Join an expedition down one of the finest long-distance wilderness rivers in Mexico just south of the Arizona border. The quality is comparable to a Salt or Salmon River trip with beautiful canyon, interesting side hikes, and fun rapids. Everyone is welcome: kayakers, rafters, and raft passengers. Rapids are primarily class II-III and suitable for intermediate kayakers, though there are several IVs on the Mulatos.

GENERAL TRIP INFORMATION:

The Río Mulatos-Aros trip is the best long-distance raft support wilderness river expedition in Mexico. Only one village is passed the entire trip. The water is clean, reliable, and big (avg. 8000 cfs on the Aros). There are fun class III and IV rapids almost every day and interesting side canyons/hikes, including to narrows and warm clear swimming holes. Overall, this trip is on par with the most sought-after multi-day expedition trips in the Western US. We expect to have 2-3 large rafts to support the group. We welcome anyone wanting to join: kayakers, rafters, and raft passengers/paddlers. Space is particularly limited for raft passengers/paddlers. The pace will generally be relaxed, possibly with a layover day (if water levels are high enough). Our group size will be capped at 15, which will include 2-4 guides. Come join the fourth descent of Río Mulatos-Aros, support the nonprofit organization SierraRios, meet some new people, and see what paddling in the Sierra Madre Occidental is all about!

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Help support our conservation goals with a donation. Your donation could be applied toward a future river trip!

TENTATIVE ITINERARY:
Aug19 (Fri): participants arrive Phoenix/Tucson/Douglas; drive to Douglas and stay night in Super8 hotel
Aug20 (Sat): DAY 1: cross border; get tourist visas; 5 hr drive to Sahuaripa; stay Hotel Casa Grande
Aug21 (Sun): DAY 2: geology talk at gold mine; rig at put-in; possibly launch; class II-III; 0-5 km
Aug22 (Mon): DAY 3; paddle into Barranca Mulatos (Amargosa); camp inside or near end; class IV; ~15 km
Aug23 (Tue): DAY 4: finish rapids of Barranca Mulatos (Saucito, Unscathed, Dos Mas); class III-IV; ~25 km
Aug24 (Wed): DAY 5: pass confluence with Aros; camp upstream of Nátora; class II; ~30 km
Aug25 (Thu): DAY 6: pass Nátora; camp near Arroyo El Aliso; class II-III; ~30 km
Aug26 (Fri): DAY 7: Lone Palm Gorge; camp near Arroyo Santa Rosa; class II-III; ~30 km
Aug27 (Sat): DAY 8: Arroyo Santa Rosa; Cañon Los Arrieros; class II-III; ~20 km
Aug28 (Sun): DAY 9: Cañon La Bocana (Morita!); camp Arroyo Pérdices; class III; ~25 km
Aug29 (Mon): DAY 10: finish Cañon La Bocana (Cajones); pass Bavispe; Golden Hike; one class III; ~30 km
Aug30 (Tue): DAY 11: paddle to take-out; de-rig; drive back to Douglas; class I-II; ~20 km; Super8 hotel
Aug31 (Wed): flights back from Tucson/Phoenix

DAYS 0-1: A 12-passenger van will be heading from California to our first rendezvous points in Phoenix/Tucson on Friday, August 10. We can pick you up enroute (a small fee applies) or at an airport. We will drive the van and a 5-passenger pickup to the border city of Douglas where we’ll spend the night in a hotel. Early the next morning (DAY 1), we’ll cross the border, get our tourist visas and vehicle registrations, do last minute shopping, and proceed to Sahuaripa (5 hr), where we’ll meet our shuttle drivers, eat at a restaurant, and stay in Hotel Casa Grande that evening.

DAY 2: The next day (DAY 2), most gear will be transferred to a heavy duty truck for the ride to the put-in. We will leave early, stop to visit Ken Balleweg (geologist at Minas de Oro Nacional) at the gold mine for lunch, and make it to the El VIctor put-in by afternoon where we will rig the rafts and likely camp at the put-in - or possibly make it the first few kilometers downstream.

