10/16-10/20 - Rio Colca, An Epic

The Rio Colca was an epic adventure. Each day had its own, unique, epicocity. Here is a brief until I have time for the rest and pictures:

10/16- We had to travel overnight into the putin. After loading up 23 buros with gear, we hiked 20km into the bottom of the deepest canyon on earth, nearly 6800 vertical feet. Hotsprings at the putin and bugs eating us alive made this day epic.

10/17- River Day One complete with the Rio Mamacocha doubling the flow of the river, ritual sacrifices of coca leaves to the river gods, and unbelieveable rapids. Rapids One, Two and Three were stompers for the first part of the Colca Canyon. We camped in the middle of a giant landslide above the biggest rapid on the river. Incredible views of the canyon, superb geology, unreal. Epic.

10/18- River Day Two began with Emily swimming the largest of the Class V rapids without serious injury, which was amazing (video to follow). More incredible canyon and scenery as we entered the Chocolate Canyon. We ran into 'Double Trouble' with TWO raft flips in the same spot, off the same wall. Impressive winds kept us paddling, but also kept the bugs off us at camp. Camping in the Chocolate Canyon ended this day, from a spot where we could hear the rocks tumbling into the canyon at night.

10/19- River Day Three began with some intense rapids, and Drew swimming super deep with at least 5 seconds down time. Huge boulders blocked the river twice, forcing two portages. The first potage was novel, going under house-size boulders, the other more typical, carrying around the gnar. We slept well at a very windy, sandy beach before the paddle out the next day.

10/20- The final river day on the Colca Canyon was short and sweet. Easier rapids as the canyon opened up into a huge valley. Rigging the MicroBus was epic, with 8 kayaks, two rafts and 13 people's stuff, but we got it done and now we're on the way to Rio Cotahuasi... Epic.

More to come...