big Colorado</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK-4pZ1OhPd2iaOUfR4TUhJkSIVkHNBcRDAyuy1GB7ns37S3sQL8tAjMY-lGZNbnmMXmfSlEzf7AQPZR5Bwxe8Mizta_9IJU28SnnKVzVxNMY07H_yreX-Es4NVDrJ06cOEtZch3wQGTk/s1600/IMG_0900.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="ladies in dry suits climbing through slot canyon Matkatimiba grand canyon of the colorado" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOK-4pZ1OhPd2iaOUfR4TUhJkSIVkHNBcRDAyuy1GB7ns37S3sQL8tAjMY-lGZNbnmMXmfSlEzf7AQPZR5Bwxe8Mizta_9IJU28SnnKVzVxNMY07H_yreX-Es4NVDrJ06cOEtZch3wQGTk/w213-h320/IMG_0900.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">side-hikes</td></tr>
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<br />
A lackadaisical launch hour is the norm, say noonish, and usually coincides with the sun hitting the beach. Sometimes it starts snowing and you just blow it off for a day or two. Direct sunlight is precious on winter trips, and groups always seem to desire to spend as many of the sunlit hours as possible on the water to combat the chilly winter temps.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN-DX6P09df8-iYTUikWyzgSMwpxh6U_6NtMxE1wzNjB_EccGZfuXXtBaYqWboFJj47P1TzYCcEjFKGxlYzrqlsUeKEsKzS6V9LVRmxUw0uAvAox9euQUFXBi3sL6V3nMiLXrZSR3X2HP/s1600/IMG_0836.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="big horn sheep grand canyon of the colorado close up of head" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBN-DX6P09df8-iYTUikWyzgSMwpxh6U_6NtMxE1wzNjB_EccGZfuXXtBaYqWboFJj47P1TzYCcEjFKGxlYzrqlsUeKEsKzS6V9LVRmxUw0uAvAox9euQUFXBi3sL6V3nMiLXrZSR3X2HP/w320-h213/IMG_0836.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">critters both large and small</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0ZOdfItYsJ686tGReYHfXfMwEgJsYOWDZb6ifDbGrCVVETK74l35VO6UXEHnW-v5WM5CePGX104_T7rMiWILg-IgPh9zlX7Xzupn6PhbDvTkRgSl0nRzHROCORp0pYrDmQsBqNShbLnp/s1600/DSC04883.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="deer creek, looking down on the colorado river grand canyon of the colorado rafting whereisbaer chris baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb0ZOdfItYsJ686tGReYHfXfMwEgJsYOWDZb6ifDbGrCVVETK74l35VO6UXEHnW-v5WM5CePGX104_T7rMiWILg-IgPh9zlX7Xzupn6PhbDvTkRgSl0nRzHROCORp0pYrDmQsBqNShbLnp/w213-h320/DSC04883.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">above Deer Creek</td></tr>
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Mileage on the water can be less than ten a day. Sometimes getting on the water is just an excuse to change camp locations. Other days you push for thirty-plus miles, tackling countless rapids.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3T8tDAo5Q8MX9WxjV8Aapzhy56rXzLJymyz_faobTAGNluPPNOncPSjfhB0J8FTE6YXzfbBl8Gc5Jr9FU6AT05EIZuCYtUEJImaJjpDBAJFfDHKy83shAyYR4Xq81eyDxp8LRnLNux03N/s1600/DSC04772.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="rowan stewart, blue nrs dry suit little colorado blue river red rocks beautiful" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3T8tDAo5Q8MX9WxjV8Aapzhy56rXzLJymyz_faobTAGNluPPNOncPSjfhB0J8FTE6YXzfbBl8Gc5Jr9FU6AT05EIZuCYtUEJImaJjpDBAJFfDHKy83shAyYR4Xq81eyDxp8LRnLNux03N/w320-h213/DSC04772.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan trying to be a chameleon and match her dry suit to the Little Colorado</td></tr>
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<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Social Norms:</h3>
<br />
Interactions with other groups can be odd, because it seems like every trip on the river has a significantly different goal. Some groups are actually on scientific work details. Other parties are exactly that… massive parties. Still others are on soul-searching missions. Interactions between these different groups are usually welcoming and ecstatic, with people more than happy to lend a hand in any way possible. On our last trip, we were forced to acquire a couple of items from other groups. At mile 150, Upset Rapid created both an exciting line and an excessively damp bread-box for Mike Crook. Thankfully, a very heavily-stocked science trip was so kind as to ration out some bread. However, there were some things we searched for during the trip that no one sold come up with: Kool-Aid for a hair dyeing experiment, and the top for a percolator. It seems like those little glass percolator tops break at least once a trip. If you’re ever in need of an emergency cap replacement, we’ve discovered that the cap off of a handle of Evan Williams whisky will suffice. Better yet the top to an Absolute Vodka bottle will actually match the chrome exterior of the percolator.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV0mfpuNbvh5loc9-K7Jj7h0tWzNwTxDjR8OG5BPfQdysSdnEctuhWaIbkWdw2BFx-f7xjeonc8sb8vbVDMzGtEUFKaTzJHxdz0OKgoZHCKCngSiQGzTH7bXWx6IYy22hKTCjUUCtSKrE/s1600/IMG_0830.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="avery potter deer creek looking into grand canyon of the colorado" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDV0mfpuNbvh5loc9-K7Jj7h0tWzNwTxDjR8OG5BPfQdysSdnEctuhWaIbkWdw2BFx-f7xjeonc8sb8vbVDMzGtEUFKaTzJHxdz0OKgoZHCKCngSiQGzTH7bXWx6IYy22hKTCjUUCtSKrE/w213-h320/IMG_0830.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Deer Creek</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other groups get used like we use Google back in the techno world: settling arguments over irrelevant statistics, gaining an edge for the funniest sand <a href="https://www.iflscience.com/space/colossal-drawing-of-a-penis-that-can-be-seen-from-space-proves-humanity-will-never-change/">Pictionary</a> word, or obscure facts that someone in the group ought to know but can’t come up with. It’s interesting how we have become overly reliant on technology to tell us what is correct. Sometimes unresolved theories can turn into comical debates. Other times the banter becomes so fueled that it sparks your first interaction with a new group. “What’s the Italian word for thank you?!” “Prego!” It only took communicating with three different groups for us to get this answer.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmI13jhBUq-XVZd7kH8QWs2sPGXhkJ3SDTFGwjqAlT3OKedvEomWDEug2CzLbRj3bLPLnlXoSFPvA6pvVzUXQFJSAmdhfAaGOA61OyKu_cemWbXQCyuz5vIybIBolmblB39JtTWQx8KCwg/s1600/IMG_0657.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="red wall cavern grand canyon colorado green water sand beach whereisbaer chris baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmI13jhBUq-XVZd7kH8QWs2sPGXhkJ3SDTFGwjqAlT3OKedvEomWDEug2CzLbRj3bLPLnlXoSFPvA6pvVzUXQFJSAmdhfAaGOA61OyKu_cemWbXQCyuz5vIybIBolmblB39JtTWQx8KCwg/w320-h213/IMG_0657.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Wall Cavern</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Camp Life:</h3>
<br />
When pulling into camp, make sure it’s a suitable location. Things to consider: Is it large enough for a horseshoes arena? Is there wind protection for the kitchen? Is there morning sun, or any sun at all? Is there rain protection? Plenty of camps have overhanging walls that make for epic escapes if the weather turns for the worse. Are there flat tent sites? Is there enough room to sprawl out? Are there options for side hikes? There are plenty of perks and downfalls to every location, and camp selection is often the most contested portion of a Grand Canyon trip.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0b3lHtfJRwmS7h1JSdPp-5SeYuMrXQ2o4vkVQ3ySdM8EiJgaNvbCvvPdrfIQzs14FBTnYGC0-5EDagyA7ncWarc-vrjtQs2-3BVB-lCD0RAh7-Oe9RbMNJRbmeFB_HpN2Rpe0K1IDuH_M/s1600/DSC04899.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="overhanging raft camp grand canyon colorado red rock whereisbaer chris baer" border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="1600" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0b3lHtfJRwmS7h1JSdPp-5SeYuMrXQ2o4vkVQ3ySdM8EiJgaNvbCvvPdrfIQzs14FBTnYGC0-5EDagyA7ncWarc-vrjtQs2-3BVB-lCD0RAh7-Oe9RbMNJRbmeFB_HpN2Rpe0K1IDuH_M/w400-h90/DSC04899.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">overhanging rock wall for rain protection</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlRSmOneQpXvrdzaKxQk26Zov0HxwSONS9rkj-nAOiJ-ypado-W9bw7Tox-5BAWxdVEYsjaxUYR5nKV6BnrVfn-eMHIUgB0kbPyHkFugh2pUrw6LSg9Zu1OkBz823hKi9oaiWSVzz3_eK/s1600/DSC04683.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="rafts, sunset grand canyon colorado, whereisbaer colors" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHlRSmOneQpXvrdzaKxQk26Zov0HxwSONS9rkj-nAOiJ-ypado-W9bw7Tox-5BAWxdVEYsjaxUYR5nKV6BnrVfn-eMHIUgB0kbPyHkFugh2pUrw6LSg9Zu1OkBz823hKi9oaiWSVzz3_eK/w320-h213/DSC04683.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">rafts trying to dry out as water levels fall</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once a camp location is agreed upon, tie down the boats! This sounds simple but can go epically wrong. Remember, there can be massive flow variations throughout the day and the trip. <a href="https://rrfw.org/RaftingGrandCanyon/Tide_Tables">https://rrfw.org/RaftingGrandCanyon/Tide_Tables</a> Sand stakes work great but will pull loose if your 2,000-pound raft starts jerking on the line in the middle of the night. On the other hand, you don’t want to pull the rafts up too high as they may be left high-and-dry if water levels drop in the morning. I prefer the buddy system: you tie your boat off to a tree or a sand-stake, and I’ll do the same. Then we tie our boats together. Note: Some camps don’t have good tie-up locations. Ledges Camp is the one that comes to my mind. It is a good idea to bring some rock climbing hardware just in case.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioW8OeqHvWW5ZDxRZcKxBHTs5Wv7WUbLObQ1a_TSBPHIpNzptre7mWwM9JjAq8CEm_M9O5y4VE9x5C-_L3y_ynngEzRPmu5PH0xLUu1qYBndoHxUJR8IQrW1FWp3rZ7IzSory3YnZAEGcs/s1600/DSC04825.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="stark grand canyon sun set rafting colorado, rafts blue" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioW8OeqHvWW5ZDxRZcKxBHTs5Wv7WUbLObQ1a_TSBPHIpNzptre7mWwM9JjAq8CEm_M9O5y4VE9x5C-_L3y_ynngEzRPmu5PH0xLUu1qYBndoHxUJR8IQrW1FWp3rZ7IzSory3YnZAEGcs/w320-h213/DSC04825.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evening sunsets</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYh-BOm9ucvTOa1oLdIKI8Xt4an2g8fn72ytp_ij7C9egLVOgUCZMVl9KrZuucY5MpaSz-LadWXGSOMTFFvVz-JZSSWXaIWDdAzegx87DFDCESc0a5dbFuv_rEZr6TTNqTo77oKTju9R_/s1600/DSC04817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="kitchen set up on the grand canyon of the colorado rafting red rocks sunset, whereisbaer.com chris baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYh-BOm9ucvTOa1oLdIKI8Xt4an2g8fn72ytp_ij7C9egLVOgUCZMVl9KrZuucY5MpaSz-LadWXGSOMTFFvVz-JZSSWXaIWDdAzegx87DFDCESc0a5dbFuv_rEZr6TTNqTo77oKTju9R_/w320-h213/DSC04817.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kitchen location</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Unloading the kitchen can be hard on the body. A pack for everything kitchen will be excessively heavy and can easily weigh north of one hundred and fifty pounds. The dry-boxes in which the kitchen usually resides are cumbersome beasts. They almost always require two people to maneuver out of the raft and up the mountain of sand to the designated kitchen location. This action, even when done with a competent partner, can be awkward or dangerous and include more than a few curse words.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p_fklQykE5x37i8AiYgZw1bzy4d9DzgpTDzCA8ewzhCFnvZtcFPNKuQlMswHkUwwD5hdldXL1n5NXweNPyCUYwoxd-qqRiAwmQU_0tui8ikfbLcvzxr5BdDU0AherqdRBgfXIBaYXwSl/s1600/DSC04769.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="syunning scenery rafts floating grandcanyon of the colorado rafting whereisbaer.com chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5p_fklQykE5x37i8AiYgZw1bzy4d9DzgpTDzCA8ewzhCFnvZtcFPNKuQlMswHkUwwD5hdldXL1n5NXweNPyCUYwoxd-qqRiAwmQU_0tui8ikfbLcvzxr5BdDU0AherqdRBgfXIBaYXwSl/w320-h180/DSC04769.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">it's not all whitewater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Once you’ve dialed in all of the amenities of camp, get the fire started. Then pick out the ultimate groover location. It’s a curtesy to have some privacy for your bathroom location, but not at the expense of having an epic view. The last group tasks are to set up the hand wash station and can crush location, aka the “snake pit.”<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QZX2UODu6pogY6uA-jg0QFpWE5liBHC46YQi9McfiGq9PfjdfgjjP_VMymxCUF1epIl9lfYHrs6OxFeqMXqRTT6Ue1E7Mk9tFKvut2Bpbk7_wG4bTFfAm6ZqxWDMn5U3suIBfWCsUr3M/s1600/DSC04961.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="best groover location on the grand canyon leges cam scenery best view colorado river rafting WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="363" data-original-width="1600" height="90" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3QZX2UODu6pogY6uA-jg0QFpWE5liBHC46YQi9McfiGq9PfjdfgjjP_VMymxCUF1epIl9lfYHrs6OxFeqMXqRTT6Ue1E7Mk9tFKvut2Bpbk7_wG4bTFfAm6ZqxWDMn5U3suIBfWCsUr3M/w400-h90/DSC04961.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">groover with a view</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Personal camp:</h3>
<br />
I try to make this one of the easiest and least time-consuming parts of the trip. I like a basic, 6x8 tarp on the ground with a thick <a href="http://www.jpwinc.com/pages/photo-pacopads.html">Paco Pad</a> smack in the middle. The tarp allows a bit of a buffer between the sand and the bed. On top of the Paco Pad, I put my <a href="https://www.drybags.com/">Watershed bag</a> which contains my <a href="https://www.petzl.com/US/en/Sport/ACTIVE-headlamps/ACTIK-CORE">headlamp</a>, <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/Gear/Sleeping-Bags/Big-Agnes-System-Bags">sleeping bag</a> and pillow. That bag stays closed until bedtime, which helps keep sand out of my personal gear.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMggL5szdzNakpaKxlSacYSDUNA_TGDXJ60u1jvumpPVHaf-DN0lmocISsx4PB_zDkAGr5vb1Dfg57zTVVL-esLVRgwgzkyr3HtNwFWjnRmlM2ENHD1DIjJEOXQxi20nrX6LpNlNIpSDG0/s1600/DSC04757.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Nankoweap Granaries WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Grand Canyon of the Colorado river arizona view green river" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMggL5szdzNakpaKxlSacYSDUNA_TGDXJ60u1jvumpPVHaf-DN0lmocISsx4PB_zDkAGr5vb1Dfg57zTVVL-esLVRgwgzkyr3HtNwFWjnRmlM2ENHD1DIjJEOXQxi20nrX6LpNlNIpSDG0/w320-h213/DSC04757.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nankoweap Granaries</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Now it’s time to produce an elaborate dinner! We’re not roughing it out here. Add a healthy dollop of solar-powered music, cocktail hour and hors d'oeuvres, and a constant stream of humorous and misguided conversation, exacerbated by a lack of screen time. These communal meals are a highlight on any trip.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWjulvPkf67UcpOJAURtMqnYDuPxMQp7xXmP1ONtjtImy7M8-dZCPIujkaPTgWtCKoi-ObKyqCKXi5ENr4gpTJuqlW1zoe1LLriWD-22i5QehD2MeUxUQZEiOw1VlH_RQcO7oayAeAmuV/s1600/DSC04936.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Matkatamiba, rafters hiking up dry suits kokatat Avery Potter WhwereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWjulvPkf67UcpOJAURtMqnYDuPxMQp7xXmP1ONtjtImy7M8-dZCPIujkaPTgWtCKoi-ObKyqCKXi5ENr4gpTJuqlW1zoe1LLriWD-22i5QehD2MeUxUQZEiOw1VlH_RQcO7oayAeAmuV/w213-h320/DSC04936.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matkatamiba canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Time spent floating on the water during a winter twenty-eight day Grand Canyon of the Colorado trip is limited to maybe two hours a day. That is only one-twelfth of the entire trip. Find joy in the rest of it! Camp should be elaborate, and your company should be gregarious. I found my cheeks sore from laughter on a daily basis.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiUd3xk_3SWtVsiwyLM1wX6EdsW8WKwy-wqnmvokO9TuKXeQSnut7Cq1FVKe9DZYW5NVaVC2iIgS6xTUT6z-xme1ZrMgCfJSNqeYOj80Vx_bx9jn1-3EqP8ZRX8hLI1-pAwV3jO91f1y9/s1600/DSC05018.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Rowan Stuart mustash march Grand canyon of the colorado comedy WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpiUd3xk_3SWtVsiwyLM1wX6EdsW8WKwy-wqnmvokO9TuKXeQSnut7Cq1FVKe9DZYW5NVaVC2iIgS6xTUT6z-xme1ZrMgCfJSNqeYOj80Vx_bx9jn1-3EqP8ZRX8hLI1-pAwV3jO91f1y9/w212-h320/DSC05018.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rowan Stuart</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxreDb9yGP5YPevF1PvzjUsr7oO4Ooxqm49bunSvPIHXIYyOh8C4LBi1TDvnBHRltSxAs0Fv414p6jQLTzv8dMGGAbDeS5GVaX1l-lHMZPIk3zmUgHoSySvwL90p1QbzKMmxzXDC4VqI4e/s1600/DSC05057.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Grand Canyon of the Colorado AZ Arizona Avery Potter pipe mustache" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxreDb9yGP5YPevF1PvzjUsr7oO4Ooxqm49bunSvPIHXIYyOh8C4LBi1TDvnBHRltSxAs0Fv414p6jQLTzv8dMGGAbDeS5GVaX1l-lHMZPIk3zmUgHoSySvwL90p1QbzKMmxzXDC4VqI4e/w212-h320/DSC05057.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery Potter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdESDzk5dE1rU6G9PDcD7rSKjsG-d9GZJkMUsW5RYwDEZiox45wtNWWOW4GcLMHEN4t2GfIaVZtS0ikpM-qg74RcDv9nleUn_x2CCjid4e2H_4l6GiM-0Eoufc8HVwwBu-lWO5gkxmUh4/s1600/DSC05032.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisdESDzk5dE1rU6G9PDcD7rSKjsG-d9GZJkMUsW5RYwDEZiox45wtNWWOW4GcLMHEN4t2GfIaVZtS0ikpM-qg74RcDv9nleUn_x2CCjid4e2H_4l6GiM-0Eoufc8HVwwBu-lWO5gkxmUh4/s320/DSC05032.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Baer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz514ZwPm4uN-sFLO-RNm6UcTrHRfNCylMPp4RGswpq1UgXY5dnG6buKa0rQsSbMz2vDwhlmmrS8ZqTXVehK68xymWSngn3l6vWnctQJZGSWcenxRBy7AIxlKHMVszSHpdFbTX2eVZ9jd/s1600/DSC05010.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Grand Canyon of the Colorado AZ Arizona, mike crook mustache comedy" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiz514ZwPm4uN-sFLO-RNm6UcTrHRfNCylMPp4RGswpq1UgXY5dnG6buKa0rQsSbMz2vDwhlmmrS8ZqTXVehK68xymWSngn3l6vWnctQJZGSWcenxRBy7AIxlKHMVszSHpdFbTX2eVZ9jd/w320-h211/DSC05010.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike Crook </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPjJRiuE6M-ZExeS7FWjY3gXu8TM9zk0AGeF-TOKQpgExc2fiDnIQ3tLVco3ndWOwlvIvV6w_vbudl0Z3pWFPaOhdDbPAzLuObaGEcPG9Xm4Z6pD1aWAhYVJXlKuixbrMbuwsoTUEBgkt/s1600/DSC05025.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Grand Canyon of the Colorado AZ Arizona, Brad McMillian , mustache funny shirtless" border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKPjJRiuE6M-ZExeS7FWjY3gXu8TM9zk0AGeF-TOKQpgExc2fiDnIQ3tLVco3ndWOwlvIvV6w_vbudl0Z3pWFPaOhdDbPAzLuObaGEcPG9Xm4Z6pD1aWAhYVJXlKuixbrMbuwsoTUEBgkt/w213-h320/DSC05025.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brad Mcmillan</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Twenty-eight days go by in a blur in the Grand Canyon of the Colorado, and I can’t wait to get back to the “real world” that exists there. <br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdl9_qWOlBetUDJd7WMteMEphtPf0pHQRLOt3aZroVz_kXw0EuwjaZD-334Cu70nTqLC9SERlhbYnU5eiQbbmwu6qwZXtEgGu_nLKgJeRh7OY1XL6-KEHwKaXSZC-ERO7Yx8WjjA_3Hb/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Grand Canyon of the Colorado AZ Arizona, rafting kokatat wrsi helmet smile" border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdl9_qWOlBetUDJd7WMteMEphtPf0pHQRLOt3aZroVz_kXw0EuwjaZD-334Cu70nTqLC9SERlhbYnU5eiQbbmwu6qwZXtEgGu_nLKgJeRh7OY1XL6-KEHwKaXSZC-ERO7Yx8WjjA_3Hb/w161-h200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Anyone got a trip coming up I could get on? </td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-36089751998114482512018-04-05T14:42:00.004-06:002021-01-24T20:14:19.266-07:00The Rating System is Flawed<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1 style="text-align: left;">
The Rating System is Flawed</h1></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">This (Northern Hemisphere) winter, I spent three months in Ecuador paddling a myriad of amazing whitewater rivers. The majority of these rivers were described as class IV, or
maybe class IV+, or even IV++. Few seemed willing to put the grade V
connotation on any of the sections. So what gives? Are we all
sandbagging each other? Are we afraid to actually be class V kayakers? Maybe we are not wanting to sound arrogant? Were we just paddling those sections at much higher flows?
