Rio Sonches
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The Rio Sonches is a steep-walled, high jungle adventure in the North of Peru. The run originates in the highlands of the Department of Amazonas and for the first 50 km follows the Chacapoyas-Mendoza road system. This upper stretch is relaxed, roadside boating and would be a good high water alternative. The gnarly stretch lies only ten km below Chacapoyas where the river enters a 1000 meter deep (3500') steep walled canyon. Although this stretch is only 18 km long expect to take a least 3 days. Arduous portages and steep boulder chocked drops make this a class 5 commitment. |
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Access
is relatively easy via a 21 hour bus ride from Lima to the Town of Chacapoyas
or from Tarapoto on a 12 hour bus/car ride. The major bus line serving the
area is Movil Tours whose Lima terminal is at Av. Paseo de la Republica
749 (phone 332-0004) or Chacapoyas terminal at Jr. Libertad 1084 (phone
044-778545). A one way bus ticket from Lima to Chacapoyas cost 70 soles in
June of 2002. The
ideal time to run the river is from May to October when flows average less
than 500 CFS. The water source is rain and even though this time of year is
the dry season, there exist many periods where several days of precipitation
fall in a short time frame. High water in the canyon would be suicidal and
wet rocks would make the already difficult portages epic. Even minor amounts
of precipitation change the color of the river from a tannic black to a
chocolate brown. If you sense rain in the forecast do not enter this canyon. |
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The
put in is easy to reach from Chacapoyas (elevation 2335 meters) by following
a 10 km descent on the winding road to Mendoza. Immediately upon leaving
Chacapoyas you will descent into the Quebrada Santa Lucia and views will
begin to appear of the Sonches River far below. After crossing several
smaller Quebradas you will finally come to a point where a side road
can be taken to the river's edge. This lies just below Quebrada Opielel at
1865 meters. This
point is obvious as a tube descends from the opposing mountain delivering
pulverized coal from the highlands. The
first km of boating is incredibly steep with over 50 meters of drop in first
800 meters for a gradient exceeding 60 m/km or 300 FPM. We had only three
short portages in this section on our first descent in May of 2002. After the
steep pitch the river mellows to class 4 and enters the bowels of the canyon.
Day 1 ends with a huge landslide entering from river right at Quebrada Pana.
Cliff walls on the left make the right side the only option for a portage and
the final 150 meters must be run as the right wall cliffs out. A good camp
can be found below on river right. Day
two starts with
meandering flatwater but as the walls of the canyon begin to tighten the
gradient really takes off. A several hour portage is reached which involves
slugging boats up and over boulders and eventually up a cliff face. The
portage ends with a mandatory seal launch off a limestone cliff ledge and a
difficult to scout class 5 rapid. A beautiful camp can be found below this
point on river right. Day 3 starts like day two with some meandering flat water but quickly reaches a gut wrenching 3-1/2 hour portage which involves hauling boats up cliff faces into the jungle and back down to the river several times. After the portage the Rio Yurumarca enters and the final 5 km of the trip are excellent class 4 rapids with no portages and everything is boat scoutable. At Tingobamba (1550 meters) the waters of the Sonches join the larger Rio Utcubamba. From here a road can be followed back to Chacapoyas or the river can be followed downstream to Pedro Ruiz. (see section on Rio Utcubamba) |
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