PS here are some more photo's of boating in Chile!

The first 6 photo's are of me running the first drop on the Upper Palguin.... I think this was my best line... haha. 

These 2 are from the Rio Llancahue

All the above photo's where taken by Dave Hughes

 Jean boofing on the Nevados Photo by Max Fisher

Sequence of Mike Kobzik running a fun drop on Rio Llancahue Photo's by Max Fisher

Hope you enjoy the photo's!

Some More Chile

Well it is time to say good bye to Chile. I'm sitting at the Santiago airport, it's 9:45am and I fly out tonight. I just wanted to get here and relax. It might be a long day.

I don't know how many days it has been since I posted an update but really it doesn't matter. I have been having a blast down here taking advantage of the all paddling opportunities.

Before Claudio left we paddled the Rio Blanco. It ended with some hot springs so we took advantage of those! That night our fellow paddling friend Xavier was getting on a bus to Santiago so we went to Latitude for 2 for 1 tacos.... well worth it!!


Mike, Paula, Tzak, Julien, Claudio and Max in the hot spring after the Rio Blanco

Our next adventure took use to the Nevados again..... I think this is one of my favorite rivers of all time. Here are a few photo's:

Jean running the slide Photo by Max Fisher

Martin dropping the must run Photo by Max Fisher

On Friday Tino, Jake and Lorenzo went to the Middle Palguin. This is the cleanest 70foot waterfall in the world! I and a few others were there with camera's and throw bags to support. 

Tino, Jake, and Lorenzo scouting the entrance Photo by Max Fisher

Lorenzo playing some karma tunes before dropping in Photo by Max Fisher

Lorenzo dropping the lip Photo by Max Fisher

Tino, Jake and Lorenzo in the pool at the bottom Photo by Max Fisher

The run out after the falls Photo by Max Fisher

The boys walking back Photo by Max Fisher

After they ran the Middle we headed for a lap on the Upper Palguin. I know I said this before but it is a must do and you can run laps on it all day if you like. Also we wanted to get a good lap in before the down river race on Saturday.

Lorenzo boofing the 20footer on the Upper Palguin Photo by Tino Specht

The race started at 2:30pm. Ben May of Kayak Chile hosts the event. There was roughly 40 competitors. On these downriver races you can usually expect some carnage but on this day there really wasn't any and in the end the race was won by Jake Greenbaum. Nice work Jake!! 

Jean and Max racing Photo by Dave Hughes

Once I was eliminated from the race I did some fun runs and set safety for the competitors. That night people had a fun time drinking beer, piscola, and dancing at Mama's.

After a slow start to Sunday we did a quick run down the Nevados and called it a day... mainly cause we didn't get started until 4:00pm, bed can soon after.

On Monday we paddled the Rio Puesco. This run is the most continuous run in the Pucon area. It is continuous class 4-5 for 7-8km. Definitely the highlight of the trip for me! 

And Tuesday, my last day of paddling in Pucon started with a nice breakfast at Pucon Kayak Hostel and then to the bus station to get my ticket. Once that was taken care of Dave Hughes the owner and operator of Pucon Kayak Hostel and Go Huge Kayak School took us to Rio Llancahue a great low volume steep creek 2 hrs out of Pucon. It was a great finish to an already amazing trip.


Mike Kobzik on the Rio Llancahue Photo by Max Fisher

I'd like to thank Mike Kobizk for twisting my arm and getting me to Chile, Dave Hughes for the wonderful hospitality and all the people I shared the Chilean Rivers with! Thanks everyone and see you again soon Chile!

PS there will be more pictures coming.

More Chile Boating!

 On Monday we headed to the Rio Nevados. 

Put in for Nevados Photo by Max Fisher

The Rio Nevados is a class 4-5 run with beautiful canyons and lots a great drops. Between the major drops the rivers character is shallow boulder gardens… so expect lots of bouncing on rock. 

 

Martin running the slide on the Nevados Photo by Max Fisher

Max Fisher running the slide Photo by Xavier  

What makes the Nevados a bit committing in the must run 20footer. Below this drop are the most challenging rapids of the run. 

Xavier running the mandatory drop on Nevados Photo By Max Fisher

Xavier in the canyon below the mandatory drop Photo by Max Fisher

After our run on the Nevados we headed to Rio Coilaco to run a 30footer. Claudio, Julien, and I ran it 3 times and Mike twice…. another good day in Chile!!

