The Urubamba River in Peru....

Cusco is at 3300m so it was a bit of a shock to the system when I first arrived.  Especially when local kayaker Noel picked me up and I had to climb a bunch of stairs to get to his flat!  However the acclimatisation was going well and as my kayak had finally arrived we could head to the Urubamba River and drop some altitude!!

We got stuck in the village of Urubamba for a day or so as there was a strike called and with the roads closed to the jungle we just had to sit it out and wait for it all to pass.  This was not going to be the first or the last strike to affect me in Cusco but at least we could head to the market, drink some freshly made juices and watch the world go bye!

Finally we were on our way and with our little taxi we headed over a couple of passes over 4000m, through the village of Santa Maria and onwards to Santa Teresa.  The road was pretty sketchy in places and with our little Cusco taxi just making it through the side streams I wished we were in our usual Tata Sumo jeep that we know and trust in India.

However, Percy our driver kept going and going and we were rewarded with a stunning view of Salkantay mountain and the Urubamba River below.  This road is also the back door route to Machu Picchu if the trains are fully booked or you do not want to cough up the price!

Again another fresh juice and a fried egg and avocado roll for breakfast and we were ready to kayak.  The first part was pretty steep with continuous rapids and plenty of scouting.  There had been a few landslides and a couple of years back there was a big flood that tore away the train tracks.

We actually came across some of the train tracks in the river further downstream.

The water was nice and warm and we were getting more of a jungle feel to the river now.  We arrived at a small gorge where the colours of the walls were absolutely stunning.  

We had seen a bit of the gorge from up on the road but it was only now revealing its beauty!

Though only short, the gorge was spectacular with some great rapids and drops

The river now started to change character as it widened and the rapids were more spaced out.

Noel was enjoying being back on this section of the Urubamba, it had been a few years since he was last here.

There were still plenty of places and drops to catch some air.

It was great to be finally kayaking in Peru, it had been a long time.  In fact it was some 7 years since I last kayaked in Peru and the lower part of the Urubamba was just the perfect way to get into the flow and enjoy some warm water kayaking in the land of the Incas!! 

A big shout to Noel for putting me up at his place and more importantly having the drive to get out of Cusco and go boating!!

Next was a spot of trekking, Machu Picchu and a day on the river with a South American legend....

Steve

Kayak School Arlberg

www.gokayaking.at

A Summer of kayaking with Kayak School Arlberg in and around the Austrian Alps - Part 2

Again, I cannot emphasise just how good the Summer has been....

The weather has been outstanding, the water levels have been great and of course we have had some fantastic days on the rivers with everyone!

Throughout the Summer the Inn has never failed to disappoint be it BIG volume in Austria

or the more technical Alpine style of kayaking in the Engadine region of Switzlerand!

Our Beginner Kayaking Courses have been a huge success with more people continuing their development and passion for kayaking than ever before.

The same can be said for our Improvers Courses!!

The BIG water kayaking on the Landeck Gorge has given us optimum river levels not seen in years.

And of course the Toesens Gorge section of the River Inn has proved to be the foundation to learning how to run BIG waves and rapids.

The Lech River is the perfect training ground for our Improvers Kayaking Courses, working on the fundamentals of kayaking in magnificent surroundings is something not to be taken for granted!

The same can be said about the Schuls Gorge, a sweet section of whitewater with Alpine scenery and culture abundant.

Talking of which, here is Peter from the Schutzenkompanie of St. Anton am Arlberg in his traditional dress, medals, pipe and canon!!

The villages have also been in full bloom and showing their renowned Austrian charm.

Our kayaking smurf has also been working hard showing off his skills and helping everyone to get a better understanding of river theory.

And as the Summer draws to a close and temperature starts to drop we look forward to the Autumn and a Peruvian Kayaking Adventure.....

It has been a fantastic season and without doubt our strongest to date.

Thank-you to everyone who has come on a course or has been guided and we hope that we have shown just what a gem kayaking in Austria is and just how much it can inspire and improve your technique!

Kayak School Arlberg

Austria

www.gokayaking.at

A glimpse of Summer with Kayak School Arlberg in and around the Austrian Alps...

It has been a phenomenal 2015 season here at the Kayak School in Austria.

The Summer has been unbelievable and one of the hottest and longest since we can remember.

From Beginner Kayaking Courses up on the mountain lake with stunning views of hanging glaciers

through to working on our Improver Courses and developing the fundamental skills of kayaking on the River Lech, one of the most picturesque rivers Austria has to offer

our Introduction to Creeking courses, have taken us to 3 different countries in the Alps

the Alpine River Running courses include the amazing Oetz River which is home to the Sickline World Championships in the Autumn

and not forgetting our Creeking Courses that take place on our home river - the Rosanna in St. Anton am Arlberg.

Here are a few more photos of what the Summer in and around the Austrian Alps has had to offer...

The Arlberg Region is a renowned area in the West of Austria for snow in the Winter and of course this snow has to melt and feed our local rivers....

Our home run on the River Rosanna in St. Anton am Arlberg

The Toesens Gorge section of the River Inn proves to be a big hit in more ways than one!!!

The mighty Imst Gorge of the River Inn has the biggest volume of water in the Alps and is the perfect river to work on techniques that would usually be associated with Nepal!

The Engadine Region of Switzerland is absolutely stunning and the scenery can be compared to the Futaleufu in Patagonia.

Our mountain lake is the perfect place to learn new skills.

Austria is also steeped in history and culture, here cowbells are made in the local area.

Sometimes it even rained for a day, which brought the rivers back up to their optimum levels!

and of course it was never too long before the sun was back out....

More photos will be following shortly....

Kayak School Arlberg

AUSTRIA

www.gokayaking.at