Home Free
From Guide
Contents |
Quick Facts
- Class: III
- Type: Composite: Constriction, Boulders, Ledges
- Length: 25 meters (75 feet)
- Alternate Names: Squeeze
- Previous Rapid: Tiburon
- Next Rapid: Postre
- Interactive Map: Futaleufu River Valley
- River Section: Lower Futaleufu, Bridge-to-Bridge
Overview
Home Free is the last significant rapid of the Lower Futaleufu, Bridge-to-Bridge section. Head down the v-tongue ramp and break through Subduction Line and you are Home Free! The take-out is only a few hundred yards down the river. A large Triangle Rock at river-center defines this rapid. The river breaks into two channels on either side of the rock, either of which is navigable.
Low and High Water
At low water Home Free becomes less intense. It is often a place for rafters to practice swim tests at low water levels before taking on Mas o Menos and Casa de Piedra. At high water the Offset Breaking Waves become less easy to surf and the turbulence of the water is more noticeable. At very high flows the rapid washes-out and forms a hole behind Triangle Rock.
Scouting
Boat scout this rapid from the top.
Hazards
At low water levels the river-left channel can shallow significantly making a flip on the river-left side something to avoid.
Play Opportunities
The long Offset Breaking Waves above the rapid are surfable as is the Triangle Rock pillow itself. For those who like unstable eddies, they can check-out the Upwelling Eddy behind Triangle Rock. About 80 meters below Triangle Rock is Ender Rock, a great place to catch some air in a higher volume kayak.
Where to Swim
Swim down the middle and toward river-left.
Where to Rescue
Wait below the Triangle Rock or eddy out below the Rock Peninsula to await swimmers.
Where to Portage
Running the Rapid
Stop to surf on the Offset Breaking Waves then head down either side of Triangle Rock. The river-right channel gives the better ride with large whirlpools and a Subduction Line below. Break through the subduction line and you are Home Free!
Copyright & Terms of Use
Copyrights: (Copyright © 2006, Expediciones Chile) All photos, maps, diagrams, text and computer code is the copyrighted property of Expediciones Chile with all rights reserved.
Terms of Use: Any type of reproduction, republication, or re-transmission for commercial use is prohibited without the expressed, written permission of Expediciones Chile. Users of this Wiki guidebook may print copies of the text, images and diagrams for personal river running use only. Users may not alter the diagrams or text without expressed written permission of Expediciones Chile. Users must read and acknowledge the disclaimer before printing. Printing implies acknowledgment of the disclaimer.
Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Under no circumstances should paddlers substitute the information and diagrams in this guidebook for their own sound judgment on the river and their collective experience running rivers. This guidebook is based on Expediciones Chile's twenty years of experience running the Futaleufu River. However, the diagrams and descriptions found here are only approximations of what paddlers will find on the river once they get here. They are not to scale and nor are they completely accurate. Water levels change, rocks move around, landslide debris can enter the river at any time making the diagrams obsolete. Expediciones Chile also reserves the right to update these diagrams and descriptions at any time as we find better ways to illustrate and discuss the rapids. Use this guidebook at your own risk.
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