Riding the rapids of Rio Futaleufu

Mar 12

Mar 12 Riding the rapids of Rio Futaleufu

Chile, Outdoor, South America, Patagonia

Before I explain about our first white water rafting experience let me say - it's all about the video! Nothing sums up how intense, exhilarating and WET battling your way down a raging torrent can be.

As new to the rafting game - only 2 of our 6 had set foot in a raft before - people were apprehensive, and justifiably so...we were taking on the infamous Bridge to Bridge run on Rio Futaleufu. Known as a world-class river, we were set to encounter multiple class III and IV rapids plus the infamous Mundaca Rapid which is a class V; for the uninitiated (me) this is as high as you get commercially. This river section has been described as:

“Running all the hardest rapids on the Grand Canyon (and a few more difficult ones) in a day.”

To simplify what we were put through, here's the highlights of what you need to survive if you're to reach the end of this most epic of river adventures.

Breakneck speed minibus drive over an uneven cattle-track to the put-in spot.
Fitting into a fetching wetsuit
Being the test dummy for a practice rescue (yep I'm wet before we've even started)
Try and stay in/on the raft (one teammate decided to fallout before the first rapid - only a great catch saved massive embarrassment)
Attack the 4 class III, 5 class IV and 1 class V rapids + numerous lower class ones.
Try and keep the raft facing forwards when possible, if not then hope it doesn't flip!
Avoid whirlpools while trying an additional rock jump
Miss 'The Shark', an underwater cave beside the final rapid which is responsible for multiple near-drownings
Don't even concern yourself with the final rapids - from the road they look beastly but by this point we'd mastered the true monsters.

Note: We had support from the following but there's nothing easy about this as was shown by the number of times you're told to "Place your feet well, and paddle hard"

3 x safety kayakers (one who spent the entire time practicing his skills much to our amusement)
1 x safety Cataraft (nutcase guy driving this himself)
1 x legendary pilot of our raft. Most pilots use a paddle...he used 2 x massive oars as the river's that intense!

Needless to say this was the activity highlight of our entire trip. 1km long zip-lining is crazy, diving with sharks is full-on and playing polo is classy beyond belief but taking on and surviving a river that experts from around the world come to ride is unforgettable.