DAYS 3-4: We’ll make our way into Barranca Mulatos, paddling through the first class IV on the trip (Amargosa) before finding a suitable camp. On DAY 4, we will paddle through the rest of Barranca Mulatos and tackle the most challenging rapids on the journey: Saucito, Unscathed, and Dos Mas. After emerging from the Barranca, we will scoot along quickly and hope to make it to the confluence with the Aros.

DAYS 5-9: On the next two days of the trip (DAYS 5-6) we will paddle down the main Aros, passing the village of Nátora, stopping to soak in the warm clear pools of Arroyo El Aliso, hiking up Arroyo Santa Rosa to the a narrows, and enjoying the fun Santa Rosa and Roca Roja rapids in Cañon Los Arrieros. If water levels allow us to progress quickly, we may have a layover on DAY 6 or 7 (or other day TBD), giving us time for an extended hike up an arroyo to check out another wild area of Sonora. On DAY 8, we will paddle into Cañon La Bocana and face the many class III and the toughest rapid on the Aros: Morita (class III-IV). The following day (DAY 9), we will make our way through the final class III rapids of Cañon La Bocana, pass the confluence with Río Bavispe, and quickly make progress down Río Yaqui. On our final day (DAY 10), we will arrive at the take-out by noon, load up, head back to the border, and stay in a hotel again. The following day clients can plan flights home. [Note: best to plan flights for late on this day (Aug21) due to possibly unforeseen delays.]


RENDEZVOUS POINTS/TRANSPORTATION
SACRAMENTO/LA/SAN DIEGO: We will be driving a van from Sacramento through LA to Phoenix/Tucson just before the trip, so it is possible for you to catch a ride to Douglas in it. A small fee will be charged if you would like a ride in the van ($50 per passenger each way; $25 for your boat) from California. The van may or may not retrun to California after the trip.

TUCSON/PHOENIX: You can consider flying into Phoenix (PHX) or Tucson (TUS) airports (coordinate with others if so). The van will be able to pick everyone up as it passes these cities enroute to Douglas. Although we will give everyone a ride from Tucson to the put-in, you may have to pay for your ride back to Tucson/Phoenix from Douglas (~$35) after the trip. If you can help the trip out with your own vehicle and we have a need for it, your contribution toward the trip will be adjusted appropriately.

DOUGLAS: If you drive to Douglas and want us to pick you up, you may consider leaving your vehicle in a parking lot (you are responsible for any fees). In the past, it has been possible to leave a vehicle at the Motel 6 for the 10 days we are away in Mexico due to our stay there initially and possibly one night afterward. Other options may be available.

SAHUARIPA: It is possible for us to meet you in Sahuaripa, which is very close to the take-out. If so, you may get a small discount off the price of the trip ($50).

FLYING TO PHOENIX/TUCSON: If you are planning to fly to Tucson, remember that bringing your own boats and gear on a plane can sometimes be frustrating. Southwest Airlines is one of the most accommodating airlines that has always accepted whitewater kayaks in the past. They do charge an oversize fee ($50 each way; <11 ft and <50 lbs) but at least they can take them. Other airlines have varying policies. Alaska and US Air take kayaks ($50-75 extra each way), but United and Delta may not. Inflatable kayaks are much easier to fly with, but still may incur an extra baggage fee. If it all sounds too daunting to you, consider using one of our kayaks.

RETURN: We will be driving the back to Douglas where we can drop folks off at their vehicles or at a shuttle stop. The price of the trip only includes transportation from Douglas to the river and back to Douglas. There are regular shuttles from Douglas to Tucson and Phoenix that depart several times per day (~$35/person). If the van or other vehicles are passing that way, you may be able to get a ride with one of us. We plan to return the van to California after this trip.

CONTRIBUTION

This trip is being run to raise more awareness of this beautiful river and generate revenue for conservation campaigns. If you are interested in joining the trip and/or helping in the effort, send Rocky a note briefly describing:

-how you were directed to the webpage
-yourself (age, occupation, what country/city you live in, if you speak Spanish)
-your paddling experience (briefly)
-if you'd like to row, kayak (hardshell or IK), paddle a raft, or be a passenger
-who else you might get to come along on the trip
-how you plan to arrive
-how you might help with the conservation effort
-what you think a fair donation/contribution amount is

