A Salute to el RIO SAN PEDRO.







Perhaps one of the most special places on earth - right here in South Central Chile. May it never be damned!
















Do a little dance, the Rio San Pedro is saved!
For now...

Click on this link for important Rio San Pedro updates!!! http://www.riosanpedro.cl/

As you can see kayaking and Rafting in Chile would never be the same with out rivers like the San Pedro.

Reflection on the Chilean Summer of 2006-2007

Part I - December

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We began the whitewater season with a 3 week kayaking trip. We had 3 clients who consisted of Molly, Charlie, and Gwen. Eduardo and the girls took care of that trip and did an outstanding job.

We aslo had a rafting and barbeque trip for AFP Habitat. Great trip, good people. They assured me that they will be back next year for a 2 or 3-day multisport trip.

The Colorado River of the Lontue

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"YEEEHAAAA!" There is not much else to say about the this river. You truly have to be there.

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Jose Pablo, Andres, thanks for taking us there for our first look around in 2004. Since then I have been back a handful of times and plan many more trips; hopefully with clients for a five star camping and adventure travel experience.

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I have paddled this river in a kayak and in a raft. I can attest that both expert boaters and the typical outdoor enthusiast will find it is truly a magical place. This waterfall that we float by, for example, is HUGE. The energy from the water in the canyon bed along with the force of the falling stream is empowering.

Staying at Andres' place is a treat. He has set up a quincho were everyone gathers for meals, to relax as well as share stories about the days' whitewater excitement, horseback ride, or mellow walk on the trail along the river. We currently camp there while paddling but Andres is building rustic cabanas along the river so that each guest will have their own shelter. Here are some photos of Andres' place.

The Lontue River is another one of those local gems and it runs right here to the south of Curico. Not so easy to get to though, it is close to impossible to gain access. You can see that in the picture, the Lontue is surrounded by the steep hillsides of the Andes foothills. That is the goo class IV section that flows to Puente Yacal. Access at the bridge is easy (river left downstream side). You can put in there and float mediocre class I-III to the bridge at the Pan-American highway. The best way to paddle the Rio Lontue is to use the bridge at Yacal as a take-out. But gaining access to the river higher than that means trying to open two locked gates. The large farm that owns the land of the put-in of the Lontue (Aguas Azules) maintains these gates locked and manned at all times. The gates have a house next to them and as far as I can tell the only job these people have is to keep people out.




The reindeer is one of the sites near the Lontue.

This river has a bit more volume than most of the others in central Chile. Early on in the season it takes on a lot of water. It reminds me of running the East Fork of the South Fork of the Salmon River with TJ, Gleason, and Ryan last year. I think the gauge was at 5 and we put on and paddled the 50 + miles in one day, easily. Subway never tasted so good.

Well at high water, be careful. There are some big holes. One year Cristian Huenchuleo and I were guiding for Super Mario Expediciones and at House Rock I saw Cristian flip his raft on the left line. So I went right and also got my 14 foot raft flipped in a heartbeat. Basalt columns can be seen at the put-in for the Lontue's class IV run where the Palos de San Pedro River meets the Colorado River. And it keeps getting better...

More on Siete Tazas

I have many more things to talk about than the teacups but I figured I would continue with the topic for a few reasons. One is that during the heavy summer months of January and February, the camping areas can be very crowded with partying Chileans tipping back the brews and the Piscola. So a good piece of beta is to camp at Santa Brigida which is about 1 kilometer or so before the police checkpoint. Santa Brigida has small cabanas and camping as well but less crowds and you can still enjoy a cold cerveza or piscolita.

And yes there are some Chileans who boat! Here is Chilean Adventures guide Bernardita Ocampo hucking the first of the 7 at low water. Congratulations Berna, your first waterfall! She went with a our Chilean Adventures crew, here in the red boat is guide and the second of the two "Los Locos Doerr," Gonzalo Doerr. Sweet line Gonzo.

On the left is Berna again. And on the right is 15 year old Sam Swanson from Boise High, Idaho...too late to turn back now Sambo.

Below is what you can run if you miss the take out. Wait...is that Tao?

Kayaking Central Chile

Yesterday's photo was of the Siete Tazas of the Rio Claro. The "seven teacups" is a short section of river gorge that is a must-do for those class III boaters visiting Chile. The section is short but can be done a few time if you'd like. The most strenuous parts of the run are getting in and out of the gorge. The Siete Tazas is a great run for those who have never run waterfalls before. This was my first waterfall section back in 1994 when I ran it with Rusty Grimm and Wink Jones from Idaho and Joe Lindsay from Northern California.

The photo above is of the Rio Claro of Los Quenes. This river canyon is seldom run, if ever. This photo was taken of me by Beach Huntsman. That late spring day we ran this section of canyon with my business partner Eduardo Doerr . This river canyon is seldom run, if ever, because of 7 different farms that landlock the river canyon's access. Some, who accomplish to get the first key have run the lower section but the real jewels are up top. Even if you manage to get the gates open it is still rough going. This "Chilean Adventures" vehicle makes it a pretty smooth ride.

Kayaking Central Chile

These days almost everyone has heard of the popular South American destinations such as Machu Picchu, Atacama Desert, Patagonia, Pucon, Bio Bio, Futaleufu, and Aconcagua. Because of these places I first came to Chile in 1994 - mostly to kayak but also to explore the Andes Mountains. I finally settled in Central Chile however.

Central Chile has a lot to offer the outdoor enthusiast. from world class kayaking and rafting rivers like the crystal clear waters of the Rio Achibueno and the Rio Nuble, not to mention the world famous Siete Tazas. The best part is that Central Chile doesn't have the crowds found in those South American tourists traps. Furthermore, the lack of tourists allows you to actually become part of the warm Chilean culture. Whether you are just visiting or decide to pick up and move, don't come to Chile and miss out on all that the 6th, 7th, and 8th regions have to offer.

I have created this blog to help show you why I love to be in Central Chile!