Greetings from Choshuenco! Choshuenco is a one-road town about three hours south of Pucon, accessible only by dirt roads that encircle dazzling lake after dazzling lake. We have our own little lake here in Choshuenco and have been taking advantage of the scenery to enhance our classroom environments. The lower Fuy drains into Lago Choshuenco, which makes the take-out a five minute stroll from our cute hotel, La Posada. Everyone is loving the Fuy! The Upper Fuy boasts an awesome run- a super clean 25-footer, Salto Los Leones, followed by an awesome class V section. I’ll let the more experienced boasters describe the run in more colors for you!
Our first afternoon in Choshuenco, we headed to Salto Los Leones for a park and huck. Everyone killed it, including some ladies who were timid at first, then so stoked at their accomplishments! Jessica ran a beautiful line on her first ever waterfall, and Stephen scared us all as he threw his paddle from the top of the drop. Clay and I both got a little bruised from under-rotating or over-rotating our flips from the top of the waterfall into the swimming hole.
Yesterday we took a break from the whitewater and ventured out to Huilo Huilo, to scout two gigantic waterfalls, a 150 footer and a 130 footer! Some of the daredevils think they’re runnable. Either way, it was a gorgeous place to spend an afternoon hiking around.
On the academic front, classes are running smoothly; Eric, Alex and Clay wrote delightful stories to share aloud in class for a creative writing assignment. Lorenzo’s Spanish classes have been learning Spanish through videos, such as Meet the Robinsons and The Lion King. Video class is putting together a video called “How to by Boof, by Billy Harris”.
Yes, we are all happy, healthy and well-fed; we are getting three scrumptious meals a day. Last night for dinner we had a tantalizing soup stuffed with cilantro, potatoes, corn, green beans and carrots. Some of the kids were already starting to leave the table, satisfied, when the second course appeared- sausages and mashed potatoes, with a sweet peach for dessert. The only complaint we have this week is the weather; rain, rain, go away!
In three days, we will return to Pucon for about a week before embarking on our great adventure south to the Futaleafu!
Choshuenco’s weather has been giving us a run for our money! Beautiful and sunny, then cold and cloudy, then wild and crazy rain storms, with wind that shakes the windows. I love it. Ok, so I would prefer warm weather with sun, and a chance to sunbath on the beautiful beach here, but I do love myself a storm!
Gap Year Student David Gorski Runs Salto Los Leones
The first day here, we went to a “park and huck” waterfall called Salto Los Leonas. It is a 25 foot gentle waterfall, with bright blue water. Most of the group ran it, while a few of us walked upstream to a small playwave to tool around. I was of the latter group. It was nice to just get to surf for a bit. I miss playboating A LOT. Hopefully when we return to Pucon, the playhole near Dave’s house will be in.
The next day, The group ran the Lower Fuy. I stayed back with Callie, our wonderful new English Teacher, and taught her to roll. For once, the lake was not peaceful at all. Standing in the water with Callie, I would be swept off my feet by waves. In a lake!!! It was windy, but the warm wind of a storm coming. Callie and I had been in the water only 20 minutes, when she got her roll! We spent the rest of an hour and a half perfecting it, and starting on her hand roll. We had just stumbled through the wind back to the Hostel, when the rain started. And it poured. The rest of the group who had run the Lower Fuy, had a paddle across a lake in it!
Chase Simmons Plugs Los Leones Falls
Yesterday and today has been chilly and cloudy. Not the most encouraging weather to paddle in. But the River here is crystal clear all the way to the bottom, and every run is still a ton of fun.
We are about 3/4 of the way through our stay in quaint little Choshuenco. New to this year is a paved main street as well as paved sections of road on the way into the town. We are staying at La Posada a small hostel right in the middle of town. There is a large beach here lake side and a pretty frickin sweet rusted up old boat. We have however not only brought the party to this town, but also the rain. It has rained here non-stop since day two and there are no signs of it lightening up.
The Fuy is definitely a highlight of this little venture. There are three sections to this river. The upper is a mixture of steep rapids and waterfalls highlighted by the park and huck 25 footer. The middle and lower are both boulder garden type drops. The middle and lower sections can be run one to the other however to run the upper into everything else may be a bit of a venture.
Yesterday we took a small break from the river and went to Huilo-Huilo private park or something like that, I don’t think it was a national park. There was 2 huge waterfalls one a 130 footer and the other a 90 footer called Salto de Puma.
See you on the water!
