The Paddler ezine WW kayak collection 2013 | Page 108

When we meet them it seems they have had a bit
of an epic and Marco has taken a couple of
swims on the Azul. But they have had a rest and
decide it will be fine to continue. At Terminator
we take the sneak line again but Marco decides
to try and portage altogether. I knew this was a
bad idea but was too tired to argue. An hour later
and after a lot of climbing back through the
forest we eventually find Marco and can
continue onwards. One more swim on these
rapids from Wee Joe and we eventually make it
back to camp. Tired, hungry and so happy.
The Rio Michamueda is between Chaiten and
Futaleufu. It is a remote steep creek run, which
sees the river bending far away from the road,
and away from human existence entirely. Since
we had to drive past it to get the ferry back to the

north of the country it seemed rude not to go
check it out. Camping at the put in we got an
idea of how remote the run was. There was only
one viable place to put on the river and then it
bent away from the road immediately into the
first gorge.
With Marco and Wee Joe deciding to drive the
shuttle, Pundy, Wookie Joe and myself loaded
up with split paddles, rescue gear and some
biscuits and headed out for another long day of
paddling. The river was long and alpine in style
going through numerous steep, technical class 5
and class 4 gorges. All the while surrounded by
huge valleys, which showed not a single sign of
human life. No distant farms, no roads, just
three kayakers in the wilderness. Hiking out here
is not really an option. Five and a half hours