The water is never really cold. By your standards, it would always be pretty warm, though I've been in the tropics long enough that sometimes up in the mountains it seems chilly, especially on a windy day. Most of those shots were taken at pretty low levels. For some reason I take more pictures when the water is low, probably because there are more opportunities to stop and also because the weather is usually better. The levels do fluctuate a lot. Usually after a big storm they will shoot up, sometimes to unrunnable levels, then descend to a sort of rainy season mean. The rivers near my house usually run from mid June to October or so; after that only if we have a storm, which we rarely do after mid December. The bigger rivers up in the mountains (fair trip) go June through January; some on the eastern side of the country run through March. We're pretty much out of water now; I do a lot of sailing and sea kayaking.
White water boats don't break. Paddlers sometimes do: the picture of the yellow boat upside down led to the guy getting 2 chipped teeth, a split lip, and 3 stitches on one eyelid. First time I've ever seen a face injury while paddling. Something to consider.
The Canyon of Death has never been run. That river has only been attempted once, the time when those pictures were taken. We had to portage over a ridge to get back to the water. There may be a way to get around that first drop and rope back down to the river, but it will have to be scouted with climbing gear. It looks like the slot canyon goes on for a fair way. I was involved in the first descents of almost all the rivers in those pictures, and there are still some left to do.
The Tanudan shot does have a skewed angle; it is also a steep drop, probably 45 degrees or so. Sort of a controlled fall, though the concept of control is marginal at best when the water is going that fast. Not that complicated a drop really, as long as you get to the left and stay there. The right would be awkward, for reasons the picture doesn't show.
I'll pick up a canoe for you. Shipping is on your account. Tell them the package is about 18 feet long and maybe 150 pounds, see what they quote you.... |
