Over the last few days we have done some good paddling and exploring. On the way back from the Rio Puesco we stopped to scout a river that flowed through a deep gorge on its way to the Puesco. We found a runnable 5 meter falls at the end of the canyon, but decided that we wanted to see what the deep inner gorge was like. After about an hour hike through the thick forest, we made it to the edge of the gorge. The gorge begins with this huge unrunnable falls, pools up, goes through some wood, then falls even deeper into a very tight crack. There was no safe way to see what was in the depths of the gorge without climbing gear and rope, so we plan on returning soon with all the necessary equipment. Even if we find no runnable whitewater, it will be amazing to go into this gorge.

Another fruitless scouting mission up in the hills near Pucon:

The only good things about this creek were its smooth rock and huge drops. The problems with this creek were that it had about 5 cfs, and all the huge drops either landed on rocks or 5 feet from the lip of the next huge drop. Also, the smooth, slippery rock made climbing around a little terrifying.

Scared, but the bandanna is so hot right now.

Feeling safe at the base of the first huge drop we came to.

More photos from the Desague.

Another great shot of Rodrigo on the slide early in the run.

Doug blasting down the triple drop.
Myself running the big one. Every time I have run this I have taken a hard hit at the bottom. Even landing flat in the big hole, I have gone just deep enough to hit the rock in the pool. I think most people who have run this have had a similar experience.

More from Tres Saltos. Unfortunately we could not run the third drop because of the low flow, but the first two were still fun. Check the post below for a photo of the first falls.

Hiking up to the first falls.

These two photos were all we got of the second drop. Who knew cameras need batteries?

Rodrigo taking the hit in the middle.

Teaser

The Desague does it again!

This run can be found at the top of my list of Pucon area rivers. It is my favorite partly because the river itself can be found about 20 minutes from downtown, but mostly because of the fun I have on it every time I run it. It consists mostly of great boofs and big holes. Some shallow spots have played the main role in boat and/or paddle and body destruction, but that does not hamper my excitement to put on this great run. Water levels are dropping out a little bit, so it is no longer at the pushy and soft level of a few weeks ago, and may now see fewer runs by me because of the many sharp and unfriendly rocks just waiting to tear into the bottom of my boat.

A couple days ago, I met up with Doug Demerest from Alaska and Jared to go for a run all the way down to the Liucura. It was Doug's first time, so we took it easy and stopped for the many photo opportunities. Here are a couple shots from that day.

This photo doesn't really do this drop justice, but there was no way I could wait for better light!

We took a bunch of photos, many of which I plan on putting up soon so you can see more of this great local creek.

I was pretty excited about this run, so I thought I would share it now. Ojos del Caburga freewheel.

Yesterday, our group of Rodrigo, Doug, and Jared headed to Tres Saltos. Rodrigo and I had visited a few days before in hopes of running the final falls only to find very low water. These conditions made the final falls dangerous enough that neither of us wanted to give it a go. When we returned with hopes of higher water, we were dismayed to find even lower water, so we trudged up the hill to run the first two falls, which are not so water dependent.

Scout.

Running the first falls, an amazing slide with limited scouting options. This and the view from an eddy 30 meters upstream of the falls are the only easily accessible viewpoints. There is a tricky lead-in with a ferry/hole surf, a funky ledge, then this slide into a clean pool.

Calm before the next falls.

There were some camera problems on this day, but rest assured, there are more photos to come. Check back soon!

All photos from Doug Demerest.

Work, Scout, Palguin

Work:

Okay, calling it ¨work¨ might be a stretch, but I do occasionally give Rodrigo a hand with his ¨ducky¨ trips. Chillin at the home base, Kayak Pucon. Argh!

The work vehicle, a van I would not mind living in.

On the days we work we just load all the unsuspecting thrill seekers into the vacuous seating area and whisk them away to the Rio Liucura to run the $%&!. Actually, it is just big water class three, yet we still see enough carnage to make us weary at the end of the day.

Mmmm, barbecue.

Scout:

Rodrigo and I have been salivating over what the Rio Lahuenco might hold, and have been trying to organize a scouting mission in hopes of finding good whitewater. Much to our liking, one of Rodrigo´s friends has lived near the Lahuenco his whole life and was willing to lead us straight to the heart of the gorge, where he said we would find some big waterfalls. Well, turns out the river he brought us to was not the Lahuenco, but a creek just a little north. This did not slow us down though, so we began to hike and eventually came to a tight gorge with a sketchy lead in to a 5 or 6 meter falls dropping into a mean hole with a cave on the left and an undercut on the right. This also was situated right on top of what we assumed to be a clean 10 meter falls, though we did see some spray coming up from the lip. We decided not to run it this day, but hope to return higher in the river to find more upstream and run that gorge with a little less water.

