River of Silver (Rio Plata)

For the past few weeks, we have been on quite a strange rally of paddling...due to the everlasting cold rains, so we ran Tres Saltos again.  It was a nice level and we all had fun. Then with a small break in the weather and a trip to Santiago, the levels dropped enough to get on some more different rivers.  Rodrigo has always talked of the Plata throughout the years and we haven't gotten it until two days ago. The run starts out with quite a stout hike in, BUT, there is a magical view over the whole Pucon valley to keep every one happy for the majority of the trek.  

Jared hiking across the first bridge before the climbing starts....

Jared in a tight spot near the put in.

Taking a small break from the steepness.... all the boys happy to get out and get a little workout in. 

Unloading the Kayak Pucon van at Lago Villarrica.

Finally at the river after dropping into the canyon for 40 minutes.

Jared boofing a nice little drop.

One of my personal favorites of the day... You can't tell that it is a tight 12 footer right below where he is setting up.

Hiking up...and up!

Some mad bombing through a money section.

El Rio Plata has always been a river I have wanted to do...not only because the rapids look cool as hell, but because it is also the closest of all the creeks to the town of Pucon. From downtown, you can look across the lake and see the deep jungle gorge that withholds this amazing river. To break it all down, the river is a bit on the mank-side of the scale, but all the significant drops are good to go. 

This one was a manky, tight turn!

Fighting with lots of bamboo going down to the river...

Some boogie water.

BROWN!


Jared styling out a tech-drop.

Jake on the last 20-footer of the Plata.

The portage that Jared decided to run. He really regretted his choice minutes later when his cameras (both of them) disappeared around the corner.  

Buttcrack Falls!  A tight briny....

Fired up to be in the Plata with all my good friends!

Over all, the river was classic and a very unique place for us all to be. The rapids were technical and hard at times, then clean and fun at others. My favorite part of the Plata was the box canyon we got to pass through to get from the put-in, all the way back to the lake, where we started the gnarly little hike.   

Later E.G.

Si lo crees, lo puedes!

Well after a long time with high levels, and doing a few different rivers including... Desahue high as hell, Upper Liucura, Turbio, and high water Nevados.... We returned to the Tres Saltos with a high, but reasonable flow. I have been fighting off a wicked cold down here while still trying to kayak in the winter like conditions... So I have been feeling a little under the weather to say the least... First image is covering our Halloween celebration from Saturday night... It was quite the fiesta to say the least... The next day we got on the Desahue with an unbelievable high flow. Running unstoppable huge class V between sharp plants, we made it through the crux of the run before having a swim and loosing a kayak and paddle to the raging torrent. With bad vibes we hiked out of the river to save the rest for another day... After scouting more high water death, we finally balled up and went back to the park and huck saviour Tres Saltos....

Demshitz had a strong showing at the bar.

Ian firing it up first...

A huge paddle toss and hands roll made my run a success.

Jared running this big boi for the 3rd time this year.

Thin Hurm having a good yet slightly crooked line off this jungle love.

And last but not least, our good chilean friend Gringo ran it with a nice line.

He was rather fired up and happy to have had a good line.

Our group enjoying the rain fed creeks while they are here... This has been the most rain I have ever seen at one time... Most everything is too scary and high to put on. There are some creeks that can handle it... That's what we are looking for.

Later E.G.