Adrian Tregoning

Okidoki, herewith the long awaited Dwars River article from 30 August 2009. I’m finally getting into what I need to post onto my website. There are still more articles waiting to be thrown on, and of course, more West Sumatra stuff. I won’t get into this trip very much and let the captions of the photos do the talking. Observe:

The view from the main road, looking at the waterfall after the most difficult rapids. 

A rapid further down, which was too low to paddle when we finally got there.

Walking in. Stefano Sessa on the left looking not very happy with the hike :-) Followed by Meyer de Waal with the yellow Solo and Uno de Waal concentrating hard. 

Rapid below the cheese block portage. Looking rather stiff, we left it alone.

Hiking in. The cheese block. Full of siphons, I think it’s pretty obvious that this one is not runnable.

Me pointing to something dodgy (probably the small strainer in the rapid), with Uno to my right. Photo by Stefano Sessa. Note on my hand is some insulation tape. I had 7 stitches in my hand, but of course that won’t stop me from paddling.

Adrian Tregoning running the top part of what we call Toadwort, and this immediately goes off the mini pourover (Fist Pourover we call it) afterwards, see below. Photos by Stefano Sessa.

Me, boofing off the Fist Pourover (note, these are low levels). It looks like a fist with a bit more water. And yes, I see a double watermark crept in here but I’m too lazy to do this again… And I finished off the rapid with the last bit. Definitely want to avoid that undercut on the left. Photos by Stefano Sessa.

Uno de Waal with his run of Toadwort and the Fist Pourover. Photos by Stefano Sessa.

Stefano Sessa running the section below the Fist Pourover which you saw viewed from upstream in the photos prior to these.

Looking back at a part of the rapid below Toadwort. Uno de Waal, showing work in progress! Nice!

Meyer de Waal cruising through the rapid which I guess is part of Toadwort. Very nicely done. I hope I’ll still be paddling when I’m his age!

(This photo above is one of the finest I think I’ve taken :-) It’s Rowan Walpole there.)

(Undercut avoidance) Rowan Walpole (aka Southside) running the complete Toadwort, boofing the Fist Pourover ad finishing the last part. It’s a great rapid. Scary with more water for sure.  

MUST go left to avoid strainers etc. This then leads into Something Else.

The group talking about the last part of Something Else. 

Rowan Walpole, clearly infected with some Dwars fever. We gave him medicine shortly.  Siphon. Luckily water was too low for this one.

Adrian Tregoning (that would be I) heading down Something Else. Photos by Rowan Walpole. A bit boney but plenty steep. Solid hole at the end at high water – beware.

Uno de Waal with a styler run of Something Else. Choosing a different entry to mine. Seemed to have worked well.

Meyer de Waal with a close call on Something Else. He was 100% fine. Shew!!!!!

Continued to Part 2, click here!