Were all of these sections actually class IV… ish?<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/259474766" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <br />
<br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/259474766">Ecuador 2018</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGJQOZJ9JPOsU2cA5jkx8MV7TXwkqKH1nAx9u2KQfQAVz7UjKjlnA-DltubTntdZ4uuTQIcrCqT1CFNKSZZ3-Gr0uGFHaHfXc0GMCxtaL6CkuEsuNoKW145o0oBSETcezv9F28tW9OFvG/s1600/DSC03648.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Baeza, everyday, loading the kayaks up with a new crew, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer, kayak ecuador hostel hotel gina" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJGJQOZJ9JPOsU2cA5jkx8MV7TXwkqKH1nAx9u2KQfQAVz7UjKjlnA-DltubTntdZ4uuTQIcrCqT1CFNKSZZ3-Gr0uGFHaHfXc0GMCxtaL6CkuEsuNoKW145o0oBSETcezv9F28tW9OFvG/w400-h266/DSC03648.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baeza, everyday, loading the kayaks up with a new crew</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Trying to rate every single piece of moving water from a meandering, flat creek to Palouse Falls and beyond on a I-V, or maybe a I-VI, scale just seems reckless. Heck, I even saw a New Zealand guide book talk about a class VII! (Which I certainly don’t believe in.) There are simply way too many variables. And where is the room for the next terrifying thing that gets run, where does that fit in?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2P8_IUX3psIuxBaxKvLJ_vLhBPejxWKwppw_cT2tqlF9Ez6_Tts8l2p5UpAx9zN3_UEqwYJwv2nJhBByUeATLzvSopmxzNlzxLuDjpixmU2bG9K_zmXTv3oSGnLU6_04e1N-7biDZsPp/s1600/DSC04637.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Orion LeCroy, dropping into some class IV+?? WhereIsaBaer.com Chris Baer, kayaking ecuador, whitewater" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH2P8_IUX3psIuxBaxKvLJ_vLhBPejxWKwppw_cT2tqlF9Ez6_Tts8l2p5UpAx9zN3_UEqwYJwv2nJhBByUeATLzvSopmxzNlzxLuDjpixmU2bG9K_zmXTv3oSGnLU6_04e1N-7biDZsPp/w400-h266/DSC04637.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orion LeCroy, dropping into some class IV+??</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
So what is this scale? Where in the world did it come from? Who enforces it? And the even better question is: Who rates all the rivers? Upon doing a quick google search, I found American Whitewater claiming the I-VI scale as their own. Their current guideline is as follows: <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">International Scale of River Difficulty, created by American Whitewater, </span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>(…not very international in my opinion)</b></span><i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Class I: Easy</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Few obstructions, all obvious and easily missed with little training. Risk to swimmers is slight; self-rescue is easy.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Class II: Novice</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Occasional maneuvering may be required, but rocks and medium-sized waves are easily avoided by trained paddlers. Swimmers are seldom injured and group assistance, while helpful, is seldom needed. Rapids that are at the upper end of this difficulty range are designated Class II+.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Class III: Intermediate</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid and which can swamp an open canoe. Complex maneuvers in fast current and good boat control in tight passages or around ledges are often required; large waves or strainers may be present but are easily avoided. Strong eddies and powerful current effects can be found, particularly on large-volume rivers. Scouting is advisable for inexperienced parties. Injuries while swimming are rare; self-rescue is usually easy but group assistance may be required to avoid long swims. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated Class III- or Class III+ respectively.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Class IV: Advanced </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise boat handling in turbulent water. Depending on the character of the river, it may feature large, unavoidable waves and holes or constricted passages demanding fast maneuvers under pressure. A fast, reliable eddy turn may be needed to initiate maneuvers, scout rapids, or rest. Rapids may require "must make" moves above dangerous hazards. Scouting may be necessary the first time down. Risk of injury to swimmers is moderate to high, and water conditions may make self-rescue difficult. Group assistance for rescue is often essential but requires practiced skills. For kayakers, a strong roll is highly recommended. Rapids that are at the lower or upper end of this difficulty range are designated Class IV- or Class IV+ respectively.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Class V: Expert</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Extremely long, obstructed, or very violent rapids which expose a paddler to added risk. Drops may contain large, unavoidable waves and holes or steep, congested chutes with complex, demanding routes. Rapids may continue for long distances between pools, demanding a high level of fitness. What eddies exist may be small, turbulent, or difficult to reach. At the high end of the scale, several of these factors may be combined. Scouting is recommended but may be difficult. Swims are dangerous, and rescue is often difficult even for experts. Proper equipment, extensive experience, and practiced rescue skills are essential.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Because of the large range of difficulty that exists beyond Class IV, Class V is an open-ended, multiple-level scale designated by class 5.0, 5.1, 5.2, etc. Each of these levels is an order of magnitude more difficult than the last. That is, going from Class 5.0 to Class 5.1 is a similar order of magnitude as increasing from Class IV to Class 5.0.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Class VI: Extreme and Exploratory Rapids</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />Runs of this classification are rarely attempted and often exemplify the extremes of difficulty, unpredictability and danger. The consequences of errors are severe and rescue may be impossible. For teams of experts only, at favorable water levels, after close personal inspection and taking all precautions. After a Class VI rapid has been run many times, its rating may be changed to an appropriate Class 5.x rating.</span></i></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jPqCPxM8CY6paYPPHhqpKZWr4e3GaUGkWgwhG07mjUHNDbL4d1InOfUWKVJaZkNyqrW5d1J96ueeXJIqbWYYkLfoGwAvzGP5nWBJOeMU_iWrDrc1dZoIYsFDTlbUe_uPn-9TpL5z9DjH/s1600/DSC03670.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="water is life WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer, bridge kayak ecuador baeza, agua es vida" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jPqCPxM8CY6paYPPHhqpKZWr4e3GaUGkWgwhG07mjUHNDbL4d1InOfUWKVJaZkNyqrW5d1J96ueeXJIqbWYYkLfoGwAvzGP5nWBJOeMU_iWrDrc1dZoIYsFDTlbUe_uPn-9TpL5z9DjH/w400-h266/DSC03670.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water is Life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I have to admit after reading this version of the scale I was pretty happy with their rating explanations. Except for the fact that this is extremely subjective. How big is “big”? How fast is “fast”? How must make is “must make”? There is simply too much personal interpretation for me.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWXbcM491aDbMt-1j8hnCysDcf9Nf-36G2bUrtQpllxSZk2aFm2Vkid6Co-xscvDnVzPrdupMg3oxb6r5tPRTluT01CWJxeU2ABAPMBpDU4vDHmm8hRtVZYizwxKdnmfXsILOY4H5MDsg/s1600/DSC04111.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="tapir in ecuador, nose next to camera WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVWXbcM491aDbMt-1j8hnCysDcf9Nf-36G2bUrtQpllxSZk2aFm2Vkid6Co-xscvDnVzPrdupMg3oxb6r5tPRTluT01CWJxeU2ABAPMBpDU4vDHmm8hRtVZYizwxKdnmfXsILOY4H5MDsg/w400-h266/DSC04111.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">new friend in Tena</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Personal Opinion</h2>
<br />
The fact is that no two people will give you the same definition of class I, let alone class V, or if there even is a class VI. How, as a community, especially an international community, are we supposed to talk about the rating system? <br />
<br />
My suggestion would be to continue with the cumbersome I-V (or VI) scale. Then, I firmly suggest that people talk more about what really defines this I-V grading scale. The following are some of the factors that I consider when contemplating a river section. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhyphenhyphensEpYUsZxvq6XvHbzqLhYkoBH_iLwYA3iWJVpf1__fzpuHKuoSCA0JT1jV52q-qb44DXD-OkLiIWeCTai3AGYVcBfHMx1jLQc_0brLrulq66Tj1dG1eWJmP1Uy3jRskKiH5E5Pfi-Kv/s1600/DSC03693.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Avery Potter heading into the fairly committing (class IV) Chaco Canyon ecuador baeza WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGhyphenhyphensEpYUsZxvq6XvHbzqLhYkoBH_iLwYA3iWJVpf1__fzpuHKuoSCA0JT1jV52q-qb44DXD-OkLiIWeCTai3AGYVcBfHMx1jLQc_0brLrulq66Tj1dG1eWJmP1Uy3jRskKiH5E5Pfi-Kv/w266-h400/DSC03693.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery Potter heading into the fairly committing (class IV) Chaco Canyon</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Regional Differences</h2>
<br />
It seems like every region that I go to, there is some kind of hazard that the locals are so accustomed to that they no longer realize that it’s an issue, or at best they have become blissfully complacent to the local hazard. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2010/08/cheeseman-canyon.html">Colorado</a>; you are going to pin on road or train debris.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2016/04/verbal-beta-on-yuba-gap.html">California</a>; poison everything, plants, more plants, snakes, aaand there is always a reservoir you have to paddle across at the take out. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2012/11/green-river-narrows-race.html">Southeast</a>; there is no water. You will skip off a damp rock and then land on a slightly damper rock. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2009/03/">Pacific Northwest</a>; there are trees… everywhere. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2009/04/minnesota.html">Minnesota</a>; ice undercuts lining the shores! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2014/01/helicopter-shuttles-are-complicated.html">New Zealand</a>: SIEVES! (Personal anecdote: coming up to a rapid I was told that there was a really sketchy piece of wood at the bottom of the rapid. Upon entering the rapid, half of the water quickly funneled into a sieve on the right. A bit further into the rapid, another quarter of the water disappeared into a sieve on the left. And at the very bottom of the rapid there was a small branch barely sticking out from the left shore).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2011/11/africa.html">Zambia</a>; crocs, hippos, baboons, elephants, oh my! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2009/11/cotahuasi.html">Peru</a>; Access. Cotahuasi Canyon is the deepest gorge in the world! Towering peaks reach 20,000 feet on both sides, hiking out isn’t even fathomable. <br />
<br />
Every place has a local hazard. It doesn’t matter how accustomed to them you have become, it is imperative to know that these are true hazards. You need to be able to properly share these regional issues to paddlers that aren’t acquainted with the region. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5rDkCH6o80zwJ7FSxfady7-4nrZI1yl7yFeEO9WRKon8S_Dvtzd6vOfHWTUGZHgZ0DytJIQyi7QGCUuf_2z1fIj4_Xd4ng2m8BaqBrHyM1vyZrfMyl6vWU10YoP-Y7kcd7g3vBpUU2Qh/s1600/DSC04349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="canoa beach ecuador fishing boat black and white, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV5rDkCH6o80zwJ7FSxfady7-4nrZI1yl7yFeEO9WRKon8S_Dvtzd6vOfHWTUGZHgZ0DytJIQyi7QGCUuf_2z1fIj4_Xd4ng2m8BaqBrHyM1vyZrfMyl6vWU10YoP-Y7kcd7g3vBpUU2Qh/w400-h225/DSC04349.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Canoa, not a suggested river craft</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Vessel</h2>
<br />
That 300 cfs creek run might be wide open in a kayak, but sure is technical, or next to impossible, in a raft. Our preferred craft for the descent will drastically change our personal opinions of the rating structure.<br />
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<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW37T42JUou0_gQbqeMm8koGy-zHAYQ_58TBu0kak-2uY_V-4O98Mf3LP-csOM7Y5Ifz15PxETe1lfMXvs2no9QpxF9IjftJugHTSUDGtB1cf7YRdZ7ZC7_0vJEG9k0SNO95RwCeiAI_e1/s1600/DSC04157.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Etlingera elatior, enourmous red flower ecuador, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW37T42JUou0_gQbqeMm8koGy-zHAYQ_58TBu0kak-2uY_V-4O98Mf3LP-csOM7Y5Ifz15PxETe1lfMXvs2no9QpxF9IjftJugHTSUDGtB1cf7YRdZ7ZC7_0vJEG9k0SNO95RwCeiAI_e1/w400-h266/DSC04157.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">flowers the size of your head</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Aging</h2>
<br />
The years keep ticking by, and we don’t revisit section ratings. This is most apparent to me on the Gauley River in West Virginia. Iron Ring was considered a class VI rapid until not that long ago. Sweets (not a) Falls is still talked about as being class V (there is flat water above a ramp of water that splashes into a small non-retentive wave, backed up by a quarter mile pool). On the other end of the spectrum are the things that are being run for the first time… tomorrow. With new equipment ramping up the learning curve and a huge amount of whitewater media being produced on obscure rivers around the globe, the pace at which we are raising the bar has continued to escalate. We are now consistently paddling sections that were unimaginable mere years ago.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReCykAsRNGmCVbTarzEZvAGAmq-UPt8z9zhe7ec7vt65-eT09qZdNIlK4btpI4nSkVhsAPOroUVHnUwK6CySFooAZoMLzlrezkYNEDppdwsKQpNnLkllRJ-VXdUUMSWXNEI-qx9DBJkGo/s1600/DSC04487.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cuenca vista, church, ecuador, sky line WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgReCykAsRNGmCVbTarzEZvAGAmq-UPt8z9zhe7ec7vt65-eT09qZdNIlK4btpI4nSkVhsAPOroUVHnUwK6CySFooAZoMLzlrezkYNEDppdwsKQpNnLkllRJ-VXdUUMSWXNEI-qx9DBJkGo/w266-h400/DSC04487.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuenca vista<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3LJ7oyuOsBIZ49iB-EfEBfD_l2qn46FpzobqvyImrp4lPOhIxA-dIx4PmuFu5V6nI_OSx8oMXPIacbelryLQ8tWfxWC5vPzTmSphyZ0mmKIgMS3qay-ljxLMmy7oXYk9dX-vJVTGcmMv/s1600/DSC04370.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Cuenca at sunset, colors, church view, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl3LJ7oyuOsBIZ49iB-EfEBfD_l2qn46FpzobqvyImrp4lPOhIxA-dIx4PmuFu5V6nI_OSx8oMXPIacbelryLQ8tWfxWC5vPzTmSphyZ0mmKIgMS3qay-ljxLMmy7oXYk9dX-vJVTGcmMv/w400-h266/DSC04370.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuenca at sunset<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNvtRpocpXSj-JG5gQvE40lvTI93fCBr6TdpuBiVIVAllOzh55_OppWcQP2Jn_U-sSGBf0TGQHgT7L2JG9Ejl8F838_RkFT_SejKeGb-fHtH7j3dlBRUytLO1U15qyk1_9G1zDdUGX828/s1600/DSC04471.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Avery Potter exploring the city, spiral stair case lady brick walls church WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNvtRpocpXSj-JG5gQvE40lvTI93fCBr6TdpuBiVIVAllOzh55_OppWcQP2Jn_U-sSGBf0TGQHgT7L2JG9Ejl8F838_RkFT_SejKeGb-fHtH7j3dlBRUytLO1U15qyk1_9G1zDdUGX828/w266-h400/DSC04471.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avery Potter exploring the city<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrljhAhorBDGVf3LYYFggmQDdH2mY-kE1whZiRt1ztS2QhhmnwmlI7FV_W72IJlKDoYo_2PE4RXIwzzYlmmJjtBfHs_79sXpeSdaH7rdpvOULJj-rs5yjwp81P067jSriJ7YRuKvg8u0P/s1600/DSC04431.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="old meets new in Cuenca, young girl running in city graffiti, foreground back ground blue top church art, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGrljhAhorBDGVf3LYYFggmQDdH2mY-kE1whZiRt1ztS2QhhmnwmlI7FV_W72IJlKDoYo_2PE4RXIwzzYlmmJjtBfHs_79sXpeSdaH7rdpvOULJj-rs5yjwp81P067jSriJ7YRuKvg8u0P/w266-h400/DSC04431.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">old meets new in Cuenca</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Paddling Partner</h2>
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Another key consideration: who are you paddling with? It turns out Darin McQuid and my girlfriend rate sections slightly differently. That is ok, but you need to understand what you’re in for. If the person you’re about to go paddling with usually runs really hard class V and they tell you it’s super mellow class III (of course class III is mellow for them), this might be exactly the time to start pestering them for more beta. On the other hand, when you meet the paddler at the put in that is gripped and sweating bullets, and tells you it’s “pretty gnarly class III+++”, again, it might be time to get more beta. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25wvu4VXe-TM3qmc8xx3xqBK5LvdaP3B0aIZgfx8PAaJCDgl7w8ghNKL0qp1FyOnEZRngf3PUYpUnxPMGqSUkFKrBqC9CY0n-bzggj0SaW91s58tnF20HC4BraALO-TA9Jiftc7SMfHWI/s1600/DSC04238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Otavalo market, Avery Potter, paintings, tourist, gringo WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg25wvu4VXe-TM3qmc8xx3xqBK5LvdaP3B0aIZgfx8PAaJCDgl7w8ghNKL0qp1FyOnEZRngf3PUYpUnxPMGqSUkFKrBqC9CY0n-bzggj0SaW91s58tnF20HC4BraALO-TA9Jiftc7SMfHWI/w400-h266/DSC04238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><h3 class="r J0QLuc">
<span style="font-weight: normal;">Otavalo market</span></h3>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
For a Little Comedy: </h2>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>International System for Rating Rapids<br /><br />Class I, Easy. Fast moving water with riffles and small waves. Swimming is pleasant, shore easily reached. A nice break from paddling. Almost all gear and equipment is recovered. Boat is just slightly scratched.<br /><br />Class II, Novice. Straightforward rapids with wide, clear channels which are evident without scouting. Swimming to eddies requires moderate effort. Climbing out of river may involve slippery rocks and shrub-induced lacerations. Paddle travels great distance downstream requiring lengthy walk. Something unimportant is missing. Boat hits submerged rock leaving visible dent on frame or new gash in plastic.<br /><br />Class III, Intermediate. Rapids with moderate, irregular waves which may be difficult to avoid. Water is swallowed. Legs are ground repeatedly against sharp, pointy rocks. Several eddies are missed while swimming. Difficult decision to stay with boat results in moment of terror when swimmer realizes they are downstream of boat. Paddle is recirculated in small hole way upstream. All personal possessions are removed from boat and floated in different directions. Paddling partners run along river bank shouting helpful instructions. Boat is munched against large boulder hard enough to leave series of deep gouges. Sunglasses fall off.<br /><br />Class IV, Advanced. Water is generally lots colder than Class III. Intense, powerful but predictable rapids requiring precise swimming in turbulent water. Swimming may require `must' moves above dangerous hazards. Must moves are downgraded to `strongly recommended' after they are missed. Sensation of disbelief experienced while about to swim large drops. Frantic swimming towards shore is alternated with frantic swimming away from shore to avoid strainers. Rocks are clung to with death grip. Paddle is completely forgotten. One shoe is removed. Hydraulic pressure permanently removes waterproof box with all the really important stuff. Paddle partners running along stream look genuinely concerned while lofting throw ropes 20 feet behind swimmer. Paddle partners stare slack-jawed and point in amazement at boat which is finally pinned by major feature. Climbing up river bank involves inverted tree. One of those spring loaded pins that attaches watch to wristband is missing. Contact lenses are moved to rear of eyeballs.<br /><br />Class V, Expert. The water in this rapid is usually under 42 degrees F. Most gear is destroyed on rocks within minutes if not seconds. If the boat survives, it is need of about three days of repair. There is no swimming, only frantic movements to keep from becoming one with the rocks and to get a breath from time to time. Terror and panic set in as you realize your paddle partners don't have a chance in heck of reaching you. You come to a true understanding of the terms maytagging and pinballing. That hole that looked like nothing when scouted, has a hydraulic that holds you under the water until your lungs are close to bursting. You come out only to realize you still have 75% of the rapid left to swim. Swim to the eddy? What #%^&*#* eddy!? This rapid usually lasts a mile or more. Hydraulic pressure within the first few seconds removes everything that can come off your body. This includes gloves, shoes, neoprene socks, sunglasses, hats, and clothing. The rocks take care of your fingers, toes, and ears. That $900.00 dry suit, well it might hold up to the rocks. Your paddle is trash. If there is a strainer, well, just hope it is old and rotten so it breaks. Paddle partners on shore are frantically trying to run and keep up with you. Their horror is reflected in their faces as they stare at how you are being tossed around! They are hoping to remember how to do CPR. They also really hope the cooler with the beer is still intact. They are going to need a cold one by the time you get out! Climbing out of this happens after the rapid is over. You will probably need the help of a backboard, cervical collar and Z-rig. Even though you have broken bones, lacerations, puncture wounds, missing digits & ears, and a concussion, you won't feel much pain because you will have severe hypothermia. Enjoy your stay in the hospital: with the time you take recovering, you won't get another vacation for 3 years.<br /><br />Class VI, World Class. Not recommended for swimming.<br />© 2002 by David Petterson of Calgary Paddlers.</i></span><br />
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Or for even more comedy, check out what was possibly the original grading system, from AW at the link below. It contains tons of very applicable information in a very sexist, dated journal. <br />
<a href="https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Journal/show-page/issue/3/page/28/year/1963/">https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Journal/show-page/issue/3/page/28/year/1963/</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_t54EGOK8cB61itAjI9uS0rGusvolcL_9CJv66tqfKsZNXd0DYmOmVobG79Cap2FJ9Abyz1WQS2PDKpS3GKg0lMQ4yEpW6DRj7aoFwrXAKTyS0Hp7zD7OnvDwrBBPSoDzuzJycRBvyMk/s1600/DSC04012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Lower Misahualli, after portaging, maybe paddling it would have been easier? WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Tena kayak river" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE_t54EGOK8cB61itAjI9uS0rGusvolcL_9CJv66tqfKsZNXd0DYmOmVobG79Cap2FJ9Abyz1WQS2PDKpS3GKg0lMQ4yEpW6DRj7aoFwrXAKTyS0Hp7zD7OnvDwrBBPSoDzuzJycRBvyMk/w400-h266/DSC04012.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Misahualli, after portaging, maybe paddling it would have been easier? </td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
The Hard Numbers</h2>
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<br />
It’s time to give the I-V scale less importance, and place more emphasis on some hard figures.<br />
<br />
Gradient. This seems pretty simple: how steep is the section? Depending on the region, this is given in FPM (Foot Per Mile) or for just about everywhere else in the globe, MPK (Meter Per Kilometer). <br />
<br />
Volume. Again, this is not arbitrary. How much water is in the drainage? Measured by CFS (Cubic Foot per Second) or CMS (Cubic Meter per Second), and when stating these facts, give your interpretation of the flow (flood, high, medium, low). A quick side note here, the foot gauge or meter gauge or random graffiti or scribble on the bridge pylon or that specific “rock” is sometimes the only measure of volume available on more obscure sections. If this is so, do your best to relate this in at least an estimate of numerical volume so an outsider might be able to have a rough guess at what they’re getting themselves into. <br />
<br />
With these two stats, most seasoned paddlers can start to build a mental picture of what they are signing themselves up for. <br />
<br />
A couple of extreme examples of this in practice: <br />
<br />
Yule Creek, CO, 640 FPM 300 CFS, Flood, Class V… ish!<br />
Grand Canyon of the Colorado, AZ, 8FPM 12,000 CFS, Medium, Class IV… ish.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYU7tb4WOuGeN8PEnwJuycVb1VKV_omzSrjWWiZOIiKhqVpLU0W6QLQ9777G1fjwhYawYOiJ3z8N27xgtEH5glzRn21LdCvUStKN_MpDzv_vxKMaIDfUKLQrJFQ-wuQIm-BY3XoDxOcg6/s1600/DSC04647.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Trip Kinney, making class 4 fun again, blue zet toro kayak sliding on rocks big smile, whitewater WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAYU7tb4WOuGeN8PEnwJuycVb1VKV_omzSrjWWiZOIiKhqVpLU0W6QLQ9777G1fjwhYawYOiJ3z8N27xgtEH5glzRn21LdCvUStKN_MpDzv_vxKMaIDfUKLQrJFQ-wuQIm-BY3XoDxOcg6/w400-h266/DSC04647.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trip Kinney, making class 4 fun again</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
The Solution</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In reality, there is no universal “fix” to the current rating system. It’s deeply entrenched in our sport, and getting away from it isn’t feasible. Compounding the issue, every time paddling has been picked up in a new region, the scale has been bastardized by the locals. The best option for us now is to truly be aware of the shortcomings of the I-V scale and to supplement this with more tangible beta.<br />
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So when you’re looking for info on your next class IVish river, ask another question or two, will ya?<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWGdJjKX7XUviQO97zlfcwdclQIyFzwlHA4CG5OLh3NrRrTozZGxFxWSO6XwhyU7xA73RgWOcsCowxac5QQC9EdXYd_sbTuqzCtekjOBhBGpixuV9zccqKQQTdDLt2ELM7yAEr2Wy-nDh/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chris Baer WhereIsBaer.com smug smile white wrsi helmet orange kokatat top red pfd blue water" border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWGdJjKX7XUviQO97zlfcwdclQIyFzwlHA4CG5OLh3NrRrTozZGxFxWSO6XwhyU7xA73RgWOcsCowxac5QQC9EdXYd_sbTuqzCtekjOBhBGpixuV9zccqKQQTdDLt2ELM7yAEr2Wy-nDh/w161-h200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventure by <br />
Chris Baer<br />
... Still Sandbagging Everything to Class IV</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-91165445533627363672017-11-02T13:05:00.004-06:002021-02-03T11:39:08.917-07:00Going back to the Youghiogheny<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h2 style="text-align: left;">Youghiogheny</h2></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> </div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Sixteen years ago I hopped into a convertible with a few other raft guides for a day trip to a river a few hours north of the <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2012/10/tubing.html">Gauley</a>. The location was the magical Upper Youghiogheny. The slots were plentiful and tight, and while playing follow the leader we rounded countless blind corners interspaced with a myriad of fun ledges. Years later, I now refer to this section as a staple class 4 <a href="http://www.zetkayak.com/store/product/director">kayak</a> run… that has drawn me back year after year.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/239137994" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe><br /><a href="https://vimeo.com/239137994">Why... Upper Youghiogheny</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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So the question is, why? After paddling all over the globe and tons of extremely difficult sections, why do I, and why should you, continue to flock to the Upper Youghiogheny? <br /><br />Let’s start with the location. Our take out is in Friendsville, Maryland, almost reason enough right there. Friendsville is home to pizza rolls, Maui sweet onion potato chips, and fancy Yuengling beer. It used to be home to one of my favorite restaurants anywhere, The Riverside Hotel. Agnes, the proprietor of the Riverside Hotel and Restaurant, concocted the best vegetarian food I could conceive. It was simple, they only served vegetarian soup and salad (<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2012/01/casey-tango-is-boss.html">Casey Tango</a> had to twist my arm to try this place the first time (I was complaining,“But there’s no meat!”)). After the first bite I was a believer. Hardy soups, hot-from-the-oven blue corn muffins, edible flowers on the salad (that were picked out of the backyard garden while you were paddling on the river), Tandy Cake with home-churned ice cream for dessert. (Please Agnes come back and make us delicious food again! (the Riverside Hotel changed ownership in 2015, and again in 2017. No food now, almost a reason not to go…)).<br /><br />Camping is free-ish and only ten minutes from the put-in. The dense forest of the campground reminds me of the woods from the Blair Witch movie. Over the years there have been some pretty epic parties that have occurred in these Blair Witch woods.
