Marañon Oct14 trip details (last update 14Sep2014)

----PRE-TRIP GENERAL INFORMATION MARAÑON OCT14 LAUNCH------
 
This webpage describes details of the Marañon trip coming up that will begin October 14. The group, including two guides, now stands at 16, though there are several potential other folks who may sign up, bringing the total a bit higher. The roster is below. There will be 5-6 large rafts to support the group, and we need carry food for only 11 days maximum, so each raft will have a relatively low amount of cargo. I will be the trip leader at the start and through the Inner Gorge with the class Vs, but will be leaving the group after that at which time my co-guide will take over trip leader responsibilities. We may yet have some other non-boater Peruvians along as well - anti-dam activists, trekking guides from Huaraz, and/or reporters/film crews.

The main group rendezvous will be at the Mi Casa hostal in Huaraz (see additional information below for arriving to Huaraz from Lima). Everyone should be in Huaraz on Oct13 for an early departure on Oct14. This trip is planned to be finished at Imacita on Nov12, though we may be ending 1-3 days early and short of Imacita.  

Be sure to explore all links that are available from the main MARAÑON webpage and read the summaries of previous trips at: Sep28, and Jan16. Note that although we met suspicious residents in Mendán on the Sep28 trip, we received a warm welcome on the Jan16 trip and the Jun4 trip. While we also met suspicious residents at the Awajún village of Yupicusa on the Sp28 trip, we were warmly received on the Jan16 trip. However, on the Jun4 trip we did not venture to Imacita because local Awajún residents suggested against it. This was due to unwise to suspicions being raised further by Facebook posts circulating of a young murder victim whose body was eviscerated, which fueled the pishtaco myth. Thus the trip ended at Montenegro, which is still within the jungle and after the first set of jungle pongo rapids, but 51 km short of Imacita. If suspicions are not cooled by the time of a trip, we will likely end at Montenegro as well. 
 
Most information you need to know about the trip can be found on the main Marañon webpage. A list of items you should plan to pack can be found at the WHAT TO PACK page (also found as a link on the left column of the main webpage) - basically your own camping gear and some or all of your own personal paddling gear (PFD, jacket, helmet, skirt, throw-bag).  Many items are available to rent (see list at end of this page) if you'd like to minimize what you travel with. Just let me know if you'rd like to reserve some of those items. [Note that a kayak and paddle can be reserved by anyone kayaking; this is included in the contribution.]   

If you have any particular medical problems, food restrictions, or other requests, please let me (Rocky) know.  Please also indicate if you're a coffee drinker and what canned beverages you prefer (beer, Coke, Sprite, etc). You can see the typical foods we bring on the trip at the Foods/Alcohol/Water page.  For most of the trip we'll provide 1 can of beverage per day with resupply at Chagual and Balsas. We can bring more than 1 can/day/person on this trip even from the start, but you'll have to pay for extra.  

Below are more specifics, such as dates, some info on planning flights at the end of the trip, links to maps/etc, and a little about the folks already committed to joining the trip.  If you're thinking of booking tickets and are uncertain where you want to end the trip, you should know that if you use reward program miles, you can usually get great one-way deals, and then decide and book your return ticket later.   

Before the trip and when I'm in Peru I will still be accessing email regularly, so you can contact me that way. You also can contact me by phone - when I'm in Peru it's best to call me on my Peruvian cell phone. I will be arranging and setting off private groups launching at Chagual on Sep22 and Oct1, so will have intermittent access during that time. [Note that the rafts used on this trip will be the same ones used on the Sep22-Oct7 trip.] We will have a satellite phone on the trip. It is possible for folks to send text messages at the satellite phone number below:

Rocky cell (Peru): 950 730 797  
Rocky cell (USA):  206-484-5820
Rocky satellite phone (anywhere): 011 870 776 308 910


