Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Costa Rica: Going bigger

Day 5



(Yes that is the hotel balcony and takeout for top Pacifico. Photo: Cutch)


By the time we are putting on to the top Chirripo Pacifico, the day has already been somewhat of a scenic-drive bust. We rallied early, passing through San Isidro, and heading one valley south, to the San Rafael. The San Rafael is a low volume run that is very steep and inviting, but after a thorough look we determine that the water level is too low. Now it’s mid-day, and we have finally returned to the place that we stayed last night, because it is the takeout for the top. The top is a little on the low side as well, and I start off the trip by slipping on the polished rock, and tumbling 5 ft into the river with my boat and paddle, directly above a small falls at the put-in. The Top section is 1 mile long, drops 507ft, with two scouts and zero portages. Muy contento.


(So jungle clean on the top Pacifico. Photos: Cutch)


(Ferd eliminates portages with a single swing)




Back in San Isidro we gas up and Ferdinand makes a few calls while Joe and I eat snacks and trust in Ferdinand. Our original plan was to head back to Alajuela to stay at Cacho’s (Mi Tierra) for another night. That plan was thwarted by the threat of unlicensed taxi cab drivers of San Jose blockading the roads around the city in protest (of the licensed taxi cab drivers). Instead we end up going straight to Turrialba that evening. We arrive late and meet up with the local crew in the city park, Julio Garro and Arnaldo Pérez. Tomorrow we plan to run the Rio Vereh, which according to Ferdinand has gradient in the high 700fpm range. Sounds a bit loose.



Day 6 - "El revo de la novia"


While packing for the trip I asked Tina if I could take her paddle. “If you break it you buy it.” A third of the way into the run I become inverted for the first time, floating around in a huge pool trying to figure out how to roll with Tina’s broken paddle. The 40 footer had about an 80-degree angle on it at the bottom though the hit was surprisingly soft, despite the broken paddle. I opted for the far right line, which you had to kind of pivot and drive across to get to, since a tree is still stuck in the lip. We had good flow so the left line around the log went, but the seal launch into the pool at the lip was burly, as was the drop above it that would be a stout and clean 10 footer if it weren’t for another log. I’m super stoked as I roll up and collect the other half of my paddle.


(The best drop of the trip? Naa, Cutch seemed to think Ron Jeremy was better even after this slick line.)


The day started out interesting. Breakfast was filled with the city bustle of Turrialba, in contrast to the easy mornings of San Gerardo. Ferdinand was apprehensive and thus Joe and I were inquisitive to say the least.







Chalo was originally going to be our shuttle driver, but once the championship bull rider found out we were going to el Vereh he knew it was time to crawl into his boat for the first time in two years. Three beers prep on the way to the put-in took off the edge from the night before and once he cut off the soles from his shoes to fit in the boat, we were off. Arnaldo and Julio round out our trip, both Tico river rats that work for the local raft companies. They are solid.




(Chalo - Spanish for extrie loose)


(El Vereh steepness. Photo: Cutch)

(Carnage total from this drop: 2 head shots, 1 torn drytop/shredded shoulder, 1 broken paddle, and 1 swim. Ferd makes it look easy.)


Arnaldo, Ferdinand, Julio and Chalo drop the falls as well. Chalo self-rescues from his first swim as I piece together my 4-piece Werner breakdown and we are off to tackle the whitewater below, which is stacked. Every horizon is a 5, 10, or 15-foot drop, and most everything goes with the good flow. We are getting into a rhythm with leapfrog scouting and smiles as we make our way down the canyon. The pools and surrounding is surreal. By far the most remote corner of Costa Rican jungle we experienced.




(If you ever wanted to see some mad skills, boat with this guy.)


It’s my turn to scout. I jump up to check the next horizon line to find that it is the final drop of the run, and this final 12’ grind drop literally ends in a pool at the confluence with the headwaters section of the Pacuare. We stop for lunch and celebration as the rain begins to come down, taking shelter under the lush overgrowth of the jungle. As we peel out into the higher volume Pacuare we are treated with a few miles of high-quality big water class IV whitewater that is experienced by few.



(Arnaldo's booof is so good it lands him in another river. Photo: Cutch)


We spend the rest of the afternoon and evening in a flurry of activity. Heading back to our rendezvous point, we charge into Turrialba to check out of our hotel, eat dinner, and get to an internet café before close. We pile back into the Suzuki and Ferd rocks the evening drive to his place, where we grab another bent shaft paddle. You could say that he has one lying around, since it’s here that Ferdinand manufacturers Blue Pool paddles and helmets. We arrive back at Mi Tierra late, and sleep well.