Huge bonfires, tons of fireworks, friends from all over the world. Heck,
there was the one year when some riggers showed up and constructed a
100 foot rope swing attached to the tippy tops of the surrounding trees.
<br /><br />During my first years to the Youghiogheny there always seemed to be a rumor in the air. The reservoir was too high, it was too low, the release was late, the flows were going to be HIGH, not enough water, were we in front of, or behind, the bubble? National Falls is on fire?! I don’t know why but the rumors always made me laugh and we almost always were perfectly on the bubble with an average flow. <br /><br />On water the river seems to be very reciprocal. If you’re willing to put the effort in you can run some truly hard lines. It’s like the river almost wants you to play. There are hanging eddies everywhere, slots that shouldn’t go (Sid’s Squiggle, Time Warp, left left at Tommy’s), and a couple of communal stops to enjoy some bag wine with the river community (Wait Rock and National Falls). <br /><br />So, what brings you back to the Yough year after year after year… and if you haven’t checked this place out, why not??<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdl9_qWOlBetUDJd7WMteMEphtPf0pHQRLOt3aZroVz_kXw0EuwjaZD-334Cu70nTqLC9SERlhbYnU5eiQbbmwu6qwZXtEgGu_nLKgJeRh7OY1XL6-KEHwKaXSZC-ERO7Yx8WjjA_3Hb/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRTdl9_qWOlBetUDJd7WMteMEphtPf0pHQRLOt3aZroVz_kXw0EuwjaZD-334Cu70nTqLC9SERlhbYnU5eiQbbmwu6qwZXtEgGu_nLKgJeRh7OY1XL6-KEHwKaXSZC-ERO7Yx8WjjA_3Hb/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-87948799809207537172017-08-01T19:58:00.001-06:002021-01-21T15:38:49.085-07:00Class Tree in Arizona, Christopher Creek and Hell’s Gate<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFKzY2UTvITWot_U0WkGTltEK8D9kJnW13U608E4CSONSrOCdjFbkMo80gbb2d-IP-onr8loFL-JEJOtRggS33pfCscs309NwXv10FDI-GSgjjGFohONKvb373ZKBe8hLLc72dMKCaKSg/s1600/17016858_10212386815694309_2064037285336160027_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Walled in would be an understatement, photo by Evan Stafford, hell's gate, Arizona Christopher Creek AZ, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer, kayak walled in chaos," border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1080" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLFKzY2UTvITWot_U0WkGTltEK8D9kJnW13U608E4CSONSrOCdjFbkMo80gbb2d-IP-onr8loFL-JEJOtRggS33pfCscs309NwXv10FDI-GSgjjGFohONKvb373ZKBe8hLLc72dMKCaKSg/w400-h295/17016858_10212386815694309_2064037285336160027_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walled in would be an understatement, photo by Evan Stafford</td></tr>
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It was the middle of February in Arizona, and Avery Potter and I had just finished a mellow lap on the lower gorge of Tonto Creek when a voicemail came through on the phone. It was Evan Stafford and a posse of Colorado and Wyoming paddlers who were on their way to the area and looking to link Christopher Creek into the Hell’s Gate section of Tonto Creek. This would be a three-day mission through a truly wild and desolate portion of Arizona. I couldn’t respond fast enough… “YES!”<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/211705989" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/211705989"></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Christopher creek, hells gate</div>
</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvwfan6ENEHcvFDTpc3k0IZWGbbzLIqf9cX0C435WMCELOBADbhIzqYGX5KIuZjL75BMOo6DJGPf6sF62Yr3yD1ZyI4fcaV1D5HL_wP_xg7j2fZUN6e9NW4tl43u3yk1DerCmATQK8Cka/s1600/DSC03010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Hiking into Christopher Creek, scenery Arizona beautiful landscape WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjvwfan6ENEHcvFDTpc3k0IZWGbbzLIqf9cX0C435WMCELOBADbhIzqYGX5KIuZjL75BMOo6DJGPf6sF62Yr3yD1ZyI4fcaV1D5HL_wP_xg7j2fZUN6e9NW4tl43u3yk1DerCmATQK8Cka/w400-h266/DSC03010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking into Christopher Creek</td></tr>
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The team, Evan Stafford, Ted Decker, Thomas Herring, Austin Woody, Aaron Koontz, Caleb Owen and myself, converged in the Payson City Safeway parking lot. We all had a multitude of mutual friends, but there were still a number of introductions to be made in-between people tearing off to obtain last minute provisions for the upcoming multi-day. Luckily, Thomas was not feeling up for the Christopher Creek section, and offered to help the team by bringing in the majority of the multi-day supplies (overnight equipment and food) via truck into Bear Flats. Bear Flats is the traditional take-out for Christopher Creek and the put-in location for Hell’s Gate.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Afn_9ZGE_RNnXSgAkHP1BLyyWM1qUe-fxHIFTS344YD-7ifkX0EkKSMKh_WWUKATz-gokHy1FavyAg3bdzA2eckfh_m-ZSd8r7VQmlHD50hPnb9bb5STEIK7R17WpadUUTYN8o8F2dhx/s1600/DSC03016.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ted Decker launching his way into Christopher Creek, Arizona AZ WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer, kayaking slot canyon cristopher creek" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Afn_9ZGE_RNnXSgAkHP1BLyyWM1qUe-fxHIFTS344YD-7ifkX0EkKSMKh_WWUKATz-gokHy1FavyAg3bdzA2eckfh_m-ZSd8r7VQmlHD50hPnb9bb5STEIK7R17WpadUUTYN8o8F2dhx/w400-h266/DSC03016.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted Decker launching his way into Christopher Creek</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgSQj2FPPFpO1W1LfP8JJJO31LN_IY3tDHTQ4QyM1VKdQfnDqUB_diKY9suHpXhbGeW9MhB2YWd-kGqltUHoF0sJM3x2a968OpfvobI2EZd2J7p68kbvMUAyya9UoWWl649YNhRfCI5ks/s1600/DSC03044.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ted Decker on one of the numerous waterfalls contained in Christopher Creek , arizona kayaking WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMgSQj2FPPFpO1W1LfP8JJJO31LN_IY3tDHTQ4QyM1VKdQfnDqUB_diKY9suHpXhbGeW9MhB2YWd-kGqltUHoF0sJM3x2a968OpfvobI2EZd2J7p68kbvMUAyya9UoWWl649YNhRfCI5ks/w266-h400/DSC03044.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted Decker on one of the numerous waterfalls contained in Christopher Creek </td></tr>
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It was approaching midday as we hiked off the highway into the Arizona wilderness. A brief half-mile hike in brought us above the very pronounced Christopher Creek slot canyon where we put on. Once on the water the crew moved well; we were scouting most of the large drops and following verbal beta for the in-betweens. The crew quickly formed a jovial rapport, with everyone smiling and joking together. As we completed an almost “todo” descent of Christopher Creek, the subpar flows combined with the tight canyon walls caused plenty of bloody knuckles. After the last of the hard rapids, downed trees, river cane, and willows became abundant, obstructing our downstream view and causing us to ricochet through our last few miles. It was a pin fest down to Bear Flats, by the time we bounced our way into Bear Flats it was well past dusk.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4lsoNjYiI4YnQKtGPUmIYyfMo8pxLtx7NBLVWF3zu_Sd5jCO_6lvqLrqNrjVc3QTXRy9FMXw3XFg5BvojRlQKJ23rmYj6hibLGi-s3ckrXsX9vGofHxzIAIWcQg3QLsG4CamSFQzcDEV/s1600/DSC03120.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Austin Woody enjoying some air time in Christopher Creek, Arizona kayaking waterfall WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4lsoNjYiI4YnQKtGPUmIYyfMo8pxLtx7NBLVWF3zu_Sd5jCO_6lvqLrqNrjVc3QTXRy9FMXw3XFg5BvojRlQKJ23rmYj6hibLGi-s3ckrXsX9vGofHxzIAIWcQg3QLsG4CamSFQzcDEV/w266-h400/DSC03120.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin Woody enjoying some air time in Christopher Creek </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiXUSGPpDM6d3DB647RoqUrx6C2yt0JG_krAj609U7s4D3bq0n9kzCd9_bhVwVlwcrCG2iDd_5BUNWBSumhBRwIgZ9xfveD3JcuvdjuAMgEzui3AteCXTmDqbrDAem-66oH3F4QLqMriN/s1600/DSC03107.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aaron Koontz running a marginal crack, I think this led to bloody knuckles and a bunch of us deciding it wasn't such a bad rapid after all, micro creeking kayak arizona Christopher creek WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiiXUSGPpDM6d3DB647RoqUrx6C2yt0JG_krAj609U7s4D3bq0n9kzCd9_bhVwVlwcrCG2iDd_5BUNWBSumhBRwIgZ9xfveD3JcuvdjuAMgEzui3AteCXTmDqbrDAem-66oH3F4QLqMriN/w266-h400/DSC03107.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron
Koontz running a marginal crack, I think this led to bloody knuckles
and a bunch of us deciding it wasn't such a bad rapid after all</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIKsqCRpflorFt-RXjcezK6ljF9tYyRLieqRX0Rn-IygKxSCGwWaC1uBCKESvvIvkM3SdhZJWz7qm_-l6zWTZXZ4ZXzKR_8DsqfGBYgB5LXDKZ5nZ4ZOPxmY4fxYWKUi_ohoSXFnLQky6/s1600/DSC03131.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aaron Koontz running the marginally wet far left line at Big Lebowski, Christopher Creek arizona kayak waterfall WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmIKsqCRpflorFt-RXjcezK6ljF9tYyRLieqRX0Rn-IygKxSCGwWaC1uBCKESvvIvkM3SdhZJWz7qm_-l6zWTZXZ4ZXzKR_8DsqfGBYgB5LXDKZ5nZ4ZOPxmY4fxYWKUi_ohoSXFnLQky6/w266-h400/DSC03131.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron Koontz running the marginally wet far left line at Big Lebowski</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1e_7JPhNb-gkA0AGf5YUWAoVm_f9rwUbFhh9jYXd32H8aZLgDVHTC2OkB69GjkYTh8aUAc_ThAPam92ny_JNi33hiXNQIYuvS7JtWwhia9NkOZx64dbnJKeFg7ZrzZbn9_Yyj3K9uB_k/s1600/DSC03175.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aaron Koontz airing out Little Lebowski, Christopher Creek kayaking waterfall Arizona WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1e_7JPhNb-gkA0AGf5YUWAoVm_f9rwUbFhh9jYXd32H8aZLgDVHTC2OkB69GjkYTh8aUAc_ThAPam92ny_JNi33hiXNQIYuvS7JtWwhia9NkOZx64dbnJKeFg7ZrzZbn9_Yyj3K9uB_k/w266-h400/DSC03175.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aaron Koontz airing out Little Lebowski</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbB6bqO4ABx7EBcUqZ3FfiUZZ9gmZ8SuMLYaxPLYxCCMI_0L2PCH9YJQzaV56V2v8Uv09ezDrrpXAgdS2ZDomU7h8utXBGF4ZWmwm_ns6g59BgxQBXdN4Nv1GJb_NJ1rbde4_lLAGzPLMc/s1600/DSC03065.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ted Decker looking for the auto flake , kayaking christopher creek Arizona sliding WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbB6bqO4ABx7EBcUqZ3FfiUZZ9gmZ8SuMLYaxPLYxCCMI_0L2PCH9YJQzaV56V2v8Uv09ezDrrpXAgdS2ZDomU7h8utXBGF4ZWmwm_ns6g59BgxQBXdN4Nv1GJb_NJ1rbde4_lLAGzPLMc/w400-h266/DSC03065.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted Decker looking for the auto flake </td></tr>
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Since Thomas had opted out of Christopher Creek, there was a truck at Bear Flats and we took full advantage of it. Group consensus was to use the truck to get the other vehicle off the side of the highway, and to acquire plentiful and cheap cold beer and pizza. The getting-to-know-you’s continued into the evening, with everyone laughing and recounting how many times they had been pinned on the way out of Christopher Creek.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Jw1Ayc3kKDWVa5Xns_NhIdRcltRvrnInAEoiNGCqciGmvYrz36EdggC1yQy9SnPmNM_M7FPX3yOShJT8s_ewxGH4_kQFz4HL59tnFWxMh63X-4ub7w1ZL7tVO1LdMw5HdscHktMd3Icl/s1600/DSC03181.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Setting up camp at Bear Flats, car camping in Arizona Christopher creek Hell's gate, kayak WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-Jw1Ayc3kKDWVa5Xns_NhIdRcltRvrnInAEoiNGCqciGmvYrz36EdggC1yQy9SnPmNM_M7FPX3yOShJT8s_ewxGH4_kQFz4HL59tnFWxMh63X-4ub7w1ZL7tVO1LdMw5HdscHktMd3Icl/w400-h225/DSC03181.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Setting up camp at Bear Flats</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv35gSvwfjv5MOOWxnZ6BTAkAea1us0AI2-Qdg9yIa_lgH8h-qIRPSfcoZ3JxVJvCQEeyRgNHb3KbrPC6CkzMAOzyuMU0g60tqeIX7AsuootdgQs0Nq3YdQktI1WNM8X7TC7Y0jhasBjh/s1600/17039079_10212457696826293_7730447066813034829_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="AZ wilderness and scenery living up to the hype, photo by Evan Stafford, arizona kayak Hell's Gate wilderness, canyon slot whitewater arizona WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1349" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcv35gSvwfjv5MOOWxnZ6BTAkAea1us0AI2-Qdg9yIa_lgH8h-qIRPSfcoZ3JxVJvCQEeyRgNHb3KbrPC6CkzMAOzyuMU0g60tqeIX7AsuootdgQs0Nq3YdQktI1WNM8X7TC7Y0jhasBjh/w320-h400/17039079_10212457696826293_7730447066813034829_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">AZ wilderness and scenery living up to the hype, photo by Evan Stafford</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day Two</h4>
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We headed into the Hell’s Gate section of Tonto Creek, twenty-six miles that we planned on traveling over two long days. The walls quickly grew to towering heights, and we found ourselves in classic Arizona scenery. The water level was still a bit low for my taste, and we again found ourselves bashing through willows and bouncing our way through marginal rapids, just to be greeted with yet another classic Class 5 rapid. Our pace was strong and we were crushing miles, but I could see the group tiring as we neared 12 hours in our boats. It was late on day two when we finally reached the confluence with Spring Creek and set up our camp. Everyone was a bit beaten up from the low water and a second long day on the river. I fell asleep early and woke up excited to see what day three had in store.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxUFwzgRV4iGrO8skwlr3q0NOZUOVl6lDgRpZ3tVewn6cOoPnN4er7EVQ5K8J-f2ZhVR7o-a3RUOrekVQmaapaL2aH3VrcyDogPdxNLl_l14E9xzZXbma0pdS3xgs741cXndyAn_aYJwh/s1600/DSC03208.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Austin Woody, another classic in Hell's Gate arizona kayak whitewater WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer canyon" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxUFwzgRV4iGrO8skwlr3q0NOZUOVl6lDgRpZ3tVewn6cOoPnN4er7EVQ5K8J-f2ZhVR7o-a3RUOrekVQmaapaL2aH3VrcyDogPdxNLl_l14E9xzZXbma0pdS3xgs741cXndyAn_aYJwh/w266-h400/DSC03208.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin Woody, another classic in Hell's Gate</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYfAzxQR9wtbCUWKW3xLOX6g0T05l0Chc3UYSulrOBihRO2PkZHxPlsZ5CL7LRJvkdErJSG1axbckTxFm0n7iKpwGii7dmZg8RmKYqkgtMCBg1-kbZhc1gfGNysPtofSXrR0IkfWms1IH/s1600/DSC03214.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Austin Woody and Tom Herring eyeing up another marginal line in Hell's Gate, kayak canyon whitewater red rocks beautiful dificult slot WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQYfAzxQR9wtbCUWKW3xLOX6g0T05l0Chc3UYSulrOBihRO2PkZHxPlsZ5CL7LRJvkdErJSG1axbckTxFm0n7iKpwGii7dmZg8RmKYqkgtMCBg1-kbZhc1gfGNysPtofSXrR0IkfWms1IH/w266-h400/DSC03214.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Austin Woody and Tom Herring eyeing up another marginal line in Hell's Gate</td></tr>
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<h4 style="text-align: left;">
Day Three</h4>
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Thankfully, with the added water flow of Spring Creek, the rapids became less jarring. As we continued downstream the walls continued to grow and the scenery just kept getting better. I rounded yet another blind corner to see Evan Stafford lying on the back deck of his kayak with his mouth agape. We were making our way through one of the more beautiful locations that I have ever paddled. The whitewater was plentiful, and made for yet another long, strenuous day of scouting and probing countless Class 4 mank piles inter-spaced with plentiful and quintessential Class 5 slot canyon rapids. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgFA8G-kCYUAtLKPmE_PRFbPPaREiiqTkjAaqCtOboEWilhnDXvG2LRVFdv1beaRvVLJXZQzj4LZ1koiB9D5AAguRI7XQVmf-yEARgdezRdx3EAry5vCMmAqcQvc6AQdb5tHR14_tOq4g/s1600/DSC03222.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Quintessential scenery in the Arizona wilderness , Hell's gate wilderness kayaking canyon whitewater WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgFA8G-kCYUAtLKPmE_PRFbPPaREiiqTkjAaqCtOboEWilhnDXvG2LRVFdv1beaRvVLJXZQzj4LZ1koiB9D5AAguRI7XQVmf-yEARgdezRdx3EAry5vCMmAqcQvc6AQdb5tHR14_tOq4g/w265-h400/DSC03222.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Quintessential scenery in the Arizona wilderness </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-5MpqzcEqNnM82epqq309SXJwmyisTzBaUigI8mh_kTSPiYospHYmT1cXbpIHRWrXA4zxwo4oTjUrPv4rU644kai_jSLTByffVwXpDZ5yhDi7q7Ox_K52O2RZ22g7l_lo-VxzOw7Xp4v/s1600/20622615_10213952170587203_1820241108_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chris Baer finishing up the last canyon, photo by Evan Stafford, Hell's Gate wilderness whitewater Arizona, orange zet kayak wood paddle kokatat wrsi helmet" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG-5MpqzcEqNnM82epqq309SXJwmyisTzBaUigI8mh_kTSPiYospHYmT1cXbpIHRWrXA4zxwo4oTjUrPv4rU644kai_jSLTByffVwXpDZ5yhDi7q7Ox_K52O2RZ22g7l_lo-VxzOw7Xp4v/w266-h400/20622615_10213952170587203_1820241108_o.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Baer finishing up the last canyon, photo by Evan Stafford</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKz22OP83OsSa0OyTxRhKsDltDO6AKkago7tmH5dDvzRHPuTUJCYZ1qrKFJ0N2CsnXoYbYwSW7O8S6zwZWyEmrbgjlJTG3y0pkfbLKZTGCnIz2PyTrhsy8ht-x7NJZA2fhC3eF3ZMVi2r/s1600/DSC03241.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="How do we get out of here? Hell's Gate wilderness Arizona canyon kayak whitewater, crazy portage, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaKz22OP83OsSa0OyTxRhKsDltDO6AKkago7tmH5dDvzRHPuTUJCYZ1qrKFJ0N2CsnXoYbYwSW7O8S6zwZWyEmrbgjlJTG3y0pkfbLKZTGCnIz2PyTrhsy8ht-x7NJZA2fhC3eF3ZMVi2r/w266-h400/DSC03241.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How do we get out of here?</td></tr>
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Eight hours into day three, the walls finally subsided. We were then met with our last challenge: shallow, braided flows through a willow jungle. We slowly trudged our way through to the very sketchy “town” of Gisela. Gisela reminded me of a Breaking Bad set: dilapidated trailers and police rolling through and joking with us about how they were looking to arrest a few of the locals.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFQAnFXyAVjS33wnkfUN_C78EfK7aXyPskbLgQW4pfTDm6_q17xqBs_6A0yeReS-GThyphenhyphenpZC8n3MckxXZ0fSQQ2ZBZBkehGXnMdpUK0-I9Sn46kmBBJrjdwFc8ncfZm8N3dutz_AjlsKmo/s1600/DSC03247.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="The crew celebrating exiting the canyon and looking forward to cold beer, arizona hell's gate wilderness sun set scenery catus Saguaro WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOFQAnFXyAVjS33wnkfUN_C78EfK7aXyPskbLgQW4pfTDm6_q17xqBs_6A0yeReS-GThyphenhyphenpZC8n3MckxXZ0fSQQ2ZBZBkehGXnMdpUK0-I9Sn46kmBBJrjdwFc8ncfZm8N3dutz_AjlsKmo/w400-h266/DSC03247.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The crew celebrating exiting the canyon and looking forward to cold beer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TY3NT9ZYeAO3a6_-IcEu5RSHuE-5ngQqKBA1hUifhSTirphl15CAWMZB3s7sZnlCCKueFsWgeKwCob9_GCabl8dN73XzoFTXQeb42eM2k3GH5K_O2rY9o3N4aB4gCYepx0t-6s812AHC/s1600/DSC03252.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="yucca arizona hell's gate wilderness, river whitewater, rocks, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1067" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0TY3NT9ZYeAO3a6_-IcEu5RSHuE-5ngQqKBA1hUifhSTirphl15CAWMZB3s7sZnlCCKueFsWgeKwCob9_GCabl8dN73XzoFTXQeb42eM2k3GH5K_O2rY9o3N4aB4gCYepx0t-6s812AHC/w266-h400/DSC03252.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
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This run should be on your radar… but understand this is not a “give me”; appropriate flows are rare, and it’s absolutely in the middle of nowhere. That being said, the Hell’s Gate Wilderness is spectacular and linking Christopher Creek into it is a legitimate multi-day adventure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWGdJjKX7XUviQO97zlfcwdclQIyFzwlHA4CG5OLh3NrRrTozZGxFxWSO6XwhyU7xA73RgWOcsCowxac5QQC9EdXYd_sbTuqzCtekjOBhBGpixuV9zccqKQQTdDLt2ELM7yAEr2Wy-nDh/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chris Baer WhereIsBaer.com rafting helmet pfd" border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrWGdJjKX7XUviQO97zlfcwdclQIyFzwlHA4CG5OLh3NrRrTozZGxFxWSO6XwhyU7xA73RgWOcsCowxac5QQC9EdXYd_sbTuqzCtekjOBhBGpixuV9zccqKQQTdDLt2ELM7yAEr2Wy-nDh/w161-h200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-4465074672269641792017-04-06T14:19:00.002-06:002021-01-24T20:15:52.285-07:00Feeling Lucky in Arizona’s Fickle Paddling Season? Pump House Wash<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Feeling Lucky in Arizona’s Fickle Paddling Season? Pump House Wash</h1></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznVd1e7N0w4DELsZLcuL42HB4psDd1djhvHk5I2xPyuTd0UfuP3lp9T-yzjEZ7TQuBS8nX8RfHoq6y4qBkXIlfzHU3lhoXYBHPL65XmT2wjsTj1EA8ZaLxUA6goFuKuMKjfjaT6VDMXMQ/s1600/DSC02918.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Ted Decker sliding into Mexican Pocket, pump house wash kayak snow cold WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznVd1e7N0w4DELsZLcuL42HB4psDd1djhvHk5I2xPyuTd0UfuP3lp9T-yzjEZ7TQuBS8nX8RfHoq6y4qBkXIlfzHU3lhoXYBHPL65XmT2wjsTj1EA8ZaLxUA6goFuKuMKjfjaT6VDMXMQ/w266-h400/DSC02918.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ted Decker sliding into Mexican Pocket</td></tr>