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WEATHER
This trip is in October, which is the first month of the rainy season. Expect warm to hot days and cool evenings on the Upper section: avg. hi 30oC; avg low 15oC (or 86oF/59oF), and hot days and warm evenings on the Central and Lower sections: avg hi 32oC; avg low 20oF (or 90oF/68oF). We can expect rain showers about 1/3 or 1/4 of days - usually short spells, and often in the afternoon/night. The river water temp will generally be cool initially 18oC (65oF) but warming farther down 22oC (72oF). I find that a drytop is nice for kayaking. Rafters do not get very wet but a paddle jacket is still a good idea if it happens to be cool or rainy. I have some extras that you may consider renting. Always consider that you're near the equator and should protect yourself from sun.


WATER LEVELS
In October, the water levels in the Marañon are generally rising and variable. Averages at Balsas in mid-October are ~300 cms (10000 cfs) and quite a bit higher by mid-November at ~500 cms (17000 cfs). The water will generally be silty as there are rains during this time. Many side streams and springs will continue to provide clear drinking water. We will likely encounter spikes of flow at times, which can lead to flooding of camps. However, if the rains don't arrive, water levels can remain very low much of the month. If we encounter low to medium levels, it should be straightforward to line rafts through Wasson's Landslide (class V) in the Inner Gorge. If we encounter flood flows (not likely, but there is a chance) we may decide to send some folks around the dangerous Inner Gorge section by shuttle vehicle.    

If someone is not feeling comfortable on the river in the Upper section in the first ~7 days, it is possible to skip the Inner Gorge section by getting a ride up from Huchus to Chagual. You'd miss ~3 days on the river, but have a different kind of experience. It is possible on any trip that the trip leader mandate a person to skip this section depending on their performance and comfort level. However, we can usually accommodate raft passengers and even some class III kayakers on the rafts. Although taking a ride from Huchus (km 127) to Chagual (km 206) is preferred way to skip the Inner Gorge, you can also get a ride at  Puente Jitaraxan (km 102) or by hiking up out of canyon just before Wasson's (km 154) to Chillia where buses regularly depart to Chagual. The Central and Lower sections from Chagual down are considerably easier than the Inner Gorge with nothing over class IV. 
 

WASSON'S LANDSLIDE:
 We will be going through the toughest and most notorious rapid on the raftable section of the Marañon, a class V (or V+) rapid called Wasson's Landslide. This rapid of 200-300 m length provides a serious challenge with steep drops in a boulder garden and then half the river entering a sieve at the end on RL (at least, at lower flows). This danger has prompted me on the previous two trips to request participants to portage some bags through while I and the other guides (and those who are comfortable helping) portage/line the rafts through. I have run kayaks through most or all of the rapid, as it's easier to stay far RR in the lower part.  Late October flows are quite variable but usually low so it probably will be fine to line rafts through.  We will have a plan that I'll go over the night before we get to Wasson's, but basically it will probably involve getting to the rapid very early in the day, stopping to portage bags while everyone scouts the section, kayakers portaging part/all, and then several of us getting the kayaks and rafts through by rowing/paddling parts and lining others.  After the lining, there are two more class IVs just downstream and then more action farther down in the Inner Gorge.  We can expect to take most of the day getting through Wasson's, though I hope it will be a shorter length of time. PLEASE BE FOREWARNED. This is a difficult section of river.  If you do not think you will be comfortable walking over the boulders around this rapid and possibly portaging your kayak, you will have the option to catch rides around the Inner Gorge section. Also note that after Wasson's there is another easy class V rapid (Llamara) about 10 km downstream, which we'll get to the following day, but this one I expect to be runnable in the rafts and kayaks (though some kayakers may choose to portage).  Note there is a possibility of very high flows in late October and November, so if we encounter these, it may be best if more folks take the shuttle around the Inner Gorge.


