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Interesting to see the section of the upper upper Rur - never have seen video of it - only heard a description that it is lots of trees and bush (which obviously is true). Also the first time i see that somebody paddles the Brewery Weir on the left side. I recommend to look at the "Monschau" level not the Dedenborn for this section (see RiverApp).

Super fun edit! Nice one!

Sam - Is this the upper West Satsop? Where did you put in? We live on the West Satsop, was just wondering how far up you are in this video. Awesome video thanks for posting!

did you guys explore the island, and if you did do you have any more footage of it?

Beautiful scenery. Great music choice

What were the dates/flows?

Some of the comments below bring up the valid point that developing countries need energy production as they grow their economies. These comments are in response to my opposition to hydroelectric dams proposed on the Río Marañón within this video. Here are a few of my perspectives to further the conversation: First off, I agree that developing economies need energy to grow their economies and it is unfair for rich developed countries to dictate how things should be done. I am also not so naive to believe that we as humans do not need energy sources. I also acknowledge that all currently available energy sources have trade-offs, negatives and positives. I drive cars to go kayaking, fly in airplanes to go kayaking, and utilize plenty of materials taken from the earth to go kayaking. However, I think there is still room to fairly criticize certain energy projects in certain places for good reasons, and I don’t think this is a hypocritical stance to take. Second, some of the pro-dam rhetoric is just as unrealistic as hard line anti-dam rhetoric. I have had many conversations face-to-face, and through TH-cam comments, with people who love to state we need dams for energy. Their immediate reaction when they hear opposition to dams, is that all hydroelectric projects should be allowed to moved forward regardless of the consequences in the name of progress. I get the sense that they are being contrarian or playing devil’s advocate, just to do so because they are annoyed by environmentalists. That is to say, every time they hear someone oppose a dam somewhere (or drilling, or whatever) that triggers them take a 100% pro-dam, pro-drilling, everywhere, all the time, no matter the cost. I disagree. While I think there are some good ways to exploit hydro-power (Run-of-the-River for example, heavily used in places like Switzerland), my research into this topic has shown me there are other more viable energy sources out there with fewer negative consequences (Nuclear for example, without entering into a 30 page research paper here). To summarize, yes, we need energy and perhaps some dams are justifiable, BUT that does not make all dams automatically justifiable. Third, this video presents a case for opposing the dams in the locations they are currently proposed on the Marañón, not all dams everywhere. The primary argument is that the locals who live there overwhelmingly oppose them. While other countries, such as the US, may have built dams in the past that displaced local populations, that doesn’t mean it was right then either. Ultimately, this is Peru and their government and systems will make these decisions. Currently, it looks like Peru’s legal system is doing a much better job than the US legal system did of protecting it’s citizens interests surrounding being forcibly relocated from your land. Lastly, in a May 2020, an Analysis of the Legal Status of the Chadin II and Veracruz dams, published by the Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (Peruvian Society of Environmental Law) states that, “Peru currently has an oversupply of energy. The Peruvian government has annulled the call for energy supply from large hydroelectric power stations for the National Interconnected Electricity System of Peru (SEIN). • In the case of the Chadin 2 project, the local population strongly rejected the project, and Odebrecht was implicated in cases of corruption, which have led Odebrecht to prioritize the sale of its assets. • In the case of Veracruz, Enel has decided to opt for green, low-carbon growth, and to move away from hydroelectric power plants with large dams due to the social and environmental impacts that these imply. Additionally, Norway’s sovereign wealth fund, which participates in Enel, has decided to divest from projects with negative environmental impacts. • Costs associated with the development of non-conventional renewable energy or run-of river hydroelectric plants have reduced in recent years. These are viable alternatives in Peru and have significantly lower environmental and social costs.”

Ed is so great! Nice edit

Grew up on the nearby Trinity River; beautiful part of a beautiful state

The water volume is higher in the Zambezi than the Colorado River in the USA; ( larger rapids) ; You need a larger raft than the "Wild Horizons" has , to run the rapids of the Zambezi. THe larger raft prevents the boat from flipping over; the water in the Colorado River is VERY COLD ( 48 degrees F); much colder than the Zambezi ( 75 degrees)- so you DO NOT want to flip your boat in the Colorado River- Colorado River has about 40-50 rapids with 8 being a "Class V".

I have really loved this whole series, and love the way you narrate it also, it's really interesting to hear the back stories and I appreciate the diagrams and discussions on routes taken and dececions made.

It's been about 20 years since my last run on the NF Sky so your video brought back some good memories.

Looks like a blast too!

Sweet, I live close by there...epic video 😊

we did this trip in 1991 an rafted down to Sarameriza. we had mayor problems with the aguarunas and had to run the river at night to escape from them. very sad that they going to build all this dams.

I can really appeeciate the changes to the communities and environment a dam causes, but what can you expect a country with growing energy needs to do? Coal? oil? Hydro is at least far better for local environments.

