Chile Trip

[FarPastGone]

Cole Bailey and I just returned from our two week boating trip to Pucon, Chile. It is pretty spectacular down there and the whitewater is world class. We got a ton of footage and pictures, so here are a couple pictures and a (rough) teaser video I put together till we have the time to make a video.

Videos is at ------> http://vimeo.com/18737888" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Hope everyone had great holidays.

- Matt

[Fish]

Very cool! I am jealous. Gotta go boating the southern hemi someday.

- Fish

[Michele Jackson]

Spectacular! Can't wait to see more.

[waterhog]

sweet looks like a good time some high quality shots

[BMuu]

Nice Matt!

Looks like lots of fun!

[Heath]

when I grow up I want to be like matt. hahahahha

[justin.payne]

Awesome dude! Glad yall made it back safe! Cant wait to see more pictures.

[Lifejacket]

I think we are all jealous of this trip. Can't wait to see more.

[unicorn]

Looks like it was awesome.

[ARzach]

when I grow up I want to be like matt. hahahahha

Well funded and light on responsibility?



You know I'm jealous Matteo. Lets see some more footy!



Zach

[ScottH]

when I grow up I want to be like matt. hahahahha

No kidding!

I have not been that excited or thought much about paddling outside of the US until just the other day when I saw this other video of a run in Chili.
http://vimeo.com/17248800" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(the drop at 4:57-5:40 looks incredible)


And now seeing just a glimpse of your stuff Matt, I really want to go to Chili.

[FarPastGone]

when I grow up I want to be like matt. hahahahha

It really isn't that cool, trust me.

Well funded and light on responsibility?

I think he was talking about the devilish good looks and ability to boof.

(the drop at 4:57-5:40 looks incredible)

Cole and I ran the gorge (Ventidos) on the Rio Claro above the gorge with that drop in it (Entresaltos). It was too low to run the Entresaltos gorge, but the Ventidos (and maybe the Siete Tazas, the section below Entresaltos) would probably be scary with enough water for that run since it is so narrow.

Everyone hears about the Futa region but honestly Pucon (where we were) is worth a look just due to the fact that you can do anything from huck waterfalls, run steep narrow creeks, run continuous Rockies type stuff, to even big water Class III-IV (or Class V-V+ if you want to tackle the Maule) within a couple hours. As someone down there told us, "You go to Norway to run waterfalls. You go to Africa to run big water. You go to Chile to do it all."

- Matt

[Sir Kayakalot]

Wow! So impressive.

Tommy

[RandyJ]

I have not been that excited or thought much about paddling outside of the US until just the other day when I saw this other video of a run in Chili.
http://vimeo.com/17248800" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

(the drop at 4:57-5:40 looks incredible)


And now seeing just a glimpse of your stuff Matt, I really want to go to Chili.

Scott, I saw that video when it first went up a couple of months ago and told myself I wouldn't ever watch it again. But I did it anyway today...it made for a nice little mental escape during a frustrating day at the office.

Yeah, that's some incredible stuff. I went to Chile a dozen or so years ago and did a trip w/ Chris Spelius' Expediciones Chile. Started in the Lake Region and ended up on the Futa. At the time, I thought it was Fantasy-Land and still do. I didn't have much appetite for paddling around here for quite a while after I got back - it just wasn't appealing after Chile. But I got over that after a while...

Anyway, if Pucon is better than Futa, that's saying something. Hope to get back down there some day. Maybe we should rally a group trip from this region. The trip w/Spe was fun - really enjoyed paddling w/ other boaters from all over the US, plus a couple of Germans. But it sure would have been nice to have a few buds along that I knew and was comfortable paddling with.

I would say that if you're really being pulled to go - find a way to make it happen. Sacrifice. In the end, you won't remember that you put off getting your next vehicle or buying this or that. But you WILL have some great trip memories that will last a lifetime.

And Matt - you suck. Which is another way of saying that I'm really jealous and glad you guys got to go. Look forward to more pics and footy.

[JTarver]

Great Stuff Matt. Looks like you guys had a great time. I can't wait to see the rest of the video.
Nice music selection too, very documentary-esque.
Glad you guys made it back safely, I hope my trip goes as well when I'm able to head South of the border.
Joe