MARC KALAN
Eric,
The Fu is an awesome river, the color has to be seen to be believed. It is every bit as aqua marine as the pictures you include in your materials but even the pictures failed to (because it just can’t be done) show the total majestic feel to the vistas and scenery. The incredible feeling and atmosphere at the camps further enhanced and already truly fantastic experience. While I was not sure how much I would enjoy all the off river activities at the camps, in retrospect they were the trip’s highlights.
Your guides are excellent, totally top notch. While I know the top priority on the river and during the activities was always safety, it never got in the way of giving me the challenge and adrenaline thrill I was looking for. I would be please to travel with any of them in the future. I could go on and on but I’m sure you’ve heard it before.
Till our paths cross again - thanks for the most wonderful “experience of a lifetime.”
Marc Kalan
BECKY MORTIMER
Wonderful Rafting Guides;
Que Tal? I hope you are all doing great and having a blast. I just wanted to let you all know what a fantastic time I had on the trip. It is definitely the adventure of a lifetime! The memories are amazing and still bring a smile to my face! The group was great but I know it was all of you that really made the trip fantastic. You are an amazing group of true professionals who also know how to have fun and make everyone feel great. The campsites are magical and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to experience them, the river and patagonia.
For a first time rafter, you all gave me the chance to run some great class 5 rapids with the best guides around. You guys are awesome and I’d trust you to guide me on any river. I’ve enclosed some pictures of our run through Terminator! I wish you all the best and hope to see you all on another adventure some day.
Sincerely,
Your friend,
Becky Mortimer
CHRIS WHITE
Hi Eric,
Just returned from the Fu/Bio double header and wanted to say what a great time it was. The Fu reminded me of the Eastmain in Quebec, before it was damed: heart pounding, powerful and adrenaline pumping. Both the Bio and Futaleufu are so beautiful, I'm very thankful I made the choice to go.
For me, part of the overall pleasure of the trip was the service of Earth River. As an experienced river runner it was evident that safety was never overlooked and the guides, top to bottom were incredibly capable and excellent leaders. I especially appreciated the umbrella of respect and environmental concern shown to the local people who work with the company on the Futaleufu.
Onward to the environmental battles which hopefully save the Bio.
Regards,
Chris White, Sands Point, Idaho
ROBERT THOMAS
Dear Earth River
The Futaleufu River is something that can not be explained - from its amazing turqoise color to its almost life like power. Your campsites; Tree Tops, Mapu Leufu and my favorite, Cave Camp with their “relative” luxury and remoteness, all blended into the environment allowing one to feel a part of - instead of separated from, Patagonia. I initially thought Cave Camp should have signs as its easy to get lost in its vastness, but I soon came to realize that there shouldn’t be signs - that’s why we were there.
The second most dominating thread on the trip are the guides you hire. They combine extreme professionalism with great personalities. I have been on numerous trips and these guys are the Rolls Royce of guides. I always felt safe and they went out of their way to explain the safety procedures to me. For someone who has a problem with heights, I even amazed myself jumping off a 40 foot cliff into the water and rappelled down the tower muttering every cuss word I could think of!
The whole experience was OUTSTANDING!
Sincerely,
Robert Thomas
CAROL DEJARDIN
Dear Eric,
All I can say about the fu trip is WOW, awesome... It truly exceeded all my expectations. Well, maybe I did expect warmer, dryer weather, but then it would have been too perfect.
Congratulations on putting together an exciting, challenging rewarding adventure on a river that one has to see to believe. Now I’m back in Oregon and I think half the population knows about your company and your camps.
It was truly a pleasure getting to know the two of you. Eric, your energy and creativity in envisioning those camps are more than I’ve ever known any one person to have. Robert, what a cool, calm strength you exude. Many times I was paddling into the wild white water, I was assured you were downstream in your cataraft looking out for swimmers! I enjoyed the conversations about your work saving the Fu from damming and am still serious about knowing more about what I can do to help.
Would you please send me information about the Land Trust organization you’ve set up? I’d like to see if contributions are tax deductible. Let me know if you think I could help. Thanks again for providing an experience of a lifetime.
Sincerely,
Carol Dejardin
LEO STEMP
Eric,
Got back from the trip on Sunday. Of all the aspects of the trip, the thing that was most impressive to me was the people who provided the leadership, Aaron who was the trip leader, Robert, Abner and Peter. This group provided the kind of expertise, commitment, respect, thoughtfulness and caring about people that I have never seen anywhere in any organization. In the realm of professional endeavors, these are the kind of people who would excel in any field they might undertake. It took me 20 years in my own practice to find a partner who had those kind of qualities. I’d take on someone like these guys as a partner anytime, but unfortunately they’re almost impossible to find.