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Timing the Arizona paddling season is just shy of impossible. Good flows on some of the classic sections might last for only a week, and catching the correct flow on an obscure river might just take luck. Fortune favored Tom Herring, Ted Decker, Dave Sherman, Pete Traylor, and me when early spring rain began to fall on a substantial snow pack just south of Flagstaff, Arizona. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmCl7U0Ktuf3LiQS3Fd6uTMAiYSEVCEBSy4POV9tj3KP-CzCBe8YRjsTy6-hFNJ2zMAYOFtcu987DjeMSMl-u45j10o-wVcbJorpklHqxrL0iALGJjtXZK0yyS8_fjxU6jdmcjbMUKT7X/s1600/DSC02958.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Pump House wash, Arizona street sign kayak whitewater, Flagstaff, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer Sedona" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggmCl7U0Ktuf3LiQS3Fd6uTMAiYSEVCEBSy4POV9tj3KP-CzCBe8YRjsTy6-hFNJ2zMAYOFtcu987DjeMSMl-u45j10o-wVcbJorpklHqxrL0iALGJjtXZK0yyS8_fjxU6jdmcjbMUKT7X/w400-h266/DSC02958.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Pump House Wash begins atop the Mogollon Rim, just south of Flagstaff. It quickly plummets through spectacular sandstone layers to a confluence with another small tributary creating Oak Creek. Oak Creek then produces a couple of classic whitewater sections as it cascades its way down, through the city of Sedona.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmMnApBHP4Ab2mOj9nwgwfs3wA1kPrpYwKuuckrxKmynPqbO5uV5n7VAm-QTfpEyu54NlMAuCLMVuFRmVzU7jVv8zv_4TvNrGWdEBNIro_A2YaWDEbI-GXZLFDoBBNrawyauK_sDoR29d/s1600/DSC02902.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Sedona, arizona flag staff hiking river pump house wash, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer, kayak" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDmMnApBHP4Ab2mOj9nwgwfs3wA1kPrpYwKuuckrxKmynPqbO5uV5n7VAm-QTfpEyu54NlMAuCLMVuFRmVzU7jVv8zv_4TvNrGWdEBNIro_A2YaWDEbI-GXZLFDoBBNrawyauK_sDoR29d/w400-h266/DSC02902.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hiking down to the put in<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/209425936" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/209425936">Pumphouse Wash, Sedona, AZ</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Accessing Pump House Wash<br />
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From Flagstaff, head south on 89A to County Road 237. Early spring missions usually mean that the 237 road is closed. If this is the case, park at the gate. Walk on the seasonally sloppy, muddy road for about a 1/4 mile and then veer right into the woods and continue downhill. Once in the trees, follow your ears and you should be able to make out the flow of the small wash. Put in where you can and deal with a short-lived, bouncy paddle in. Soon you will be at the first major horizon line, Mexican Pocket. Scout or portage from river left, but remember: this is what you came for. This is by far the best rapid on the section. Mexican Pocket offers a bouncy slide that puts you dangerously close to the right wall which then drops you into a boiling hallway at the precipice of a 15’ drop. After the drop, you quickly descend into the sandstone layers. Stark white Coconino sandstone caps the classic red sandstone of the Supai Group. It’s this Coconino that you will only see high up in the drainage and the red Supai below comprises the majority of the paddling run. This relatively soft sandstone has been carved into a myriad of tiny slots, sluices, and pocketed ledges, intermixed with a few complicated, multistage rapids. Just to add character, the wash also has plenty of blind corners and partially submerged trees.<br />
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Our group portaged two successive drops near the middle of the run. The first one lands on rock, and the second is a very tight, complex lead-in to a fifteen-ish foot drop that recirculates under the left wall. Thankfully, this horizon line is rather obvious from inside your boat, and relatively easy to portage river left. Stay heads up for fallen trees and blind corners all the way down to the 89A bridge, your take out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5V-CGDzvJqT5vuK6ggwIG6EZ2DzbX0kFefhC4fSyGXiJryTZUQy4Il79xqg2mq9HScdsmCxJe9gNWPbpWW5-gO7tALvFv2erRpKKIh_75O4RVkFxroM9GFs81YwSIIE0KuzCm0eq3-LO/s1600/DSC02946.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="A motley and slightly chilly crew at the take out , kayak sedona pump house wash, sedona flag staff arizona WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5V-CGDzvJqT5vuK6ggwIG6EZ2DzbX0kFefhC4fSyGXiJryTZUQy4Il79xqg2mq9HScdsmCxJe9gNWPbpWW5-gO7tALvFv2erRpKKIh_75O4RVkFxroM9GFs81YwSIIE0KuzCm0eq3-LO/w400-h266/DSC02946.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A motley and slightly chilly crew at the take out </td></tr>
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Water levels are determined on a hydrological barometer gauge that can be found at:<br />
<a href="https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/121/#tab-flow">https://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/River/detail/id/121/#tab-flow</a><br />
Our flows peaked at 1,400 cfs the night before and were hovering around 1,000 cfs on the barometer gauge when we put on, meaning we were really paddling on 200 cfs at the put in and 500 cfs by the take out.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSH_3QwbEB2WuvDAmVKEt3yrzK9HfuTllRNzkPi2SlFkogpjZlsh74vRJ_HDi5fMERgCMo-iO73HmIcEjYEG-Q_TdO4nwfBA7O59zH5BMCFT7524WOXHrbFsZBnJheF-gx37rddl0Nvli/s1600/DSC02938.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="pump house wash kayak log whitewater, red rocks canyon arizona sedona flagstaff, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmSH_3QwbEB2WuvDAmVKEt3yrzK9HfuTllRNzkPi2SlFkogpjZlsh74vRJ_HDi5fMERgCMo-iO73HmIcEjYEG-Q_TdO4nwfBA7O59zH5BMCFT7524WOXHrbFsZBnJheF-gx37rddl0Nvli/w400-h266/DSC02938.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">keep your eyes peeled all the way to the take out</td></tr>
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If this stretch were all Mexican Pocket-esque drops, it would be a 5 star mission, however it never really comes together. Floating underneath arches and through tight, inescapable clefts of towering bright red sandstone makes for a spectacular location, but the rock structure never combines with the gradient at the correct time to build great whitewater. Not to mention that the water level rarely gets high enough, and when it does you’re scouting and portaging in snow. But when serendipity strikes, it’s definitely a worthwhile adventure.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baeer raft kayak pump house wash arizona sedona flag staff" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/w161-h200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-25645292796241606342017-03-06T14:52:00.001-07:002021-01-24T20:16:08.586-07:00Sometimes the logistics aren’t as legal as you might want. <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Sometimes the logistics aren’t as legal as you might want. </h1></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLdc6BH2uzUVJQbZpSZUe7iXMhkfzj3CVEehCj5-HjasVoe49qpGss3r9RCNEZnb-__dGrpxAa-2Hb6QjUagEOOo3QZ00OtyWkcFKAP2-YoQOLPYrN-zPDu-3yxyeIsCjefAlXgA1CRy3/s1600/DSC02742.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTLdc6BH2uzUVJQbZpSZUe7iXMhkfzj3CVEehCj5-HjasVoe49qpGss3r9RCNEZnb-__dGrpxAa-2Hb6QjUagEOOo3QZ00OtyWkcFKAP2-YoQOLPYrN-zPDu-3yxyeIsCjefAlXgA1CRy3/s400/DSC02742.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an amazing canyon </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtKEBEH4HvRtLxRsr3_cK66h5rbTfa16rlyOx8xOQYxdzvunA4Dv3hFp73T_nTn50vOfLms5NZ87kTpUc27Uh-ScMjU1Z1pFG8w0AjTY4zGAR0Jidkv7GunOzyTWk0LZm6NiQ1kqdIyJ5/s1600/DSC02755.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDtKEBEH4HvRtLxRsr3_cK66h5rbTfa16rlyOx8xOQYxdzvunA4Dv3hFp73T_nTn50vOfLms5NZ87kTpUc27Uh-ScMjU1Z1pFG8w0AjTY4zGAR0Jidkv7GunOzyTWk0LZm6NiQ1kqdIyJ5/s400/DSC02755.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">serenity above chaos</td></tr>
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Kayaking missions sometimes lead us into murky waters, legally. Technically when I’m changing into or out of wet shorts on the side of the road I’m committing public indecency. Post-run cold ones, hopefully in a coozie and not a bootie, are open containers. Scouting, and occasionally accessing, really means trespassing. In all of these circumstances I ask myself the same question: If I’m not hurting anyone else, what does it matter?<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/206676954" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <br />
<a href="https://vimeo.com/206676954">Something we don't talk about</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d-hUwMdW7u9Z8gcvApXRe7u4MWcuqq68ikMJuSCCg9RnIyIlAz40NXtyx-X1qwWeYhjGz2LlESP7CHlp62D_WgtmFCq0QIk2jrjXrwCkauZYPCgYZ6nIHIaUb5-95_-Zt0HJch4jBye2/s1600/DSC02796.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4d-hUwMdW7u9Z8gcvApXRe7u4MWcuqq68ikMJuSCCg9RnIyIlAz40NXtyx-X1qwWeYhjGz2LlESP7CHlp62D_WgtmFCq0QIk2jrjXrwCkauZYPCgYZ6nIHIaUb5-95_-Zt0HJch4jBye2/s400/DSC02796.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the boys below a rather nasty hydraulic </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAuxVEz8HzGamvL6Jl_NVWOP56PBo07-tiokd2yDw68dHZjJcetz54tdbhJZLCvg-QhXMZETS-pZrnQMwO7ZKYf5L8FGs0z1mjj3RYgM64OAJhd1H9lno3K3mnczn6UrhRvDoZ1maf9Cb/s1600/DSC02765.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrAuxVEz8HzGamvL6Jl_NVWOP56PBo07-tiokd2yDw68dHZjJcetz54tdbhJZLCvg-QhXMZETS-pZrnQMwO7ZKYf5L8FGs0z1mjj3RYgM64OAJhd1H9lno3K3mnczn6UrhRvDoZ1maf9Cb/s400/DSC02765.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">desert run off</td></tr>
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By no means would I ever suggest breaking a law, but sometimes it’s a necessary evil in kayaking, and sometimes the risk is worth the reward.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-37237585169353414792017-02-24T18:54:00.004-07:002021-01-24T20:16:25.817-07:00Biggest Class 3 in the World? Siang River, Arunachal Pradesh, India <div style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><h1>
Biggest Class 3 in the World? Siang River, Arunachal Pradesh, India </h1>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1bMvE1SUAOKX2pyS9ol07la-9DvhNKebpPRJR0a7Yn8DlHmdV5rnsgX8D3woW42cJnQwyrwrQ8Z62a6iDUWRlKZkTtaWyImRvx98Y2gFsPYSLFmNwiIx-yESKc0gvw_U7iQQDQHZMpwg/s1600/DSC02432.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Colin Aitken looking microscopic on the Siang River, himilayas India, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer, huge river whitewater kayak" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW1bMvE1SUAOKX2pyS9ol07la-9DvhNKebpPRJR0a7Yn8DlHmdV5rnsgX8D3woW42cJnQwyrwrQ8Z62a6iDUWRlKZkTtaWyImRvx98Y2gFsPYSLFmNwiIx-yESKc0gvw_U7iQQDQHZMpwg/w400-h266/DSC02432.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin Aitken looking microscopic on the Siang River</td></tr>
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The small jet was making its final approach into Katmandu International Airport. I knew we were close to the ground with wing flaps wide open and the slight feel of falling, but I still couldn’t see the ground. It wasn’t until we were less than hundred feet off the tarmac that I could see through the smog. While collecting my <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/Detail/Accessory/stagecoachwaterproofrollingduffel">baggage</a>, I was overrun by some of my worst fears of traveling in huge cities: rudeness, pollution, trash everywhere, horns constantly honking, and haggling for everything. After an hour of haggling at the airport, I found transportation to a dingy hotel, with non-locking doors, a cold shower, and plenty of rodent roommates. Fortunately it was just for a night, and I was able to fly out the next day, this time landing in Guwahati and somewhat more reasonable international chaos. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjwROOU9JJvEpxN8gUuohNpVKcNYsqPKjk3IQsj2Cqx-SS0j9gYrZP916oy7t8a7iQipMsV1GvdsBx9Ar3A0948XhpSvd08TGcIh9NuXvddv6YaIJvf78mk6qmeUiMrAX2LYa24tw6dPN/s1600/DSC02467.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="just a random intersection in India , chaotic motor cycles road india, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjwROOU9JJvEpxN8gUuohNpVKcNYsqPKjk3IQsj2Cqx-SS0j9gYrZP916oy7t8a7iQipMsV1GvdsBx9Ar3A0948XhpSvd08TGcIh9NuXvddv6YaIJvf78mk6qmeUiMrAX2LYa24tw6dPN/w400-h266/DSC02467.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">just a random intersection in India </td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="360" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/202294217" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="640"></iframe> <a href="https://vimeo.com/202294217">Siang River, Eastern India,</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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The Assam region isn’t part of most people’s mental map of India. Its location and indigenous culture create a beautiful landscape reminding me more of Northern Myanmar than the hustle and bustle of Delhi. Colin Aitken and I had a few mutual acquaintances and were both looking for an opportunity to explore via kayak. We shook hands for the first time in a bus station in eastern India, exchanged pleasantries, and bought tickets to make our way to Pasighat. The bus ride was overnight, close to 16 hours of bouncing through the far Indian wild (east). The view out of the bus window of the countryside was of beautiful, distant rolling hills that fed into the Himalayas. Occasionally the bus would come to a stop and all of the occupants would file out and into what I could only describe as an Indian truck stop. I still can't believe I didn't get food poisoning during this leg of the trip.<br />
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<iframe height="480" src="https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=1vy90Yzo8uVJDRcfYpGm2wR1idGc" width="640"></iframe><br /></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLo4rm0EEn-JVGFE-ymQwbih2FlXHiV-6l-evPP9ICtZ_gAvMWQ_4E1Ce_I-KNrEavVNrxaFhyphenhyphen0y9n_CFSFDi6lmYP0-HVFO9pWKWn78JDHTK8TvnN0Gz9N7Nbr4aZf4JS5QPLAQXK1CU/s1600/DSC02243.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="kayaks loaded, not ready for 16 hours of bus travel, traveling with kayaks on busses in india painted bus india bus stop kayak zet whitewater WhereIsBaer.com himalayas, Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKLo4rm0EEn-JVGFE-ymQwbih2FlXHiV-6l-evPP9ICtZ_gAvMWQ_4E1Ce_I-KNrEavVNrxaFhyphenhyphen0y9n_CFSFDi6lmYP0-HVFO9pWKWn78JDHTK8TvnN0Gz9N7Nbr4aZf4JS5QPLAQXK1CU/w400-h266/DSC02243.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">kayaks loaded, not ready for 16 hours of bus travel </td></tr>
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Arriving in the small, jump-off town of Pasighat meant that the chaotic pace of the big city was behind us. While sipping Assam tea we chatted with locals about the logistical challenge of getting our <a href="http://www.zetkayak.com/products_detail.php?ProductID=15">boats</a> to the town of Tuting. Our local advice had us arranging a two day, jarring jeep ride north to the border town. It was seven hours up the watershed to the midway point and the mountain town of Yingkiong. There we chatted with yet more drivers about getting our equipment further up the drainage. With our limited local language skills, we attempted to schedule for a driver to meet us at our hotel the following morning. Seven in the morning came early as we waited outside our prayer flag-adorned hotel. We watched a handful of taxis and tuk-tuks rallying by, but to where? We started asking questions and determined that we ought to catch a taxi to destination unknown… hopefully where the jeep was awaiting. The microscopic taxi, with our two multi-day laden kayaks on top, bounced and bottomed out on our way to a partially completed bridge. Here, the driver gave us the international hand signal of, “Get out and walk across the bridge.”<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQwyVvH4VZeCGgmKQE068_jd9R6fS4lTcfdiJNsecDq98LqL-XCaBPfxgCCAX11NprVwCz-g3Dv9Hr0-gjpg2mhwXCTHk48i0xT_qHSv0Ht7Kfxq9naDwm3cpKpzjtIONy9hDZA1_i2kp/s1600/DSC02343.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Colin Aitken waiting outside our luxury amenities for transportation that would never arrive, Arunachal pradesh, Siang river prayer flags block street himalayas WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGQwyVvH4VZeCGgmKQE068_jd9R6fS4lTcfdiJNsecDq98LqL-XCaBPfxgCCAX11NprVwCz-g3Dv9Hr0-gjpg2mhwXCTHk48i0xT_qHSv0Ht7Kfxq9naDwm3cpKpzjtIONy9hDZA1_i2kp/w400-h266/DSC02343.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin Aitken waiting outside our luxury amenities for transportation that would never arrive</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqEyhSCxBrZFP-sdoWPoKUzHuTL91ZPMQOTBgb-ML1mG30gsBjLSLiaNHTLHfhAoMH9TEp2W_JDyNtLPmLrdY8dS-S-gxiC818n6ieXbVq3k_9nc_okEMYSN6FgOil9ztl4ZWZ-wyS-mm/s1600/DSC02349.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Colin, damn that bridge is sketchy, bridge wire broken fog river Arunachal Pradesh india himalayas, kayaking kayak cold morning WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOqEyhSCxBrZFP-sdoWPoKUzHuTL91ZPMQOTBgb-ML1mG30gsBjLSLiaNHTLHfhAoMH9TEp2W_JDyNtLPmLrdY8dS-S-gxiC818n6ieXbVq3k_9nc_okEMYSN6FgOil9ztl4ZWZ-wyS-mm/w266-h400/DSC02349.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin, damn that bridge is sketchy</td></tr>
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It may have been that I hadn’t had my morning allotment of caffeine yet, but the bridge was sketchy and I wasn’t really feeling it. I’m pretty sure it was erected mostly with driftwood and bailing wire. There were missing boards everywhere, and it swayed with the lightest breeze. To top it off, the early morning fog was thick and you couldn’t tell how long, or for that matter how high up, the bridge was. Then I had the unnerving thought that I alone might be the heaviest thing that the bridge had transported in quite some time, not to mention I was shouldering my loaded down creek boat. <br />
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We scurried across the bridge and walked up the steep embankment on the other side to see a myriad of loaded down jeeps. Their drivers were attaching bags and pots onto the roofs of the vehicles. We were quickly greeted and given another hand signal, “Tie your boats down, we are about to go!” Still unsure if this was exactly the ride we had paid for, but not caring so long as we had a ride, we helped tie our kayaks to the roof and crammed ourselves inside with seven other passengers. We bounced another seven hours up the valley. Arriving in Tuting late in the afternoon on December 30th, Colin and I were exhausted from the travel and wanted to enjoy the labor of our work. We decided to spend New Year’s Eve in Tuting, which allowed me to capture some photo/video clips and explore the uniquely located mountain town. January 1st, we awoke to a partly cloudy sky, and we wandered down to the massive blue-green river. The hike in gave us a good vantage of the first rapid, it looked like it was going to be big. Trying to get comfortable in massive volume water, I paddled out to the main current and felt what seemed like ocean waves coming at me from every angle.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG25V8gDTmxrmmow02kWCrGOiLN1Opz7kkaFBNITQT4oAMJTFQ90c7L83VJ-67KIbX9FzaIyAc13RpAL7iSt2rGiSMxJEBw5SMGyJM8vtG-P3sU5UGyqBZ_zU79xoRg2vbLtsDAae759oy/s1600/DSC02410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Buddhist monastery outside of Tuting, Arunachal Pradesh India Himalayas, kayaking WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG25V8gDTmxrmmow02kWCrGOiLN1Opz7kkaFBNITQT4oAMJTFQ90c7L83VJ-67KIbX9FzaIyAc13RpAL7iSt2rGiSMxJEBw5SMGyJM8vtG-P3sU5UGyqBZ_zU79xoRg2vbLtsDAae759oy/w400-h210/DSC02410.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buddhist monastery outside of Tuting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-5P_HmECX5gcuWbuhQWX9cVy48a4tTmIAlKeNy-Qao0Kp4Ey0ZjewvG4DVqtr0YJ6bCwi16Jq0MhtMfeK0-dMZKlXUqs7BHo7oGS2lo2hRV_CyEs2enIOiGfvQfnwdtFwuU2xWSo153n/s1600/DSC02393.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Tuting, Siang River, the beginning prayer flags wind blowing huge river whitewater waves distance valley mountains arunachal pradesh india himalayas kayak WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-5P_HmECX5gcuWbuhQWX9cVy48a4tTmIAlKeNy-Qao0Kp4Ey0ZjewvG4DVqtr0YJ6bCwi16Jq0MhtMfeK0-dMZKlXUqs7BHo7oGS2lo2hRV_CyEs2enIOiGfvQfnwdtFwuU2xWSo153n/w400-h200/DSC02393.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuting, Siang River, the beginning</td></tr>
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The first day on the river produced by far the best whitewater of the section, including two utterly massive rapids. The first was caused by the delta of a tributary entering on the right forcing 100,000 cfs into a huge bedrock wall on the left. The water surged upward into a handful of fifteen-plus foot tall crashing waves. Coming over the first lead-in wave, I finally grasped how huge the rapid was. I was quickly entrenched in the pit of the wave and all I could see was water. The second enormous rapid was again caused by a tributary coming in on the right, but this time, instead of compression waves, it had scattered, house-sized boulders throughout the riverbed making a variety of features to avoid, and a couple of Himalayan-sized waves to blast over. The whitewater stayed world class throughout the entire day. With huge smiles, we pulled over on river left at about five o’clock in the evening to set up camp.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0PHYArBtC1zhHcMtFienj4qeXPAw3qVU5giA0wHI0P6gDbCjCja5cpM4tZuIiFpCL2r1qCtjqKBSh9K1d9vOdos514NQCfZ66fX3-8mv-kHAEVBXcnq2xkRUqmi2_N1du0z1vmc-llFr/s1600/DSC02413.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="river kayaking tributarty siang river arunachal Pradesh Himalayas, kayak fire locals, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ0PHYArBtC1zhHcMtFienj4qeXPAw3qVU5giA0wHI0P6gDbCjCja5cpM4tZuIiFpCL2r1qCtjqKBSh9K1d9vOdos514NQCfZ66fX3-8mv-kHAEVBXcnq2xkRUqmi2_N1du0z1vmc-llFr/w400-h266/DSC02413.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">feeling small in India </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbVyXrzqrhyphenhyphenoYVNct5LljuokLEuHGWQCVFtOJDcLMZPuyi40CqMH_gGbeD_QxRN8oiy-AqYJGvmFP-oKnOLHn8FRMJuDECLrwlnvePiO8MkcWXK1Hek19nM58pDBTYJDlt7LXQnbJ_l-X/s1600/DSC02422.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="camping side of river Arunachal Pradesh kayak himalayas Siang river WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLbVyXrzqrhyphenhyphenoYVNct5LljuokLEuHGWQCVFtOJDcLMZPuyi40CqMH_gGbeD_QxRN8oiy-AqYJGvmFP-oKnOLHn8FRMJuDECLrwlnvePiO8MkcWXK1Hek19nM58pDBTYJDlt7LXQnbJ_l-X/w266-h400/DSC02422.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our kitchen, night one</td></tr>