RENDEZVOUS IN HUARAZ 
The official trip rendezvous point will be Huaraz, a charming colonial city high in the Andes with lots to offer the adventurous traveller. Huaraz is a major destination of the Andes for trekkers and climbers, as it lies just below the highest tropical mountains in the world, including Huascarán. It also has Río Santa running through it, a fun class III-IV river. You could easily spend several days doing some short hikes, a trek, or kayaking Ríos Santa or Puchka. Kayaking Ríos Santa or Puchka have the benefit that you'll see how the kayak and everything fits you before the long expedition (so have the opportunity to possibly select something more appropriate).  Currently nearly all the equipment is based in Huaraz, so kayaks will be available to use on Río Santa before the trip.  You might consider doing several days trekking before the trip, such as up to the Cordillera Huayhuash (one of the principal sources of the Amazon), and kayaking Ríos Santa/Puchka (class III-IV).



GETTING TO HUARAZ 
To get to Huaraz from Lima, you can fly (1 hr) or take a bus (8 hr).  Flights are only operated by LCPeru and generally depart early in the morning (e.g., 5:30am, 7:00am, 8:25 am) and cost a total of ~$121.  There are two primary bus companies servicing Huaraz with ~8 hr rides ($11-32). Price differences reflect the seat type: regular economico seats, semi-reclining semi-cama seats, and sometimes full-reclining cama seats. Note that many buses have mixed economico and semi-cama seats; others may have all cama seats. Click the links below to see schedules:

Movil Tours (Paseo de la República 749, La Victoria; tel: 332-0004) has departures throughout day: e.g., 8:00am, 9:40am, 10:10am, 10:30am; 1:00pm, 9:40pm, 10:30pm; [40NS for economico seat; 60NS-80NS VIP semi-cama o cama; not all buses have all types of seats - be sure to check each seat type for the departure times available]. The above address is their central station; however, if planning to go to the station directly from the airport, the taxi driver might suggest that you go to their peripheral station in Lima that is a stop enroute to Huaraz - and a bit closer to the airport (near Tomás Valle and the Panamericana).
Cruz del Sur (Javier Prado & Arriola) has departures usually 11:00am and 10:30pm from Javier Prado; $11-32 depending on seat type 

If you're going by bus, you generally can buy your ticket at the bus stations, which are close to the center of Lima. It's best to arrive >1 hr prior to departure. It's possible to purchase your ticket and reserve your seat online, but sometimes the online sites won't process foreign credit cards well. If you are going from the airport to the bus terminal, it should cost about a 40NS taxi ride ($15) taxi ride. All taxi drivers know these streets and bus terminals.  
 

ACCOMMODATIONS IN HUARAZ 
In Huaraz, our main rendezvous hostel will be at Mi Casa ("My House") run by Patty Ames, located at Avenida 27 de noviembre 773, a few blocks from the plaza and 1.1 km from the Movil Tours bus stop (see map) [tel: 051-43-423375; email: bybmyhousehuaraz@gmail.com]. The gear is stored there, and this is where the guides will be staying and organizing some gear/food. If you'd like to stay there, double rooms with two beds cost 80NS ($29) with breakfast, or 70NS ($25) without breakfast. Mi Casa has 13 beds, most in double rooms (two beds in a room). Since some of you may be arriving earlier than others and some of you may decide to stay elsewhere, you should send Patty an email to reserve your room - or if you're solo but would like to share a room with someone, let me know and I'll get you together with someone else from our group. Each person is responsible for paying Patty for their room. There are other accommodation options - see list here. If you stay somewhere else, just know that we will have a pre-trip meeting at Mi Casa at 7 pm (with pizza or some other food) the day before departure day, so if be at Mi Casa then. We will then leave on departure day at 7 am.

Before we depart for the river, you can leave a bag (such as a suitcase) to be sent to Lima to be waiting for you after the expedition - or alternatively sent to Bagua where you can pick up when you get off the river. There is a small fee for this transport of a package (encomienda), which you pay when you pick up. You will need to write on a tag your name, passport #, contact phone # or email, the sending city (Huaraz) and the destination city (Bagua Chica or Lima).
  

