Because
of the difficulty of this stretch of whitewater
Expediciones Chile runs it only after your
rafting team has run the easier sections and
has built their skills and confidence needed
to run this section. Running the upper Futaleufu
is optional for all of our guests and is water
level dependent. At certain times of the year,
or during abnormally wet years, the upper
gorge can become too powerful to allow rafts
to safely pass through.
Rapid
by Rapid:
Mini-Canyon
(IV)
The mini canyon is our introduction
to the upper Futaleufu. Here we get a tasteof
what is to come within the powerful class
V rapids of the Infierno Canyon. The mini
canyon is as narrow and turbulent as the Infierno
Canyon but it is short and has a huge pool
beneath, making it a great practice run. The
safety sets up below in the pool. The route
is down the middle and your team needs to
paddle aggressively to the left, away from
the wall that the current runs into. A few
minutes later we arrive at the exit rapid.
Here the route is down the right where we
emerge from a slot cut through a black rock
into a calm pool. A few minute float and we
come to the confluence where the turquoise
Rio Epsolon enters from river right. We float
another mile as the two different colors of
these rivers mix. With each paddle stroke
the excitement builds, as we get closer to
the massive black rock walls that are the
dramatic entry to the Gates of the
Infierno. Just to the right lies
a white sand beach that we call last chance
beach. This is our final opportunity to stretch
or exit the river before entering one of the
most dramatic whitewater stretches in the
world.
Infierno
Canyon (V)
Running Infierno Canyon is
a totally committing experience. Once we enter
the gates of the Infierno we must run in its
entirety, although there is an emergency exit
trail there are no portage trails to walk
around the rapids. Because of that we give
this whole section of water a class V rating
even though some of the rapids in the canyon
are rated below that.
1. Gates of
Infierno (V)
Infierno Canyon starts off
with a bang. As we scout this rapid we’ll
notice the constricted nature of the river
and the huge drop that causes the water to
accelerate. On the left a towering wall causes
a massive series of exploding reactionary
waves. We’ll be tempted to go right,
but our pre-run scout will have revealed a
dramatic ledge hole on the right side of the
river. You and your guides will thread the
needle piloting your raft close enough to
the wall to avoid the ledge hole, but not
so close as to be flipped by the reactionary
waves coming off the wall. The perfect line
will put you on a dramatic wave train between
the two hazards. But first the suspense builds
as our safety cats and kayaks run the rapids
and set up below for safety. Each raft will
run when the signal is given getting the full
attention of our triangle safety system. Immediately
after this rapid there is a short calm between
storms where our safety system is ready to
help with regrouping before flowing into the
spectacular Wall-Shot rapid.
2. Wall Shot
(V)
Scouting is not an option but
your guides know this rapid by heart. Floating
towards it they will point out the pass and
start paddling to the right between the peaks
of the explosion waves below. The safety cat
and kayaks sprint ahead again to set up our
unique safety system. You will enjoy the paddle
through this whitewater chaos.
3. Dance of
Angels (IV-)
After coming out of the spectacular
Wall Shot we regroup and review our team work.
We look downstream where we will encounter
a steep fun ramp leading to a train of huge
standing waves, a welcome break from the adrenaline
charged Wall Shot. We ride down the center
of the river through this fun- filled towering
wave train.
4.
Dynamite (New!!)(V)
Dynamite
is the newest rapid on the Futaleufu River.
It was formed in December of 2006 by overzealous
road crews blasting along the rim of the Infierno
Canyon. The debris that entered the river
from the collapsed the river-left canyon wall
causing a significant constriction at the
very bottom of Dance of Angels. The result
is that central wavetrain associated with
Dance of Angels now runs directly into Dynamite
without a break.
Looking at the rapid from above one can’t
help but be reminded of a giant pinball machine.
The biggest, “marquee wave” in
the rapid is Flipper Diagonal, which not only
will flip anything that enters it, but whose
position, at the bottom of the drop, also
resembles the flipper of a pinball machine.
