Indonesian Digital News Archive

Well heeled travelers looking for an amazing adventure next year need look no further than the new whitewater rafting excursion from Mountain Travel Sobek. Their new Six Continent Whitewater Adventure, which was announced yesterday, promises to take travelers to the ends of the Earth to quench their thirst for adrenaline.

The 25-day, round-the-world expedition runs from May 9 through June 2 of 2013 and begins in California. The 8-12 participants on the trip will get their feet wet, literally and figuratively, with three days of rafting in the Sierra Mountains. From there they'll jet off to Ecuador for two days of rafting before proceed on to Spain to take on the Noguera Pallaresa in the high Pyrenees. Nairobi, Kenya is the next stop on the journey for three days of rafting on the Athi River, which mixes in great wildlife viewing along with Class II and III whitewater. The Tons River in India is the next stop as the lucky travelers take to the water in the Himalaya, not far from the spectacular peak Nanda Devi. Finally, the trip will wrap up on North Johnston river in Australia, one of the more remote and challenging whitewater runs on that continent.

Whew! Sounds like quite a trip and after reading the press release on it yesterday I immediately wished I were going. At $8695 (without airfare!) this is a bit pricey for my blood, but it was too good of an adventure travel opportunity to not share. And if the itinerary wasn't enticing enough on its own, co-founder of Mountain Travel Sobek John Yost, who has led plenty of river expeditions, will be the personal guide on this adventure. Sounds absolutely fantastic and I'm very jealous of those who get to go on this trip.

Earlier today I posted a story about paddler West Hansen's attempt to make a solo-speed run of the Amazon River, which he is calling the Amazon Express. In that story I mentioned that he would have to run the Acobamba Abyss, a notoriously treacherous stretch of white water that is amongst the toughest in the world. What exactly will that entail? The Abyss is roughly 40 miles (64km) in length and features Class V+ rapids nearly the entire way. It also runs through steep slot canyons that don't allow for any kind of retreat once paddlers enter the section. The water is too fast to paddle upstream and the walls are too difficult to climb, which means there is only one way to go – down!

For a better idea of what it's like, check out the video below that shows some rafters running through the Abyss a few years back. Looks like a wild ride!

The 2012 Teva Mountain Games are set to get underway this Thursday, May 31 in Vail, Colorado. The annual event plays host to some of the best outdoor/adventure athletes in the world in sports ranging from trail running and mountain biking to kayaking and slacklining.

The full schedule of events can be found online and as usual there is plenty to see and do for both competitors and spectators alike. In addition to each of the athletic events, each day also features live music, parties, demonstrations and seminars. The Adventure Village also returns, giving visitors a chance to climb an outdoor wall, try slacklining for themselves or take part in a number of other activities, while Gear Town will be packed with all kinds of great outdoor equipment to try out and purchase.

Due to the unusually low snowfall this past winter, there is less than normal whitewater in many of the western states his spring. As a result, some of the paddling and rafting events could be moved or canceled.  If you're taking part in any of those events or plan on attending, you'll definitely want to check in with the Teva Mountain Games staff to be sure everything is still operating as expected.

This is always a great event and if you're in the area you'll definitely want to drop by and check it out.

Update: I received word this afternoon that the SUP competitions have been cancelled due to the low water conditions, but that the kayaking and rafting events will take place as planned. Find out more here.