LIMA
All folks will be flying into Lima and you might want to spend a day there checking it out. You can find general info about Lima on the Lonely Planet website (scroll lower on this site for links to essential info like money, getting around, etc). You can get money in ATMs or by changing in Casas de Cambio. The currency of Peru is the nuevo sol (NS) with a current exchange rate of ~2.7 NS/dollar. There are ATMs in the airport (~2.7 NS/dollar but a fee to use) as well as money changers (but not a good rate of exchange at ~2.6 NS/dollar or 5% surcharge). It is better to change larger sums of money at a Casa de Cambio in a city (Miraflores, or even Huaraz). You'll be leaving the airport for somewhere like a hotel in Miraflores, the centro, or the bus to Huaraz. It's usually a 50NS ($20USD) taxi ride to Miraflores, but can be $15USD if you walk outside the airport lot and catch a taxi on the street. It's a bit less ($15USD) to the centro (downtown). Miraflores is a bit far from the airport but one of the nicer parts of town to stay in and not too far from the central bus stations to Huaraz.  Nice things to do in Miraflores are to run/walk near the beach or on the cliffs above (maybe paraglide), walk around the center parks, and visit Huaca Pucllana ruins (pre-Inca). You can also consider a visit to the centro with its cathedrals, catecombs, and remains of Pizarro.  Most things there are within walking distance - or taxis can be hired.  You'll have to book your own accommodations in Lima/Miraflores. I put some options below:  

There are various options of hotels/hostels in Miraflores.  You can check out various MIRAFLORES HOTELS/HOSTELS with private rooms. A reasonably priced one is Friend's House (email them at friends house_peru@yahoo.com.mex ). Other links to check:  
 Booking.com ; HOSTEL.COM ; LonelyPlanet ; Hitchhiker's Hostel  ; Albergue Miraflores 

Hotels close to the Lima airport:
If you arrive to Lima late and have a connection early the following morning or just need to pass a night comfortably, the Ramada Costa del Sol hotel is right at the airport in Lima and can easily be walked to, but it is expensive (>$150/night). An alternative hotel much more reasonably priced and within walking distance from the airport is Hotel Mundo Albergue Aeropuerto ($25-$40/night).  If you go with the latter option, walk out of the airport main building to the right to Avenida Faucett, cross the pedestrian bridge, then walk left, make a right on Avenida Tomás Valle, make the next right, and eight streets down on Calle O you'll find the hotel.  There are other hotels near the airport - some less expensive and some with better reviews - but they require a taxi to get to.  Check for hotels in Callao on www.booking.com. Taxis can be cheap (10-15NS; $4-6) for short rides but only if you walk outside of the airport parking area to the main Avenida Faucett to catch them.  Getting a taxi within the airport will cost a minimum of ~25NS ($9).

END OF TRIP/POST-TRIP ACTIVITIES
Please read the detailed discussion of the end of the trip presented on another webpage: TripEnd. This includes the take-out plan, post-trip options to consider, transport from the ending rendezvous city of Bagua Chica, and the considerations about heading further downriver into the Jungle Pongos. On this Oct14 trip, we will plan to end between Puerto Malleta and Imacita and contract a ride back to Bagua for us and our gear. If the trip ends several days shorter than planned for various circumstances, there will be no refunds. In Bagua the gear will be left at Transportes Linea to be cleaned, dried, and organized the following day, and then sent back to Trujillo or Huaraz. SierraRios service ends in Bagua. Each person must arrange their own hotel and travel from there (see TripEnd for options). This is because folks usually go different ways at the end of the trip.


DONATIONS
On the last trips I had requests from folks living along the river (especially for folks in Balsas, Mendán, Tupén Grande, and Awajún villages) for more toys, clothing, camping gear, and even old laptops to be donated. You might also consider printing/bringing shirts/caps/other items with anti-dam slogans such as "Marañón Sin Represas".  Please consider bringing and donating items - it will be greatly appreciated.  I can send these items down to Cajamarca or Bagua/Jaén for us to pick up later so we don't have to carry them on most of the trip.