5. The Perfect Storm (Tormenta Perfecta)(V)
We regroup above the final
exit rapid of the Infierno canyon and discuss
our strategy as the safety craft sprint ahead
to set up our triangle safety. This rapid
again is difficult to scout and the guides
will explain the strategy. The entry towards
the horizon line of this drop is very fast
with smooth waves so you will not see the
ramp on the left until you are almost on top
of it. As soon as your team hits the explosion
wave at the bottom of the ramp we angle to
the right to get around a house size rock
below, then just as quickly we angle back
to the center of the river to avoid a problematic
eddy that our safety kayaker is waiting in,
just in case we have a swimmer. Elation is
felt by all as we exit into the flatwater
below and share in our experience as the towering
black wall subside into the open valley below.
Las Escalas Valley (II)
This open roadless valley has
a sprinkling of farms connected by a trail
leading down the Futaleufu valley. We can
enjoy the beauty of the water and the wide
open valley as we have a chance to unbuckle
our helmets, relax and stop for lunch on a
white beach with a view of the surrounding
peaks that mark the border with Argentina.
False Zeta (IV)
After exiting Las Escalas Valley
we will notice the river begin to constrict
and pick up speed. We will see a severe constriction
in the river and a black rock wall. This leads
into the False Zeta an extremely turbulent
rapid, but without much drop. The turbulent
route is on the left, and the sneak shoot
is on the right. We are back into flat water
before we know it. Be sure to watch the safety
kayaker deal with the severe whirlpools; sometime
they will swallow the kayaker up for a few
seconds.
Zeta (V+)
After cleaning False Zeta all
eyes will be on the look out for a constriction
in the river and a significant horizon line
that leads to the spectacular twisting Zeta
rapid that leads into an undercut wall. This
will be our first mandatory portage of the
day. The guides will ghost boat or line the
rafts through the narrow constriction as you
watch from the cliffs above and watch one
of the guides rappel down to row the rafts
out of the room of doom eddy. Your guide will
take you to the overlook and explain the kayak
route through this world class rapid. But
do not be surprised if your safety kayaker
walks it. This rapid is run by expert kayakers,
and only at certain levels. It is considered
class VI for rafts because of the extreme
danger posed by the undercut and the room
of doom eddy. Below the rapid you will notice
the champagne like bubbles surfacing hundreds
of yards below the rapid that has churned
white by the violence of the drop.
Throne
Room (V+)
After a 20 minute float you
will notice a roar that crescendos, sounding
like a 747 taking off. The horizon line
will look as if there is a waterfall below,
and a huge black rock cliff on river left
provides a tower to view the “Throne”
the granddaddy of whitewater power storms.
Here the river drops the greatest in the
shortest distance on its entire trip to
the ocean. Because of the danger to swimmers
from this massive cataract we portage this
rapid on the left where we can view from
a high cliff the guides ghost boating rafts
down the Throne Room. If one of the safety
kayakers decides to run this rapid you will
have the best seat in the house. This rapid
is an elite kayaking run for those rugged
kayakers who have a bomb proof Eskimo roll.
Swimming in the Throne Room is simply not
an option. After our walk around the rapid
the rafts join us on a gravel beach in one
of the most spectacular pools on the river.
Often we see huge fish jumping in this seldom
fished spot.
Wild Mile
(III-IV)
Entering the section we call
the Wild Mile will be one of the high points
of your trip. During this day you will have
successfully negotiated the Infierno gorge,
viewed two world class class rapids, and
now you are starting a continuous stretch
of interconnected rapids rushing you past
scenery that is nothing short of awesome.
The unusually dramatic mountains are accented
by huge and strange Coyhue trees on the
banks. We run an S turn between Waves that
look like giant beach breakers. We regroup
in a small eddy before the last rapid of
the Wild mile. Again our safety boats go
down before us. We negotiate this energetic
and challenging stretch by entering on the
right and sliding towards the center. After
huge standing waves we come upon the last
constriction gorge of the day. This time,
however it is flat and opens into one of
the most spectacular views anywhere. A light
blue Azul river flows in on the right, a
small creek on the left. The sun lit spires
of the Tres Monjas peak tower overhead.
Beneath this incredible confluence of beautiful
features waits the ultimate river camp and
white sand beach of ClubFuta at Campo Tres
Monjas. Wine, cheese, beer and guacamole
await. The sauna and masseuse are ready.
There is nothing better than paddling up
to the sand beach in the wilds and to know
all the luxuries of ClubFuta, and your personal
belongings are awaiting you.
Continue
the Futaleufu river
rapids tour:
Middle
Futaleufu >>
Downloadable
pdf:
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Rafting >>