We just arrived back in Pucon from our last destination, Choshuenco. It was a very small town with a lovely little beach and lake we would paddle across after our day of paddling. The days we would run in the mornings were always quite funny you would pass almost everyone at least once because of how few streets there were in it. The people who were hosting us were absolutely delightful. They were so caring and offered us any help we needed. They also cooked us some pretty yummy dishes. They even made everyone’s favorite American dish one night, Pizza!
The river we had there was amazing, it offered many different types of paddling with varying classes. The Upper Fuy consisted of more waterfalls and boofs. The Middle and Lower Fuy however had amazing playboating and wave filled rapids good for working on downriver moves, such as kickflips and wave wheels. We also had Billy Harris with us this whole time and he was a great wealth of knowledge, everyday he would make sure we were boofing up a storm. He was super helpful with little tips to help improve your boating.
Archive for the ‘Kayak Gap Year Abroad’ Category
Our Trip to Choshuenco
Friday, February 12th, 2010Wild Wind Storms with a Poor Man’s Umbrella
Saturday, February 6th, 2010Choshuenco’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.
-Tracy d’Arbeloff
Charming Chosuenco and the Furious Fuy
Saturday, February 6th, 2010We 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!
Rio Petrohue
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010This 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.
Petrohue Shuttle
2010 – 2011 Destinations Announced: Chile and Africa
Thursday, January 14th, 2010The 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.
Click here to Read 2010- 2011 Chile and Africa Destinations Info.
Cool Student Blogs from Chile:
Taylor Cote
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.
my two first wonderful days in Chile !
Sunday, January 10th, 2010Dear Diary, ( entry numero uno)
These past few days have been pretty hectic. Returning home after spending a month with my sister out in colorado and only having only a couple days to see all my friends, spend time with my family, apply for college and get all my stuff packed and ready to leave for chile on the 7th. Packing for 10 weeks is not an easy task. what girl can go 2 months with only two t-shirts? But eventually after repacking a few times i got all my stuff to fit. On the morning of the 7th headed to the ottawa airport where i had to fly to Chicago. Weather in Chicago wasn’t very good, so my flight to Chicago was delayed. Then my flight leaving Chicago was delayed to Dallas. The Dallas airport is sweet btw. it has a mono rail around the airport. I felt like I was on the simpsons… except that one almost crashed. Met up Mr. David Gorski. Again the flight to Santiago was delayed as well, because of technical difficulties? Something about a gas gage or something. The flight was okay, long, a little under 10 hours. I was lucky enough to sleep for most of it. Once arrived in Santiago met up with the other gap year student, Kyle. and on the other side of customs met up with the teachers, Matt and Lorne. From there we drove about an hour out side of Santiago to the Miapo river, we had a little car trouble on the way but nothing a little duck tape can’t fix. We had a nice relaxing evening and got up nice and early for a run this morning. Spanish class went well, as did video. After lunch we went kayaking ! 
All in all it’s been a pretty good 2 first days in Chile. hot hot heat. (he he. shallhorn)
Katharine.
The Rio Achibueno | Chile Rivers Service Learning Project
Monday, December 14th, 2009The newest installment of the Chile Rivers project. The Rio Achibueno is an amazing class III-IV river with great boof practice.
Make sure to visit the Rio Achibueno on your trip to Chile.
Ojos Del Caburgua
Sunday, December 13th, 2009Frozen Blueberries
Thursday, December 10th, 2009
Yesterday we all got a surprise of going to the next town over and going to a beautiful hostel for Clay’s birthday. We learned to play croket, and the owner taught us how to make ice cream. While we were making it we couldn’t stop eating the frozen blueberries that went in. When the ice cream was done we all ate it in the hot tub, and acted like we were soup being boiled. It was so fun. Thanks Dave for the surprise!
Achibueno Map
Monday, December 7th, 2009NRA held our Thanksgiving feast at the Achibueno.
After we ate we all stood and told what we were thankful for. I forgot to say how thankful I am that I have the great opertunity to map Chile rivers and share with everyone information on the rivers for a geography project. So, I’m saying it now.
Lower Achibueno
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