Day 7

I could have kept sleeping well for hours. If our trip were any longer, then this would surely be a rest day. Instead, we figure we should do a second descent of the lower section of the Rio Candelaria. First-hand beta from the inflatable kayakers that made the first descent told us of stout drops in the top canyon, a sieve warning, and that they were overnighted only to wake up the next day and paddle around the corner to the takeout. From the topo map the gradient looks reasonable (especially when compared to the Vereh), with most of the action in the first six miles. We are hoping for a possible access point at a trail, because otherwise it’s going to be a long paddle out (the difference of about an eight mile run, or over likely over 20). Yet, we are confident that we will run some of the drops that they portaged which will save time, and even with a long paddle out it will be okay because we have a shuttle driver and will be deep in a Costa Rican river canyon.


(2nd descent plannning session)

(Joe trying to understand Southern ways - the Count would be proud of this strappage. Photo: Cutch)



(More Candelaria action. Photo: Cutch)


We wake early in preparation of a slightly long drive to the put-in, and for the unknown factors that we may encounter on the Rio Candelaria. Joe, Ferdinand, and I look tired. We meet Miguel, and Raul who is driving Miguel’s van that he uses for a rafting business. Andre is joining us as well, and we make our way to the top of the same pass, and eat at the same place that we did on day two. It’s a full-circle kind of feeling for the trip. We stock up on food to take on the river, and hustle to the put-in. The flow is lower than our last visit here, though adequate once we negotiate the first read-and-run rapids of the canyon. Once in the gorge we encounter two stout rapids in close proximity. I get routed in first, and bring extra speed in expectation of a big hole, judging by the lip. I hit, ender off my stern, and bring it forward and to the left. The entire right side of the pool flushes into a not so friendly undercut. Joe goes next, gets back endered into the hole, and swims into the nice eddy below. After a week of relatively clean lines by our trio, I am thankful to witness some carnage, and ponder if Joe views it as a requirement to swim on all of his international trips (editor’s note – I once went to Mexico without a swim).




A rapid we started referring to as The Cube follows just below. It’s a tricky scout, and portaging looks to be pretty much out of the question. A short boof up top leads to a left channel with a nice 10 footer that I fully plug. It’s deep. The right side line is ugly, though it would still go in a pinch. Below the canyon opens up. It’s dry here, so the jungle has a Washington state feel with moss covered rocks and open gravel beaches. The sun is shining, and ten or more tributaries pour in from each side of the canyon walls in spectacular displays. The class III cruise leaves for plenty of time to enjoy them. As far as 2nd descents go, this one is ridiculously mellow and good.





(1st descent team: Miguel lays it down on "Cubo")


We stop for lunch at an old wooden footbridge. There are ranches on the hills above us, but the road is washed out to this access point. We continue paddling off the edge of our topo map and into a lengthy paddle out through a large and remote valley. Jesus Christ Lizards walk on water, or rather, run across the river in front of us on their hind legs. Miguel smiles, “Hauling ass!” The JC stands probably 8” tall, and crosses 50 yards of flatwater without getting his head wet. A few bends later I’m sent into a flurry of backstrokes as two cows run across the river, splitting our group of five. Even the Ticos think it’s bizarre. Herons and flycatcher birds abound. Towards the end, a biblical tree root rests on its side in a gravel bar with a vulture perched at the top - a good 30 feet off the ground. It is the perfect paddle out to a weeklong trip.

(Kyle calls it a week.)



On the drive out we pass through perfectly farmed rows of pineapple trees and check off a visit to the Pacific coast as we drive by fully lounged out in the van. After dinner everyone except Raul sleeps as we make the haul back to Alajuela. Power nap handled, we vow to finish off the trip right, with a night on the town.


(What a great paddle-boating floating trip!)



Pura Vida.


Story by Kyle McCutchen

Photos by Joe Keck, except where noted.





18 comments:

Anonymous said...

Siiiik
-flowtorch

Anonymous said...

Hi!
You may probably be very interested to know how one can manage to receive high yields on investments.
There is no need to invest much at first.
You may commense earning with a sum that usually is spent
on daily food, that's 20-100 dollars.
I have been participating in one company's work for several years,
and I'm ready to share my secrets at my blog.

Please visit my pages and send me private message to get the info.

P.S. I earn 1000-2000 per day now.

http://theinvestblog.com [url=http://theinvestblog.com]Online Investment Blog[/url]

Anonymous said...

[u][b]Xrumer[/b][/u]

[b]Xrumer SEO Professionals

As Xrumer experts, we have been using [url=http://www.xrumer-seo.com]Xrumer[/url] for the benefit of a sustained time now and recollect how to harness the titanic power of Xrumer and go off it into a Spondulix machine.

We also provender the cheapest prices on the market. Many competitors see fit order 2x or square 3x and a lot of the continuously 5x what we responsibility you. But we have faith in providing prominent mending at a tearful affordable rate. The whole direct attention to of purchasing Xrumer blasts is because it is a cheaper surrogate to buying Xrumer. So we aim to keep that contemplating in cognizant and outfit you with the cheapest standing possible.