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Awaking on the second morning to no sun, my <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/">tarp</a> was drenched with dew and the temperature was just shy of cold. Knitted beanie and <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/ProductFinder/Apparel/filters/175">puffy jacket</a> on, I made a delicious breakfast of oats and Nescafe. On the water, we were greeted with more giant features and a couple of intense river directional changes. While a 90° turn of the river usually isn’t scary, when there is 100,000 cfs smashing into a cliff and creating enormous swirling whirlpools, things start to get entertaining. Mid-afternoon on day two, we passed under the sketchy Yingkiong bridge which we had crossed on foot in fog only a few days before. We continued downstream through one more splashy wave train and then eddied out on river left so we could hike up to town, where we were excited to find a filling meal and an okay bed to sleep in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFQAjl2R3Vcx_T7lDpt75a6G831GrmJj4YsDthzG4O17h5CxutQ4xa5O7Waq-uUaBrPuewxiZE-zxSOb1c3zi-Zifgk145j1zS8VpzsE8rOZgZXImjlhqei3Q78zq2ONvCj-OITbjVg95/s1600/DSC02331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="evening view from Yingkiong, india arunachal Pradesh kayak river Siang, himalayas WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYFQAjl2R3Vcx_T7lDpt75a6G831GrmJj4YsDthzG4O17h5CxutQ4xa5O7Waq-uUaBrPuewxiZE-zxSOb1c3zi-Zifgk145j1zS8VpzsE8rOZgZXImjlhqei3Q78zq2ONvCj-OITbjVg95/w400-h266/DSC02331.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">evening view from Yingkiong</td></tr>
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The roosters were crowing as we awoke in Yingkiong on the morning of day three. The very accommodating hotel owner was already up, and quietly sang to herself in a monk-like, chanting style as she made us a hardy breakfast. The rapids were slightly subdued compared to the previous days, and we were able to cover some substantial mileage. By mid-afternoon we had stopped for a good camp location just upstream of the town of Boleng, allowing us to gather firewood and the chance to set up tarps before the sun set and the thick dew set in.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXZrb5zbb8Jp28VSb9CE9cztbgXxRer7VNngZRbsWPIowmBF_vjDpZIYApuPqGhcNJC49Ow74e9M2UTWHf9PCJC9TeED12Zjkb3wVRz0mEC4Df9W9_S7K7oyijG7ldaex9fIHcSIfWvGf/s1600/DSC02449.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chris Baer disheveled tired steripen kayak india himalayas Siang River tuting" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguXZrb5zbb8Jp28VSb9CE9cztbgXxRer7VNngZRbsWPIowmBF_vjDpZIYApuPqGhcNJC49Ow74e9M2UTWHf9PCJC9TeED12Zjkb3wVRz0mEC4Df9W9_S7K7oyijG7ldaex9fIHcSIfWvGf/w266-h400/DSC02449.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Baer, disheveled, exhausted, and <a href="https://www.steripen.com/">thirsty</a> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6j0LPcQZcySOJVwZZ5T6B5dnKppFh114pw1XQKzDvKmFbbyK3mgIfQQdBy2oMet6nuuIxlp_0Bp2BbcKn8uNxwftDCwFBf91koA1x9kCQssIDkC-FQWywzEgs2qMpOtxew1WW2f7kOX0/s1600/DSC02458.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="camoing side of river big agnes tarp kayak whitewater sand beach sun set Siang River Himalayas Arunachal Pradesh WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT6j0LPcQZcySOJVwZZ5T6B5dnKppFh114pw1XQKzDvKmFbbyK3mgIfQQdBy2oMet6nuuIxlp_0Bp2BbcKn8uNxwftDCwFBf91koA1x9kCQssIDkC-FQWywzEgs2qMpOtxew1WW2f7kOX0/w400-h266/DSC02458.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/">camp</a>, night three</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl0gkOvvPxdItXE5b0Eovv8y-d9W7-OfYuNz2YWTbHoZ8RSDNaYGpxz9LfMLBzEqKXOyWD8R949dSIAXE5mEUWCYX90XpV-rtdG_mTfgcgYCioE8S6XAunec6gD5os6YYd61Zob5vSosN/s1600/DSC02430.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Colin Aitken, looking small on the Siang River, kayak green river huge rock formation Arunachal pradesh India Himalayas, Siang River, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCl0gkOvvPxdItXE5b0Eovv8y-d9W7-OfYuNz2YWTbHoZ8RSDNaYGpxz9LfMLBzEqKXOyWD8R949dSIAXE5mEUWCYX90XpV-rtdG_mTfgcgYCioE8S6XAunec6gD5os6YYd61Zob5vSosN/w400-h266/DSC02430.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Colin Aitken, looking small on the Siang River</td></tr>
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Extra-heavy dew and thick clouds awaited us on the fourth morning. We took our time getting off the beach, trying to let the obscured sun dry our <a href="https://www.bigagnes.com/Products/SleepingBags">sleeping bags</a> and tarps. When it was time to get on the river, we started out strong, paddling a handful of good rapids and then some long pools, and then some more long pools until finally we hit the confluence with yet another substantial tributary, the Yamne River. We were now on multiple hundreds of thousands of cfs. Random boils and massive whirlpools would erupt out of nowhere. It felt more like the ocean than a river. We pushed on, skipping lunch and eating a quick snack while in our kayaks. We paddled and paddled. My hands and shoulders were sore and the sun was starting to set. From everything we had gathered, we shouldn’t have been too far from Pasighat, so we paddled on. By the time we got a glimpse of the Pasighat bridge, it wasn’t so much that I could make out that it was a bridge than there were levitating headlights in the distance.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvV7dR6ymd9a_yZwd_S6XpvpNlFPErM6E00Ew0TUeXOQI2T-2Lkjf1cCGUSHO8qs_PRpV7knKzak563wvba2norFJaaXDE1xEOwOPNbHcNuSnPUlzaiXXiL6isxN36iKNqljpz5DY1akkO/s1600/DSC02547.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="colorful food at market vegetables india Arunachal Pradesh Himalayas Siang River, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvV7dR6ymd9a_yZwd_S6XpvpNlFPErM6E00Ew0TUeXOQI2T-2Lkjf1cCGUSHO8qs_PRpV7knKzak563wvba2norFJaaXDE1xEOwOPNbHcNuSnPUlzaiXXiL6isxN36iKNqljpz5DY1akkO/w400-h266/DSC02547.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">local market</td></tr>
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Climbing out of our kayaks after a solid eight hours of paddling was painful. We sluggishly carried them up to the bridge and hitchhiked into town. Luckily, kayakers are an extreme oddity in these parts and a few young men getting off their shift, with smiles and multiple handshakes, quickly picked us up and drove us into downtown. We eagerly, hungrily, hopped out of the truck and made our way to our favorite hole in the wall eatery. With a solid meal in us we wandered back to our local accommodations, blowing off return logistics until morning.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="WhereisBaer.com river blue india Siang river kayak himalayas Arunachal Pradesh Siang river" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/w161-h200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-24660008403486525382017-01-19T11:47:00.004-07:002021-01-24T20:16:43.543-07:00Feeling Small in Nepal, Upper Marsyangdi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><h1>
Feeling Small in Nepal, Upper Marsyangdi</h1></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C7IzxZ3o671iV-od9iI3AH27kyomvABrUv2uE1TQ1Eyi88Wnmvv6TkOGae1TH6fOEEeH6URWNbtN1GHl65mI6p47Tj07jUfSXY-dXcUvnxyxae44a0cO2TUIT3tyi4xyM7hOxumC-Mhj/s1600/DSC01881.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Looking north into the tallest mountains in the world, nepal, himilayan mountains snow capped peaks river Upper Marsyangdi, river kayak whitewater, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4C7IzxZ3o671iV-od9iI3AH27kyomvABrUv2uE1TQ1Eyi88Wnmvv6TkOGae1TH6fOEEeH6URWNbtN1GHl65mI6p47Tj07jUfSXY-dXcUvnxyxae44a0cO2TUIT3tyi4xyM7hOxumC-Mhj/w400-h225/DSC01881.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking north into the tallest mountains in the world</td></tr>
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The tallest mountains in the world surround us. Their brilliant, snow-encrusted peaks seem almost dull in comparison to the vibrant prayer flags and audaciously painted structures here in the quintessential Himalayan mountain town of Jagat. From this microscopic Nepali village, Garen Stephens and myself would start yet another trip of a lifetime. The plan was simple; <a href="http://www.zet-kayaks.com/en/products/director">kayak</a> from just north of Jagat nineteen miles down to the slack water of the Mid-Marsyangdi hydro-dam, located just to the south of the town of Besisahar.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc_0hPTVyV9FrtrITbBU1ZfL4hkNzy9-7hP-RwLG4vsFkScluU3iQ-qye3ff5w0ia08ebTMhTCbjDo2bUNui9enembOg0sTRxZImtgnwmsuN4TnOlxYS6ZqvrSflGuw748jqfRVWFWZG-/s1600/DSC02222.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the $10 a night hotel in Jagat had a view, Upper Marsangdi river nepal himalayas mountains valley snow caped WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHc_0hPTVyV9FrtrITbBU1ZfL4hkNzy9-7hP-RwLG4vsFkScluU3iQ-qye3ff5w0ia08ebTMhTCbjDo2bUNui9enembOg0sTRxZImtgnwmsuN4TnOlxYS6ZqvrSflGuw748jqfRVWFWZG-/w400-h266/DSC02222.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the $10 a night hotel in Jagat had a view</td></tr>
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<h1 style="text-align: left;">
Finding Poise in International Logistics</h1>
<br /></div><div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">Just under a week before arriving in Jagat, I was meeting up with Kate Stepan and Justin Kleberg in Pokhara, Nepal. We were hashing out plans for what seemed like a fairly straightforward mission… But international logistics always seem to have a dozen wrenches in them; it’s just a matter of trying to determine where they might pop up, and how to deal with them as smoothly as possible when they do. It might be that the vehicle breaks down, it might be that your language skills fail you and you end up in a town hours away from your destination, it might be that the boats don’t fit, or they get denied, or there is sharp metal that will wear through your boat on the roof rack. Or it might be that your attempt at local haggling doesn’t work in your favor, or you get food poisoning from what looked like delicious street food, or the fact that nothing is on schedule and arriving three hours late is standard. Trying to combine what seem to be simple logistics almost never works internationally, but when it does it feels almost magical.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHubviIueBB9LI9wYg-X4pGfChhiSFI6NMDCURqsn7s4yryH9AmGLdRGKj1UaxEvWn37kgM4Tn9sE_6WCXCzAf9r9HWXkt6Pe9LYLUqURIF6j1KgR81zH9c41s5W_Pk0xE4WkxOboARQ3/s1600/DSC01903.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="loading kayaks for the trip to Besisahar, bus kayak mountains himalayas snow WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguHubviIueBB9LI9wYg-X4pGfChhiSFI6NMDCURqsn7s4yryH9AmGLdRGKj1UaxEvWn37kgM4Tn9sE_6WCXCzAf9r9HWXkt6Pe9LYLUqURIF6j1KgR81zH9c41s5W_Pk0xE4WkxOboARQ3/w400-h225/DSC01903.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">loading kayaks for the trip to Besisahar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZYINBYrixpXgRBRrPXeThoqO8reVQ19dLSqkK-kHWrxKw8I9Dqe3DPCkYMjIOmLqH4Wwn8Y-YVXKku2yx93S3ajcnOi9QnKKTUYa0G2O3qg-y6ogJX8gQPCRXA2cMCt6dOQYNDLcnB2-/s1600/DSC01948.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="bus overcrowded nepal, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer mirror" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBZYINBYrixpXgRBRrPXeThoqO8reVQ19dLSqkK-kHWrxKw8I9Dqe3DPCkYMjIOmLqH4Wwn8Y-YVXKku2yx93S3ajcnOi9QnKKTUYa0G2O3qg-y6ogJX8gQPCRXA2cMCt6dOQYNDLcnB2-/w400-h400/DSC01948.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this bus isn't even close to full</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1_K3xa7iB1sUAHzynq5EsTNw-7qDFfqMeQ-lPpZKeE9YVro1aGN3zkgOztpK0kWdksgDWXKIQ8mCyuM0GdEEAuGPe3HgcFXMs3PAQEXGsU0Ro_2fXuG0W1pzqojVYBqvoprJzhCgmhJF/s1600/DSC01913.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Upper Marsyangdi, kayak city bus whitewater, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd1_K3xa7iB1sUAHzynq5EsTNw-7qDFfqMeQ-lPpZKeE9YVro1aGN3zkgOztpK0kWdksgDWXKIQ8mCyuM0GdEEAuGPe3HgcFXMs3PAQEXGsU0Ro_2fXuG0W1pzqojVYBqvoprJzhCgmhJF/w400-h266/DSC01913.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">arriving in Besisahar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vGJhhcB4A-4nVFtETDes881JIGZrXTD4l8ATV8i8a4r4RaJRDA-6mGPgZH4sFwUVt8SCzp1MjmLFqYI-ymh4SHridfuuU7y4YVFte8znXWxEYsp9OqmHAulI8XYm6ux_rHJOkykw6AMw/s1600/DSC02238.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="kid in kayak in nepal, prayer flags, child cute, Upper Marsyangdi Himalayas WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8vGJhhcB4A-4nVFtETDes881JIGZrXTD4l8ATV8i8a4r4RaJRDA-6mGPgZH4sFwUVt8SCzp1MjmLFqYI-ymh4SHridfuuU7y4YVFte8znXWxEYsp9OqmHAulI8XYm6ux_rHJOkykw6AMw/w400-h266/DSC02238.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">local greeting committee</td></tr>
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This first leg of the trip, we actually pulled it off: our tourist bus (has less chickens on it, and you usually get a seat) left Pokhara almost on time, it didn’t break down or get in an accident, and we arrived in Besisahar at about noon. Upon arrival, the team broke into different roles: watching the equipment, looking for a room, and searching for a jeep. With the tasks completed, we reconvened and walked to the “hotel”, tossed our bags into the room, dug out our paddling equipment, then walked back across the street to our awaiting jeep. We quickly piled boats and ourselves into the jeep and started to bounce our way up the dirt “road” to Simpani (the border of the Annapurna Conservation area). There we quickly geared up and got on the river. It was a blast! Nearly eight miles of splashy, continuous class 4 water.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLbB99ghb0icItCTLjqUAwav14PNKmjjoBtWwy1XhGk-U3d7EDn6STT8J7V3oudW4zUnYf6zeUnxalJ8GSBHKQ-YerhS2aqjpSsfqA_tv1gBCGsw1qfqIzk9cocgrpMZ3V_odG6wgsM54/s1600/DSC01922.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="annapurna mountain range, Marsyangdi upper, nepal Himalayas, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer river whitewater snow capped peaks" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLbB99ghb0icItCTLjqUAwav14PNKmjjoBtWwy1XhGk-U3d7EDn6STT8J7V3oudW4zUnYf6zeUnxalJ8GSBHKQ-YerhS2aqjpSsfqA_tv1gBCGsw1qfqIzk9cocgrpMZ3V_odG6wgsM54/w400-h266/DSC01922.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">looking back on the Annapurna Range </td></tr>
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<br />After two days of quintessential class 4, Justin Kleberg and I walked down the street from our hotel to the Annapurna Conservation Area permit office and doled out twenty dollars each to attain our special access permit. This would allow us to travel further up into the drainage. Four more miles up the road, we went to Lamjung and put on at the brink of yet another dam. Subsequently, the section had a portion of its water pulled out and through the hydro scheme. Although the section was partially dewatered, it had a slightly steeper gradient profile then the lower section. It was again spectacular class 4/4+ whitewater. The lines were significantly tighter with more river-wide, dynamic features then the lower section, but thankfully it was entirely boat-scoutable.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ogkodSecFkSpN7bf8v991Bcb0YpJvPi6BeY_IiAD9qCOZwZD8WRrf83lPiAew9kdy26tBpA33HtywOxtHVecLmSgIbdx5zq2Q3-U8fQJai2E83nsfWvkPlD3_eUwH53ea_JNbOQR86Nl/s1600/DSC01925.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Annapurna special access permit, mountains Upper Marsyangdi river whitewater, kayak WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ogkodSecFkSpN7bf8v991Bcb0YpJvPi6BeY_IiAD9qCOZwZD8WRrf83lPiAew9kdy26tBpA33HtywOxtHVecLmSgIbdx5zq2Q3-U8fQJai2E83nsfWvkPlD3_eUwH53ea_JNbOQR86Nl/w400-h266/DSC01925.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Annapurna special access permit </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjhXhjPpKUN3Oo2X_MnulIk5HI61mxQoYbvg6ZGD7nF0E8ED6NmLsmiPpWbj-_d9iW-IT3l82qn558eZbK2hL00nIlyuHiGM_ZQraW2hf26DPGPyFwfr-VYKG5k3FjFYr1fgeL3-tq7EC/s1600/DSC01947.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="the lady standing in the aisle just out of frame pawned this chicken-in-a-bag off on these guys, they didn't seem so stoked, overcrowded bus nepal rural mountain WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRjhXhjPpKUN3Oo2X_MnulIk5HI61mxQoYbvg6ZGD7nF0E8ED6NmLsmiPpWbj-_d9iW-IT3l82qn558eZbK2hL00nIlyuHiGM_ZQraW2hf26DPGPyFwfr-VYKG5k3FjFYr1fgeL3-tq7EC/w400-h266/DSC01947.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the lady standing in the aisle just out of frame pawned this chicken-in-a-bag off on these guys, they didn't seem so stoked</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />The following day Kate and Justin had to leave, so I messaged Garen Stephens. He said he was on his way, and wanted to know if I would stick around for a couple more days. I couldn’t say yes fast enough. The sections that we had paddled so far were classic, and a couple more laps on these gems seemed obligatory. Garen made it to Besisahar the next day around midday, and we rallied up for a quick get-to-know-you lap to make sure we would make good paddling partners. We instantly bonded and agreed it would be an exciting mission to head yet further up into the drainage.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBA0HLPXY1K_C71h8JXIlwkiOtsPXSYKN7TpVwDXb76DRSuSp5dIDoMqW0vWTHsfVHJWY10ptBTmVusLJSfPVAg5Hcz_YN94qWCr8dHbrBHWHrzN9f6g1isK150O-sAwASnFN_SKlMpge/s1600/DSC02026.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="local festivities in Besisahar, ferris wheel with mountains in the background, snow himalayas, nepal WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBA0HLPXY1K_C71h8JXIlwkiOtsPXSYKN7TpVwDXb76DRSuSp5dIDoMqW0vWTHsfVHJWY10ptBTmVusLJSfPVAg5Hcz_YN94qWCr8dHbrBHWHrzN9f6g1isK150O-sAwASnFN_SKlMpge/w400-h266/DSC02026.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">local festivities in Besisahar</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Yet Further Up the Watershed </h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />The jeep ride got sketchier and bouncier as we continued into the upper part of the drainage. A kilometer past Jagat, the road got relatively close to the river and we signaled to the driver to pull over. The Marsyangdi had changed character; it was now walled in and the rapids were stacked on top of each other. This section is relatively steep at 122 feet per mile, and had not been dewatered by a dam making it rather pushy. We could no longer boat scout as safely as we had in the middle section, and found ourselves out of our boats at almost every horizon line. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AFNWvYp61iQfHC9wUghk6X4vgSMMCKJ6EoC62ThT9k1rQRoh5bkptW49iwL5qIaU5WDLKab2Z_gQgk0MlpWLnp5niyIEeeASUIl3cRLXL2-cHmtASy7I_orcr8N4yUYAHU-c8vPhtekl/s1600/DSC02152.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="one of the dozen or so cable bridges spanning the river, Upper Marsyangdi Nepal Himalayas mountains river cable bridge, whitewater kayak, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AFNWvYp61iQfHC9wUghk6X4vgSMMCKJ6EoC62ThT9k1rQRoh5bkptW49iwL5qIaU5WDLKab2Z_gQgk0MlpWLnp5niyIEeeASUIl3cRLXL2-cHmtASy7I_orcr8N4yUYAHU-c8vPhtekl/w400-h266/DSC02152.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of the dozen or so cable bridges spanning the river</td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Vertical Walls and Portaging Are a Trying Combination </h3>
<br />We were only a kilometer downstream from the put in when Garen hopped out of his kayak to take a peek at yet another horizon line. This time, he had a different look on his face. There was contemplation, and maybe a bit of concern, as he shouted to me, “you’re going to want to take a peek at this!” The rapid was rather heinous. There was definitely a line, but it looked like one of those rapids that you fired up the day after you broke up with your significant other. Portaging looked almost equally heinous. We were heading into an uncertain black hole with overhanging boulders looming above and a 45 degree slope of slippery rocks coated in dark slime that all angled down towards the massive siphon that was the cause of our hike in the first place. Then there was a cave-like rock structure that we had to shoved our boats through. Then we precariously maneuvered a thin rock ridge thirty feet above yet more siphons. Next up was a small jump across a death crevasse, followed by a steep, overgrown hillside full of thorns. That led quickly into a dry creek bed with plenty of ankle-rolling sized cobble stones, and even more overgrown vegetation. I leaned into the melee of foliage with all my weight but the flora proved unresponsive to gravity.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u4obDEyZ7_kTT2XClhuUkGQ0eEjkTzS5Z04VDZacqUalAXkR4q6BlGYogaXZlXHtxGhtgb7-ksDx8WWsfTUA6GZDKX-w1wS488qqpaL7P87FpBNJJWthsU2Inw-iquUIR_EYiQ39in0V/s1600/DSC02192.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Garen Stephens, enjoying another classic class 4 rapid, Upper Marsyangdi river blue water kayak rocks WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_u4obDEyZ7_kTT2XClhuUkGQ0eEjkTzS5Z04VDZacqUalAXkR4q6BlGYogaXZlXHtxGhtgb7-ksDx8WWsfTUA6GZDKX-w1wS488qqpaL7P87FpBNJJWthsU2Inw-iquUIR_EYiQ39in0V/w400-h225/DSC02192.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garen Stephens, enjoying another classic class 4 rapid</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCknykQB6JJXdkUAfbGZNlRIVrS8d-nyZZeoAwALPxSDTg8phc4fMxXqPmL8ZoxFnj4Aw6JTURwSbL71sXZ76hHhW00cPEqCAkhb3M782LIvPGZLgMBwLAmr_A3eUauhiqAlOWY0hn5Ct4/s1600/DSC02186.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="feeling small tucked into the Himalayas, huge mountains, blue river kayak zet director, Upper Marsyangdi nepal himalayas, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCknykQB6JJXdkUAfbGZNlRIVrS8d-nyZZeoAwALPxSDTg8phc4fMxXqPmL8ZoxFnj4Aw6JTURwSbL71sXZ76hHhW00cPEqCAkhb3M782LIvPGZLgMBwLAmr_A3eUauhiqAlOWY0hn5Ct4/w266-h400/DSC02186.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">feeling small tucked into the Himalayas</td></tr>
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<br /><br />An hour and a half later we made it back onto the water. We were making slow progress. Continuous scouting proved necessary with yet more difficult, stacked rapids that had plenty of no-go locations. Time wasn’t on our side as the sun soon dipped behind the Himalayas. Graciously, the canyon walls momentarily subsided and allowed us an escape from the river. We had made such little downstream progress that we decided to walk the kilometer or so back up to the picturesque village of Jagat, where we enjoyed a relatively soft bed, hot food, and a cold beer.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5gq1nZYx8zgZkjirvPH-1hVcRQuQak12DsEpCSD34JTrUSlnxfnFI0ylAXQSII05fU6B84I6c5SzcJxlFdejTCNf9G3OBb-kHOScHuZYNWvqhfzjcG2dlZK7oXyi6GS4miegwVvlRL1a/s1600/DSC02171.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Garen Stephens heading into the unknown , blue river, upper marsyangdi river, nepal himalayas kayak werner paddles, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5gq1nZYx8zgZkjirvPH-1hVcRQuQak12DsEpCSD34JTrUSlnxfnFI0ylAXQSII05fU6B84I6c5SzcJxlFdejTCNf9G3OBb-kHOScHuZYNWvqhfzjcG2dlZK7oXyi6GS4miegwVvlRL1a/w400-h266/DSC02171.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garen Stephens heading into the unknown </td></tr>
