Rock & Roll

This morning I read an article/review of a new Santana album that he covered the guitar work of classic rock guitar songs. Although that isn't what I am posting about now, it is what sparked the idea. This post is about the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio (pictured above). The museum opened in 1995. Though I have driven through Cleveland, I have not had the opportunity to stop and visit. I did enjoy briefly paging through the inductees by year on the HOF website. Here are a few interesting tidbits - 1987 seems to be the year with the most inductees, Eric Clapton has been inducted 3 times, once solo and twice as part of bands and there are 15 other people who have been inducted twice, most of them as part of a band and then solo but a few were part of two bands that have been inducted.

Rio Futaleufu

To end rafting week I am going to conclude with a South American river, the Rio Futaleufu. This river begins in Argentina and its glacially fed waters eventally flow to the Pacific Ocean after entering Yelcho Lake and becoming Yelcho river.

A description that I found on a website described rafting the Rio Futaleufu:
"The Rio Futaleufu is no ordinary river. Born in the Los Alerces National Park in Argentina it flows west into Chile, through landscapes dominated by snow capped volcanoes and rich rain forest before arriving at the coastal town of Chaiten. Meaning 'Great River' in the local Mapuche dialect, the astonishingly clear waters of the 'Fu' flows through deep canyons and pristine wilderness to create explosive and untamed white water, unparalleled anywhere in the world. Half a world away from the cold northern winter you will find yourself sitting on the porch of your cabana, sipping on a glass of Chilean red wine and basking in the splendour of the Chilean summer with the distant rumble of your next exciting rapid just within earshot. Described by the locals as "a place so lovely it must have been painted by God"
A kayaker transits a rapid along the Futaleufu in the picture above.

Zambezi Rafting

Rafting the Zambezi River on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia is a great adventure that I was unable to do when I was there as the water level had risen too high for rafting.

Here is a brief description I found on a site offering rafting trips on the Zambezi:

"White Water Rafting on the Zambezi River in Victoria Falls has been classified by the British Canoe Union as Grade 5 - "extremely difficult, long and violent rapids, steep gradients, big drops and pressure areas". This is a high volume, pool-drop river with little exposed rock either in the rapids or in the pools below the rapids."

The rafting begins below the fantastic Victoria Falls and continues through Batoka Gorge, which has been formed by Victoria Falls as the falls have moved westward along weakspots in the rock. Below is the put-in for Zambezi rafting with Victoria Falls in the background!

Someday, when I return to Africa I will try to plan my trip around the low water season at Vic Falls since I have seen the high-water time and that way I can also raft the river!.

Karnali River

Today I am journeying to the Karnali River in Nepal, which was on a list of the top 10 whitewater rafting vacations that I found online.

I don't hold any real hope that I will ever be an expert rafter as I would need to be to do this on the Karnali but I would be so interested in the action, the adventure, the scenery, really pretty much everything about it.

Here is a description I found on the internet about the rafting experience:

"Rafting in Karnali river is not an ordinary trip for any rafter. The trek comes for the rafters' enjoyment with some of the most beautiful canyons in Nepal. Diversity in flora and fauna is incredible. Rapids in the river get huge after the monsoon rains. Flow of the water increases when river slices through some narrow canyons. Those who desire to experience breathtaking scenery, scintillating action and enjoyment of a long trip should go for a ride in Karnali river."

I also liked how one site described its remoteness as only being able to be reached by a 2-day hike!

Grand Canyon Rafting

Rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon in Arizona is definitely one of the experiences I want to do most. I know a couple of people who did a 3-week trip on the river in the canyon and I just haven't been able to get it set or organized for me to do.

Here is a description I found on a website offering rafting trips in the Grand Canyon:

"Exploring the Grand Canyon by river is an experience unlike any other. Discover hidden waterfalls and paradisiacal side canyons - areas of Grand Canyon National Park that are accessible only by river. Listen to the sound of the mighty Colorado River as you lie down under a blanket of innumerable stars each night after your Grand Canyon rafting experience. Watch the morning sun cast its warm glow through towering canyon walls. Discover the rush of excitement from legendary Colorado River whitewater."

There are a number of rafting tours that range from day trips that you can even take helicoptors from Las Vegas to multi-week excursions where everything you pack in, you pack out with you as well.

