Small World Adventures, Kayak Ecuador

We had a big group this week split between a Mucha Agua trip and a Torrents trip. There was a group of friends from Colorado and Vermont, and then the rest of the 2 groups was made up of people from Arizona, North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia. So all and all we had a very geographically diverse group. 1/2 the group added on a 3 day extension to the end of their trip and headed out to the beach for a little kayaking surfing.

Day 1: the groups arrived from Quito eager to hit the river. We had a massive kayak-outfitting session where we got all 15 kayakers into good boats (good thing we have such a large selection of kayaks)! Then we had a quick lunch and hit the rivers. The Mucha Agua trip headed to the Lower Cosanga while the Torrents trip hit the Quijos.

I am still waiting on photos from the Torrents trip and a few more from the Mucha Agua trip, but for now, here is a sampling of the week (mainly from the Mucha Agua trip). Above, Justin is doing a little advertising for us on the Oyacachi River. Thanks for aiming your kayak perfectly at the camera!
Josh Mack is enjoying his break from a snow-laden Colorado while he cruises down the Oyacachi.

The convoy headed over to Tena.

Justin styling the line in “Serpentine.”

John following suit.

I call this one “kayakers in the mist.” The gang is hiking into the Upper Jondachi. We started the day with rather low water, and finished the day with rather medium water. It was actually the perfect combination–low, reasonable water for the bulk of the rapids, and more pushy medium water for the Class III/IV- paddle out at the end. What good timing we have:)

Matt and John work their way down Aphrodesia while the rest of the crew looks on.

For those of you who haven’t heard yet, the Jondachi River is being threatened by a dam. The government has proposed a hydro project that would effectively ruin both the Upper and the Lower Jondachi. So whether you are a Class III, Class IV, or Class V paddler (or aspiring to be any of these) this dam should concern you! The good news is that the project is still in the planning and approval stages, and there is good potential to stop it. The best way you can help right now is to buy an “Amigos Del Rio Jondachi” T-shirt. All the proceeds go directly to the Amigos Del Rio Jondachi fund (Matt Terry’s organization) which is working at the governmental level to stop this project. The shirts, designed by Small World Adventures guides, are very stylish, so you can look good and support a good cause. The shirts are $15 each, and they come in forest green or navy blue. You can order off our website at www.smallworldadventures.com

Just click on sign up now and you’ll find our online payment form.

Thanks for your support! And please check back with us every so often to find out what else you can do to help.

Don Beveridge leading the charge.

So, check back in soon for more photos from both trips PLUS photos from the beach portion.