Some brush off the idea of international paddling because of the quality of whitewater found in their own backyard. And while that may be true, and while at the same time we might wax eloquent on the thrill of exploring new rivers in new places, paddling is only part...
Ecuador
Ecuador 2010: Back on the Quijos!
Even after 14 years, it is still part of our program to do a familiarization run down the rivers of Ecuador before starting a trip—just as we do in Costa Rica even after 20 years. In Costa Rica it is because the rivers change routes like a lady changes her mind….in...
Parting shot from Ecuador
Kayak Ambassadors…Final Shots
With the trips over for the season, we have just a few final reflections to share...an important one being how we perceive our role in river management in guest countries. We cannot "tell" folks in Costa Rica or Ecuador what they should/should not do with their...
Ecuador Whitewater: A Bird’s Eye View with the GoPro! Hero Camera
This fall we ran into the new-and-improved GoPro! HERO camera with image stabilzation....and were pretty impressed....impressed enough to bring them into the store without personal testing. But as a follow-up we had one brought to Ecuador and eventually put the new...
Who found the best treasure: Us or Them
One of the most interesting nights during our trips here in Ecuador is when Ken gets in a story-telling kind of mood and is willing to share the legend of the Inca Gold with us. With great expectation, we pull up a chair with a Pilsner beer in hand and prepare to get...
Exploring the Treasures of the Oriente of Ecuador
The region of Ecuador we spend most of our paddling time is called the Oriente. One of three regions (the costa, the sierra and the oriente), the Oriente contains nearly half of the square footage of the country, but less than 5% of the 12.5 million population of...
Modern Day Team SBC River Explorers
Francisco Orellana, born in 1511, was the cousin to Francisco Pizarro�the conquerer of the Inca Nations of Ecuador and Peru. More importantly, Orellana was the first to navigate the headwater tributaries of Ecuador downstream into the Amazon River. This past week we...
what’s one man’s trash….
what might be considered one man's trash in some cultures.... is a more creative person's craft for running whitewater!! Share more photos of our last trip of 2008 and first two weeks of 2009!
Scrambled Gringos
You cannot beat a section of river that has a rapid on it called Gringos Revueltos (which translates to Scrambled Gringos). Welcome to the Lower Quijos! The first time our guide Doug returned from Ecuador, he spoke of the Lower Quijos in terms of 'national geographic...
Paddling the New Year Ecuador Style!
If being with us here in Ecuador would be more fun than reading about it, then on New Years Eve you needed to borrow from the Venezuelan New Years Eve tradition: take a suitcase and carry it around the house for the duration of New Years Eve-- bringing you the...
Christmas the World Over
My taxi cab driver looked surprised when I confirmed that we celebrate Christmas on the 25th. In spanish he remarked, "you celebrate it the same day we do?" I told him that I was pretty sure that everyone gives Jesus the same birthday party. it is funny how...
Proof that Rednecks Exist Below the Equator
What would lead one to believe that rednecks can be found below the equator--and even more specifically among the monkey population? We now have concrete evidence proving is it true! Rednecks not only exists below the equator, but in the monkey population. Are there...
Back on the River-Quijos Style!
It always seems that we start our run-down week back in Ecuador on the Quijos River. How can you not when it is such a great river to return to each year?! Putting in at what what we refer to as the Baeza Bridge put in, it only takes about five minutes for the word...
Changing Scenery for the Winter
The first frost (no--the first snow) has occurred in North Carolina, Day Light Savings time is this weekend...all the signs that it was time to change scenery for the winter. First stop...Costa Rica!
Dam Updates from Ecuador
The Ecuadorian Rivers Institute(ERI) is one recipients of our Ecuador whitewater guests' "t-shirt project," with donations from the trip t-shirt going to help support the Napo River Festival and other endeavors. ERI has been working at a feverish pace this year to try...
Tips for the Traveling Paddler
Having worked as a kayak guide in multiple countries over the years, I have definitely been a part of “experiential education” in paddling in foreign countries-- both first-hand and second hand. Over the years I have seen an improvement in the logistics of our own...
Finishing Up in Style: Feb 08 – Feb 16 Ecuador Kayak Trip
The Oyacachi. One of our favorite runs in Ecuador, and one that frequently gets missed out on by boaters in Ecuador. Describing it in a nutshell, call it a steep mountain river where staying right side up is key to avoid getting washed into somewhere you would...
Full Ecuadorian Immersion: Friends, Rivers, Wildlife and Language
There is nothing like full immersion when you embark on an international paddling tripsometimes immersion referring to the culture, sometimes to your time on/in the river. Take this week for example: we are about to embark with a group of paddlers who have immersed...
Finishing up a Great Class III Trip In Ecuador
The following was inspired by six great days of paddling, finishing up with a soak in the hot tubs, and a cold beer for the ride back to Quito..... It is our last day of kayaking and oh how far we've come So let's end as we started- in Quito on night number one. We...