HEALTH
Below you will find some information on health issues. The first thing to know is that several folks on the trip, including me, are trained in wilderness first aid, and we can provide medical attention to injuries.  We will have at least one major first aid kit and one minor kit.  You may want to get some of your own medication if you think you might be suffering from something in particluar on the trip.  Our first aid kit will have some pharmaceuticals such as ibuprofen, immodium, Tums, antibiotics, anti-allergy pills, an epi pen. You might consider a visit the doctor before your journey to Peru to prepare for the following.

Immunizations/Malaria: It is recommended by the CDC that folks traveling to Peru be vaccinated against Hepatitis A,  Typhoid, and Tetanus.  If you're entering the jungle areas, you might also consider getting Yellow Fever and Rabies immunizations and taking anti-Malaria medicine. Standard child vaccinations that everyone should have include Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) and Diptheria-Tentanus-Pertussis (DTP), but note that Tetanus boosters need to be given every 5-10 years. Hepatitis B vaccination is recommended for those who might have blood or sexual contact with infected people. Note however, that with regard to mosquito-borne illness, in general the main Grand Canyon of the Amazon section down to near Bagua is in drier desert-type terrain with few mosquitos, where the CDC puts little risk of Malaria/Yellow Fever as well. [see this Malaria MAP from the CDC]. If you are planning to visit a doctor before the trip and get some immunizations, you should also request some additional prescriptions to treat/prevent Traveler's Diarrhea and/or Altitude Sickness (below). 

Traveler's diarrhea: One of the most common ailments among tourists in Peru is traveler's diarrhea (gastrointestinal problems), also referred to sometimes as Montezuma's Revenge.  You should try to minimize chances of getting it by avoiding potentially dirty foods before the trip. During the trip we'll do what we can to prevent it by strictly adhering to NPS Sanitation Guidelines: basically minimizing the microbe exposure through liberal use of sanitizing solutions (bleach in water at about 100 ppm) for hand-washing, dish-washing, table-wiping, and cleaning veggies/fruits. There will be a hand-wash station at camp that you should always use after bathroom use and before handling food/plates. See the FOOD/WATER section for more details. Despite these measures, and perhaps because there is contact with river water and other microbe-containing surfaces, invariably many foreigners still get traveller's diarrhea on a river trip. It almost never afflicts Peruvians or folks who spend a lot of time there and are used to the microbes. When it strikes you, the symptoms are upset stomach, diarrhea, nausea, lack of appetite, general fatigue and sometimes vomiting. It usually lasts 1-3 days but sometimes lasts longer (especially the loose stools). You can treat some symptoms with immodium and anti-nausea pills, but if you want to eliminate the problem completely, you should start a course of antibiotic (ciprofloxacin) immediately and take for 3 days or until symptoms subside. We will have some ciprofloxacin on the trip, but it might not be enough. If you can get some to bring along, please do so (and let Rocky know).

Altitude Sickness: Folks who will be starting on the Upper GC section will base out of Huaraz, which is at 3000 m elevation (10000 ft). This high altitude, with associated drives over passes at >4400 m (14000 ft), and possibly some hikes before the trip, may lead to altitude sickness - also called soroche in Peru. Symptoms are light-headedness, headache, nausea, and fatigue.   If you're acclimatized to the altitude for several days, it probably will not affect you.  If you're not acclimatized, you might suffer. You can prevent altitude sickness with acetazolamide (also known by trade name Diamox), a prescription medicine that increases bicarbonate excretion in urine and therefore lowers the pH of your blood (higher blood pH is one of the primary causes of altitude sickness).  Folks who take acetazolamide starting 1/2-1 day before getting to high elevation often can go up to above >16000 ft for several days without adverse effects.  If you're going to the doctor to get immunizations and/or antibiotics, you might also mention that you'll also be at high altitude and request a dose of acetazolamide. It's surprisingly hard to find in Peru. The common "anti-soroche" pills they sell down there are simply aspirin or tylenol, which do little for most of the symptoms. 