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<h3 style="text-align: left;">
Day Two, Marsyangdi</h3>
<br />The early morning light illuminated the ridiculously steep valley as we hiked back down to the river. Our first rapid was rowdy and got us back in the spirit. The river was once again producing amazing whitewater, one great rapid after the next. Thankfully, we were able to boat scout significantly more rapids on the second day. The only portage that we encountered had a marginal line, but we just weren’t feeling it. Late on day two we stumbled upon a hot spring on river left (next time I might plan on camping at this location and enjoying the hot springs into the evening), but we continued down to the village of Lamjung where we spent the night.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5jDiInj3q_R55YncczKtu2idFVlPxp401DzBVh7kfnaiQwL91pQAtypqC14EqOme1XpEqePrYn7Vg6aQNFEkMbx9q_1TCT0DVdIeyamhQ9o-b9cfh2NsWQLOAaVstrv1IXippVeRCkjL/s1600/DSC02226.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="put in, day two, blue river with water fall kayak whitewater, Upper Marsyangdi Nepal Himalayas, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_5jDiInj3q_R55YncczKtu2idFVlPxp401DzBVh7kfnaiQwL91pQAtypqC14EqOme1XpEqePrYn7Vg6aQNFEkMbx9q_1TCT0DVdIeyamhQ9o-b9cfh2NsWQLOAaVstrv1IXippVeRCkjL/w400-h266/DSC02226.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">put in, day two </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><br />Day three, we routed down the familiar lower section connecting nineteen miles of spectacular class 4, with a couple of bonus big rapids to contend with. If this river were stateside, it would be a true classic, with hordes of paddlers on it every day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZqfg4-FiHRwUJIdALvGY75qARoo-BRUZG1WtNdasNoD3WOCgho_NU4_z1KNt6Zrogy7fa-LtpJOQSvQ7dN760qWUtWVsiFOi8PwTVktwmqgVG7o_MgOfQWPzT2ZiSDPeuog6cviQfYYT/s1600/DSC01934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="our daily commute tieing kayaks ontop of a bus in nepal himalayas Upper Marsyangdi river whitewater, Nepal, WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZqfg4-FiHRwUJIdALvGY75qARoo-BRUZG1WtNdasNoD3WOCgho_NU4_z1KNt6Zrogy7fa-LtpJOQSvQ7dN760qWUtWVsiFOi8PwTVktwmqgVG7o_MgOfQWPzT2ZiSDPeuog6cviQfYYT/w400-h266/DSC01934.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">our daily commute</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh71ExqTVLB8ylapPTw_3Mdiy0ZmQf-fV5_ITPT4Bs61eRIjItza1gVLHmMBMLCf4Wf-S0NqoLi71mIM24bO99z6Zd6BfgOEO12qkyViqnrdM-7_mupc7a3fGeRty2n9sZGLH6E0zzOo1I/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Chris Baer, WhereIsbaer.com Upper Marsyangdi river Nepal Himalayas" border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh71ExqTVLB8ylapPTw_3Mdiy0ZmQf-fV5_ITPT4Bs61eRIjItza1gVLHmMBMLCf4Wf-S0NqoLi71mIM24bO99z6Zd6BfgOEO12qkyViqnrdM-7_mupc7a3fGeRty2n9sZGLH6E0zzOo1I/w161-h200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-87983234702176279792016-10-18T14:21:00.001-06:002021-01-24T20:16:56.286-07:00Lost GoPro?<h1 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
How to modify your new GoPro Hero 5 Session</h1>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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After losing my <a href="http://shop.gopro.com/cameras/hero5-session/CHDHS-501-master.html">GoPro</a> to the river last winter, I was in need of a new point of view camera for my upcoming adventures. As I began my research to buy a new camera, I found that <a href="http://shop.gopro.com/cameras/hero5-session/CHDHS-501-master.html">GoPro</a> had recently updated their cameras. I decided it was time to purchase a next-generation product.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71VaNTVFIzdSXkFCY0L4Y8lSms-N5-T2dX3xCfC6GN2i1_ctGRQ0rPynrXTfQIFMz56s69wnAB_jGU4bW4oMz510kwR3PrcKKGQbtwKJxKfHvTHpsOii5o-LNy0eSnB5u02fMgmQELHW2/s1600/DSC01626.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="343" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi71VaNTVFIzdSXkFCY0L4Y8lSms-N5-T2dX3xCfC6GN2i1_ctGRQ0rPynrXTfQIFMz56s69wnAB_jGU4bW4oMz510kwR3PrcKKGQbtwKJxKfHvTHpsOii5o-LNy0eSnB5u02fMgmQELHW2/s400/DSC01626.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">modified GoPro Hero 5 Session</td></tr>
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Why get a Session? First, it’s tiny. I’ve had fancy, cocktail ice cubes that were bigger, and definitely heavier. The big selling point for me was that when set in the 1440 aspect, it can record at 60 frames per second (fps). I have been shooting in 1440 for years, because it allows you to crop in post-production. This means you can adjust the frame so you don’t have your helmet in the shot; or if you haven’t aligned your camera perfectly, you can crop to put the horizon line in the middle of the shot where it belongs (or wherever you might want it). <br />
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My new GoPro arrived in the mail only a couple days after completing the order. Upon opening the box, the new Session camera looked good. I tossed it on the charger (new cord that I’m sure I’ll lose or break) and paired it via Bluetooth to my phone, quickly adjusting the settings to my liking. I also checked the angle of the mount on my helmet. This is when I noticed something a little odd. The skeleton housing that surrounds the camera has a couple of small plastic flanges to insure it stays in the housing. The odd thing is, on the front of the housing the flange goes all the way around the camera making it almost impossible for the camera to leave the skeleton housing, which is good. But on the back side there is only one tiny tab that secures the camera. This tiny tab is not enough to keep the camera in the housing. Even when the housing is latched closed, you can push on the front of the camera and, with a little force, manipulate the housing and slide the camera backwards and out of its plastic enclosure. Here are my suggestions for modifications to help keep your camera secure.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWCEfVQGhHgt9GVZM08gW50GyP4-P2G5kapge-3vdfLgMq5oPWoHQXLg2kOUzYvrrYebIg_DOjTTKNzmKXFM9VLoKvWCGXDNe_hQWczfvJF6p0OLuE17w9Cy1bu_Kzw_iaLfw1PzexMs8/s1600/DSC016162.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbWCEfVQGhHgt9GVZM08gW50GyP4-P2G5kapge-3vdfLgMq5oPWoHQXLg2kOUzYvrrYebIg_DOjTTKNzmKXFM9VLoKvWCGXDNe_hQWczfvJF6p0OLuE17w9Cy1bu_Kzw_iaLfw1PzexMs8/s400/DSC016162.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">this tiny flange is what is supposed to keep the camera in the housing</td></tr>
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<h3>
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<h3>
Step One: Turn the housing around</h3>
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In the extreme sport world, most athletes deal with excessive speed. A huge part of success within the “extreme” factor is avoiding any unscheduled really quick stops while traveling at said excessive speed. With that being said, sometimes we crash, and those are the videos that get a million views. We need to retain the camera during these sudden stops. By simply turning the housing around we can stop the camera from exiting through the back of the housing.<br />
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<h3>
Step Two: Tether your GoPro</h3>
<h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzjYpZLJ82jIkmOGcI7XmoEGVpBjFsc3FBQVzqqB7OHtOECqaViNEwa7iwdxSGiFtnewJWBdMQwgPOrtYEhgLYH2aCuzM26VhyphenhyphenuWTyLeIEcht0s24bNyY_bEf-jOZCXr0xdUxEqa-VpyX/s1600/DSC01629.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfzjYpZLJ82jIkmOGcI7XmoEGVpBjFsc3FBQVzqqB7OHtOECqaViNEwa7iwdxSGiFtnewJWBdMQwgPOrtYEhgLYH2aCuzM26VhyphenhyphenuWTyLeIEcht0s24bNyY_bEf-jOZCXr0xdUxEqa-VpyX/s400/DSC01629.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">look close for the tiny metal bar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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There are a few guarantees in life… death, taxes, and that POV cameras love to get knocked off your gear. If you play hard enough for long enough, your camera will eventually suffer an enormous impact, and when that happens something is going to give. Usually it’s either the mounting buckle or the adhesive on the mount. There is a simple solution: lash it down. Thankfully, GoPro agrees with me on this and has put a small steel bar on the front of the skeleton housing. But come on GoPro, why would you put the tether location on the front, near the lens? Do I really want a small piece of string bouncing around in my shots? Yet another reason to rotate the skeleton housing backwards. And, just to make hanging onto your camera a little harder still, GoPro made the gap between the steel bar and the housing so small that it’s hard to find any line that is actually weight rated that is thin enough to fit through the gap. Thankfully, I was able to dig up some tiny line that I could finagle around the tiny bar, and then I attached this to some 550 para cord. This tether is then looped through the chin strap on my helmet.<br />
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<h3>
Step Three: Dental floss?</h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsqrlXfBNoGnaS6vc97TkgzYlF6U6skWlOKtTAB3ARealzWqbxB9C8J-PGzGWborQLtedoZvRKhOaWEC4tWQchKWhOsfhYq0mv5WC_SqrfsXeiyhrMiN214HHs-_Qsf6NAV0aUcQIq8RO/s1600/DSC01618.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihsqrlXfBNoGnaS6vc97TkgzYlF6U6skWlOKtTAB3ARealzWqbxB9C8J-PGzGWborQLtedoZvRKhOaWEC4tWQchKWhOsfhYq0mv5WC_SqrfsXeiyhrMiN214HHs-_Qsf6NAV0aUcQIq8RO/s400/DSC01618.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">two layers of dental floss attaching the microphone drain hole to the metal retaining bar</td></tr>
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Now you have the skeleton housing attached to the helmet via mount and tether but the camera can still find its way out of its housing… I was sooo frustrated that I finally called the GoPro help desk. To my surprise, the person I got at GoPro was actually a human, spoke English, and was really well informed. He actually admitted that it wasn’t the best design, and yes, the camera could come out of the housing with some solid persuasion. Then he dropped a great little secret to me, “I’ve heard of some people finagling a line through the microphone drain holes.” Voila, a solid solution… kind of. The drain hole he spoke of is just shy of microscopic, definitely not going to find any weight rated line to fit through there. So, I used the strongest, most readily available, thin line I could think of: dental floss. A little cursing, and a little finesse, and I was able to get two loops of dental floss through the tiny hole. Then I brought the floss back to the metal tether bar that was now towards the back of the camera. Now, the camera is tethered to the housing that is tethered to the helmet.<br />
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GoPro has made floaty backs for many of its full size cameras, but not for the Session (which I am sure doesn’t float… yet). A couple of layers of mini-cell foam glued to the back of the camera is just the trick. I would suggest putting this foam on the back of the camera while it’s in the skeleton housing that you’ve turned around. This foam will not only make the camera float, but it’s yet another way to make sure the camera won’t leave the housing. Don’t forget to trim a small gap at the bottom so you can still access the button on the back of the camera. Then, for good measure, wrap the mini-cell foam with a brightly colored electrical tape. The electrical tape is multifaceted: it keeps the mini-cell foam from breaking down in the sunlight, it’s bright and makes your camera distinctly more visible, and it also gives the product a slightly more finished, clean look.<br />
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So with only an hour or so of fiddling, your new GoPro Hero 5 Session is now ready to take on some brutal impacts.<br />
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Interested in a 30% discount on the latest GoPro products? Get online and check out <a href="http://www.hookit.com/">HookIt</a>, an online “sponsorship” program. It only took me a few minutes to update some info and fill out a quick application for GoPro. Two days later, I received an email from GoPro with a 30% discount code attached.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7L6gePwvpUgX_Pgln7dkmeHhuy_ig7y3Zgkx2_gyHgg7lWkGSt_ViFy1zN_121rovoUOpr-iWieT9VriyEPkXODQihweOX_scZKnxvSp99Dtq4jpI6ocEoA7-3mWf3IrAoag6MJpK8JwA/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">random info from Chris Baer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-88621984697844498612016-04-11T12:10:00.001-06:002021-01-21T17:03:29.527-07:00Verbal Beta on the Yuba Gap <div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wc8LUyLJYgiPehoW2YqaTp6-Qk9RMb1exBzIUC0rQqom86g7TUEFrJCujOsvS1NuD84XhhZYBV5KTqSmNQDh3U06GK757YdaYtzx7TjYeWHhJFdOoRdn5wb488XamW-8-Sxz0NLXrrp3/s1600/DSC01427.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5wc8LUyLJYgiPehoW2YqaTp6-Qk9RMb1exBzIUC0rQqom86g7TUEFrJCujOsvS1NuD84XhhZYBV5KTqSmNQDh3U06GK757YdaYtzx7TjYeWHhJFdOoRdn5wb488XamW-8-Sxz0NLXrrp3/s400/DSC01427.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Coleman, that's a tight line</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Tall snow banks lined the highway as we passed by the Northern California city of Truckee. There was a heck of a lot more snow in the mountains compared to last year. The temps were warming up, the rivers were about to burst. Unfortunately, I hadn’t done much paddling in California, and I had no idea what was in store for me. After a couple quick Facebook shout outs, the infamous Jason Hale (the voice of the Green River Race) contacted me. Jason and Ben Coleman were looking to paddle Yuba Gap (one of the best single days of kayaking in California) the following day. Immediately, I said “YES!” <br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/160773945" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://vimeo.com/160773945">Yuba Gap</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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Inbetween messages with Jason I delved into some internet research to see what I had really signed up for. Darin Mcquoid’s web site, DarinMcquid.com, gave light to the awaiting arena. After a quick scan of photos, a couple video clips, and a quick read it was hard to fall asleep. I was buzzing with excited anticipation. <br />
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The original plan was for a 7:30 AM departure, but with cool early spring temperatures and the water level holding steady at 280 cfs (a perfect medium flow), we pushed it back to 8:30. We put on and quickly started falling off polished granite. California boating was living up to the hype.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu55JzbdgITF4bc33Q58Flau3KX4WWYWBbLaqgfc1_5QMJIZ0RCNdhO0W3H_wpMnNOnWV27WZu7umQkvNzAdVGWgSfFtiQQsvIoMQgiGe90KQGi1WpIM3Twed7kIUoqfBCC-ZeHYOz8sz/s1600/DSC01398.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIu55JzbdgITF4bc33Q58Flau3KX4WWYWBbLaqgfc1_5QMJIZ0RCNdhO0W3H_wpMnNOnWV27WZu7umQkvNzAdVGWgSfFtiQQsvIoMQgiGe90KQGi1WpIM3Twed7kIUoqfBCC-ZeHYOz8sz/s400/DSC01398.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Coleman, rowdy lead-in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">
Class 5 Verbal Beta</h1>
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Giving and understanding concise beta is imperative on class 5 rivers. So often these class 5 sections limit our ability to scout (walled in, swirling eddies, siphons, etc.). Being comfortable both giving and receiving quality beta is a skill every boater should constantly work on. After traveling for a while now, I feel relatively comfortable showing up to a new group of paddlers and getting limited beta from someone I have just met for a difficult rapid with high-stakes consequences. Thankfully so, because our crew was mobbing down Yuba Gap with Ben Coleman shouting out a couple of precise nuggets of beta before each towering rapid and that was all that I was going to get.<br />
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This section is only seven miles long, but is stacked full of complicated horizon lines. Our descent was a quick, four-hour foray, but without a confident guide like Ben sharing concise beta this section would have been an all-day affair.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozjfgOi48IQilfWMO63IFrljCyj5zszlWM5KcSNLGWE7UTzPTfTTOwErNNj4Z5lrPzZh16TQ5ey6qY5mP9bfh__W1HoQJ0uw_h0tqqBQz-OBmw0ywMB92NrK74DmXkeO3yOesSGqOD6Zn/s1600/DSC01437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozjfgOi48IQilfWMO63IFrljCyj5zszlWM5KcSNLGWE7UTzPTfTTOwErNNj4Z5lrPzZh16TQ5ey6qY5mP9bfh__W1HoQJ0uw_h0tqqBQz-OBmw0ywMB92NrK74DmXkeO3yOesSGqOD6Zn/s400/DSC01437.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">amidst of a ton of California granite, Jason Hale and Ben Coleman enjoy a quick snack break</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<h3>
What I Look For In Beta </h3>
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Giving good beta is a difficult skill. Each horizon line, complicated rapid, and additional paddler creates compounding opportunities for problems. Here is a quick list of what I usually find pivotal in giving and receiving good beta:<br />
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<b>1) Confidence</b><br />
I love hearing confident beta. This means no, “Uhms,” no, “I thinks,” just a solid, certain, “Go there.”<br />
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<b>2) Where to Be at The Horizon Line</b><br />
This is twofold: the reason we are scouting in the first place is that you can’t see the features of the rapid. It’s also the basic information needed to venture into the unknown… Where do I start?!<br />
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<b>3) Where Are We Going</b><br />
In longer and more complicated rapids it may be necessary to pass on information about where to go once you are in the rapid. Simple, unmistakable landmarks, and/or specific distances are imperative here.<br />
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<b>4) Why </b><br />
This is at the bottom of the list for me; if someone is giving me confident beta on where to enter the rapid and where to go, I could care less that there is a hazard on one side or the other… unless the “Why” is notoriously in play.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QEGa5dNJ8QvTtvuj9gbUSsw7EOWz6nMYXd3RskwrSBl0kj_a7k3Zxb0Phkr_D7p6JM0yzOjMgkYJCRwSiKU-4ttHDxeKKai7pkiu8lrD63NxdL6b-Dc0XjVQPQTLzFaBtAmIV9dov34Z/s1600/DSC01485.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8QEGa5dNJ8QvTtvuj9gbUSsw7EOWz6nMYXd3RskwrSBl0kj_a7k3Zxb0Phkr_D7p6JM0yzOjMgkYJCRwSiKU-4ttHDxeKKai7pkiu8lrD63NxdL6b-Dc0XjVQPQTLzFaBtAmIV9dov34Z/s400/DSC01485.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">another morning view, Mt. Hood </td></tr>
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Having good communication in a new group under high stress is hard. It will also vary between skill level and choice of craft. Class 3 beta might have more information than class 5 beta, because the more skilled paddler will intuitively understand, for example, to punch the lateral, or boof the horizon line. <br />
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Try practicing on your local run with your established crew, and develop this imperative skill.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEkwIfbltVz4ic-F67m1-dcWFA8Ss_ewL0NdDd-hagpIaKI4mMAvfjolbehBgh_hEQEnh2WHvxdQ6tlL-yMQpagzxobykfi_wBi-LQ8siTfojU0D62znTBwQrZMTcOMJNWMzzPKXZ9my4/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvEkwIfbltVz4ic-F67m1-dcWFA8Ss_ewL0NdDd-hagpIaKI4mMAvfjolbehBgh_hEQEnh2WHvxdQ6tlL-yMQpagzxobykfi_wBi-LQ8siTfojU0D62znTBwQrZMTcOMJNWMzzPKXZ9my4/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /></div>whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-1554147124905844402016-03-28T11:31:00.000-06:002016-04-07T01:32:44.598-06:00Rio Negro <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubadbhYlcSBkayZoVAsD3p1A6BLVKVe8PaV1dbfKhuKysFq2-eKKnJyXvVPAN3qx7cIxjpTQyk72TEZ9mfFlEubsqh_XD54zCLtNPKhnzcwzERX8OT-SMTGKGe221jbwMy6CdIHajmbHb/s1600/DSC00640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhubadbhYlcSBkayZoVAsD3p1A6BLVKVe8PaV1dbfKhuKysFq2-eKKnJyXvVPAN3qx7cIxjpTQyk72TEZ9mfFlEubsqh_XD54zCLtNPKhnzcwzERX8OT-SMTGKGe221jbwMy6CdIHajmbHb/s400/DSC00640.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">little van heading south</td></tr>
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<br />Stacked, eddy-less basalt rapids sound fun, that is unless they culminate in large drops with either a reconnect or a rock in the landing zone. The Rio Negro will never be a classic. Mainly due to the fact that it’s in the middle of nowhere (Hornopiren).<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/154319645" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br /><a href="https://vimeo.com/154319645">Rio Negro</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
</div>
<br />Hornopiren is either a full day of dirt road driving or a ferry ride away from anywhere. The perks: a small town atmosphere, fresh seafood, and beautiful camping next to the crystal clear river.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2vECPDGXNAG8_pQ00GG-cHY14GmKfcwgJJi1gVpd0ZzqIEAofSYWRYLqXkDG23yPA2M8zF_iN2z4JiQVeTaQYTbVTr2zfAEioV31r2i6fNfeMhuqlEHlhs3yX8hkBZpvbrsnrpjDCMAJ/s1600/DSC00662.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv2vECPDGXNAG8_pQ00GG-cHY14GmKfcwgJJi1gVpd0ZzqIEAofSYWRYLqXkDG23yPA2M8zF_iN2z4JiQVeTaQYTbVTr2zfAEioV31r2i6fNfeMhuqlEHlhs3yX8hkBZpvbrsnrpjDCMAJ/s400/DSC00662.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bayside Hornopiren</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPTxxKKTxH8oDpznChoD4FnoEKbTSZBC12b2n_oXubcVvzr14y76qqR6Y2X5zL-d_Mbl-jQx019h4wVtpmkjzbY4bvtPrjknpm4Lx1srYXyBVt78YxYVDIy0zQ0MeKQwem-RmYb6Xo-Nj/s1600/DSC00683.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPTxxKKTxH8oDpznChoD4FnoEKbTSZBC12b2n_oXubcVvzr14y76qqR6Y2X5zL-d_Mbl-jQx019h4wVtpmkjzbY4bvtPrjknpm4Lx1srYXyBVt78YxYVDIy0zQ0MeKQwem-RmYb6Xo-Nj/s400/DSC00683.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, no rocks in the landing zone, just a tree</td></tr>
