Ugan.DO.something: Sun Koshi Continued

Where did we leave off...

Day 5: Hukapoa falls was our first major rapid of the Sun Koshi. We all jumped out to scout, chossing lines for the kayakers and rafts.

The girls discuss the line Photo from Hayley Segal

Georgia shows the girls the line down Hukapoa photo by Hayley Segal

The Nepali girls were in the paddle and oar rafts- fair enough- this was the biggest rapid they had seen yet. About half of the kayakers decided to portage, saving up for some of the big wave trains to follow downstream. There were a few close calls with the rafts, but everyone made it through safely.

One of our loaded gear rafts drifts dangerously close to the pourover! photo by Hayley Segal

Hukapoa 2 followed just around the corner, with some big, messy waves. There were a few swims later in the day, and everyone was getting a bit tired by the half way point of the trip. Fortunatley, the waves got smaller and smaller as the river flattened out after lunch, though we knew it wasnt going to last long.

Mina, Nepals first female raft guide who had been rowing one of the oarboats for the trip had been having problems with her shoulder. As a result, I got my first go on an oarframe- and Mina got her first real go at instructing! Oar frames are hard work, and heavy with lots of extra gear, people and kayaks on them. Ours had been acting as infirmary rafts as well for the girls not feeling well, and i gave them some quality entertainment as i struggled to man the oars, with Mina shouting instructions at me. "Right Back! Left Back! Together! Why right back? Left, LefT!!!" We finally figured out that Minas right was my left, and things went a little smoother.

Me struggling to row the heavy oarframe under Minas watchful eye. Photo by Hayley Segal

The next day started out slow, but we knew we would have one major rapid, Rhino Rock, at the end of the day. The locals would stop and stare at us as we passed- i dont think they have ever seen so many kayakers in one group, and certainly never so many females.

Some of our group milling on the flat water. Photo by Whitney Hansen

They werent the only ones to stare however... As we paddled through some of the smaller rapids, we got a shock seeing how some of the locals use the river. Small boys on inner tubes paddled up to us to show off their rolls and locals proved that rafts arent just for entertainment!

Photo from Hayley Segal

photo by Anna White

photo by Anna White

Rhino rock crept up on us unexpected, and After a few swimmers, we made our camp just around the corner. It was a late camp that nite as we waited for one of the rafts to arrive with our groceries from the local village- Fresh chickens for Dal Bhat! Ever resourceful, the kiwis found plenty to entertain themselves with until dinner. We went to bed in anticipation of "the jungle corridor"- the most continuous and largest section on the Sun Khosi which was to come the following morning.

Emi, Soph, Hes, Malaika and Laura entertain the girls and themselves

Morning dawned bright and early as we headed off into the Jungle corridor. Noted not only for its rapids, but for its beauty, this section of the river was nonstop fun! Even with the Nepali girls in rafts, we had our work cut out for us and our rescue skills tested with several swims. There was lots of carnage and lots of rafts as we hit wavetrain after wavetrain. The waves were big and bouncy, interspaced with large (generally) flushy holes and boils. I got to paddle Inka's tiny Jackson sidekick, and felt like i was home again on the Nile.

Showing off rescue skills, Malaika Davies tows a swimmer to shore. Photo by Hayley Segal

Fortunatley, it all calmed down again after lunch. Lunch was on one of the most beautiful beaches we had yet to come across, with an amazing waterfall about 10 feet away. It was the perfect spot for a photo shoot, so clearly we had to take advantage. It was one of the first times we got all the girls together, and they were more than happy to show off their new keen shoes, as well as other gear. It quickly turned from photo shoot to splash fest at the bottom of the waterfall as the girls left off some tension towards the end of the trip.

Josh Neilson gets some loving and a big thank you for the keen shoes from the girls.

The river calmed down enough after the jungle corridor to let the girls get some time back in the kayaks, and they were off with kiwi and swedish support, charging down some of the smaller rapids, looking more and more comfortable in the boats.

Inka and Malin flank Radha providing support and laughs. Photo by Hayley Segal

The girls werent the only ones getting some more time in boats. Yvonne and a few of the other swedish girls were pretty new to the water themselves, and they got to hone their skills- getting more time in the boats as they learned together with the Nepali girls.

That last half morning i got to go in a raft with Sita and some of the other girls, giving a little bit of raft guide coaching. Sita did an awesome job on the river, and the other girls got their first go on the stick, trying out the basic draw and pry strokes to turn the boats. It was my first time getting to really instruct the girls, and we had a lot of fun. We paddled on, to have a suprise rest day on day 9, giving us all a chance to clean up and relax before heading out to the Trisuli for a few days rest and of course some training before the festival.

Me, Hayley and Soph showing off some off river fashion and enjoying the sunshine.

Our last morning on the river provided one more excellent opportunity for some good laughs and of course, a photo shoot. I don't think the Nepali girls knew what to do with us...

Team Kiwi looking hot... photo by Whitney Hansen

Malaika Davies and Emi Earle model some of the gear donated for the trip. Photo by Whitney Hansen

After the ten days the girls were stoked to get off the river, though not so excited for our 20 hour busride back to the trisuli. Even so, the girls left feeling accomplished and excited about both kayaking and rafting, and our little group was starting to get closer as we headed into the festival.