Note that comparable 9-day raft trips are offered at ~$2700. Your contribution can be considered a donation and is tax-deductible. We want everyone to experience the river, but we NEED DONATIONS to make the dam threat known and to run the trip. It is better to have filled trips than no trips, though, so if you are very limited in funds, make an offer. We realize that there are plenty of private boaters interested in joining the group and can help out in many ways for lower contribution amounts. Generally, your minimal acceptable contribution to join a trip will depend on:

-how much support you require
-how much you can help on the trip
-your experience/skill
-your potential group size (it's better to round up friends and family to join you)
-demand for the slot you wish to occupy (kayak, raft rower, or raft paddler/passenger)
-whether you're a SierraRios member or have been a supporter of SierraRios in the past
-how early you make your full contribution
-how you can help with SierraRios's conservation goals

Note that most interest so far in this trip is from very experienced boaters and guides/former guides. All costs of the trip must still be covered and revenue generated for SierraRios goals.

.
RESERVATIONS
Once you get the go-ahead from Rocky, you will need to provide a deposit ($600) to reserve your place on the trip. Full contribution must be received before the trip. Deposits may be made preferably by transferring money via PayPal (as "personal" "gift" to rocky@sierrarios.org), by sending a check (make out to James Contos, 5071 Constitution Rd., San Diego, CA 92117), or by a direct bank transfer through Intuit (let Rocky know). You may also use a credit card with the "DONATE" button below, but you need to calculate and pay 2% more for any credit-card payments (i.e. $612 instead of $600 for the deposit; since we pay a 3% fee for credit card processing).

As of May 2013, participant totals tentatively stand at 4 (Aug1 launch) and 2 (Aug20 launch). We can handle groups of up to 12 with the boats available (2 rafts; 4 kayaks; 2 IKs): 2 oarsmen, 4 kayakers, 2 IKers, and 4 raft passengers/paddlers. Trips will definitely occur with a minimum of 6 participants. If interested, send Rocky a message with a little info about you and what you'd like to do. If a trip is full, you should still send a note of your interest.

CANCELLATIONS

We reserve the right to cancel the trip at any time. In particular, the trip may not be feasible to run if there are too few paying individuals. If we cancel the trip, all deposits and payments will be refunded.

If you must cancel the trip, you'll probably get your money back, but we reserve the right to keep a percentage of your deposit according to the following guidelines:
10% if you cancel >40 days before the trip
50% if you cancel 20-40 days before the trip
100% if you cancel <20 days before of the trip


YOUR GUIDES:
(1) Rocky Contos, the trip leader, has explored nearly every river in Mexico including ~200 first descents covering ~8,000 km of river and ~55,000 m of drop, solo kayaked the first descent of Río Mulatos in 2002, led two raft descents of the river in 2010 (2010slides1; slides2, slides3) and 2011 (slides2011), wrote the guidebook to the Sierra Madre Occidental, and is preparing guidebooks to the rest of the country. He is fluent in Spanish and has paddled over 150 multi-day journeys on rivers, with dozens in the range of 5-22 days. Several articles have featured Rocky (American Whitewater; Kayak Session; Canoe & Kayak). While attaining his Ph.D. in neuroscience (see CV), Rocky worked as a kayak instructor and guide for UCSD's Outback adventures from 1993-1996 and gained valuable trip planning skills for large groups. Although primarily a kayaker, Rocky started rafting in the mid-1990s in order to introduce more people to the wonders of river travel. Since then and throughout his years as a postdoctoral research associate, he has organized numerous large group raft and kayak expeditions, including five through Grand Canyon (18-22 days), three on the Salmon River (4-10 days each), two on the Usumacinta, and dozens to destinations such as the Salt, Kern, Rogue, Deschutes, John Day, Thompson, Similkameen, and Baja California (2-6 days each). Rocky first paddled Río Mulatos-Aros in 2002 on a solo kayak journey. He returned in 2010 for a raft descent with his wife (Barbara Conboy), Lacey Anderson and Neil Nikirk, and in 2011 with another large group of adventurers, and is eager to introduce this gem of wilderness river to more paddlers. Rocky founded SierraRios with the goal of conserving the rivers of Mexico, and hopes that increased awareness and enjoyment of the resource will lead to protection. He is organizing all aspects of the trip, including logistics and meals. He likely will be rowing a large cataraft or self-bailer raft with gear and passengers, but may safety kayak if a competent rower is availlable.