Listen to the people yelling dinner is ready. Scurry over to the glowing, leafy haven of the quincho. Pick out a good seat next to a friend and some colorful grub. Chat away about the going-on’s of the day. Look out, as Lorena places more scrumptious food on the table. Inhale all the aromas wafting around you. Smell the roasting pork and beef on the crackling fire. Hear the ooh’s and aah’s of the marvelous feast. Hold up the ginormous sphere of bread that is bigger than your face. Munch on the tomato-y mixture of the pico de gallo. Glance around at your big, crazy, smiling family. Comment on something you find absolutely absurd. Let yourself laugh joyfully with everyone else who got the most recent joke. Join the chorus of “thank-you’s” to Dave and Lorena. Watch the embers of the once-large fire sparkle in the coming darkness. Grab your dirty dish to clean off in the sink. Wait in line behind the other five people who decided to do the same. Help out with the rest of the dirty dishes. Walk back to the cabins; chill out and watch the newest downloaded movie. Sigh happily; another amazing day at the best school around.
This was mapped by Matt Smink while I was on break in the states. To get to the Rio Petrohue from Puerto Varas drive east around Lago Llanquihue. After reaching Ensenada, continue east 16 km into the park and the outlet to Lago Todos los Santos. Most of the Petrohue run is roadside. There is one section that is a national park, and is illegal to boat.
This run was done by geography teacher Matt Smink, and student Stephen Forster. I did not take part as I was not in the country. I am however conveying this information to you to better your river running experience. Photos on map by Matt Smink.
This is the drive from Pucon to the put-in Of the Rio Llancahue. The drive goes past the Termas Geometricas near Conaripe. Be wary though as the road is not maintained as well as others in the area so nice weather and a four wheel drive car is recommended. The put in will be marked with a sign that says: “No a las centrales hidroelectricas de paso en una zona de turistica.”
The run is a solid class 4 venture beginning with a good twenty foot drop. There are many other drops which can be run, scouted and portaged with the help of the riverside road. After the three waterfalls there is however a mandatory portage on river right due to log jams. (See photos).
The run ends after a short twisting slide, and are able to be seen from the road. Be sure to keep your suit on as tons of hot springs are close by!
P.S. Be sure to watch out for wood, and the drops can be easily portaged on the road that runs alongside
So yeah. Here we are in ‘The’ land of amazingness. Clear water, clean drops and tons o’ gorgeous beauties. Here is the keeping parents happy part of the blog. First off all our flights went well, and we all had tons of fun. Second, we are getting tons of good food. Third we have a coach who is alright, oh what am I saying he’s pretty good. Mr. Billy Harris is one of the greatest kayak instructors to come out of the great white north. Canada! We have also met up with the gap year kids, David, Kyle, and Katie and all our other teachers. So sad to see Melina go but Callie is a great replacement. Aside from Callie we also have Lorenzo, the new all chilean, all the time spanish teacher.
We spent a few days in Pucon and now we are in the little, but growing, town of Choshuenco near the Rio Fuy. the Fuy is great with both play and drops, like today. Today, we had a little park and huck sesh, with Jess lightin’ up her first drop. Yeah Jess! And we’ll see what tomorrow brings!
See you on the water!
And so begins another adventure with New River Academy. Everyone arrived tired but happy from our long travels on Tuesday, and right away, we hopped on the river. A perfect way to start off the quarter. On Wednesday, everyone got to sleep in. I was up at 9:00, but most kids surfaced sometime around noon. Lazy bones. Katie Kowalski (a gap year student and good friend of mine) and I spent the morning sunbathing and reading. The sun was out, and it felt great after 6 weeks of bitter New England winter. After lunch we had a safety seminar on throw ropes. For most of the students, this was well known material, but it is always good to review. Turns out more than a few of us were a bit rusty on our throwing techniques. 7 pairs of students in a small field with ropes flying everywhere. Well, we got to work on dodging and ducking flying inanimate objects as well as safety skills! Always a good things to know how to do…I suppose…
David Gorski, a Gap Year student
Yesterday afternoon we took an hour drive to the Maichin River, a beautiful class IV run. Although (due to injuries of the back and knee) Katie and I went with David, Andy, Callie, Kyle, and Zoe on a class II-III run on the upper Maichin; it was still absolutely beautiful and fun. Even relaxing. David helped Kyle and Zoe with their back deck rolls, while Andy helped Callie with her normal roll. I do believe that all three were successful by the end of the run. Katie and I worked on holding our bowstalls and pumping for flatwater loops. It was fun to just get some chill flatwater practice in.
Fruit is officially in season! Yum!
Today classes started. We had orientation in the morning, and then met with all our teachers for the normal periods. It was hard getting back in the swing of things. I think everyone was a bit slow to warm up. Especially me in Calculus. Ugh. But we have a fun packed quarter ahead of us, including some spectacular sounding side trips including a couple day horse expedition into the mountains in Patagonia in a couple weeks. So excited!!! I am so glad to be back at school…even if it means homework. Tomorrow Jessica Droujco arrives, and then February 1st we leave for Choshuenco and the Fuy. Expect lots of blogs! We have a really solid group, and I know that the next 7 weeks will be unforgettable.
Kayakers often ask, “How does Huge Experiences’ move a high school with their kayaks?” Response, “We fly with them.” Flying with your kayak may be intimidating at first but it is similar to flying with normal luggage.
