First Descent of the Upper Rio Diamante- Mendoza, Northern Argentina.

So here i am in northern argentina wrapping up a season of Rafting with Potrerillos explorer on the mighty Rio Mendoza. Hanging out in the small rafting town of Potrerillos it´s been a very fun an chill 2 and a half months. But just in time for my 21st birthday Silvio Gurrieri the local maestro came up with an idea to run the first descent of the Upper Rio Diamante. We planned to take 8 days to paddle 120 km of river, with a drop of 2 km from put in to take out, it was going to be an exciting week!

Our put in was at 3287 meters above sea level, on the Laguna Diamante, which is at the foot of The ´Volcan De Maipo´ (5500m). We needed to have a permit to enter the area as it is a Natural Reserve. We were officially heading into the middle of the mountains! Silvio and myself took 7 days to make it to our take out bridge at 1322m, passing through multiple canyons and experiencing the vast isolation of the gigantic andes. We call it the Narnia of the Andes, some of the most spectacular and wild scenery I´ve ever seen!

Here are a few shots, to show you guys how amazing this place really is!

 Wild horses as we entered the reserve.

 Diego Castro (Cindi) Our Driver!! The man. Our First glimpse of the mighty Maipo.

 Equipment, planning for 8 days on the water. Maipo in the background.

Our Put in

 Standard Intimidating canyon scene on the Diamante, Day 2

 Day 2

 Epic 90-100 footer on day 2.

 Wedge.

 Not a happy Silvio on day 3.

 Sipping on a Mate, staring into the dark canyon to face in the morning...

 Campsite, day 4. Unreal place.

 We hiked to a peak on night 4, now fairly named ´Ricketts Peak´ and we looked apon the whitewater we paddled during the day.

 After the largest Confluence on day 5, the river was a perfect 30-40cms. starting our 3 days within the Grand Canyon.

 Hmm..

 The final entrance before the plunge.

We saw multiple condors everyday. (The largest bird in the world.)

 Day 6, ´No Breakfast Canyon´ 

 Guanaco

 Marshmellow Canyon. day 5

Amazing expedition, we came across Guanaco´s (wa-na-ko´s), the largest mountain camel, Countless Condors and multiple traces of Puma. Wild and untouched paradise, the Upper Diamante is a definate classic multiday. We were back in Mendoza just in time to celebrate my 21st birthday....

Yeya!!
 
-Sam Ricketts
All images taken my Myself. ( except the ones of me, which were taken by Silvio Gurrieri.)

Google earth image of our route.

Huge thanks to Silvio and Avalancha Custom PFD´s for welcoming me to the team! Find Avalancha on facebook. Solid PFD´s handmade here in Mendoza.

Thanks to Club Mendoza Rafting & Kayak for the Sponsoring of my paddle!!!! You guys rule. 

Another thanks to ´Aymara Avdentura & Expeditions´ for the sponsoring of a Sattelite phone for the mission! Chur!

Next stop. 

COLOMBIA

End of BC Season!

What's up everyone!

Well its been a good long and sunny summer here in Whistler, good crew and a bunch of awesome boating! This summer season in BC has had one of the biggest turn out of kayakers this area has seen in a long time (if not ever!). So many crews from all over the show discovering the whitewater paradise we have here!! Basing yourself out of whistler you have too many choices on what classic section to paddle everyday. When the majority of rivers to be run are no more than 30 minutes out of town, we have some of the best after work runs in the world.

Just flicking through some of the best shots from this season,

Enjoy!

 End of the crux section on Cascade Creek- Fraser valley

 The most perfect 30 foot spout in the world. Skookum Creek. Photo- Nicholas Gottieb

 followed by a 50/60 foot cascade!

 Wall Drop on Tatlow creek (tributary of the Ashlu)  Photo by Ryan Lucas

Below- First drop on Tatlow, classic Tatlow scene

Mamquam River 

 Falls! Photo's by Maxi Kniewasser

 Wedgemont Creek, Hector sending it. 5 minutes from the Whistler village. Photo- Frank Brassard

 Competitors at this years Callaghan Race.