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<br />The sloped basalt rock structure creates leaky eddies, (eddies where a large portion of the water, and potentially eddy-scouting kayakers, escapes out the downstream end of the eddy rather than recycling back up). This meant that eddy scouting was not a feasible option. At every major rapid we were forced out of our kayaks to scout. Our descent took four and a half hours to navigate the dense three kilometers of river back to camp. Thankfully, the basalt does stack into a handful of spectacular drops… that aren’t too problematic. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LO3nh4iHa4QVorjO8NKLrJWQFRRm1bUq3f54VKH1x4dpafHj6Q58G-WJnSxuiKXQSh2_rqFOTYFp2qj8s6z7IDInUJqPYkndHNWfFG3rylo1Zf9f8X4wQyp_29wd65NbJNPu60qMQn3L/s1600/DSC00723.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5LO3nh4iHa4QVorjO8NKLrJWQFRRm1bUq3f54VKH1x4dpafHj6Q58G-WJnSxuiKXQSh2_rqFOTYFp2qj8s6z7IDInUJqPYkndHNWfFG3rylo1Zf9f8X4wQyp_29wd65NbJNPu60qMQn3L/s400/DSC00723.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, Rio Negro </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nfu71fMsXYNkMc0du7kK42YQnNuE1WNNOZiiR5ZgFJQRA29iYNdAAcGcQMt9qoO2uvwnAy0EvVtCFQtrpoRUi2ggZjXdA27_2eURQpJc9LJyepHkZNpDgs9iNUWXgemrUXyh9hOLBk0u/s1600/DSC00760.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6Nfu71fMsXYNkMc0du7kK42YQnNuE1WNNOZiiR5ZgFJQRA29iYNdAAcGcQMt9qoO2uvwnAy0EvVtCFQtrpoRUi2ggZjXdA27_2eURQpJc9LJyepHkZNpDgs9iNUWXgemrUXyh9hOLBk0u/s400/DSC00760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamish Tills, U-turn Rapid </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPTxxKKTxH8oDpznChoD4FnoEKbTSZBC12b2n_oXubcVvzr14y76qqR6Y2X5zL-d_Mbl-jQx019h4wVtpmkjzbY4bvtPrjknpm4Lx1srYXyBVt78YxYVDIy0zQ0MeKQwem-RmYb6Xo-Nj/s1600/DSC00683.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmPTxxKKTxH8oDpznChoD4FnoEKbTSZBC12b2n_oXubcVvzr14y76qqR6Y2X5zL-d_Mbl-jQx019h4wVtpmkjzbY4bvtPrjknpm4Lx1srYXyBVt78YxYVDIy0zQ0MeKQwem-RmYb6Xo-Nj/s400/DSC00683.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, no rocks in the landing zone, just a tree</td></tr>
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While this river has plenty of issues, its complications add to its intrigue, and the next time I find myself in Hornopiren I will make time to get another lap.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl_Mv1WWFxbgQHjDXlcuJyIZU39IPs23QRgF3ahtffWikBgZsIIyvjfzUtnl3D3EmULsEVotuT4Vd7nCyOrVg9mT5Ehnu5hRKDUhef5PMt61bJes3NDf8zW6Q_xLvx-LkaTYMpQqQQqCZ/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl_Mv1WWFxbgQHjDXlcuJyIZU39IPs23QRgF3ahtffWikBgZsIIyvjfzUtnl3D3EmULsEVotuT4Vd7nCyOrVg9mT5Ehnu5hRKDUhef5PMt61bJes3NDf8zW6Q_xLvx-LkaTYMpQqQQqCZ/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer </td></tr>
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<span id="goog_714014330"></span><span id="goog_714014331"></span><span id="goog_712423353"></span><span id="goog_712423354"></span><br />whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-90204417582096341372016-03-07T06:38:00.003-07:002021-01-24T20:18:06.100-07:00Expedition: Short For Epic? Rio Manso, Chile<div><div><h1 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2012/02/rio-manso-finding-myself-out-of-my-boat.html">Expedition: Short For Epic? Rio Manso, Chile</a></h1><h3 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Alerces Gorge</h3>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/157813975" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br /></div>
<a href="https://vimeo.com/157813975">Rio Manso</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqNDx-seSSlHesUtgfMtypGn6TG-pkcbUhuvpAcAEAShVO-3sa3lh09bK13l-CU8nDnhgTw3fWkGQ9k_5YkWrVVHtDp1nZG6AZOJ-A6m3hTrX1P2ouolCYiAESdQU2S-ufL_Xbfu-RIdk/s1600/12622348_10205890962021974_8954290054353682671_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aeon Russo, Alerces Falls, argentina kayak waterfall , WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrqNDx-seSSlHesUtgfMtypGn6TG-pkcbUhuvpAcAEAShVO-3sa3lh09bK13l-CU8nDnhgTw3fWkGQ9k_5YkWrVVHtDp1nZG6AZOJ-A6m3hTrX1P2ouolCYiAESdQU2S-ufL_Xbfu-RIdk/w388-h400/12622348_10205890962021974_8954290054353682671_o.jpg" width="388" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, Alerces Falls</td></tr>
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The <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2010/02/bariloche-mansa-matias-is-bad-influence.html">Upper Manso</a>, or Argentine Manso is super fun; here are a few pictures, but that is not what this story is about.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOCS1vx68AEzrQra2Xs-LXDUBYtp1ls7Ohdw33zkTqDdwzoWgPhAYvz-moNVKt0vhyphenhyphen5AMM4AY9qhk1DfCvaJRPkvub6X1xoJeJuzRuk9AdEpioYXcLNrvVI9vMgXIRqBzH9qhzY0kgMLR/s1600/DSC01125.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Salto de Alerces, kayak waterfall patagonia rainbow argentina WhereIsbaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtOCS1vx68AEzrQra2Xs-LXDUBYtp1ls7Ohdw33zkTqDdwzoWgPhAYvz-moNVKt0vhyphenhyphen5AMM4AY9qhk1DfCvaJRPkvub6X1xoJeJuzRuk9AdEpioYXcLNrvVI9vMgXIRqBzH9qhzY0kgMLR/w400-h266/DSC01125.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salto de Alerces </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPMtAlOF9ivud3Sh4fVoKOueKVpzM8ECnfIndJ-fbkeD5RLAneNdE7A5tVDzCGpAUYAWBNdBGZq01wvsfi07R-yfBA3yj5HoNXXfD7vEg7h_T0xjaVDSu6-0A904ozcWaLzsPFAqhbp8_/s1600/DSC01137.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Mark Taylor, coming out of the jungle, kayak whereisbaer.com Chris Baer, Argentina Manso rio blue water kayak" border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPMtAlOF9ivud3Sh4fVoKOueKVpzM8ECnfIndJ-fbkeD5RLAneNdE7A5tVDzCGpAUYAWBNdBGZq01wvsfi07R-yfBA3yj5HoNXXfD7vEg7h_T0xjaVDSu6-0A904ozcWaLzsPFAqhbp8_/w400-h266/DSC01137.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Taylor, coming out of the jungle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX9S6RGd1V2MaKMnyS73Guzcv6x3Uyp7W4TaSl3JhtqAqN60BVU0pAFsFINPPllDSdAcmlezWddAjUiH9l788lSoGSe_rqioaKKQUPhDUIUkIPMbBvAAk-I_31ABxEiYaUrx3ZNKzPz-v/s1600/DSC01145.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Aeon Russo, Manso Gorge, blue water whitewter kayak argentina manso WhereIsBaer.com Chris Baer" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQX9S6RGd1V2MaKMnyS73Guzcv6x3Uyp7W4TaSl3JhtqAqN60BVU0pAFsFINPPllDSdAcmlezWddAjUiH9l788lSoGSe_rqioaKKQUPhDUIUkIPMbBvAAk-I_31ABxEiYaUrx3ZNKzPz-v/w266-h400/DSC01145.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, Manso Gorge</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfGiN9IvgC_s0NMDuATSgyjLtkMBxojREOYtAgdt0fElc1bF0s1Yjx-I6-ywppHgbO1uhk22tcqnDBr8krRgdzb28hcZXY0mGvdYeYhDsrEb8_S9xb5AlVh9qO2tfGEivuDSwkj5BhyphenhyphenXK/s1600/DSC01155.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfGiN9IvgC_s0NMDuATSgyjLtkMBxojREOYtAgdt0fElc1bF0s1Yjx-I6-ywppHgbO1uhk22tcqnDBr8krRgdzb28hcZXY0mGvdYeYhDsrEb8_S9xb5AlVh9qO2tfGEivuDSwkj5BhyphenhyphenXK/s400/DSC01155.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">scouting another phallic named waterfall</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXybLCYB5ltf4kJKbYQGeOEP8Bnh3RueuJnbJ7vXo4XeGZUzyZxn99Bs6lY6SAKHaNHYRuE7KEuYCmtNHzkdzJUFPhA7ZYlnRTTCPw3TYVN8YI6q3-blKQcH4krEw5COMRDkzD0wAk-Cn/s1600/DSC01161.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvXybLCYB5ltf4kJKbYQGeOEP8Bnh3RueuJnbJ7vXo4XeGZUzyZxn99Bs6lY6SAKHaNHYRuE7KEuYCmtNHzkdzJUFPhA7ZYlnRTTCPw3TYVN8YI6q3-blKQcH4krEw5COMRDkzD0wAk-Cn/s400/DSC01161.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, flat water paddle out</td></tr>
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During our time on the <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2016/02/sin-represses-rio-puelo.html">Rio Puelo</a>, we bumped into an old friend of mine: Tomas Binimelis. He spoke of yet another threatened and very unique river section, the Rio Manso. But he wasn’t speaking of the more commonly paddled Alerces Gorge section in Argentina, but a very remote and mysterious section on the Chilean side of the border. Bennie’s beta on what we would encounter in the isolated valley was limited, and my understanding of that valley was beyond inadequate.<br />
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Beta</h2>
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Years ago I remembered both <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2012/03/futaleufu.html">Nate Mac</a> and <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2010/02/bariloche-mansa-matias-is-bad-influence.html">Matias Nunez</a> rambling about the obscure Rio Manso Chilean Gorge. Accounts of “epic” was all I could remember. I tried to reach out to them and other friends in the area, and unfortunately (fortunately), the Puelo Valley currently has next to no communication with the outside world.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1hzr6lZ74fy41IniCBUbRTiHQp_punxDVtUALlTtqy2mJSqEhb551e1SJQkSfeXE1tLeV44i4K62DIAeVzxZmCpHWLousL5txAi4yPn2GYC_P0vRlhn9rh-klDe74fSuEDpsv4b7A7Z8/s1600/DSC00940.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1hzr6lZ74fy41IniCBUbRTiHQp_punxDVtUALlTtqy2mJSqEhb551e1SJQkSfeXE1tLeV44i4K62DIAeVzxZmCpHWLousL5txAi4yPn2GYC_P0vRlhn9rh-klDe74fSuEDpsv4b7A7Z8/s400/DSC00940.jpg" width="345" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"coloring book map"</td></tr>
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Our threesome (Aeon Russo, Mark Taylor, and Chris Baer) added a few new faces for the endeavor. Our newly amended crew now included Hamish Tills and Tomas Binimelis. We all started compiling our marginal beta, most of which was based upon hearsay and rumor, along with a few numbers from what Aeon so delicately referred to as the “coloring book map”. The alleged put-in, from the info that we could obtain, was four-hundred and twenty meters above sea level, and we were going to descend all the way down to just above sea level. The estimated distance was approximately thirty kilometers. After a quick mental conversion to the Imperial system, the river would fall at an average gradient of sixty-seven feet per mile for eighteen miles… a long one day event?<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj8h3KcNQF40Wa0I3FqJCJFm1cfvzXHEP3S-hEf-8n9eCTmA3Qa4XKP22zmUMbJXoZVt0sVxcdUKudaj40fbvDYChFqhCgQ2rODBAUKCJnuSyVx3BcwyUxJpXB7YdWqtsSKJkESDT86y4/s1600/DSC00931.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnj8h3KcNQF40Wa0I3FqJCJFm1cfvzXHEP3S-hEf-8n9eCTmA3Qa4XKP22zmUMbJXoZVt0sVxcdUKudaj40fbvDYChFqhCgQ2rODBAUKCJnuSyVx3BcwyUxJpXB7YdWqtsSKJkESDT86y4/s400/DSC00931.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">a bunch of boaters waiting on a boat</td></tr>
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<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Logistics</h2>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8ZqDXRT3jG5VbmDvUnKqheetk4-qcW-IFB7bV7IRk04dTUh9VGEeEZZnjJXqx4QjyIUXioudS03OfabBX1AIzXaZR1e48gCsM0aRO3zZ3EuVHLDNlozxTDsni8Fh9mR-mgVp3W2uXSTG/s1600/DSC00936.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT8ZqDXRT3jG5VbmDvUnKqheetk4-qcW-IFB7bV7IRk04dTUh9VGEeEZZnjJXqx4QjyIUXioudS03OfabBX1AIzXaZR1e48gCsM0aRO3zZ3EuVHLDNlozxTDsni8Fh9mR-mgVp3W2uXSTG/s400/DSC00936.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tomas, chatting with the captain</td></tr>
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“Arduous” would be a massive understatement for this trip. Thankfully, Tomas, our fearless Chilean was hard at work orchestrating our impending journey. To get to the Manso put-in, we would drive up the Puelo valley to the Upper Puelo put-in. We would then hike thirty minutes upstream to a large eddy, await our next vessel, load ourselves and our gear onto a motor boat, and then go upriver into the headwaters of the Rio Puelo. We then exited the first boat at an unidentifiable beach, and hiked half a mile up the hillside to get our passports stamped out of Chile by the grumpy, under-caffeinated border guards at the ridiculously remote “Paso Puelo” (only accessible via boat). We hopped onto a slightly larger jet boat and skipped our way further up-stream. Launching up a solid class 3 rapid, the captain calmly mentioned that we had just attain-boofed our way into Argentina. Our passports were stamped into Argentina at the beautiful Parque Nacional Lago Puelo. Then we journeyed north via a family friend of Tomas in a pickup truck for four hours to Paso Leon. The road dead ends in Paso Leon. We then checked out of Argentina, crossed the Rio Manso by kayak, and then checked back into Chile on the other side. This single day of logistics would have taken me a week or more to contrive, but spectacularly, Tomas pulled it off like it was just another day in the office.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXIWa3uoVLFKdcZw66qLDP4A1LMYfMw5iMfqLFTvblBccOaZnzm3mkJ3Y7aCMxGnGd6zR3qZ9ZWX-T_2jTX06premc_R5ZQuV5QJJ2KcPzGXYhyOlFG4lSDMeICegwRd5kUsozuFZrr40/s1600/DSC00946.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicXIWa3uoVLFKdcZw66qLDP4A1LMYfMw5iMfqLFTvblBccOaZnzm3mkJ3Y7aCMxGnGd6zR3qZ9ZWX-T_2jTX06premc_R5ZQuV5QJJ2KcPzGXYhyOlFG4lSDMeICegwRd5kUsozuFZrr40/s400/DSC00946.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paso Puelo</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F0C5QWcduh4bDWpDWkYdbdMtLuA8nLdrjn82hQ0w0ks0v6GZ-EjchwtCXoHQNjEIO3T0enKlzjXGcUwNeg5V8j5OJLXl0fbCi_fsDhQgf8ngOolgyqrLD7qkz3p928tyffzZ1A_Mn5Yk/s1600/DSC00963.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> <img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1F0C5QWcduh4bDWpDWkYdbdMtLuA8nLdrjn82hQ0w0ks0v6GZ-EjchwtCXoHQNjEIO3T0enKlzjXGcUwNeg5V8j5OJLXl0fbCi_fsDhQgf8ngOolgyqrLD7qkz3p928tyffzZ1A_Mn5Yk/s400/DSC00963.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">end of the road</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxM9GJlFt0q8EuCl5aMYP_hea28jyvgIHm2eVPjvVxFl0bfcbvsPh7QxIGimHpDe0FEL5WtQBIas3M-ckI5Ttuytm_TJzCbVrEXGvjaxP9pTD6sG32y6kFjfnO_abT4B2BofHrVT64iML/s1600/DSC00974.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOxM9GJlFt0q8EuCl5aMYP_hea28jyvgIHm2eVPjvVxFl0bfcbvsPh7QxIGimHpDe0FEL5WtQBIas3M-ckI5Ttuytm_TJzCbVrEXGvjaxP9pTD6sG32y6kFjfnO_abT4B2BofHrVT64iML/s400/DSC00974.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">heading to the border crossing for the fourth time in a single day</td></tr>
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<h3>
</h3>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
On Water</h2>
<h3>
</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf9JQYhqP-9dv-P5CEqfWCv2MtKp3rOBluuNK030bSMh-OQXOk33CuhDTuePuA4kh4OxqWy9EKwESI0D184mWtMtZ0y7YaoCgFuuEHzodig7VaSINPkVaKt9oaC1s0Zd6T8Jl4zdQlNlt/s1600/DSC01005.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPf9JQYhqP-9dv-P5CEqfWCv2MtKp3rOBluuNK030bSMh-OQXOk33CuhDTuePuA4kh4OxqWy9EKwESI0D184mWtMtZ0y7YaoCgFuuEHzodig7VaSINPkVaKt9oaC1s0Zd6T8Jl4zdQlNlt/s400/DSC01005.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Taylor, picking his way through the siphon pile</td></tr>
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<br />
The tributary just North of the Rio Manso is the <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2012/02/rio-cochamo.html">Rio Cochamo</a>. Shortly after setting off into our trip, the Rio Manso revealed its similarity to the Rio Cochamo: essentially gigantic boulders stacked on top of each other in a narrow canyon. There were literally siphons stacked upon siphons. Downstream progress slowed to a crawl.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeTLsaYzVRgMyETVdbm-TtSYIbyeZSugWT6Dv6maS6wZJT6VFaxJNk5LTQ98oq3a2qEl45qeVjJtQ5OQtZwTGu78j78ffYqez6Wm58CpyJDlYKIv23Sls7LcMKMSHG7cx9HgEiA2oFwYf/s1600/DSC01008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDeTLsaYzVRgMyETVdbm-TtSYIbyeZSugWT6Dv6maS6wZJT6VFaxJNk5LTQ98oq3a2qEl45qeVjJtQ5OQtZwTGu78j78ffYqez6Wm58CpyJDlYKIv23Sls7LcMKMSHG7cx9HgEiA2oFwYf/s400/DSC01008.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Taylor, Manso Chile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The next ten hours were a blur of massive boulder gardens, countless sieves, live bait scouting, and way too many close calls. Late in the day after running a massive sieve-laden boulder garden, I caught a micro eddy in the middle of the river. Looking downstream, Tomas and Hamish were sitting thirty feet below. The water between us was exploding in every direction. Their paddles were straight up in the air (signaling that the rapid was ok). Mark, Aeon, and I dropped into the melee heedlessly; we were exhausted.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYownpt5byohnpCI8TlLXRD4CswOp9TAOZpidG2If-Xdhr9ajSgLBvMaK-Sm8aV9BQk9ZWUJQli258hfu1yi-QxezG7D_2jr3deOAUaXL0HGGt_a5jtbEDCEcTVXUrj_NC8M_QxXzC0_m/s1600/DSC01040.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYownpt5byohnpCI8TlLXRD4CswOp9TAOZpidG2If-Xdhr9ajSgLBvMaK-Sm8aV9BQk9ZWUJQli258hfu1yi-QxezG7D_2jr3deOAUaXL0HGGt_a5jtbEDCEcTVXUrj_NC8M_QxXzC0_m/s400/DSC01040.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo, Rio Manso </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Every skill in my kayaking repertoire was being abused. Mentally, I was battered and my confidence started to fade. <br />
<br />
</div><h2 style="text-align: left;">
Too Dark</h2>
<h3>
</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirccCIdQsb9B4aD7Sndubhb0ckH89I-nGm49CcEpGOhV1ZbK-E38kyrSaDgmAfY2Y3d-Edi_EGGWA41_MWElwEj-EezdG2TteGjrKUL1MjUQPPleVxOztPoC7OXMVfLudQIy1XHuAlzf6V/s1600/DSC01046.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirccCIdQsb9B4aD7Sndubhb0ckH89I-nGm49CcEpGOhV1ZbK-E38kyrSaDgmAfY2Y3d-Edi_EGGWA41_MWElwEj-EezdG2TteGjrKUL1MjUQPPleVxOztPoC7OXMVfLudQIy1XHuAlzf6V/s400/DSC01046.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">trying to dry out after a long day</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The gorge glowed an amazing saffron hue as the sun set over the unrelenting canyon rim. We stopped on a rocky beach. Fourteen years of paddling class 5 rivers, and this was my first unexpected overnight. We collected every piece of driftwood on the “beach” and started a fire. No one was anticipating a night out. Food was slim and protection from the elements was absent. The rain started at about 2:00 AM, and sleep became unattainable.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy0eUjihrlLy4YCeIqG7qeg6J0LKp3XnvZRkSKF6jTSK7u20ipn1AimsNTlCLwx_yKJ2W_6r2KcbVeLFcBI3BsUCsKodSY4pIEpTW8x8PTCPxpSm_E-fCe0P4we6jKXQpi0gXY39bmzy-/s1600/DSC01060.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOy0eUjihrlLy4YCeIqG7qeg6J0LKp3XnvZRkSKF6jTSK7u20ipn1AimsNTlCLwx_yKJ2W_6r2KcbVeLFcBI3BsUCsKodSY4pIEpTW8x8PTCPxpSm_E-fCe0P4we6jKXQpi0gXY39bmzy-/s400/DSC01060.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">drying out after a long, cold, wet night</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
The following morning the crew was moving exceptionally slowly. Most hadn’t gotten any real sleep. Thankfully the river had given up most of its gradient. Wearily, we paddled through sporadic class 3 for the final six kilometers to our take out.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixynHCBFWFBgvOsUeQLZLdhHPWa7oAOZGQj6jNOk5mDHXkggKYvvcN1Wqg-ELBCSKpEUCcFM3zVw1daaIXeIz3fibISO_4Gra77GbhPHvRslgY5XgMN0ZR44uYx9QuqE1DztfKFpa8JmxK/s1600/DSC00958.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixynHCBFWFBgvOsUeQLZLdhHPWa7oAOZGQj6jNOk5mDHXkggKYvvcN1Wqg-ELBCSKpEUCcFM3zVw1daaIXeIz3fibISO_4Gra77GbhPHvRslgY5XgMN0ZR44uYx9QuqE1DztfKFpa8JmxK/s400/DSC00958.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the locals are fighting hard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
</div><h1 style="text-align: left;">
Sin Represas</h1>
<h3>
</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLGpIDZTvkZvPlNjuvs1SCgtViRVZ44HGa9xL5u5zqnhWskI4e8kilj5hSHP6OV_cNje1T27ZPdoWkGAfaAlBtDRJYG3BSHJpyR8V58so82zCTu8lzH9ffj4IPaifwEXgq5eMy_DhwImB/s1600/DSC01066.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCLGpIDZTvkZvPlNjuvs1SCgtViRVZ44HGa9xL5u5zqnhWskI4e8kilj5hSHP6OV_cNje1T27ZPdoWkGAfaAlBtDRJYG3BSHJpyR8V58so82zCTu8lzH9ffj4IPaifwEXgq5eMy_DhwImB/s400/DSC01066.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">proposed dam site, already under destruction</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Part of the reason why we entered into the lower Rio Manso Gorge is that it’s threatened by an imminent <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/p/another-murdered-river.html">dam</a> project. We had hopes of obtaining some beautiful photos and video of the valley that could have been used in the anti-dam campaign. It was at our unexpected camp, exhausted, cold, and hungry, that I turned to Tomas with utter dispassion and exclaimed, “I changed my mind, I want this section to be dammed. I don’t want anyone else to have to deal with this.” We both let out an exhausted chuckle.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvVk7uN-zzcgeA8NWk24ucn5At_Sq7hj8I1ToI3jIxqyFsiCwrITBMxkLTqozsDIGlNnFrcxo7vIXcIps6SmkT7Fxj_qz456TdIetyUFlmQxiiF7Jwvu_w_PH7ji_jvBa43LNX_8l2Vpo/s1600/12805789_10206083560276810_637821253079676948_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmvVk7uN-zzcgeA8NWk24ucn5At_Sq7hj8I1ToI3jIxqyFsiCwrITBMxkLTqozsDIGlNnFrcxo7vIXcIps6SmkT7Fxj_qz456TdIetyUFlmQxiiF7Jwvu_w_PH7ji_jvBa43LNX_8l2Vpo/s400/12805789_10206083560276810_637821253079676948_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puelo locals protesting the dam project</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9war7OlcVi7oe1WaZnohtHN1Jc1aWVDh-drglPpC6PLL19rYR_W8lFhVOag-bPYxWdD0qJTsQq5PkeHKafgJi0SVejuyVdMvnzh-9vd45LHu6FM93U34kXqLL2sxUnYPltW4X5Amn-ueN/s1600/DSC01068.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9war7OlcVi7oe1WaZnohtHN1Jc1aWVDh-drglPpC6PLL19rYR_W8lFhVOag-bPYxWdD0qJTsQq5PkeHKafgJi0SVejuyVdMvnzh-9vd45LHu6FM93U34kXqLL2sxUnYPltW4X5Amn-ueN/s400/DSC01068.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">an amazing location </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
Do Not Go Into The Lower Rio Manso Gorge…</h2>
<h3>
</h3>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnUpURVKBngRuscn0EMnsrVDTgOttShC7rJRl7Xp1e1CUKKS9-BwJw7O0dQ_wRvdkhTyNH5cgXr9nmW8e0nQ6RemAwDad73tRi1N1_MqqtUM0hTeGKS84N3lAcNnvFaqsS9295f94Thpd/s1600/DSC01088.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnUpURVKBngRuscn0EMnsrVDTgOttShC7rJRl7Xp1e1CUKKS9-BwJw7O0dQ_wRvdkhTyNH5cgXr9nmW8e0nQ6RemAwDad73tRi1N1_MqqtUM0hTeGKS84N3lAcNnvFaqsS9295f94Thpd/s400/DSC01088.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Taylor, exhausted after another big mission</td></tr>