Flying with your kayak may be easier than you think.
The goal with this kayak travel segment is to teach you how to fly internationally with your kayak gear at an economical rate.
Let’s break it down into steps:
1. Choose a kayak friendly airline. Airlines post their oversize baggage specifications whether they allow or “blacklist” kayaks. Stay away from airlines that do not allow kayaks as oversize luggage. If you use the rules in this article you may still be able to fly with a blacklist airline but don’t count on it.
Know weight and size allowance: Bags are free under 50 pounds, but will be classified as oversize based on dimensions and weight. Your max limit maybe around 115” (l+w+h) and typically = $80 fee. Freestyle kayaks are around 74” l+ 13” h + 25” w. Check the oversize baggage allowance for your airline.
2. Packing your kayak you will need: packing tape, sharpie, strap, boat bag or alternative kayak wrap.
A. Label each piece of gear.
B. Stuff lightweight items like fleece, dry tops, skirts, and booties into foot and stern compartments. Do not exceed 50 pounds unless you are fine with a possible second oversize fee for dimension and weight.
C. Brace your paddle(s). Use sleeping bags, sleeping pads, pfds, sandals, and any bulky items to provide support between your kayak and paddle. Tape and wrap the paddle well to the cockpit rim. I have observed non-braced paddles break.
D. Wrap to protect. You can use a kayak bag, but they are hard to find and end up being an additional awkward piece of gear you will have to keep up with during the entirety of your travels.
I use a disposable tarp or tough blanket from a thrift store. Wrap the kayak well with the tarp and secure with packing tape. You can use the tarp later as a ground cloth for camping. Tarps are also disposable and easy to pack during travel.
E. Make a handle for the skycaps. Imagine that skycaps hate heavy awkward to carry luggage. So, make it easy to carry.
a. Cut a hole in your wrapping system at the cockpit rim allowing for a handle.
b. Or make a shoulder strap that you previously built prior to wrapping. The shoulder strap can be a later needed piece of webbing that ties around the bow and stern and protrudes out of two holes from the tarp.
F. Label, Label, Label- Where will you be, where are you going, which flight number is it?
3. Checking in:
A. Show up 3 hours early. You have large luggage and if the plane is nearly full the counter person is likely to turn you down. If you are one of the earliest then there is little stress related to an over packed plan belly. Plus, you will want the extra time to carry your heavy gear.
B. What to say. International kayakers have to avoid the word “Kayak.”
The word “Kayak” is an expensive word at airports that is often charged twice as much as other similar sized items. Kayakers have learned to refer to the craft as a “surf ski.” What is a “surf ski?” A surf ski is something you sit on top of and surf in the ocean. It is like a surf board because of its design and you surf it in the ocean. Actually, surf skis are much larger than kayaks. The reason surf ski term is used is because the word “kayak” is costly and often blacklisted by airlines.
Continue relating the boat as similar to a surfboard using the word “surf” repetitively in order to be accepted and earn the surfboard rate. If they charge you $80 be happy, pay your fee, and leave the desk person with a smile. 4. What do if airline will not accept the kayak? Allow them to be in charge from the start, ask them how you can help move the item to where they need it so they will not have extra work, be excited about your “surf ski” adventure, and smile.
If they turn you down and say they don’t accept kayaks then you are going to have to ask them for their help. Going over the top to management is a bad ideal unless worded correct.
“Can I speak to your manager?” is a bad ideal. Note the manager is the one who has trained them to turn kayaks down in the first place. And they will be put in a place where they have to make an example.
Try this instead. “Thank you for your help. Obviously, you realize how important this piece of equipment is to my vacation. Is there anything you can do within your power or someone you can ask or lead me to speak with that can approve this? My apologies for not packing this well, being here earlier… Any help you can offer would make me most appreciative and have a strong positive impact on my vacation.”
Now, you have asked them for genuine help. It is hard to deny wanting to help someone who has been kind and asked for their help.
You may have to be persistent. Keep your eye on being the world champion of gratitude and letting the officials know how much it would benefit your trip. I have stuck out several “no you can not travel with your kayak.” Only to later be allowed based on barraging them with kindness and sticking out the situation.
David Hughes is the founder and director of Huge Experiences’ New River Academy. David continues to teach and lead international trips. For more “Kayak Travel” tips surf to www.kayakschool.org.
The 2010-2011 New River Academy semester destinations are official. If you are a student considering applying to New River Academy then this is the year to do it. Last fall Chile proved to be our best semester destination to date. Now you can add Uganda’s White Nile playground, cultural exploration and all of those cool giraffes to your educational opportunity. It’s going to be a great year of school.
You can surf this White Nile wave afterschool. Just imagine your shuttle back to base.
What do I do if I am interested in applying to New River Academy?
You will want to first review our “Apply Now” page and begin discussing the idea with your family. Once you are comfortable with this information then go ahead and contact us with your questions.
