Whitewater Kayaker surfing photo Baker River, Patagonia, Chile

A whitewater kayaker surfing on a play wave on the Rio Baker or Baker River, Patagonia, Chile.

Hey Folks,

Here’s another from the Rio Baker – at the end of the first canyon, which is 5 enormous rapids over 2 miles, there’s a flatwater section, and then just down from the take-out spot is a big playwave. We bought an extra kayak, a smaller playboat, just for this one wave. You’d never want to run a river the size of the Baker in such a small boat, unless you’re a kayaker with world-class crazy skills – a bigger volume boat is what you need for running such big rapids. But, once down at the playwave, those big boats aren’t as handy for doing tricks and surfing, like this small Wave Sport ZG playboat. Being smaller and less volume, the boat is more maneuverable, and in the hands of someone like Santiago Ibanez, from Peru, it rocks and rolls with ease. Santiago’s a great fella, a helluva great kayaker, and he guides on the Futaleufu River when he’s not in Peru.

By the way, if you haven’t read my earlier blogs on the Baker, the river is scheduled to be dammed in the coming year. Hopefully enough activism and enough demonstrations will stop that from happening. For more information, visit these pages:

Baker River and also here.

Cheers

Carl

6 thoughts on “Whitewater Kayaker surfing photo Baker River, Patagonia, Chile

  1. Beth Lunsford

    I bet you wanna go back. Who wouldn’t? It does look like a blast!! I wanted to ask you about something else, too. There is a road somewhere down in South America called The Jungass Road. I think it’s spelled that way. It’s supposed to be the most dangerous Rd. in the world. Do you know which Rd. I’m talking about, & if so, have you ever been down it? Just curious. Stay safe, as always!

  2. Beth Lunsford

    I’m pretty sure it’s in Brazil. Someone was talking about it one day at the airport, [ couldn’t help overhearing, it was packed!] . Anyway, they said because of the narrowness of it winding through the mountains & the geology [ crumbling shoulders, + rain, snow, etc… , that it was an adrenaline-pumping ride the whole way. There are supposed to be some fantastic views. Thought you may want to investigate & check it out. I’m sure I can find out something on the net, just haven’t had time lately. I just jump on when I get a minute.

  3. Carl Donohue

    Hey Beth,

    Ahh, Brazil I was kinda far from – I was in Chile almost the whole time, with a little bit of Argentina. I think from your description of it the road might be in Peru or Ecuador.

    Cheers

    Carl

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