After art we went to music class. We were all given instruments and taught a simple beat. With the help from two chilean musicians, we were able to put together a sweet cuban song in an hour. After music class we went to lunch and had the normal cafeteria lunch.

It was really cool to be around that many spanish speakers our age. Most of them spoke good english and were very patient with our gringo spanish. We played frisbee and soccer with them and were able to communicate well enough to strategize. I think we all learned a lot of spanish and about how a chilean school works differently from an american school. I also think we all had a ton of fun!

-Alex

As the next day rolled around, everyone awoke at about 7:55 and rolled out of bed just in time for morning workout.  After about half an hour of pushups and crunches, we got some breakfast.  At 9 our school day had started.  1st period was in motion and most of us were in Physics class working on our review projects.  Because Mid-Terms are here we are doing review activities and enforcing our knowledge for the exams.

At the end of third period we headed to the dining room once again for a delicious meal and to hear the plan for the rest of the day.  We decided to take the rest of the day off and after lunch gear up.  We put in just above the bridge about 100 meters from where we slept.  The Entre Saltos section is a class II-IV run that has an amazing, beautiful canyon wall.  We took it slow, scouting and running or portaging every drop.  The day went well and we were sad to take out.  We hiked home and unloaded our gear, showered and got ready for dinner and homework.  Lots of great pictures were taken that day and it was a great success.

Every day went similarly to the first day, half a day and paddle.  The next day I did the Siete Tazas with most of the group, some of the group hiked up to run the Vientedos Saltos. (22 Drops)  The Siete Tazas is a series of 7 clean drop ranging from 4 foot boofs to 20 ft waterfalls.  Every drop is unimaginably clean and everyone did well and no one got hurt.

We were all very sad to leave the Claro, but our faith in Dave reassured us that the next destination would be just as amazing.  We took a two hour van drive to a bus stop where we hoped onto a bus and ended up in front of a very nice hotel.  We are traveling to the Ache Bueno today and can’t wait to see the river!

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of what this river is all about.  (photo credit to Zoe, Taylor and Melina)

Similes
The Rio Maipo is like a brown whirlwind of whitewater and chaos.
The color of the Maipo is like dirt where the snow has melted.
My brain on the river is like a computer programed with only one purpose.
The foam on the river is like whipping cream floating above the brown muck.
My eyes on the river are like camera lenses with silt sanding them down.

Metaphors
The rocks in the river are aqua rhinos.
The Maipo river is a giant, untamed beast.
My line through the rapid is bus rout through San Francisco.
The waves on the Maipo are crashing monsters foaming at the mouth.
My brain on the Maipo is a sensitive piece of equipment being abused by cold water and rocks.

Me on the Lower Maipo with a helmet cam on.

Here is the first episode “The Jackson All-Star”

We ran the Main Channel on Sunday, everyone did really well.  Some people ran the boof on the Lorn, while led a group down the main line.  Garb was almost in, and I hope it comes in soon.

Today was my first day of school on the Ottawa with NRA.  School is great and all the teachers are really cool and I’m really excited about this coming year.  The level is at 2 and corner wave is really sweet!  We are going to go out to Corner Wave today after school, everyone is really anxious.

-Alex Anderson

Alex Anderson paddling up to chopping block