“Are there rapids in the canyon?” “Moo.”
Chile WHITEWATER CHILE
Kayak the Fu, 7 days, $1,795 US
Paddle Chile, 10 days, $1,995 US January 2011 TBD
www.whitewaterchile.com Tyler@riverplay.ca
Spend a week on the mighty Rio Futaleufu, or roadtrip for 10 days from Santiago to Patagonia.
EXPEDICIONES CHILE
8 days, $1,595 US; $1,000 US each additional week
Class II–III, III–IV and IV–V trips every week from end of November to mid-April
www.exchile.com (888) 488-9082
Six days paddling the Fu, Rio Azul or their tributaries. Stay at a swanky eco-camp at the confluence of the Rio Azul and Futaleufu.
Mexico ESPRIT 8 days, $1, 550 CDN
“Week of Rivers” every week from end of November to end of March
www.whitewater.ca/esprit_ mexico_adventures.html
(800) 596-7238
Kayak the warm, turquoise steeps of the Cascadas de Micos, El Salto and the Santa Maria, or base out of Jalcomulco, Veracruz, for six days of paddling.
Kenya ADVENTURE TRIPPIN’ 11 days, $TBD
Nov 22–Dec 3, 2010 April 10–20, 2011
www.aquabatics.com/tours (877) 440-9283
A week of kayaking on the best warm water, pool-and- drop runs of Kenya’s central plateau. Two full days on wildlife safari in the Samburu Game Reserve.
Ecuador
ENDLESS ADVENTURE INTERNATIONAL
9 days, $1,199–$1,395 US “Dirtbag” option, $349 US
Nov 13–21, 2010 Nov 27–Dec 5, 2010 Dec 11–20, 2010 Jan 15–28, 2011 Dirtbag starting Nov 21, 2010
www.whitewaterkayaktours.com (877) 386-8181
A week of class III–IV+ creeking and river running on cloud and rain forest rivers. Dirtbag option includes all the essentials for a fraction of the cost.
Bhutan TARKIO KAYAK ADVENTURES 12 days, $TBD November 2011 TBD
www.teamtarkio.com (406) 543-4583
An immersion in the rivers and culture of Bhutan including 10 days of paddling, scenic hikes and tours of temples.
Costa Rica ADVENTURE TRIPPIN’ 8 days, $TBD
Class II/III trip: October 9–16, 2010
Class III/IV trip: October 16-23, 2010
www.aquabatics.com/tours (877) 440-9283
Six days of paddling on four different rivers, including an overnight at a rainforest lodge on the Rio Pacuare.
Norway NORWAYDAZE 8 days, $1,095-$1,995 US July/Aug available on request
www.norwaydaze.com mariannsaether@yahoo.no
Intermediate, hardcore and ladies-only weeks. Base out of a traditional Norwegian farm or roadtrip cross- country.
“ 38 Rapid summer/fall 2010
People think that guided trips are about leading a bunch of newbies down the river. Tat’s not it at all.” —Jim Coffey, Esprit
work our way down a river like any paddling group would. Some of these people wouldn’t necessarily want to be on an organized trip if they had more time to work out the logis- tics. We often see younger, budget-strapped guys who show up and try to do it on their own, but inevitably they end up just running the popular, local sections of rivers.” Fifteen members of Calgary’s Paddle Junkies whitewater
paddling club were exactly the type of boaters Simon Cow- ard was targeting when he planned a 12-day trip last fall to Kenya. Coward, a whitewater instructor and owner of Cal- gary’s Aquabatics paddle shop and Adventure Trippin’ tour operator, taught many of his Kenya expedition mates their first strokes on Alberta rivers. He says travelling abroad was a natural step in their learning progression. “What we’re try- ing to do is improve paddling skills and give people a cool cultural experience as well,” says Coward. “We do trips in countries where I’ve explored in the past. Basically we’re tak- ing the best of what I’ve done over the years and packing it into a two-week trip.” Coward’s group consisted of paddlers like Barb Cardwell,
a regulatory advisor at Esso-Imperial Oil. Cardwell got her start paddling Ontario and Quebec rivers like the Ottawa, Gatineau and Madawaska before she moved west to work in the front offices of the Tar Sands. “I like to have fun but I don’t like to scare the crap out of myself,” she says. “I don’t think the people in our club have the experience to pull off a self-supported trip of that nature at this point, especially on another continent. Te most impressive aspect was having every last detail thought of and taken care of for you. Te degree of planning put into the trip to make sure we all had an excellent experience was apparent to all of us every day.” Terein lies the obvious appeal of going guided: Someone else manages the shuttles, language barriers, permits and pa-
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