Copyright © Expediciones Chile 2005

Whitewater Kayaker Evaluator
 
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PART A: HELP US GET TO KNOW YOU, AND CUSTOMIZE YOUR TRIP. THESE ANSWERS GO TO OUR OFFICE AND YOUR GUIDE
 
I have days for vacation.
 
I have the possibility of people traveling with me.
 
I prefer to arrive around
 
I flexible on my dates.
 
I could also travel during the of .
 
I addition to the activity of this evaluator I may also be interested in trying: Select all those that you may have interest in:
Only this activity   Sea Kayaking
Sit on top intro to kayaking   Mt. Biking
Fly Fishing   Horse back Riding
Trekking   Canyoning
Rafting   Multisport as many as possible
Skiing in the Andes      

I heard about Expediciones Chile from .
 
PART B: PERSPECTIVES
 
When traveling to a new place which factors are most important to you.

Rate this by giving each concept a unique number 1 being most important and 8 being the least important.
Focus on my favorite activity MYSPORT   Group Interaction
Dining/Comfort   Escape/unplugging
Nature/Outdoors   Getting off the beaten track
History/Culture   Doing as many activities as possible
 
Chose what best describe your feelings about alcohol:
I do not drink.
I like wine with dinner.
I drink a pisco sour before, and wine with dinner.
I would like 2-3 pisco sours or beers before, and wine with dinner.
I enjoy an open bar.
 
Our menus are a hybrid of Gourmet food, Chilean specialties, and healthy vegtables and grains. We have our own organic greenhouse and offer vegetarian and low carb alternatives. Options are available.
 
I prefer:
Hybrid Gourmet.
Lower Fat, whole grain.
Vegetarian, whole grain, no meat or dairy.
Low Carb.
Other
Whatever you put in front of me.
 
PART C: GETTING THERE
 
Select one which best expresses your attitude:
 
I fly first or business class when available. Life is to short not too.
I fly coach when I pay; I fly business class with my frequent flyer miles.
I fly coach.
 
I use frequent flyer miles for this vacation.
 

PART D: ACCOMMODATIONS
 
If I had to spend a night in one of the gateway cities, after a long overnight flight from my home town, I would prefer to stay in a:
 
Classy hotel with TV, phone, personal space, roof top restaurant, pool, and downtown restaurants at my doorstep. (Approx $100 usd)
A very economical, clean, spartan, Inn a cab ride from downtown. (approx $40 usd)
 
Which of the following descriptions best describes what you would like when you are on one of our trips?
I want to return to a lodge every night. No camping.
I want to be based out of the lodge, but I am ready to experience unique accommodations like a remote ranch with a bed room, or in a provided tent at an eco camp, understanding I will have sit down dining, hot showers, sauna, when surrounded by nature.
I want to be surrounded by nature at a luxurious eco camp in a tent, or a bedroom at a remote ranch.
I would enjoy wilderness primitive camping through the majority of my trip and I enjoy the risk and the rewards this type of experience brings.
I would enjoy and appreciate any accommodation available for the trip I have chosen.
 
I pay 14 % more to have a single room supplement for my accommodations.
I own a sleeping bag.
I own a sleeping pad.
I own a tent.
I camped out in the rain.
 

PART E: PHYSICAL FITNESS
 
1. I work out times a month.
2. I play times a month.
3. I go on times a month.
PART F: GETTING SPECIFIC
 
 
Everyone has a different idea about what determines Class III whitewater, let alone Class V. We have designed a survey that will help you reach your own conclusion regarding what Class paddler you really are. Our goal is for you to be able to select rivers and trips that are an excellent experience for you -wherever you paddle in the world. This survey will also help us place you on the trip that most closely matches your ability level.

Answer this survey as accurately and honestly as possible. It requires you to respond with how you are paddling NOW, not how.
 
1. What kind of paddler do you think you are?
I think I am a paddler.
 
2. How long of a trip are you planning? .
 
3. I paddle days a year.
 
4. The kayak I paddle is a , because .
 
5. My paddle is a , I paddle with it because .
 
6. I have been paddling for years.
 
7. When was your last swim and what were the conditions that led up to it? -
 
8. What class of whitewater do you enjoy the most?
 Why?
 

9. What is the river you usually paddle?
Class Water level cfs.
 
10. List the 2 most challenging rivers you have paddled in the last 2 years?
Class Water level
Class Water level
 
11. List your last two paddling injuries. Are they healed?
Healed Not Healed
Healed Not Healed
 
PART G: READ CAREFULLY. SELECT THE LEVEL WHERE YOU BEST FIT, AND THEB SELECT THE BOXES UNDER YOUR SELECTED LEVEL THAT YOU THINK AGREE WITH YOUR SKILLS.

I think I am a Beginner paddler because…
  I have never paddled before
  I have had pool sessions
  I am working on my roll
  I have paddled on a lake

I think I am Class 2/3 paddler because...
  I have a one-side roll
  I can catch eddies and make my line.
  I have run rivers similar to the Nantahala, Lower Yough, Clackamas, Main Payette, and the American
  My roll fails me in Class 3/4 water.

I think I am a Class 3/4 paddler because...
  I prefer to leave the hairier Class 4+ drops for another time
  I have a good whitewater roll
  I am learning how to play
  I do not have confidence in my roll in Class 5 water
  I can catch eddies and make my lines in Class 3 water
  I am comfortable running rivers similar to the Ocoee, Westwater, South Fork of the American, Kennebec, Ottawa, Animas, Grand Canyon, Nolichucky, Brown's Canyon Arkansas, South Fork of the Payette, the Main Salmon or similar

I think I am a Class 4/4+ paddler because...
  I have a solid combat roll and Class 4 river running skills
  I am comfortable spinning on waves
  I am comfortable cartwheeling and I try some advanced play moves.
  I am comfortable catching eddies and making my line.
  I feel comfortable PLAYING on the Upper Gauley, Royal Gorge of the Arkansas, Slaughter House Section of the Roaring Fork, Lower Toulon, Ottawa, etc.

