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| by Cody Howard October 15, 2007 |
After a week of frantic phone calls to my buddy Ben H, in B.C., the Stikine and Homathko was
looking like a bust. Water was falling out, and people were headed home. Not I. I was on a
mission to get some last little bit of expeditionary paddling in before the harsh S.West winter.
Around the same time that i almost gave up hope, i got a email from Rocky Contos, stating
that the plans were set and he was en-route to Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The mission was
to complete some of the last remaining first descents in that area. JD Batove, former CA
boater, now AK boater, was onboard as well. They had a joint plane right together down from
Seattle, and were going to arrive 2 days before myself. So of course, they weren't going to
burn up two days of potential epics! They landed and put on the La Tigra and the Coyaquia.
looking like a bust. Water was falling out, and people were headed home. Not I. I was on a
mission to get some last little bit of expeditionary paddling in before the harsh S.West winter.
Around the same time that i almost gave up hope, i got a email from Rocky Contos, stating
that the plans were set and he was en-route to Ixtapa / Zihuatanejo, Mexico. The mission was
to complete some of the last remaining first descents in that area. JD Batove, former CA
boater, now AK boater, was onboard as well. They had a joint plane right together down from
Seattle, and were going to arrive 2 days before myself. So of course, they weren't going to
burn up two days of potential epics! They landed and put on the La Tigra and the Coyaquia.
| Left; La Tigra 60'er Right;The New Classic - Coyaquia |
So when I arrived, 2 days afterwards, they were burnt out after 60+ km of paddling. I was
amped...just flying into Ixtapa, you could see the drainages cutting through the jungle-ish
hills, and then dumping into the Pacific ocean. Ya it was hot, but I was stoked to get into the
goods. Well, we didn't right away. The first day consisted of trying to find out what we were
going to do, and then tracking down the necessary gear for the planned overnighter. After a
long day of searching for propane, shopping, cameras, food and more food, we arrived to
Playa Azul. A beach city just south of our destination. With the sun setting, Rocky, myself
and JD went for a swim in the heavy riptide. Surfers were out and we were drinking Coronas
on the beach. We woke and tracked down our shuttle driver, Nacho. We were off to do the
first descent of the Rio Arteaga.
Arriving at the Arteaga was disheartening for some, but bitter-sweet for me. I was finally
getting on the water and from the Google Earth images, it was looking to be right up my alley.
With in an hour of bashing, we were there, My Alley! It was a steep bedrock canyon that
saved it's gradient just for the big falls and drops into dark deep pools. We arrived to the
highlight, which was two large drops we called Taquito and Burrito.
amped...just flying into Ixtapa, you could see the drainages cutting through the jungle-ish
hills, and then dumping into the Pacific ocean. Ya it was hot, but I was stoked to get into the
goods. Well, we didn't right away. The first day consisted of trying to find out what we were
going to do, and then tracking down the necessary gear for the planned overnighter. After a
long day of searching for propane, shopping, cameras, food and more food, we arrived to
Playa Azul. A beach city just south of our destination. With the sun setting, Rocky, myself
and JD went for a swim in the heavy riptide. Surfers were out and we were drinking Coronas
on the beach. We woke and tracked down our shuttle driver, Nacho. We were off to do the
first descent of the Rio Arteaga.
Arriving at the Arteaga was disheartening for some, but bitter-sweet for me. I was finally
getting on the water and from the Google Earth images, it was looking to be right up my alley.
With in an hour of bashing, we were there, My Alley! It was a steep bedrock canyon that
saved it's gradient just for the big falls and drops into dark deep pools. We arrived to the
highlight, which was two large drops we called Taquito and Burrito.
| Burrito Falls, Rio Arteaga |
We ran Taquito and seal launched into Burrito, because the falls landed directly into the RR
wall. I'm determined to get back in there though, and run that sucka. It's a bad
mamajama....just waiting. Well, to make a really long story short, Rocky forgot the camcorder
right were you me see in the picture above. He hiked back upstream for 2 hours, and tried to
retrieve it, only to find that some locals stole it and refused to give it back. Meanwhile, my
P.O.S. camera was drying out on the rocks and self-destructing. We were down to just
pictures....which sucked, because we knew there would be some amazing stuff ahead of us.
The day ended with us out of gorge 1. We were chewed up by bugs all night, and woke to
lower levels. The beginning of day two was sick. Although the gradient was really low, it was
all saved up for big waterfalls and cascades. We ran them all, except one mandatory
portage, that I ran the top of. (see wallpapers)
wall. I'm determined to get back in there though, and run that sucka. It's a bad
mamajama....just waiting. Well, to make a really long story short, Rocky forgot the camcorder
right were you me see in the picture above. He hiked back upstream for 2 hours, and tried to
retrieve it, only to find that some locals stole it and refused to give it back. Meanwhile, my
P.O.S. camera was drying out on the rocks and self-destructing. We were down to just
pictures....which sucked, because we knew there would be some amazing stuff ahead of us.
The day ended with us out of gorge 1. We were chewed up by bugs all night, and woke to
lower levels. The beginning of day two was sick. Although the gradient was really low, it was
all saved up for big waterfalls and cascades. We ran them all, except one mandatory
portage, that I ran the top of. (see wallpapers)
| Cody, Start of "Dream Gorge", Arteaga |
| Rocky on Elbow Falls |
| Rocky Contos on Dream Falls |
| Cody Howard on the same. Notice the landing |
There were 4 main drops, ranging in heights of 10-25ish feet tall. Dream Falls, the highlight
drop of the run, I ran first...with much hesitation. It was about 20-25' tall and had an
extremely small landing zone. The worst part was the angle of the fall...it looked like it was
just going to throw you into the wall. I finally sacked up and ran it..which i'm glad I did.
Dream Falls was a sweet landing that would make anyone smile! Contos stepped up and
ran it after me and came up with the biggest smile I've seen! It was here..were it set in, this
was my first river i had paddled in Mexico and it was a first descent, how spoiled we were
that day! But the fun was soon over, for my dreaded flatwater paddle was ahead of me.
After what seemed like forever, we arrived to a Mine and some locals gave us a short ride
back to Playa Azul. Later that night...I stepped on a bee and an epic 1st descent was set in
motion..........
drop of the run, I ran first...with much hesitation. It was about 20-25' tall and had an
extremely small landing zone. The worst part was the angle of the fall...it looked like it was
just going to throw you into the wall. I finally sacked up and ran it..which i'm glad I did.
Dream Falls was a sweet landing that would make anyone smile! Contos stepped up and
ran it after me and came up with the biggest smile I've seen! It was here..were it set in, this
was my first river i had paddled in Mexico and it was a first descent, how spoiled we were
that day! But the fun was soon over, for my dreaded flatwater paddle was ahead of me.
After what seemed like forever, we arrived to a Mine and some locals gave us a short ride
back to Playa Azul. Later that night...I stepped on a bee and an epic 1st descent was set in
motion..........
| For Part Two - See "Mexico 1st D's. Part II Aguililla & La Laja *Coming Soon* |
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