LIABILITY & INSURANCE
Liability: Each paticipant must realize that whitewater river expeditions involve certain inherent risks and must agree to voluntarily assume those risks. Also, each partipant in charge of a raft, kayak, or other SierraRios LLC gear is responsible for any damage or loss that occurs while the equipment is in their control. We require all participants on SierraRios LLC trips to sign a liability acknowledgement form. We will also ask you to fill out a participant information sheet with emergency contact information, allergy and health issues, and various preferences.

Traveler's Insurance: We strongly recommend that you get a travel insurance policy that covers emergency evacuations, medical treatment, theft, loss of equipment, and missed flights that might arise during your travel abroad. You can find such insurance policies through Squaremouth, Travelguard, and Travelsafe. You are responsible for your own equipment loss, missed flights, evacuation or medical costs before and during the expedition.

Crisis plan: In general, on this river we'll never be very far from trails/roads out, so in the event of incapacitating but non-life threatening injuries, the plan will be to raft the person to the nearest point out and arrange a ride to the nearest city/hospital. In some cases, we may build a litter and carry the person to the nearest road. With exceptional injuries/circumstances or life-threatening conditions, we may use the satellite phone to contact the nearest government officials with access to a helicopter and request an air evacuation. SierraRios LLC is not responsible for evacuation or medical costs incurred for problems arising during the expedition.

SAFETY / COMMUNICATION / ELECTRONICS
Safety/Repair Items:  There will be two spare kayak paddles, raft patch kits and material, duct tape/Gorilla tape, and 1-2 spare oars for each raft.  Each raft will have a 100' bow line.  There will be at least one Z-drag setup (bring one if you have it) which might be employed in the event a raft gets stuck somewhere and/or during Wasson's lining.

Electronics: It is possible to recharge electronics possibly at Chagual (~day 11) and certainly at Balsas/Celendin (~day 18) and possibly with a GoalZero solar charger/inverter we might bring along on the trip.

Satellite Phone: For communication we will have a Inmarsat satellite phone on the expedition.  You can make calls anywhere for $1.50/min.  The signal was always very good everywhere checked on the last trips.  Also, some areas on the river have cell phone coverage.  


MAPS/OTHER LINKS
All maps of the river are marked with rapids and available online (i.e. a "guide") to members of SierraRios with an acknowledgement from you that the access codes or map copies will not be given out to anybody - rather, you have to agree to direct others interested in the maps to the SierraRios website or Rocky.  The links to the maps, various artcles, the film, petition, and trip info are:

MARANON TOPO MAPS
FILM
PETITION 
SAVE THE UPPER AMAZON
RAFT TRIP INFO 
ARTICLES


READING/PREP MATERIAL
You can read/see more about the river and area, and Peru in general at the following (I'll have a lot of these books along on the trip):

Articles about the Marañon:
American Whitewater: Grand Canyon of the Amazon; by Contos
International Rivers: R ío Marañon; by Contos
Canoe & Kayak: Grand Canyon of the Amazon; by Contos

Books/Movies:
Movie: Aguirre, the Wrath of God  : unforgettable imagery and story
Book: Last Days of the Incas : McQuarrie does a great job describing the conquest of the Incas: Pizarro's defeat of Atahualpa at Cajamarca 
Book: Running the Amazon  : Joe Kane and Piotr Chmielinski with others kayak/raft the Apurimac-Amazon 1987
Book: Three Rivers of the Amazon : Tim Biggs kayaks down Marañon, Urubamba, and Apurimac 2008
Book: Two Against the Amazon  : Brown/Snow and the sources of the Amazon (Marañon) 1953
Book: My Amazon Adventure   Sebastian Snow travels down the Marañon-Amazon from the source (1953)
Book: River of Darkness : Orellana's Amazon first descent voyage of 1540
Book: Lonely Planet Peru: great travel guide