     Max running Coilaco Photo by Mike Kobzik

After an early night we were up and l ready to head to the Rio Blanco on the other side of Lago Carburga. We left Pucon at around 7:30 and on our way picked up Paula and Tzak. 

It was about a 2 1/2hr drive to the put in. The run was continuous class 3 with a little class 4 section in there. Once at the take out we jumped in the hot springs…. yes when you're in the 8 volcano's area of chile you really need to hit some of the hot springs!

Our plan was to get back to Pucon because Xavier was leaving the next day… so time for another party! The night was great and a lot of taking shit was taking place about running Salto Palguin…. a 90footer that I was only willing to look at.

That morning the motivation to go look at it was there, so we did. The water level was a bit high so the guys decided against it. 

So we all did a few laps on the Upper Palguin and called it a day.

Sequence of Max Fisher running the double drop on the Upper Palquin. Photo by Claudio Vega

My time in Chile has been flying by! I have 6 days of paddling left before I head home for Christmas. I'm excited for the 6 days and also to spend Christmas with the Family. 

So after an early night we headed to the Rio Nevados. It was a bit high

The Uppe

First 4 Days in Chile.

Arriving to Pucon!

photo by Mike Kobzik

We arrived in Pucon at 8:30am on the 9th and got a bus to the Pucon Kayak Hostel to get our kayaks. Once there we met Dave Hughes the owner of the hostel and Go Huge Kayak School, a high school with 6 teachers that travel around the world teaching high school curriculum and needless to say kayaking!

    Pucon kayak Hostel has boats everywhere! photo by Max Fisher

We also meet the teachers and coaches, Tino and Lorenzo who where traveling in the same van to the Fuy River Festival with us.

We got our kayaks and hung out with Tino, Lorenzo and the students for the day waiting for Emily and Martin, the people organizing the van and trailer, to arrive.


    Emily, Tino, Max and Mike Photo by Jean

They arrived at 4pm and we started to the Fuy River in the small town of Choshuenco.

The ride to the Fuy was an adventure. First it took all day for Em and Martin to get the van and trailer sorted out, second the van over heated, third there was a lot of cervaza's and pisco consumed on the drive and fourth it was pouring down rain!

We arrived to Claudio's house at around 8pm and continued to drink beer and pisco.

The rain didn't let up the slightest that night and was still dumping when we finally headed to the river around noon to run the lower Fuy.

    Claudio heading to the Fuy put-in photo by Jean

The Fuy River has 3 sections the upper being a classic class 4-4+ run and solid class 5 at high water, the middle which is a seldom run committing canyon and the lower a continuous class 3+ big water run. We did a few laps on the lower before heading back to Claudio's for another night of pisco and beer.


    Max and Mike leaving the put-in eddy on the Fuy photo by Jean

Things didn't get started until early afternoon and a few people wanted to go look at a 100ft waterfall called El Puma that is unrun to this point. The water was to high but the guys thought they would come back when the water dropped in a few days. We also checked out the upper Fuy, which was super high.... so we went to the Lower and ran another lap before starting our drive back to Pucon.

    El Puma Falls on the Fuy River Photo by Max Fisher

Max Fisher with the Upper Fuy at high flows photo by Mike Kobzik

The van had issues the whole drive.... it over heated again, a hose blew, so we duct taped it back together and then after about 30 minutes of driving it totally died. So we left it and jumped into the 2 little trucks with all our gear....15 peoples worth and headed back to Pucon.


The crew starting from left: Josh, Xavier, Julien, Claudio, Mike, Martin, Jean, Eric, Jake, Em, Tino, Max, Lorenzo and the 2 Dartmouth Boys.

    Tino Specht photo by Max Fisher

All went well and we got to the look bar, Mama's, for the really Chilean party experience.... the bars in Chile don't close until 4-5am.

We had another late start and tried to get on the Rio Carhuello but with our limited knowledge of the right river levels we headed for a high water run of the Upper Palguin and classic must do in Pucon.

The Upper Palguin is class 4 and a good warm up and intro the the rivers in the arrive. It has 3 waterfalls, the first being a double drop and more challenging then the others. The run only takes 10-20minutes depending on how fast you're going so you can run laps all day if you like.


    Bye Bye Van!! photo by Mike Kobzik

After a fun first weekend in Chile we decided to lay low last night and get some rest.

Chile is awesome and if you're having second thoughts about coming don't the boating is second to none and the country is tremendously beautiful.


    photo by Mike Kobzik

    Getting ready to go to the Fuy photo by Max Fisher