Not solitary do we be suffering with the greatest prices but our turnaround time for your Xrumer posting is super fast. We drive secure your posting done before you discern it.

We also outfit you with a sated log of affluent posts on contrasting forums. So that you can notice seeking yourself the power of Xrumer and how we have harnessed it to emoluments your site.[/b]


[b]Search Engine Optimization

Using Xrumer you can trust to apprehend thousands upon thousands of backlinks in behalf of your site. Tons of the forums that your Install you settle upon be posted on get acute PageRank. Having your join on these sites can truly help build up some crown grade recoil from links and uncommonly riding-boot your Alexa Rating and Google PageRank rating utterly the roof.

This is making your site more and more popular. And with this better in celebrity as well as PageRank you can keep in view to witness your place absolutely superiority high-pitched in those Search Mechanism Results.
Transport

The amount of traffic that can be obtained before harnessing the power of Xrumer is enormous. You are publishing your situation to tens of thousands of forums. With our higher packages you may still be publishing your site to HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of forums. Visualize 1 collection on a all the rage forum last will and testament almost always enter 1000 or so views, with say 100 of those people visiting your site. Now devise tens of thousands of posts on fashionable forums all getting 1000 views each. Your freight ordain withdraw at the end of one's tether with the roof.

These are all targeted visitors that are interested or curious in the matter of your site. Deem how innumerable sales or leads you can execute with this considerable gang of targeted visitors. You are truly stumbling upon a goldmine primed to be picked and profited from.

Keep in mind, Shipping is Money.
[/b]

GO YOUR TWOPENNY ERUPTION TODAY:


http://www.xrumer-seo.com

Lots for sale in Costa Rica said...

The information of this site is really important since it counts on specific details for interested in adventure. The illustration that offers on the life in Costa Rica and its people seems to me very advisable the image of the country and contributes great benefits for the tourism, business that offers many economic advantages for the country. The increase of real state in costa rica in Costa Rica during the last years is the test that Costa Rica in one of the destinies more looked for by the foreigners eager to invest in this point of exuberant beauty of flora and fauna.

Sildenafil Citrate said...

those photos are amazing, it seems you had a great time with your friends, and the place looks so beautiful, I love nature and I may go to that country thanks for sharing this!

Green Parks said...

Hello.. Firstly I would like to send greetings to all readers. After this, I recognize the content so interesting about this article. For me personally I liked all the information. I would like to know of cases like this more often. In my personal experience I might mention a book called Green Parks Costa Rica in this book that I mentioned have very interesting topics, and also you have much to do with the main theme of this article.

Jessie said...

When traveling, many people want to save money, but they also require creature comforts in their accommodations.

Pousada Buzios

Jessie said...

Large hotels, especially those with conference centers, use an executive committee structure to better facilitate departmental communications and coordinate activities.

Hoteis Em Joao Pessoa

viagra said...

I am totally immersed myself in the excellent stuff.It is our great pleasure to share the wonderful blog with you. Best Regards!

Viagra said...

Costa Rica looks beautiful!

Anonymous said...

One day, four months into the courtship, Irina came home all excited because Tony proposed.
A quick research showed that major reverse cell phone lookup
services have a few pricing level. This information can help you find people or family members, lookup
business criminal and court records or locate birth,
death and marriage records.

Anonymous said...

Howdy would you mind letting me know which web host you're working with? I've loaded your blog in 3 completely different internet browsers and I must say this blog loads a lot quicker
then most. Can you suggest a good hosting provider at a fair price?
Thank you, I appreciate it!

Look into my web-site :: 42548

Anonymous said...

When the code continues to be came into successfully,
all the issues is usually credited to your account.
t like to spend too much on investing in code, then you can definitely always aim for Free Xbox codes.
The second type is the almost legitimate programs
that are encountered less than the fake type and has been
created with good intentions and was filled with legal, valid codes.


Visit my blog :: free microsoft points

Anonymous said...

But what if you want a celebrity style dress but don't have the budget to match

Feel free to surf to my blog; informal wedding dresses

Anonymous said...

Publicize the style and size that you really desire

Also visit my web site - blog link

Anonymous said...

When covering the area, it should be enough to use a regular bandage.
Small and soft skin growths acquired on the skin are called
skin tags. But since something was happening I decided to keep trying for a few more nights.



Here is my web page ... How to get rid of skin tags

Anonymous said...

Muсh agreed. Anytime I go on %source_url&%, ӏ happen
upon а website that is enlightening and сhаllenging.
. It's generally helpful to study writing from fellow authors and implement certain things from other websites.

My blog post ... emissivity

Anonymous said...

This learning only comes with gradual maturity which shows up from time to time.
How long you have to wait for them to approve it can vary based on the Requester and the type of work involved
in the hit. A: Sign in to your Fire How account, and click on 'my articles' and then click 'new.

Also visit my blog: make money online