Amazon Source News:
True Source of the Amazon (C&K magazine article now online)
Fastest to the Atlantic Wins (Outside magazine article now online)
AREA: Correct Placement of the Most Distant Source of the Amazon in the Mantaro River Drainage : [scientific article]
La Republica article: (national news of Peru)
National Geographic article (blurb about new source but dissing it somewhat)
Fox News article nonlinonlin
Geography Directions post (something I wrote about the discovery)


PARTICIPANTS  
Most folks on the trip are guides or experienced rafters or kayakers:

Oct14 Marañon Trip:
The group committed so far on the Oct14 trip are mostly Americans from California but a few from Oregon.  There may be another Peruvian guide or other Peruvians with us in sections. We may enlist a 6th raft to row, but we need to see how it's shaping up with a few other experienced oarsmen who might join. Below are brief descriptions of each participant. 

Rocky Contos (San Diego, CA) will be the trip leader initially. You can read more about Rocky at BIO. Rocky will have done the whole river 4X by then.
Pedro Peña (Lunahuana, Peru) is a bilingual class V kayaker/raft guide with extensive experience guiding the Cañete, Apurimac, Urubamba, Trancura, Fualeufu, and Marañón.
Lorenzo Bergamin (Milan, Italy) is a trilingual class IV-V guide who has worked in Nepal, Europe, USA (GrandCanyon), and Chile as well as the Marañón 2X.
David Greenwood (Mariposa, CA) is the Merced River Ranger, a class IV-V rafter and has organized and led many GCC (Grand Canyon Colorado) trips.
Ralph Menderhausen (Mariposa, CA) is a friend of David's and has rowed GCC
Ann Menderhausen (Mariposa, CA) is Ralph's wife and likely will be on his raft most of the time
DC Carr (Sacramento, CA) is a ranger in various parks and friend of David's; he's a class IV rafter and has rowed GCC several times as well as many other Western rivers
Marty Acree (El Portal, CA) is a rafter and friend of David's who has rowed GCC 4X, the Rogue, and Merced many times as well as many other rivers; has gone through guide training
Ron Sonneville (Gold Beach, OR) is a contract geologist and class IV rafter/kayaker and has rowed/paddled GCC and Rogue many times, and other rivers in the West
Dorothy Dutton (OR) is Ron's wife and also a class IV oarswoman; she and he will be sharing rowing resopnsibilities for a raft
Shane Daugherty (Bandon, OR) is a friend of Ron's and an experienced oarsman who has rowed the Rogue, Illinois, GCC, Owyhee, and many other rivers (class IV and V)
Mary Kate Laughlin (Murphys, CA) is an RN and a class IV kayaker who's paddled GCC 4X, the Tamur(Nepal); she will be official medic on the trip; planning to visit Cusco/Machu Picchu afterward, so if interested in this as well, please get in contact to coordinate
Robert Wilson (Murphys, CA) is Mary's partner and a class IV-V kayaker; they will both be helping a lot with safety if rafts have problems
Malcolm MacGregor (Mariposa, CA) is a friend of David Greenwood's and looking for a great river adventure like the GCC
Savannah McGuirk (Bowning, NSW, Australia) is an academic geologist interested in the trip; she will be on a raft most of the time but might hop in an IK

POSSIBLY JOINING:
Tracy Greenwood (Mariposa, CA) is David's wife and will share a raft with him; she's done many river trips including through GCC
Mark Casado (Encinitas, CA) is a friend of David's and a contractor; he has rowed a lot and will be at the oars a bunch on this trip
Jan Casado (Encinitas, CA) is Marks' wife and has done GCC with him and David
XX (XX) XX

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BOAT ASSIGNMENTS

PADDLES 

CAMPING GEAR