Demon River Apurímac: The First Navigation of Upper Amazon CanyonsOne-fifth of the world's river water rushes down the Amazon River into the Atlantic Ocean. A tiny thread of that monstrous surge of water makes an incredible 4000 mile journey. This thread, the Apurimac, is the source of the Amazon. It thaws reluctantly from a sweeping snow field 17,000 feet high in the cold, thin air of the Andes of southern Peru. It soon becomes a rivulet of clear water. From that point, it grows incessantly, crossing a flat pampa between bare, windswept hills. Then, at 13,000 feet, the Apurimac begins one of the most spectacular descents of any river in the world, slicing into the Vilcabamba range of the Andes, pulsing through narrow gorges and unparalleled canyons, crashing its way toward the jungle. This is the whitewater wilderness that beckoned J. Calvin Giddings, who led the first navigation of the river in 1974 and 1975. This book finally brings his unique story to light. |
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Page 18
... nearby Big Creek Gorge , which ultimately gave us the most enjoyable whitewater in memory . I thought about the fast schuss with Les Jones down the upper Teton River , dropping 100 feet per mile , with a right arm still weak and ...
... nearby Big Creek Gorge , which ultimately gave us the most enjoyable whitewater in memory . I thought about the fast schuss with Les Jones down the upper Teton River , dropping 100 feet per mile , with a right arm still weak and ...
Page 66
... nearby hills , where a monster of a bird soared in lazy circles across the blue sky . Its body twisted in flight , and suddenly on the back of its outstretched wings we saw a distinctive pattern of white bars on black . It was an Andean ...
... nearby hills , where a monster of a bird soared in lazy circles across the blue sky . Its body twisted in flight , and suddenly on the back of its outstretched wings we saw a distinctive pattern of white bars on black . It was an Andean ...
Page 67
... nearby sand spit . " How many miles today , Jim ? " I asked . Jim sat half - way up , blinking away the night , and said , “ Maybe fif- teen . Where's breakfast ? " “ Ughh , don't talk about food ! " came a weak voice from a nearby heap ...
... nearby sand spit . " How many miles today , Jim ? " I asked . Jim sat half - way up , blinking away the night , and said , “ Maybe fif- teen . Where's breakfast ? " “ Ughh , don't talk about food ! " came a weak voice from a nearby heap ...
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Common terms and phrases
ahead Amazon Andean Apurimac balseros bank beach began bend beneath big rapid boat boulders broken camp Campa canyon wall capsized cataracts Chapi Chasm of Acobamba chicha Choquequirao Chuck chute cliffs climb cross Cunyac Bridge Cuzco dark deep demon river descended distance downstream drop entered eskimo roll expedition face feet finally flow gear Gerry giant gorge Hacienda highlands hills Hiram Bingham hole Inca Indians John Wesley Powell jungle kayak land launched ledge loaded looked Loren McIntyre Machu Picchu maps miles morning mountain narrow navigate Nayhua nearby night paddle Pampas past path Perrin Peru plunged portage pueblo pulled pushed Quechua Quillabamba Quishuar raft rain rapid Río roar rope route sand scouting shore shoreline side sight slopes soon steep stopped suddenly suspension bridge swim thought trail trip turbulent valley Vilca Vilcabamba wait walked watch waterfall waves Yauri