and D E T E R M I N E D
Hell Bound
SAT phone littered about. Our plan B of accessing the old Inca trail 1,200 metres up on river right would disappear if we pushed on. We still had 60 kilometres left of the steepest and most committing section of river, and we had only travelled one kilometre in more than three hours. Our river senses were telling us
to get out. Slowly we came to the conclusion that we had to, at a bare minimum, hike around what lay below us. Shane described it as “this feeling of relief where you decide to go with your instincts of survival and judgment, versus your ego to want to complete something big.” None of us wanted to leave the river. Piero and Todd bushwhacked ahead
with the machete to scout a possible evacuation route while Shane, Andrew, and I began roping boats. It was slow.
In two hours we moved the boats only about 400 feet up the relentless terrain. Then Piero returned. “I hope you guys
have insurance, ‘cause we are going to need a helicopter to get out of here.” As he was dialing numbers on our
satellite phone leaving messages with his family and any other helpful connections he had, the rest of us hacked out a base camp on a thin, rocky jungle ledge above the churning, victorious Huallaga. Fighting fi erce ants we camped and
waited. Our gear was soiled in mud, we were battered and demoralized. As we awaited rescue or fi nding our own escape route, the reality slowly set in; we were not on an ordinary summer vacation. We were at the gates of Hell, temptation trying to lure us in and divine judgment telling us not to look back.
For complete details on the mission, see
www.irvacationtohell.com OPG White Water_7.625x4.875:Layout 1 4/18/08 11:02 AM Page 1
Andrew Oberhardt dropping into the gorge that forced Casey’s evacuation in 1999.
Recreational activities near hydroelectric facilities are hazardous DANGER
Ontario Power Generation and the Ontario Provincial Police want you to stay clear of hydroelectric stations, dams, shorelines, and surrounding waterways. Hydro electric stations operate all year round and can have a significant effect on water flows. These changes in water flows can happen suddenly. At some of our dams, the gates are operated remotely. In just a matter of minutes, calm waters can become turbulent and dry riverbeds can fill with powerful rushing water. For your safety, please obey all warnings, signs, booms and buoys. If you see water levels changing, move immediately to a safe location.
To obtain a free water safety DVD or children’s computer game visit
www.opg.com www.opg.com 32
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