Jatate

This is the, first and tougher of the two whitewater canyons. Logistically it is the easier. The rapids start just down from the bridge and don't let up until the confluence with the Santa Cruz. I hate calling it the first and second canyon. It should be known as The Agua Dulce Canyon, for the little village over looking the mouth of the canyon. Most of the rapids are the either travertine aprons or limestone ledges. Almost all are pool drop. The easier rapids are at the start and the tougher at the mouth of the canyon, down the hill from Agua Dulce. The Jatate gorge is one of the most spectacular whitewater canyons in the world. Awesome rapids walled-out by jungle covered cliffs, the stunning triple falls and dozens of other magical places keep me dreaming of the Jatate. Of particular interest is the technical portage just up from the mouth of the canyon. At this point the canyon is so narrow the jungle blocks out the sun. The portage is on the right. Wade and jump down the apron along the falls. Jump into the glory hole (eddy) above the last falls then climb out and around the corner. If you set up a zip line and know what your doing three can make the portage in about 45 minutes. If the water is high, I think above 1.4 on the gauge (Careful, I can't find my notes on this one) the portage is a walk out of the canyon because the falls wall out the canyon. It wouldn't be to far to Agua Dulce. From the foot bridge below the mouth of the canyon AD is only a 30 minute walk up the hill on a good trail. A river wide hole a couple hundred yards down from the tech portage can be portaged high on the right in under half an hour. If you choose to try the hole, you can swim out of it in about three seconds. After that it's smooth sailing on class III rock gardens to the confluence with the Santa Cruz and Tecoja.Cully Erdman probably made the first descent of the rapids. A couple anthropologists stumbled into the canyon in a raft before Cully got there in a kayak. However judging by the tight lines, some only a kayak-width wide, the raft was probably more of an imflatale bridge than a river vehicle. the time refers to if you know where you are going. Aren't scouting tons and know the ins and outs of the portages. Plan on much more time than this on your first trip. jatate guage1/18/93.68 meters = 24.269 meters cubed5 meters is the max = 140.32 meters cubedPalino Mendoza