View down into the claustrophobic gorge.

I think it is important to note that we did not really go into this prepared to get wet. Not a good move on our parts, so we had to strip down a little to get to a place where we could see the gorge. I´ll spare you the photos of Rodrigo and I in our intimates, but send $5 with your request and I´ll send you the photos.

The Rio Lahuenco flows into the Rio Maichin a little less than half-way down the run. We still plan on exploring this creek and running it all the way to the Maichin. We just need to work out the logistics.

Palguin:

Huge, clean falls above the upper put in. I am no master at estimating height, especially from 400 meters, but I would be willing to guess that this falls is about 27 meters. Yeah, tall. Save this one for another day.

Two boofs in the first rapid.

One in the third.

We came back the next day to run the lower, but without a guide or any sense of direction we ended up on the middle section of the Palguin. Not so bad, right? Except that what used to be known as a top-notch waterfall run has turned into a big portage. The first falls is still sketchy and runnable, but the second has greatly increased in size as the third falls is totally gone.

Boofing the munchy and shallow hole of the first drop on the middle Palguin.

Here is what remains of the middle Palguin. This is the second part of the double drop. Formerly about 35 or 40 feet, now probably 80+ feet. The lead-in to this is a tricky 15 footer and boiling pool leading to the lip.

Zoomed out shot of the second falls. You can see on the left of the photo the ledge that formed the third falls. The geology here is very unstable. If you check here -http://kayakpucon.blogspot.com/2006/04/medium-palguin-is-gone.html

you can see that a 20 foot falls used to be here, but the area is deteriorating so quickly that it has turned into a small boulder garden in just a few months. This whole area has changed drastically, clearly displayed by these photos.

Sad news indeed, and a very scary place to be with all the recent movement of huge rocks from the canyon walls into the river. We got out of there pretty quickly then I met up with Rodrigo in the afternoon for a high-water trip to the Rio Nevados. Unfortunately no photos of the run, as our attention was fully on the river. We will return soon though, with lower water and camera in hand.

Also, at some point in the last week we returned to the Carhuello with Jared, but found an extremely low flow.

Jared with a big boof on the second drop.

Me, same drop from below.

Rio Turbio, With Other News

Not a ton of news to report since the last update. We have been up to the usual routine so there has been plenty of paddling, exploring, driving, eating, paddling, and more driving. It´s not as bad as it sounds though, as a lot of driving for me is 80 km a day. Our new car has seen some good use, but along with that some even greater abuse. I don´t think Jared or I know how to drive slow, so the low bumper of our new ride sees plenty of rocks.

Suby power!

Immediately after buying the car, Jared and I drove from Villarica toward the hills to try to explore the Rio Pedrogoso. After many kilometers of gravel roads and big rocks, we came to an impassible(at least with the suby) mud pit. I have very high hopes for the Pedrogoso, as it descends from the same peak as the Rio Quilque(aka the Plata), which is one of the more difficult runs in the Pucon area. We are planning further exploration with a more capable vehicle in the near future.

Upon returning to Pucon, we found the Rio Turbio with a good flow, which is something Rodrigo and I had been looking for since the day I arrived. Finally, it had enough water so we got our boats and headed to the put in. Much to our liking we found the gate open, so only had to hike about 1 km before we got to the falls marking the beginning of the run.

Scouting said falls. Low water made the landing sketchy, but we hope to return with a little more water to fire this one up. I´m now sure the weather is going to cooperate though, as we have had to many sunny days for the Turbio to run again. Too bad, right?

This falls is followed quite immediately by about 150 meters of class 5 action. The rapid starts with a little slide, then another slide with a hard to miss cave, followed shortly by a couple inconvinietnly placed holes, then into a the slide and finally a 3 meter drop with a sticky hole and an easily avoidable cave on the right side.

Me dropping into the cave slide, the first consequential part of the rapid.

Look at that view!

And this one.

Rodrigo entering the final slide.

Jared in a tight slot. The whole run is full of fun slides and smaller falls, then ends with this great clean falls.

Me about to go a little deeper than desired.

Missing Photo

The last drop on the Desague. A boof that puts you within inches of a wall when you land!


A small(make that huge) taste of things to come:

Rio Carhuello

Mentioned in a previous post, the Carhuello is a short run with 4 significant drops. It is close to Pucon and the rapids are fun enough to make the trip worthwhile.

Rodrigo dropping into the first falls.


Crazy Brit Ben setting up to boof the second falls. You can see in this picture that the river makes a complete U-turn with this falls at the base.


Boof between the trees.


We don't just kayak, unfortunately. After the hotsprings.


Falls after the take-out, or maybe just before the take-out after the next time we head to the Carhuello.