Thursday, October 26, 2006

One Last Cold Snap Before Heading South

Larry has now been in Ecuador for nearly a week, and he is psyched! The new bridge to our lodge is completed, the water levels are great, and he says the hummingbird watching on the porch is better than ever. Our first trip of the season begins on November 4th. It is a kayaking/rafting class IV combo trip, and we have a great crew signed up. Don and Larry are looking forward to this excellent start to their season. Don is leaving soon for Ecuador, and he has been doing some preparing of his own for his season down on the equator. He sometimes wonders if he really appreciates Ecuador enough. It is often easy to take for granted the joy of paddling in a shorty top in the middle of December, then lounging around in shorts and a t-shirt afterwards. But, this year is going to be different, and Don is going to appreciate the hell out of Ecuador when he gets there. Don's training regime for full appreciation involves lots of suffering in the cold rivers and weather of British Columbia. First, is a portage on the Ashlu River that involved full-body submersion into the glacier fed river. Nevermind that the air temperature couldn't have been over 50 degrees.

Next on the list, a 4-day trip to Skookumchuck (this only half counted since we did have one day of sunshine while we were there). Nonetheless, Don did his share of surfing in the wind and rain, and worse--camping in it afterwards.


Then, one more day of river kayaking before heading south. After breaking all the ice off of the tent in the morning, we unrolled our dripping wet drysuits, and headed out for a run on the Upper Elaho. After that take-out, Don was ready to hang up his drysuit and poggies for the winter, and bust out that shorty. At least for his first month there, he won't underestimate the beauty of 70 degree water and 80 degree air temps in the middle of winter.
Have fun down there Don, don't forget your sunscreen!




Stay tuned for some actual photos

FROM Ecuador,

and a report from our first trip.

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