(2) German Arroyo will join the trip with a 14' raft. German lives in Mexico City, has been a raft guide for many years, rafted the Aros in 2011, and participated in one of the recent SierraRios Usumacinta trips. Other potential co-guides are Lacey Anderson and Neil Nikirk, each of whom has rafted the Mulatos-Aros twice. Lacey is particularly adept at lightweight food preparation and has a book out: “Camp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers II”.


FOOD
We will organize the food and bring the kitchen (tables, pots, plates, bowls, utensils, and stoves). You can expect to eat to your tummy’s content - as much as you can handle. If you have specific food restrictions/preferences let us know and we will try to accommodate you. There will always be vegetarian options. If Rocky plans the food, it will generally consist of the following:

Breakfast: usually there is a range of foods to choose from: coffee, tea, fruit, cereals, milk, tortillas, and perhaps something special such as eggs/omelettes, pancakes, or french toast. If you have specific preferences, let Rocky know and he will accommodate. There will also be drink mixes available, such as Gatorade, iced tea mix, or lemonade.

Lunch: Items typically available are trail mix, dried fruits, energy bars, chips, cookies, and sandwiches. Sandwiches can vary: early in trip maybe ham/turkey, cheese, avocados, tomatoes, lettuce, mustard, mayo; later maybe tunafish; always PB&J). There may be wraps or pita/hummus type food one day. We will have many dates available (produced in the nearby desert).

Dinner: Rocky’s dinner menu will include selections from the following types of food:
Mexican (tamales, chile rellenos, tacos along with beans/tortillas/guacamole/chips/salsa; maybe tortilla soup)
Italian (pasta with marinara, pesto, or alfredo sauce, salad; sauteed squash/chorizo/meat/parmesan cheese)
Indian (Tasty Bites, curried lentils, couscous or rice)
American (turkey, steak, and/or salmon; mashed potatos, sweet potatos, corn, gravy)
Asian (rice either stir-fry veggies/meats or curries; flavors: teriyaki, panang/red curry, or Schezuan)
Greek (pita/rice pilaf, falafel, dolmas, olives, feta, Greek salad, maybe dill salmon or gyros)
Meat will always be prepared separate. The meal plan will be sent out about a week before the trip.

Desserts: There will always be some form of sweet to eat – cookies, chocolates, flan, etc.

Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages are not included in the price of the trip. If you would like some, we can buy and pack it for you, but expect to contribute more. There is a limit to the amount we will carry for you, which depends on the amount of space we have available on the rafts and the amount of alcohol requested. DO NOT pack beer cans in your drybag because the cans often burst! Wine and hard liquor should be packaged into plastic containers or lightweight metal bottles beforehand - for example, you can get a 1.5L water bottle from a supermarket, empty the water, and fill it with 2 bottles of wine. Don’t expect ice-cold beer all the time – we will have cold coolers only the first few days.

Water
We will bring filters and treatment products and provide safe drinking water on the entire expedition. The river generally runs with a lot of silt and takes more effort to convert to clear drinking water than many of the clear side arroyos. The arroyos with little or no habitation contain pristine water that is usually safe to drink straight from the creekbed. To be safe, we will treat water either with hypochlorite, iodine, filters, or boiling before drinking. Water will be transported in two 5-gallon containers and some collapsable containers with spigots. You should have your own water bottle.


CHORES
Unless you're a "first-class" donor and participant, you'll be expected to help with camp duties including loading/unloading rafts, camp set-up, food preparation, washing dishes, fire duties, and burning trash. We generally have a rotating schedule. Duties can be swapped with others, as long as someone is there and you end up contributing equally in the end. Everyone is expected to help load/unload the rafts each day and rig/de-rig at the start/end of the trip. A few individuals may be designated to help with specific camp set-up chores. Two individuals will be assigned to help with food preparation and two others to wash dishes each morning and evening. After washing and rinsing, dishes are sterilized in a dilute bleach solution. If you are assigned to help with the food, please make sure you wash your hands and keep them clean. We will make sure the camp is left just as we found it or better. SierraRios trips practice leave-no-trace as much as possible. We do not leave ashes or trash at any camp and try to clean up trash we find. Those who pay their deposits early have the advantage of signing up for the chores they prefer. If you have no preference for chores, let Rocky know a few things about you so he can assign appropriate ones:

-Do you really enjoy preparing food or specific things like pancakes?
-Are you more of a night-owl or a morning person?
-Do you have pyromaniac tendencies?
-Are you willing to set-up/deal with a groover station?
-Do you prefer to wash dishes?