White Nile Rafting

For Rafting Week, as I introduced it on Friday, I would like to begin with whitewater rafting on the White Nile in Uganda. This is the only place I have been rafting but I would definitely like to do it again in a number of locations around the world if I get the chance.

Here is a description I found on a website that operates rafting trips on the White Nile near Jinja, Uganda:
"Warm water, massive waves, beautiful scenery, and year round sunshine characterizes White Nile River Rafting on the White Nile. Challenge the legendary 'Overtime' (a 4.5 meter waterfall) and drop into 'The Bad Place' probably the largest commercial rafted hole in the world. Drift quietly in the calm pools between the rapids and marvel at the abundant birdlife.Raft the Source of the Nile! The legendary White Nile offers some of the best White Water rafting in the world."

The video below is relatively representative of my experience. Flipping the raft is much less common than this video might lead you to believe but our raft flipped twice and even the safety raft flipped once.

Rafting

Inspired by a conversation I had with a blog reader, I will plan to make next week Rafting Week. I will profile some prime rafting locations around the world and I will pick a couple of more local (US) less exotic locales. Here is the common 6-point scale of rapids:

Grade 1: Very small rough areas, might require slight maneuvering. (Skill Level: Very Basic)

Grade 2: Some rough water, maybe some rocks, might require some maneuvering.(Skill Level: Basic Paddling Skill)

Grade 3: Whitewater, small waves, maybe a small drop, but no considerable danger. May require significant maneuvering.(Skill Level: Experienced paddling skills)

Grade 4: Whitewater, medium waves, maybe rocks, maybe a considerable drop, sharp maneuvers may be needed. (Skill Level: Whitewater Experience)

Grade 5: Whitewater, large waves, large volume, possibility of large rocks and hazards, possibility of a large drop, requires precise maneuvering (Skill Level: Advanced Whitewater Experience)

Grade 6: Class 6 rapids are considered to be so dangerous as to be effectively unnavigable on a reliably safe basis. Rafters can expect to encounter substantial whitewater, huge waves, huge rocks and hazards, and/or substantial drops that will impart severe impacts beyond the structural capacities and impact ratings of almost all rafting equipment. Traversing a Class 6 rapid has a dramatically increased likelihood of ending in serious injury or death compared to lesser classes. (Skill Level: Successful completion of a Class 6 rapid without serious injury or death is widely considered to be a matter of great luck or extreme skill)

Tiger Leaping Gorge

Tiger Leaping Gorge, is a canyon that you may not have heard of. It is located in the Yunnan province of China. This gorge is featured in the BBC, Wild China series, which provides phenomenal video footage. Here is a little footage I found but this isn't from the Wild China series.

The gorge, which was named after a story about a Tiger excaping from a hunter by leaping across the river is part of the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas, which is a UNESCO World Heritages Site.
The gorge was formed by the powerful Yangtze River, though the gorge is only a small portion of the 3900+ mile long river.

Grand Canyon

How could there be a Canyon Week without the Grand Canyon? The answer is, it couldn't

happen.

The Grand Canyon is one of the most celebrated natural wonders in the world. It is 277 miles long, up to 18 miles across and up to 6000 feet deep. The Colorado River formed the Grand Canyon over the course of 17 million years.

Above is a picture of the Skywalk, a tourist attraction where people walk on a bridge suspended out over the rim. I took a helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon from Las Vegas several years ago, that was quite a fun experience.

Hells Canyon & Black Canyon

Today I am spotlighting two canyons in the American West. Hells Canyon in Idaho & Oregon along with the Black Canyon of the Gunnison in Colorado. These two canyons illustrate different extremes of canyons. Hells Canyon (pictured above) is the deepest canyon in North America at nearly 8000 feet deep. The canyon is also about 10 miles wide. Hells Canyon was formed by the Snake River and is a National Recreation Area.

Black Canyon of the Gunnison (above) is very different in that it is very narrow at the rim, in some places only about 1100 feet wide. The canyon is not nearly as deep though, at its deepest it is about 2700 feet. Black Canyon of the Gunnison is a National Park.

There are a number of sheer cliffs in the Black Canyon, including the Painted Wall in the picture above, which is over 2200 feet from river to rim.