Las Truchas river lies in the upper reaches of the Nuble River valley in region VIII of Chile.  The first descent was completed in 2007, and the second and third descents in 2010.   Due to its remote location it is off the radar of most kayaking trips done in Chile. However it is with out a doubt one of the best multi-day river trips in the country.   Our trip started with a run down Las Sauces river, the main tributary to the Nuble.  We camped that night at the confluence expecting the arrival of the cowboys who would transport our boats and gear to the put-in of the Las Truchas.

After one full day of hiking we arrived at the put-in to rest for the night looking forward to the next day.

For me it does not get any better than waking up loading my boat knowing all I need to do for the day is kayak.  The river was at a perfect level for 7 hours of boulder garden boofing!

Although the logistics for this run seem difficult it could not be any easier for such a high quality multi-day trip.  The unfortunate reality is that construction has already begun on one of two dams threatening the Nuble River.   Like many rivers in Chile once completed the landscape will be  changed forever.

Read the full trip report here.

Two days ago I came back from a ten day trip guiding for www.kayakchile.net on the Big Water fun of the Futaleufu in Southern Chile. Much fun was had by all as we paddled all the sections including Inferno Canyon, Terminator, Bridge to Bridge, Mas o Menas, Casa de Piedra and the Macal section.

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Adam and I have been in New Zealand for about two months now. Living out of our trusty campervan.  Our general plan has been – no plan- which seems to have paid off most the time.

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The plan emerged over the week. The Pyranha Sales Team would go paddling together on Saturday. After many considerations were taken it was decided the mighty Tryweryn in North Wales would be the river of choice. We also decided that the weekend would perfect to do some filming……

A drive through North Wales to the river told a story of rain…lots. In fact North Wales had something of soggy look, lots of water in the fields, the rivers would be high.  In fact the Lower Tryweryn was running very high indeed, higher than I’d ever seen it despite the actual low level of the dam release.  The rain was lashing down, it was not great weather for filming. Hey ho.. we went boating.

In honesty we were all a bit rusty but after a couple of runs I think we all became a little happier with ourselves. Jim Pearce was showing some lovely boofing work in the Z:One, Liz Maybury was looking good in her Burn Medium, Dave Cusick was squirting and boofing his way down the river in a Varun M as was honorary team member Steve Sale. I was doing my wobbly best in the fantastic 2010 Burn M.

Highlight of the day was Dave getting two runs down a little trib that doesn’t normally run but with the monsoon hitting North Wales was in full flow.

So in the end it wasn’t a great day for filming but we did get some nice boating done. Nice one.

Tim ‘Average Joe’ Lambert

Holtwood has long been a playboaters dream, any boaters who have gotten a taste of the Susquehana rivers whitewater below the holtwood dam knows that this is a gem. In 2006 PPL the owner of the Holtwood hydroelectric power plant applied for a permit to expand and make the 100+ year old plant more efficent and cost effective. The project includes enhancing the shad passage by giving them a low velocity passageway to the fish ladder. The Piney channel is the home of stormhole, one of Holtwoods preimum playspots. This channel has been under extencive exavation but stormhole has been left untouched as per the deal with the boaters and AW in hopes that it will be the same great hole it was. With the addition of the new unit one turbine the days of natural flows in the area will be cut down controlled by the powerplant and the new turbine. So to make up for the loss of recreation days PPL has signed an agreement adding two new features to make up for the loss of natural flow days. Alot has gone into getting to this point with a great group of local boater, and Kevin Colburn from American Whitewater working hard to make this happen, and acting as the watchdog for future boaters. As it stands we are planning on doing the next flow study this spring. If the project stays on track.

Breaking out the L Burn in sunny California.  This particular falls has a nice launch ledge just below the lip that never treats you the same twice.  Good to dial in that freefall for the springtime!  Photo by Alex Conheim

Paddled a brilliant river in Nepal last year, heres a little Video of the trip down.

For more information on the Dordi Khola Click here

Jake