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<br />
… Unless you are looking for a truly next level experience. Prerequisites should include self-discovery runs down the Rio Cochamo, Linville, Lower Meadow, and <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/2010/08/cheeseman-canyon.html">Cheeseman Gorge</a>. Bring your “A Game”… and definitely your overnight gear.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSoopD2jqq7jZoqm_MvuSZRl7EidrV5u7lb32K83sszv-ufIwtT-Qm5ByCQb1zWP7sbLMl4wO6Gxg6-kXa9TliOV-2mNMqBngeLD_WPevmfUXqPPlocJh-tBCU7wgxexvjTxOKdC_6tfw/s1600/DSC01108.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPSoopD2jqq7jZoqm_MvuSZRl7EidrV5u7lb32K83sszv-ufIwtT-Qm5ByCQb1zWP7sbLMl4wO6Gxg6-kXa9TliOV-2mNMqBngeLD_WPevmfUXqPPlocJh-tBCU7wgxexvjTxOKdC_6tfw/s400/DSC01108.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">almost too exhausted to get the shot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
A couple months after I published this article John Arthur reached out to me with discription of the first discent, even more Epic!<br />
<br />
<i>Dear Chris,<br />I noticed the article on your website describing the lower Rio Manso, and thought you might be interested in some info about early kayak exploration of this run.<br /><br />In February 1995 I was spending some time at Chris Spelius’ camp on the Futaleufu, and asked him for help in setting up a river adventure. He suggested the Rio Puelo, and offered to provide logistics. I recruited Lars Holbek, who was working for Spe that year, along with a couple of other visitors to Spe’s camp — Dave Kemp from California and Dave Kalange from Idaho. We all piled into Spe’s truck and he drove us to Argentina. The plan was to first meet up with a bunch of kayakers from Bariloche and run the Alerces section of the Manso. Spe had brought a bunch of old kayaks with him, to sell to the Bariloche boaters. In gratitude, they treated us to an evening of asado and wine on the beach at Lago Steffen after the Alerces run. As we drank more wine, the idea of simply continuing on down the Manso to the ocean somehow started to seem credible. Lars was against it at first, since we knew almost nothing about the river downstream (we had only a highway map, showing an eventual confluence with the Puelo). But the Bariloche boaters assured us that the Manso was navigable at least as far as the border with Chile. Beyond that, they knew nothing, but there were rumors that a party of Germans had headed downstream just a few days earlier. That was enough for Kalange and Kemp, and they talked Lars into it. In addition, Bariloche boater Diego Rodriguez decided to join us. <br /><br />The next morning, after we sobered up, the plan somehow still seemed plausible. We were there, the river was waiting — it seemed fated to happen. So we packed our Responses and Crossfires with gear and food for an expedition. I had brought lots of dehydrated meals from the US, and we had a couple of camping stoves and pots. A Response can hold a lot of gear, but we regretted the weight later. We said goodbye to Spe and to our Bariloche hosts, and paddled off from the beach.<br /><br />According to my notes, we paddled about 35 km the first day, nearly to the border. I remember easy paddling through pastures and forests, with great scenery. On the second day, we paddled a nice class 3-4 canyon at the border, and crossed into Chile. Then the river turned south and got serious. We proceeded more slowly and made a few portages. This day we covered about 20 km. <br /><br />On the third day, things got really serious as the river continued south. A succession of big class 4 and 5 drops, some runnable and some portaged. One portage required fancy rock climbing by Lars and a rope traverse for kayaks and boaters. ( I recognize this drop in your video — you did a roped swim.) In the afternoon we reached a vertical-walled canyon with two huge drops back to back. The first drop looked marginal and the second couldn't be scouted. So we scaled the cliff, and pulled the boats up with ropes. Once on top we crashed through the bamboo. Our progress was very slow, as we heaved the loaded boats over, under and through the bamboo jungle. In 4 hours hiking we covered about 1/2 km and reached a side creek, where we camped. Total mileage for the day: about 4 km. <br /><br />The morning of the fourth day, we did some reconnaissance down in the canyon, and concluded that the river was runnable for at least a few km. We lowered the boats to the river by rope and climbed down ourselves, jumping the last 40 feet into an eddy. Big rapids followed but only one portage and the gradient gradually eased. About 10 km of great class 3-4 rapids followed. Late in the afternoon the river tuned west and the canyon abruptly ended, leaving us on flat water. We camped just above the confluence with the Rio Puelo. We had been conserving our food to this point, but now that we were out of the canyon we celebrated with a pig-out dinner. <br /><br />On the fifth day we paddled all the way to the bridge near Puelo town, playing in the huge hole at the exit to Lago Tagua Tagua. We caught the bus from Puelo to Puerto Montt, paying 5000 pesos to put the boats on the roof.<br /><br />We never did catch up with the Germans on the river (though we found bits of plastic on the rocks at the portage points). However, Dave Kemp eventually ran into them in a bar in Puerto Montt. They made more long portages than we did, climbing out of the canyon at least three times. Thus, our trip was either a first or second descent, depending on your criteria. Diego Rodriguez came back with his Bariloche buddies later and proved that the canyon we hiked around was runnable. He eventually set up a company (Adventure Tours Argentina Chile) and guided commercial raft trips down the lower Manso.<br /><br />I enjoyed your Manso video, and even recognized many of the rapids after 20 years. I’m very sorry to hear about the plans to build a dam in there, and hope the the local resistance to this plan is successful. <br /><br />Regards,<br />John Arthur<br />Berkeley, CA<br /><br />Descent of the Rio Manso from Lago Steffen to the town of Puelo, February 6-10, 1995<br />John Arthur<br />Lars Holbek<br />David Kalange<br />David Kemp<br />Diego Rodriguez</i><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8gXL6Gr5_wMGxHwRgOZ6d4S0YmdIzNN88aDw7iivndTpVYBV0VAkGFe8BdjjteMNA1Tp_l9uR7KCQnY_SfGur3WcDY5GMCzb3Qerkl-4CnujFOWbU3yjNxrQtaG1yJ9_ShL9aElFmIo2/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF8gXL6Gr5_wMGxHwRgOZ6d4S0YmdIzNN88aDw7iivndTpVYBV0VAkGFe8BdjjteMNA1Tp_l9uR7KCQnY_SfGur3WcDY5GMCzb3Qerkl-4CnujFOWbU3yjNxrQtaG1yJ9_ShL9aElFmIo2/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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<br />whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-82784798810836578752016-02-22T07:37:00.000-07:002016-02-23T06:19:51.948-07:00Why Big Volume Waterfalls Are Such Fun: Rio Fuy and Gol Gol<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWtFcf86h0ZgKwy2wcZo8zoxiwTxDavU5lrA-e8Mp8kt8IQUVtVFS1mX4F03BDBhin6CxrDczHHsUi7Ixie-y8y4TmhLcRakxEyG-aKM1BMkNoxNhE0LfVZtlTAkDc-Ne5vkOThrisGU/s1600/DSC00523.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWtFcf86h0ZgKwy2wcZo8zoxiwTxDavU5lrA-e8Mp8kt8IQUVtVFS1mX4F03BDBhin6CxrDczHHsUi7Ixie-y8y4TmhLcRakxEyG-aKM1BMkNoxNhE0LfVZtlTAkDc-Ne5vkOThrisGU/s400/DSC00523.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There is just something about that big water boof</td></tr>
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Leaving the swirling eddy with a little concern about the location of the obscured indicator feature; taking a couple strong strokes to get up to speed with the water; spotting that small, breaking wave to line up; Duffek onto the three foot wide, bright green tongue; leaning forward, waiting, watching the water glisten as it runs over the rock below you; looking for the moment that rock drops away and the water explodes into a white flash; turning the <a href="http://www.zetkayak.com/products_detail.php?ProductID=15">boat</a> over on edge; levering the stroke deep, the solid friction of a <a href="http://bluntfamilypaddles.blogspot.cl/">blade</a> full of water and pulling all the way through; leaning further forward; realigning the boat; falling, surrendering to gravity; the water droplets making contact with your face and chest; white-out in the eruption of water; feeling the firm yet giving impact of the bow settling itself into the aerated water; the stern making contact, transforming all of the vertical flight into forward momentum; wheelieing into the pool. All of this is why big volume waterfalls are some of the most sought after features in whitewater. The Rio Fuy and Gol Gol produce multiple opportunities for these types of rewards.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm93fXhavfCYAYDoQDaE3a9QLKpL8B_hhvVw59cHxDSyLMwENg3DUyKEgjj7x-AzvFktsTv1SEObaZWE391aFVNeAjxN8D_Hc5wyDCIt7YnydDNfTfTEcqpeIOZCRPBQN7di70_pHIiUi/s1600/12376220_10205759633898853_3483365937999795554_n.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxm93fXhavfCYAYDoQDaE3a9QLKpL8B_hhvVw59cHxDSyLMwENg3DUyKEgjj7x-AzvFktsTv1SEObaZWE391aFVNeAjxN8D_Hc5wyDCIt7YnydDNfTfTEcqpeIOZCRPBQN7di70_pHIiUi/s400/12376220_10205759633898853_3483365937999795554_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">car camping at the Fuy put-in</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw5gwECb1D3PVth-UTN9DY2Sdi6X3FuoYcsgLcGMRyafM7w2ULxeLhk9PsxXFwLqGP6qri9ESV0SJCstvDXB-QZ-_UIcYHZDtduyaLpBqC3R7EBaGXZH7VpBgNYN0mUIiABR5BWcpfLG2/s1600/12489308_10205759663259587_289248293227096756_o.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXw5gwECb1D3PVth-UTN9DY2Sdi6X3FuoYcsgLcGMRyafM7w2ULxeLhk9PsxXFwLqGP6qri9ESV0SJCstvDXB-QZ-_UIcYHZDtduyaLpBqC3R7EBaGXZH7VpBgNYN0mUIiABR5BWcpfLG2/s400/12489308_10205759663259587_289248293227096756_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris Baer finding that magic spot</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivC3i6N9-9fbAMzpAfaV2K9O5NVU_zgaW8ufSu3oS5Lc-5uAuX5HsG1hXy_vE3QYRSfBmr_1fNOQyp-irgVptU2I5B3qtDXkWdOVdF-3sbddTi_MYb42MepncjhEU0Nyw8T-f8NAHtwxJ2/s1600/DSC00583.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivC3i6N9-9fbAMzpAfaV2K9O5NVU_zgaW8ufSu3oS5Lc-5uAuX5HsG1hXy_vE3QYRSfBmr_1fNOQyp-irgVptU2I5B3qtDXkWdOVdF-3sbddTi_MYb42MepncjhEU0Nyw8T-f8NAHtwxJ2/s400/DSC00583.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon deep in the Gol Gol </td></tr>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/154134681" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br /></div>
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<h3>
Another Vertical Rescue</h3>
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It was our second day paddling the Gol Gol and the crew was a bit tired. Slowly, we made our way down to Salto Princessa, one of the “big ones”. The lead-in for this twenty footer is rather awkward and no one had a spectacular line the day before. After a quick group chat the consensus was that we were going to run relatively close to each other in a “blue angel” safety pattern. The going theory is that not everyone is going to crash, and that everyone will be relatively near each other in case anything weird were to arise. Mark went first, and from my eddy he appeared to have a good line. I fired off of the falls second and had a great line. As I set my stroke towards the eddy I spotted Mark’s boat upside down. Then I heard a, “Whoop!” My head swiveled. Where was Mark? One or two paddle strokes towards shore and another, “Whoop!” I started yelling back to an undisclosed Mark. Aeon came off the falls only moments later and was able to spot Mark tucked up into a rather nasty looking rock/tree undercut pocket. Thankfully, Mark was able to stabilize himself in the pocket by holding onto two marginal twigs. Mark’s precarious position was unfortunately costing him a ton of energy and he was quickly getting cold and tired.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl629EyUtg_UQoSKTf0_c0AWeD_rLXR7hDVftLRYA9JoGSu-i4Snrg47kBKCqOV_V9ZyrDZhmVW8nj4PP0fFkFQSv76lp4iMTZzUx5ysfcmnH7pPfO388eQ6IGrcjEFrT-40B0pkbaw3Rb/s1600/DSC00591.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl629EyUtg_UQoSKTf0_c0AWeD_rLXR7hDVftLRYA9JoGSu-i4Snrg47kBKCqOV_V9ZyrDZhmVW8nj4PP0fFkFQSv76lp4iMTZzUx5ysfcmnH7pPfO388eQ6IGrcjEFrT-40B0pkbaw3Rb/s400/DSC00591.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo discerning that elusive lip </td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWtFcf86h0ZgKwy2wcZo8zoxiwTxDavU5lrA-e8Mp8kt8IQUVtVFS1mX4F03BDBhin6CxrDczHHsUi7Ixie-y8y4TmhLcRakxEyG-aKM1BMkNoxNhE0LfVZtlTAkDc-Ne5vkOThrisGU/s1600/DSC00523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
Aeon and I dove out of our boats, throw ropes in hand. We tossed a rope down to help stabilize Mark, but it didn’t seem plausible to pull him vertically out of the pocket. His perch was gross. The rocks and wood were overhanging on three sides of him and the water rushing in on the fourth side. It was taking too long. We were attempting rescue strategies that were going to put Mark in too much risk. It was simple. The best way to get him out of the situation was to turn on the adrenaline, get real strong, and pull him vertically up and out of the overhung pocket. This took two ropes attached to him and quite a bit of cursing. The tactile sensation of reaching over and grabbing his life jacket brought a huge smile to my face.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCABZkdZob8oXZ-tZAosruUVK5I019ahEXwUxSbt9Mvu6N-ti-lAMZzgZBoq_qA74tqsGfhBQyc81P3u6ly9BKG9KVJ8_vYUDxQzVrY3scCFBMOeFhAkglJRYh7CMdyDw-cJQi-CVXqR4/s1600/DSC00608.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNCABZkdZob8oXZ-tZAosruUVK5I019ahEXwUxSbt9Mvu6N-ti-lAMZzgZBoq_qA74tqsGfhBQyc81P3u6ly9BKG9KVJ8_vYUDxQzVrY3scCFBMOeFhAkglJRYh7CMdyDw-cJQi-CVXqR4/s400/DSC00608.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aeon Russo waiting for the stroke</td></tr>
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The team took it pretty hard. Legitimate rescues had been coming at a pretty ferocious rate on this trip. Had we been pushing it too hard? Were our balls bigger than our brains? Was it just our turn? The fact is Aeon Russo, Mark Taylor, and I make a strong team. It’s because I have faith in these folks that I’m willing to put myself in these dangerous situations. It’s because of this team that we have endured these trials and tribulations. I for one am excited about our next adventure!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeJJs7ojdH4AUjNqi60hRmk_7BJzGuf_eM_b-cCwDanG8Zo1Qdakmmcij6MCC4ycVM1vMfklAqH-NPT2G4mJ3_3ilzHQ-uWLfZenbqthqMp4Zxj4yS1LCMTv9plGz54At5ultZT2JjjFd/s1600/DSC00621.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZeJJs7ojdH4AUjNqi60hRmk_7BJzGuf_eM_b-cCwDanG8Zo1Qdakmmcij6MCC4ycVM1vMfklAqH-NPT2G4mJ3_3ilzHQ-uWLfZenbqthqMp4Zxj4yS1LCMTv9plGz54At5ultZT2JjjFd/s400/DSC00621.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Taylor approaching free-fall </td></tr>
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<h3>
Rope Ladder </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2l9WTdEZE1KupUP5IJ85kitfGM2d3cFGILsHPu8AfSgaAmRAFCYPT353ixUWnl5FbAhRzSbEPkXveeXvFJck1iSQboEgdoRVwlXYfE6vfS5g-R_vZMxV0Qer8lsVM2UjwsnHteMYitIE-/s1600/DSC01265.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2l9WTdEZE1KupUP5IJ85kitfGM2d3cFGILsHPu8AfSgaAmRAFCYPT353ixUWnl5FbAhRzSbEPkXveeXvFJck1iSQboEgdoRVwlXYfE6vfS5g-R_vZMxV0Qer8lsVM2UjwsnHteMYitIE-/s400/DSC01265.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ten alpine butterfly knots in a throw bag</td></tr>
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After two vertical extractions, here is another technique to retrieve an active victim. Simply tie one end of rope to a solid anchor and then tie multiple butterfly knots on the other end. The active victim can simply climb out under their own power. A good video on how to tie a butterfly knot can be found at this link: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2aRj8dQPRQ">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2aRj8dQPRQ</a><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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<br />whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4036045875990281971.post-50670356410095643442016-02-08T04:57:00.001-07:002021-01-21T17:04:05.389-07:00Sin Represas, Rio Puelo <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMNBRfIZjQfrFzwsuIrYlUlIwDIZUWPkR0SCOo-buli7clock8PG3Jzz86LcV80aKGu2iDSWl4_oGvH5nqj_E8xrCFs8pw4iU4AVfUr2BIBFC1X6vNcS25D8scbzAM04YeTJ-v6v1ALdr/s1600/DSC00817.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeMNBRfIZjQfrFzwsuIrYlUlIwDIZUWPkR0SCOo-buli7clock8PG3Jzz86LcV80aKGu2iDSWl4_oGvH5nqj_E8xrCFs8pw4iU4AVfUr2BIBFC1X6vNcS25D8scbzAM04YeTJ-v6v1ALdr/s400/DSC00817.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark and Aeon staring into the big one</td></tr>
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<h1 style="text-align: left;">
Puelo</h1>
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Rumors of a better, longer Inferno Canyon (a section on the infamous <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/search/label/Futaleufu">Rio Futaleufu</a>) sparked the crew's interest. The fact that there is a new road situated along the Upper Rio Puelo Canyon means the section is now lap-able!<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="281" mozallowfullscreen="" src="https://player.vimeo.com/video/154120047" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="500"></iframe><br /></div>
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<a href="https://vimeo.com/154120047">Rio Puelo</a> from <a href="https://vimeo.com/user5472125">Chris Baer</a> on <a href="https://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.</div>
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<h3>
How to get there </h3>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lago Tauga Tauga</td></tr>
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From the small town of <a href="http://www.whereisbaer.com/search/label/Cochamo">Cochamo</a>, continue south to Puelo. From Puelo, head east into the mountains to Lago Tagua Tagua. To cross the lake with your vehicle it’ll cost you 7,000 pesos, or ten U.S. dollars. After exiting the ferry stay on the main road all the way up to <a href="https://www.google.com/maps/place/Chile/@-42.0001599,-71.9083565,325m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m2!3m1!1s0x9662c5410425af2f:0x505e1131102b91d!6m1!1e1">Primer Coral</a>. There is now a large steel bridge crossing the river at Primer Coral. The old swinging bridge will be just downstream; this is the take out. To reach the put in, continue upstream river left for ten kilometers until the road epically downgrades. From here, hike slightly upstream and down towards the river, anywhere in this region will be an acceptable entrance point.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZqtXdbj0JdJK7P9FGYc26ze57h4cQpisMI_ZXNl7cVoNHwQsjB0IJAUBVdyN3YvZqWKKQrkylLrhfMZF5f8X6EtNg0vPBHOtNWVpIqWr1vdsdLQcIZGI1M0xV_Nxvr1WlNdc_FpVPaSU/s1600/DSC00781.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZqtXdbj0JdJK7P9FGYc26ze57h4cQpisMI_ZXNl7cVoNHwQsjB0IJAUBVdyN3YvZqWKKQrkylLrhfMZF5f8X6EtNg0vPBHOtNWVpIqWr1vdsdLQcIZGI1M0xV_Nxvr1WlNdc_FpVPaSU/s400/DSC00781.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="_5yl5"><span>Blanquita</span></span> on the Ferry</td></tr>
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The water is iridescent blue, and the rapids are spectacular. The canyon is too narrow for the volume of water passing through it. This constricted water creates rowdy reactionary waves and surging boils. This means last second corrections, and on the fly problem solving.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQsZ9_ZK1ca0ZrZhnTvN119V5lEtsxzjgs-MIiKu-D6uEWhXRIQ7hI5friNoZ6q10aLNvIsOmq-boEgQwLVor1aSIWSfmyaxfsnX4BQiBuEbGpVTHK1ZKbz7_Tgm9w5jddAOhiAULw-IE/s1600/DSC00831.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihQsZ9_ZK1ca0ZrZhnTvN119V5lEtsxzjgs-MIiKu-D6uEWhXRIQ7hI5friNoZ6q10aLNvIsOmq-boEgQwLVor1aSIWSfmyaxfsnX4BQiBuEbGpVTHK1ZKbz7_Tgm9w5jddAOhiAULw-IE/s320/DSC00831.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">save this valley</td></tr>
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<h3>
Chile Sin Represas </h3>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUkr9JMYBGWntmLgb0FXC8BWw-rrM9x_agh0dq9tW4cYRv3-GTXYImJ5G_8qRa_85od0ZH44YAwWS_R0XcZJVPK3Cv1i8fnb3Gy-XfiqikiVBDZB7HEa-GeoX5WxSP093Vd1L64vzPWoj/s1600/DSC00833.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiUkr9JMYBGWntmLgb0FXC8BWw-rrM9x_agh0dq9tW4cYRv3-GTXYImJ5G_8qRa_85od0ZH44YAwWS_R0XcZJVPK3Cv1i8fnb3Gy-XfiqikiVBDZB7HEa-GeoX5WxSP093Vd1L64vzPWoj/s400/DSC00833.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puelo community in action, Sin Represas</td></tr>
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After two days of paddling this amazing canyon, we reluctantly made our way back towards civilization. Our timing couldn’t have been any better as we stumbled into an anti-dam rally. Most of the residents of this beautiful community had come together for a three day anti dam march. The demonstration concluded in the small town of Puelo. It was a spectacular experience to get to paddle in this remote canyon and then jeer with the locals. In Chile, like so many other locations, dams are halted by small community groups. I felt proud to join with my Chilean brothers in protest against the destruction of a beautiful community and stunning valley. For more info on Chile's continual fight against dams check out, <a href="http://www.chilesinrepresas.com/">www.chilesinrepresas.com</a>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF-8t5_LsVQ85Pz3Dsn-smbOSIdJaO68GcvjQq1IGI0xuKRBVp4Xqx_8_UQ9JnrK37IpAUFI3aVwHpyM9xD0RDB4H3XHJBm_Xl6_rXoIs33k8bOQnPBgAG3UQMf04D6qW8U6wTQ-SzWXs/s1600/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRF-8t5_LsVQ85Pz3Dsn-smbOSIdJaO68GcvjQq1IGI0xuKRBVp4Xqx_8_UQ9JnrK37IpAUFI3aVwHpyM9xD0RDB4H3XHJBm_Xl6_rXoIs33k8bOQnPBgAG3UQMf04D6qW8U6wTQ-SzWXs/s200/1528746_10152070266038186_38123001_n-2.jpg" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">adventure by Chris Baer</td></tr>
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<br />whereisbaerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16531374821082174125noreply@blogger.com0