Duty list:
Kitchen set-up: Day 1; 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9
Kitchen pack-up: Day 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9; 10
Oar tri-pod set-up (for lantern): Day 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9
Groover set-up/take-down: Day 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9
Dishes: 2 individuals each time: Day 1b; 2a; 2b; 3a; 3b; 4a; 4b; 5a; 5b; 6a; 6b; 7a; 7b; 8a; 8b; 9a; 9b
Food prep: 2 individuals each time: Day 1b; 2a; 2b; 3a; 3b; 4a; 4b; 5a; 5b; 6a; 6b; 7a; 7b; 8a; 8b; 9a; 9b
Fire and Trash/TP burn: Day 2; 3; 4; 5; 6; 7; 8; 9

Toilet and Bathing
For bathing, the river and side streams will be quite warm on the trip. You can bath directly in the river using biodegradable soap. We may also have a solar shower, which may be preferable as the soap goes into the dirt and decomposes there instead of in the river. Please wash and bath with a minimal amount of soap/shampoo and try not to leave foamy residues for others in the camp to find.

Toilet: Urinating should be done directly into the river or away from camp and out of sight of others. We generally will bring a toilet system to carry solid human waste out of the canyon. With this method, at each camp we will set up a groover box with a toilet seat and lid. Someone in charge of this will set up, take down, and clean up if need be. TP and a TP bag will be by the groover. TP should be placed in the bag for later burning. A paddle across the path to the groover indicates the spot is occupied; an upright paddle indicates it is not. There will be a washing station by the toilet to wash and sterilize your hands after use. Always clean your hands before handling any food!

Alternate toilet method: On rivers with few or no visitors, we may use a designated latrine instead of a groover. The latrine will be excavated away from the camp. Again, a paddle across the path indicates the spot is occupied; an upright paddle indicates it is not. TP and a TP bag will be by the latrine. TP should be placed in the bag for later burning. A wash station will be nearby - always wash your hands afterward. The latrine will be covered with dirt in the morning before we take off on the river.

If you think the latrine disgusting, you may also find your own place to away from camp to somewhere above the high-water line, dig a hole 4-6” deep, and cover your feces. A kayak paddle can come in handy in this regard. Carry your TP back and put in the TP trash bag or burn it at the spot and bury the ashes with the feces.

SAFETY
The violence in Mexico surrounding the drug was has been in the news a lot in the past three years. The violence is confined to drug traffickers (narcos) and those associated with them, including law enforcement. In addition, the river we will be journeying down did not have any marijuana cultivation visible near it, and we are likely to encounter few residents. Locals from Sahuaripa will accompany us to the put-in and from the take-out, facilitating positive interactions. We may even have one such person in guide training on the raft. As such, we are not likely to be harassed or molested in any way related to the drug war. For further discussion of the drug war and safety concerns, click here.

Independent of the drug war, there has always been potential danger for assault in Mexico by armed bandits (bandidos). This is not different now as it was 5 years ago or 10 years ago or 20 years ago. Such risk is common in any third world country where citizens are very poor. In the event of assault, we will do all we can to protect our clients and ourselves, but may have to sacrifice our possessions. Since we can never guarantee against such assault, you must agree not to hold us liable for consequent personal injury/damage/loss you sustain on this outing.

The other aspect of safety is prevention of accidents. It is of utmost importance that you take all precautions necessary to avert injury, sickness, and complications while on the trip. As guides, we are there to help get you safely to the river, down it, and back out, but cannot guarantee against accidents. You must accept the responsibility for what happens on the river if you are in control of your craft. If you are concerned about the whitewater or other aspects, it is your responsibility to make appropriate decisions whether to run the rapid or not and to stay close to someone who can watch and oversee you (if you desire that level of protection). If an accident occurs, we will do all in our power to help you, see that proper care is rendered, or evacuate you if need be. Rocky and Lacey are trained as Wilderness First Responders and will administer appropriate emergency medical care if needed. We will have two basic first aid kits available. We will also carry a satellite phone for emergencies and changes of plan.