 Me and Jules Domine at the Waterfall section, staying tight!

 2nd Place, Enjoying the rewards

   
 An awesome edit of this years Callaghan Race and other races around the continent!

               Big Freewheel! Another beautiful section just 5 minutes out of town on the Cheakamus.

As some of you may know we've planned and sorted out a 2 month long mission to Colombia. Flying out the 2nd of October, Jules, Dan Dunn and myself we arrive in Bogota after 2 days of traveling. Down there we will meet up with party pants Pete Lodge and Lachie Carracher. DREAM TEAM! Cant wait, confirmed adventure and lots of new horizons ahead. 3 days to go then its into the tropics!!!

Thank you everyone for the amazing season. This place never gets old!

Hasta Luego.

                                                   Thank you Obey for the Paddles this season!!

Ashlu Box Canyon- May 2012

What's up guys, early season here in Whistler and Squamish has been a sick time. Everyone has turned up and the crews getting more and more fired up everyday. The Ashlu River was releasing every weekend throughout the month of may so we were loading up and making our way to Squamish every friday for some camping and kayaking good times.

 Pete Lodge looking into the depths of 50/50

 And sending it

 Me lining up the top

 Ric Moxon getting it done!

 View from below

 End of the first Canyon, one of my favourite places in there..

 Hector Dmcl finishing one of the best rapids on the run in style!

 Me landing out double drop. Spectacular scenery in there!

 The Whistler and Squamish crew chilling at the play wave after an epic day.

Ric and Hector sending the first rapid.

-50/50 shots taken by Paula Ansel
- All other shots taken by Pete Lodge


Quick edit from the past two weekends camping out in the valley, good times, good vibes. Fun in the sun!

BC Spring, Whis and Squamton..

Back in the big old BC again for 2012!!

I'm back, catching up with mates and setting myself up for another summer of guiding and kayaking here in southwest BC. This seasons gonna be bigger than ever with our crew of keen chargers slowly growing bigger an bigger!!! 

After a bit of partying and messing about with taxes, random bullshit we got our first day of boating in on the 23rd of April. Me, Moxon and Sandy Macewan opened up the Callaghan with a few feet of snow on the banks! Beautiful medium level, but a tad chilly. Scouting around corners with snow banks falling underneath us! Everything was clean, no new wood, and to make it more exciting than it already was Moxon took a swim on the big one. Good on ya mate. 

  Cold as cold could be! Me about to plop off the 15fter

 Moxon about to send the 20! Pretty spectacular in there that day.

 Me probing the middle.

 Moxon staring into the boil that's about to give him a solid trashing- Epic photos by Sandy!

The rest of the week the Hector, Franc, Sandy and Myself t'd up a couple really nice park n' hucks, Machitta falls and a sweet 40 footer on wedgemont creek, aswell as a pretty high water lap Down the Soo, super exciting an fun run with a bunch of chunky holes. Good times, come Friday I looked at the gauges on the Ashlu, and it was all on! Hector, Franc, Sandy, Oz and Myself all boosted for the box!!! woooeee...

We were all pretty fired up for the day! Me and Francois fired up 50/50 with good lines! We scouted out everything, takes some time in that place! Turns out everything is clean and good to go for the season!
A couple go pro stills from friday...

 Sending the beast!

One of the many sexy boofs on this wicked section!!!

Awesome first week of the season chur to the boys! Motivation is high! Water was up and swim count is up by two.. Awesome.

 Sandy taking a peak over Mamquam falls in squamish, pretty juicy flow.

Hmm...

Jumping the Seasons

Heres a short edit summing up our summer of kayaking here on the North Island, New Zealand 2012. Just a glimpse at the quality of whitewater, landscape and good times this place has to offer!! Enjoy. CHUR.

All shot on GoPro hero.