I think I am a Class 4/5 paddler because...
  I have fun catching eddies while hopping through a Class 4 drops or doing the occasional Class 5 run
  I have fun, spinning and hitting advanced play moves on waves in strong rapids
  I have run more than 10 Class 4 rivers and a handful of Class 5 drops
  I have a bomb-proof roll in technical or pushy waters
  I am comfortable catching two - boat eddies
  I am comfortable at making my line in Class 4/5
  I am comfortable PLAYING AND being in control on rivers like the Upper Gauley, South Fork of the Salmon, North Fork of the American, Yuba, Upper White Salmon, Watauga, Upper Yough, Russell Fork, and Numbers Pine Creek of the Arkansas, or Section IV of the Chattooga (at 1.8 or higher)

I am a Class 5/5+ paddler because...
  I am in excellent physical condition
  I have highly refined paddling skills
  I am comfortable catching one-boat eddies
  I am comfortable making a move on the lip of big drops.
  I have advanced play skills
  I have complete confidence in my roll
  I rarely swim and if I do it isn’t because of roll failure.
  I am very experienced and have done a handful of Class V or V+ runs with-in the last year. Such rivers are similar in difficulty to the: The Green, North Fork of the Payette, Cherry Creek, Gore Canyon, Great Falls of the Potomac, Russell Fork, or the Meadow.
 
PART H: THE FOLLOWING 8 QUESTIONS RELATE TO THE HIGHEST CLASS RIVER YOU HAVE RUN.
 
1. Select the highest class of whitewater you have paddled in the last two years
 
2. The first time down a new run I feel
 
3. The first time down a difficult (for me) new run my mental state is
 
4. The first time down a difficult (for me) new river I
 
5. My roll is best described as roll.
 
6. I hands roll.
 
7. I roll on
 
8. On my first attempt, the percentage of my combat roll is
 
9. On my second attempt, the percentage of my combat roll is
 
10. What is your biggest weakness on the first time down a river?
 

11. After filling out this form I think I certain that I am at least paddler.


Kayak Selector - Choose a Kayak for Your Trip
Description of the Trips, type of paddling, type of Boats.

Patagonia Kayak Safari Trips
Duration: Two weeks
Dec-April Skill levels: Kayak School, Class 2/3, Class 3/4. Class 4/5
A safari trip is a two week kayak trip that includes numerous rivers in Chile and Argentina. The second week is paddling the rivers of the Futaleufu River Valley. Paddling these rivers give us a tour of the different ecosystems of Patagonia. The Rio Fuy is small to moderate in size, and has technical class 4/5 steep sections and a vertical water fall section rated Class 5. The Fuy beginner section is Class 2. The Rio San Pedro is an introduction to big water and has Class 3/3+ rapids with some big surfing waves. The Manso is moderate in size with excellent play spots and is Class 3/4. We have found a creek boat is best if one hopes to run the steepest sections. A Play boat is optimum when want wants to do more playing and avoid the class 5 vertical section. When we arrive at the Futaleufu you can change boats. There is an additional fleet at the camp. These trips can accommodate kayakers of different skills paddling in separate sub groups.

Kayak Chile: Futaleufu River Valley
Duration: One, Two, Three weeks

Dec-April Skill levels: Kayak School, Kayak Chile Class II/III, Futaleufu River Valley Class III/IV, Kayak Futaleufu Class IV/V
The Futaleufu valley is a rugged and deep valley surrounded surrounded by glacier crowned peaks. The rivers and lakes are challenging and pristine. The Futaleufu is a fast, pushy, big volume river with very powerful eddy lines. There are five sections. The El Macal teaching section is Class 3. The Bridge-to-Bridge Section is class 4 with great play spots. T he other three sections are class 4 with play and five walkable class 5 rapids between them. These rapids are very stimulating and offer a big-water challenge for anyClass 5 paddler. The Rio Azul is a small Class 3/4- river with some great play spots. The Rio Espolon is class 2/3+ and has ideal kayak instruction spots and a great surf wave. The Rio Palena is Class 3/3+. The lower Rio Michimahuida is a steep Class 5 run for experts only, the upper section is great for kayak school students. When paddling the biggest rapids on the Futaleufu some kayakers have felt more comfortable in a slightly bigger kayak than they paddle at home. When paddling the play stretches some like the newest play boats. These trips can accommodate paddlers of different skills paddling in separate sub groups. You can change kayaks at any time during the week.

Argentinean Week of Rivers
Duration: One week
November and December Skill levels: Kayak School, Class 2/3, Class 3/4 or Class 4/5
Our base, San Carlos de Bariloche is considered to the capital city of the Patagonia Region . It is surronded by National Parks and Pristine lakes and rivers. This small city is complete with great restaurants and a famous night life. Spring is the optimum time for the best water levels. This trip can accommodate paddlers of different skills paddling in separate sub-groups. We paddle the Rio Traful Class 2/3. The Rio Alumine 2/3/4, The Rio Manso 2/5 and the Rio Teno 2/3 all have Class 2/3 section and Class 3/4 sections. Any boat will do. Pick what you feel comfortable in.

 
 
 

Kayak Selection:

Kayak 1st choice:

Kayak 2nd choice:

 
 
Send us your most memorable kayak experience and any additional information that might be helpful