GENERAL ROUTINE
Most days we will launch around 10 am, stop for lunch around noon, and be at camp around 4-5 pm. There may be an interesting hike we'll allow time for in the morning, lunch, or after landing. At this time of year (Aug-Sep), days are still fairly long, with sunrise-sunset from 6 am-7 pm. We'll usually be making around 30-40 km/day when on the water. After landing, we'll set up camp and get dinner started. If it happens to be cool, we may collect firewood for a campfire. Most activity will concentrate around the eating area and campfire. You will be free to relax, wander, or socialize. After eating, those in charge of the dishes will clean them all. Each evening during dinner or afterward we will have a group meeting to discuss the day's events, what is coming up the following day, and any other issues that should be addressed (such as who will be in what boat, etc.). In the morning, you must have your tent and camp area packed up and ready to go before we start loading the rafts. Some mornings will have potential hikes. We hope to have one layover day where we remain in the same camp for two nights. That day you can just hang out and lounge if you like, enjoy the water, or go on an exploratory hike. SierraRios trips practice leave-no-trace as much as possible. No ashes or trash are left at any camps.


WATER LEVELS & WEATHER

We have timed this trip to coincide with highest probability of good river flows. In August, flows average 60 cms (2000 cfs) on the Mulatos and 230 cms (8000 cfs) on the Aros. It is very likely (~80% chance) that we will have 20-180 cms (700-5000 cfs) on the Mulatos and 100-400 cms (3500-14000 cfs) on the Aros, but there are slim chances it will be higher (10%) or lower (10%). Water levels can fluctuate rapidly due to spotty intense thunderstoms that are characteristic of the monsoon season in the region. It is important that rafts be tied up well so they don’t drift away in a rising tide on the river. Equally important, the camp must be set at a high enough location so it will not be flooded. We may encounter rapidly rising river that reaches camp (usually in the evening). If this happens and you are the first to notice, please wake the guides first, and we will assess the situation. It may be necessary to move camp higher.

Drought possibility: In 2011 we did a trip below the lowest 1% of recorded flows during that month [6 cms(200 cfs) on Mulatos; and several days of 20 cms (700 cfs) on the Aros], and still were able to make it through with 6 rafts, though it did take 2-3 extra days on the Mulatos. If flows are unusually low when we are in Sahuaripa (i.e., below the 10th percentile or <60 cms on the Aros; about 1 in 10 chance), we will begin our trip at Nátora on the Aros instead of El Victor on the Mulatos. In this event, we will likely only spend 7 days on the water - you will be refunded about $100 for the shorter trip length. This is a risk you must be willing to accept when you sign up. Water levels can now be monitored over the past 7 days online at the Paso Nácori gauging station of the Aros. In addition, you can also see other gauges in the region.

WEATHER: The climate averages for July and August on the trip are similar to those for Sahuaripa (below). The average high/low is about 98oF / 72oF in the summer. Expect thunderstorms about 1/3 of the days, usually in short downpours.

WHAT TO PACK:
You will need to pack appropriately for spending 8 days out in the Mexican wilderness. Although it will generally be quite hot, it can get cool at nights and during thunderstorms. Come prepared for both. Your camp gear will be transported down the river in one large drybag. You should bring an additional small drybag for day-accessed items; this will go in your kayak or (if a rafter) on the raft. We can provide these, but it is probably better to get your own and see how all your gear packs into it beforehand. The best size for your one large drybag is about 3800-4600 cu.in (such as Bill's 2.2 DryBag or the NRS Duffel). Do not pack excessively. These sizes are large enough to fit a 2-person tent, Therm-a-rest chair, light sleeping bag, 2 changes clothes, dry shoes, toiletries, headlamp, reading material, with a little extra space. There are larger drybags out there (e.g., 3.8 cu.ft/6000+cu.in/100+L) but if you bring one this size, you should expect it not not be full – rather, it should be very easy to close and your additional small drybag should fit inside. It is in your best interest not to overpack your drybag because it often causes lack of proper sealing and consequent leaking if dunked. We will check the size of your personal gear before the trip starts. If you have excessive load, you may need to leave some items. There may be 1-2 Paco Pad foam mattresses available (7 ft long/2 in. thick sleeping pad you can put under your tent) for certain individuals to use. If you would like to use one in lieu of bringing your own Therm-a-rest or equivalent, send a note to Rocky. Preference may be given to those with back problems.