A couple friends and I want to packraft the section right below this. I believe the gate is closed to this bridge. Did you find that to be the case? Thanks

Looks like a great run. We just arrived in Porto with a group of 4. 1 person boat did not make it,any beta on rentals or boats for purchase. Would love to link up for some boating we are gonna have two vehicles.

You guys rock! What an adventure that I can only imagine looking down from O'Neil pass. Love the video composition: no soundtrack first half (just water sounds), then a thumping beat at the end. I was mesmerized.

Note on the upper 2.5km: It has been stated in the comments below that the section from Kalterherberg to Reichensteiner (the 2.5 km above the normal put-in) is not allowed to be kayaked. However, I have done a couple hours of research using the below resources, and it appears to me that there is no legal basis for the 2.5km above Reichensteiner being categorized differently than below. The www.bfn.de/naturschutzgebiete website has a layered, interactive map that shows the entire area is a Naturschutzgebiete called “NSG Oberes Rurtal mit den Felsbildungen der Ehrensteinley”, with an IUCN-Kategorie of IV. It is still unclear to me if kayaking is allowed in the entire area, but either way, there seems to be no categorical division. So it would either be legal to float all of it, or forbidden to float below Reichensteiner to Monschau as well. Furthermore, nsg.naturschutzinformationen.nrw.de/nsg/de/fachinfo/gebiete/gesamt/ACK-002 shows that the entire area above and below Reichensteiner is named as ACK-002, with no differentiation in rules in categorization nor applicable rules. Additionally, this German based kayaking website, www.kajaktour.de/rur.htm, describes the section from Kalterherberg to Reichensteiner as the Hohe Rur (WW I-II), with no mention of it being illegal. It is best we kayakers all follow local regulations/rules and avoid the spread of disinformation, so if there is solid evidence to demonstrate the 2.5km above Reichensteiner is illegal, please share for the river community as a whole and I will amend the video as such to ensure others are aware of these regulations in the future.

How close to the parking are did you get out? I don’t envy you carrying that kayak back up that damn hill where the parking is..:😂

You have to go against the current on your way back…..You can’t avoid it.

cool :)

😢 Above Reichenstein is a nature conservation area, it should not be paddled, also minimum level is 60cm at Monschau parking garage...

You guys paddled a section that is forbidden, the part above Raichenstein is a natural reserve. Please educate yourself about local laws before putting in so other kayakers don't get a bad name. Thx!

Is the river permitted? How long is the season?

Can't realy recommend the river below ~75cm, above that it starts beeing fun :)

Serious rapids

Good stuff

Nice! Hope you are doing well, happy new year Sam!

amen brother

where you using a drone to scout? I saw you portage that nasty hole.

I want to head down to paddle this river! Got any good links with more info for planning this trip?

Nice video , what's the name of the falls at 13:12 minutes

Also, while it is sad and can be unfair that people have to displace Peru has a lot of hydroelectric potential it needs to exploit. It is emissions free and can improve the quality of life of Peruvians greatly. In other developed nations we went over the same process decades ago. Spain, Norway and even the US. In the US now it is basically impossible to build infrastructure due to how hard is to expropriate private property. There has to be. A balance between rights of people and progress.

Just a small correction Orellana’s expedition was part of Gonzalo Pizarro’s expedition. Gonzalo was one of the brothers of Francisco Pizarro, the famous one ;) In any case, Orellana, Gonzalo and many other conquerors came from the same small town of Trujillo, Spain.

Hi not sure if this is indicative of most of the satsop river but I will be camping at Schafer state park soon and was wondering if an inflatable kayak would work in that part of the river?

Great adventure!

Do you know anywhere near the Hoh rainforest where I could rent a kayak?

The best view of the zambezi have ever seen

Very interesting and congratulations on scoring that run. Don’t remember if Scout M. or anyone else explored that run 30 plus years ago. That Box Gorge kinda brings back very remote considerations of a narrow box canyon just above the normal put in on Jefferson Creek. Nice viewing from a bridge above. Logs a major concern but perhaps but once in awhile, an epic cleansing might occur and become a hard core possibility

Love that creek, but after a low water run, and before the internet gauges, early 90's, we decided to run it during a Feb flood. Brown w/ mud and rising fast. My friend ran certain death by accident w/o scouting, lol. Fortunately, at higher flows the pin and entrapment potential weren't as bad.I think that may have been when it got it's name.We named a bunch of rapids for a guide book.

❤

This section looks rad

Great video. However, I revise your perceptions of Victoria Falls town and Zimbabwe in general. Judging a country on political tensions from two decades ago is rather myopic. Worth noting that Zimbabwe receives more tourists than any other country in Sub-Saharan Africa besides South Africa.

Did you guys have any issues with the raft on the river? We've done it at super low flows in duckies, but wanted to run it in our 12ft raft in the upcoming weekends. Hope to hear back soon.

What a cool canyon

Thanks for posting this! I've been looking down at this river from the bridge and always wanted to see what the run looked like.

Amazing river and people! so glad you shared this with us.

Ein schönes Video vielen Dank!!!