Roller Coaster
From Guide
Contents |
Quick Facts
- Class: III
- Type: Composite: Constriction and Debris
- Length: 450 meters (1500 feet)
- Alternate Names: Winkful
- Previous Rapid: Tres Islas
- Next Rapid: Honorable Mention
- Interactive Map: Futaleufu River Valley
- River Section: Upper Futaleufu, Wild Mile Section
Overview
Shortly after the Third Island of Tres Islas the river starts to pick up speed again. At the beginning of Roller Coaster there are two pour-overs. They are easily spotted in the center of the river with a channel on both and distinct eddies formed behind them. A long rolling wavetrain leads to the start of Class IV, Honorable Mention.
Low and High Water
At low water Roller Coaster flattens out and at high water the rollers wash-out.
Scouting
Easily scouted from the wave-tops as you paddle.
Hazards
At low water there will be two holes at river-center. As the water drops further they will become pour-overs. At high water they are wave-holes.
Play Opportunities
Some of the waves offer smooth, catch-on-the-fly surfing opportunities for boats with sufficient hull speed.
Where to Swim
Try to get to the river-left shore before Honorable Mention.
Where to Rescue
From the eddy on river-left above Honorable Mention.
Where to Portage
There is a trail that runs along the river valley on river-left, however this rapid is too long to consider a portage.
Running the Rapid
Weave around holes at the top of the rapid, then join the center wavetrain and coast on the slow rollers. Eddy-out, river-left, above Honorable Mention.
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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