River items to bring:
-Shorts, shirt
-Paddle jacket (we may be able to provide one if you don’t have)
-Water shoes (preferably multipurpose for wear on the river and hiking)
-PFD (if you don't have one, we will provide)
-Kayak gear (only if kayaking: helmet, skirt)
-Hat and sunglasses (with retainer)
-Small drybag for your kayak or on raft (for passengers)
-Large drybag for camp gear (if it is a very large bag (>3 ft3), your small drybag must fit within)
-Water bottle (preferably with a carabiner to clip onto a raft)
-Sunscreen

Camp items to bring:
-Tent (a 2-person tent can be used by an individual)
-Sleeping bag (consider using your fleece or other item as a pillow)
-Therm-a-rest (chair and bed; we may have a few chairs for the camp)
-Basic clothing (t-shirt, shorts, light pants, light long-sleeve shirt, fleece, underwear)
-Camp shoes (these can be the same as your river shoes or a different dry shoe)
-Headlamp (plus extra set of batteries)
-Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, lotions, etc)
-Special medicines/lotions (anti-fungal cream, bug repellent)
-Lighter/matches (remember to check it if flying)
-Pocket-knife (remember to check it if flying)
-Mug (for your hot beverages; we'll have plastic cups for water/wine/etc)
-Reading material
-Bug repellent (very important for comfortable hanging-out in camp)

KAYAKS, IKs, and RAFTS AVAILABLE FOR THIS TRIP

16' Rocky Mountain Raft (with frame)
14' Sotar (with frame)

(many of these are big comfy boats; the Jive is great for surf/play):
Liquid Logic Stomper 80
Wavesport Diesel 70
Wavesport Extreme
Dagger Mamba 8.1

NRS Bandit II (Inflatable Kayak)
Tributary Tomcat Tandem (Inflatable Kayak)

.A FEW COMMENTS FROM PAST PARTICIPANTS:

"Hi Rocky, Thanks again for a sensational and unforgettable trip. You did such an amazing job organizing. I especially am psyched to have met you and to have another kayak friend/guide to work with. You guiding me off the waterfall was a big highlight... Erik." [2011b Usumacinta trip]
Erik Weihenmayer, blind mountaineer/author and budding kayaker (see www.TouchTheTop.com )

"You led one of the best trips I've ever been on... and I've been on a lot. " [2011b Usumacinta trip]
Chris Wiegand, former olympic runner and C1 paddler, founder of Sportainability and guide for Erik Weihenmayer

"Thanks for everything man, it was a trip of a lifetime ... We´ll be in touch and I look forward to conquering new rivers in the future. Salud, Eric" [2011b Usumacinta trip]
Eric Bach, Modern Gypsy (see www.TheModernGypsies.com)

"Hey Rocky, Thanks for the great trip... Looking forward to another trip down the road. John" [2011b Usumacinta trip]
John Post, Modern Gypsy (see www.TheModernGypsies.com)

"Great synopsis of a fabulous trip. Expect to hear more from Team Weihenmayer in the future... Cheers, Rob. " [2011b Usumacinta trip]
Rob Raker, climber extraordinaire and guide for Erik Weihenmayer (also see here)

"Thanks again for the great tour and the late-night excitement, Greg" [2011a Usumacinta trip]
Greg Scwhendinger, kayak explorer of Chiapas and Central America (see www.MayanWhitewater.com)

"Thanks for everything, Rocky! What a blast that all was.  When's our next trip?!! -Suzy" [2011b Usumacinta trip]
Suzy Garren (Oakland, CA), former Grand Canyon trip participant.

"THE TRIP KICKED MAJOR ASS! mike" [2011 Mulatos-Aros trip]
Mike Doktor (Portland, OR), former raft guide for Ken Warren Expeditions