The name of this river depends on which one of those—at times—contentious neighbors maps you’re squinting at while cramped inside your vehicle during moonlight navigation. In Argentina, its known as the Corcovado. Chileans call the river the Carrenleufú. From a geographer’s viewpoint, its the headwaters of the Palena. Regardless of the name, its sublime scenery, large brook trout, cerulean water, bombacha-clad guacho’s at work on Patagonia’s largest ranch—Estancia Tekca, and of course, great whitewater, make this trip a classic.
Meandering westward on windswept pampas, the river cuts a swath through the upthrusted foothills of the Argentine Andes. As the river enters a sheer-walled canyon, it constricts dramatically, then explodes at an unrunnable sieve. Although bits and pieces of the drops downstream could be run, it is essentially one long portage on river right. Gaping into the narrows during our portage, we came across a well-surveyed dam site and core sample holes. A runnable class V drop ensues, then another wild cascade. When the canyon walls recede, the river eases to fun, boat-scoutable, class IV+ rapids.
With its occasional class V drop, the river is tough enough to keep the intermediate paddler away, yet quite interesting for an expert. A high water run would test your mettle.
From Palena, 146 km southeast of Chaitén, cross the border, drive through Corcovado, continuing east to Estancia Tekca. You need permission and the key from the ranch managerto drive through a gate (note the following info may be outdated but in 1998 the rnach manager was Helena Höbrich FAX: 0945-9303). Behave yourself while on the ranch, or access to this jewel will be lost. Continue 31 km to Sectional Caridad, check in, then drive through the ranch, and go another 7 km west to the top of the canyon and hike down to river elevation 700 meters..
To find the take-out, drive west 500 m from Corcovado. Turn south towards Río Pico on a good gravel road absent from most road maps. When you reach the bridge spanning Arroyo Poncho Morro, drive down on either side of the creek, where you’ll find serene camping under an immense vault of blue sky at elevation 508 meters. The shuttle is 93 km in length.
This 10 km class IV+•V- run is best in spring and summer months with flows of 800 to 1000 CFS. Expect 3 portages with average gradient of 100 FPM.
Topo maps titled Cerro Caballada, Argentina
Posted on October 24th, 2009 by John Foss (posthumously)
Filed under: argentina, class 5
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