Please feel free to convey my experience to future expeditioners.
Many thanks for everything,
Leo Stemp
BARRY J. KRUSE
Dear Eric,
What a magical, extraordinary, wonderful trip I had on the Futaleufu with Earth River Expeditions. It was such an all around intense experience with all the senses; sight, touch, smell, taste and hearing. I don’t have to tell you that the Futaleufu Valley is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Your camps were like fairy-tale-like settings with amenities and comforts commonly reserved for resort areas. I guess I spent more time in the hot tubs than most of the guests but how often does one get stupendous views while soaking in a hot tub.
KEN AND JOHNNA FERGUSON
Dear Eric,
We just wanted to write you and let you know how much we enjoyed our trip on the Fu! Everything was great and MORE than we could have ever dreamed. Of course that means the country was more beautiful, the river was more intense, the camps more amazing, the guides and other workers more helpful; but it also means the hills were much steeper as well (more steep just couldn’t get by the grammar checker). Had we known how much exercise we’d get going to and from the river to the camps we might have hesitated in coming and had major concerns about out ability to do the trip.
We cannot think of words to express our thanks to the professionalism of the staff. The guides conducted themselves beyond all expectations. We are looking forward to joining you on another trip in the near future.
We loved the trip and am extremely glad we didn’t know in advance that mountain goat skills were a prerequisite for joining.
Sincerely,
Ken and Johnna Ferguson
SUZY AND LARRY CALOF
Dear Eric!
This is long overdue & I apologize. We came home to some challenging things and I am just settling down and catching up.
Eric, The Futaleufu is so beautiful, so magical a river, with its incredible azure water, surrounded as it is by snow-capped mountains that Larry and I will from now on compare all other rivers to it and find them wanting. It was everything you said it was and then some and I can’t thank you enough for encouraging us to go do it. The rapids were certainly the most challenging we’d ever done, yet with your tremendous emphasis on safety there was that complete security - that no matter what happened we’d all be fine. The guides and crew that you have assembled were world class. It was a privilege to raft with them and a joy to get to know them individually. My problem is that I would like to do this trip every year. I know Larry wants to do other rivers too - we’ll just have to duke it out, for the Fu is my Bali Hai. I simply have to go back many times over.
Warmest regards,
Suzy and Larry Calof
HUNT L. CHARACH
Dear Eric,
As vacations wind to an end I normally get geared up for return to my daily life. In other words, I start to look forward to returning home. But this did not happen on the Futaleufu trip. Home did not seem inviting. What a fantastic trip. Back a week and can’t get it off my mind. I don’t need to tell you about the river and the camps, you’ve heard it all before. What I will say is I was super-impressed with Robert and the other guides who made this trip what it was. These guy’s are fantastic and great to be around. Their attitude and ability is exceptional. With these guys I’d feel comfortable dropping over Niagara Falls.
Moreover, the logistics for the trip were nothing short of stupendous. Everything worked perfectly. The amazing Earth River camps (stunningly beautiful), the local transportation arrangements, the Chilean folks who helped (including the masseuse and videographer), the itinerary, the activities, the planning, the safety... I could go on and on. For all these reasons and more, the Futaleufu with Earth River must be the premier river trip in the world.
Although I doubt anything could match the Futaleufu, I’m already thinking about other adventures.
I loved the trip, Eric. Use me as a reference. I hope to hear from you soon.
With Kindest regards,
Hunt L. Charach
More...
NINA, LA JOLLA, CALIFORNIA
For the sixteen of us who just returned from Patagonia Chile, there have been a myriad of questions from friends and relatives. I will do my best to give you a flavor of this incredible country and trip.
There are truly no words to describe what we experienced on this journey. Even though the time change was only four hours, it took almost 30 hours to reach our destination. It was, without a doubt, the most adventurous and aggressive trip in the most remote area we have ever taken…quite different from a cruise in the Med! On the other hand, it was a trip we will never, never forget...a trip of a lifetime bonding with wonderful friends where nine adults and seven teenagers all got along and no one complained or quarreled once.
DAVID RAKOFF, WRITER, OUTSIDE MAGAZINE
Dear Earth River,
Even though I’m a correspondent for Outside Magazine—I’m on the masthead—I am frightened of everything. That’s my baliwack at the magazine. In fact they send me to do things that scare the hell out of me (for some sick comedy effect). But nothing seemed as terrifying to me as rafting the Futaleufu. The minute I accepted the assignment, I regretted it. I spent the weeks leading up to the departure, crossing Manhatten streets a little less energetically, in hopes that a cab might hit me and break my leg and get me out of it.
FRED WIEDEMANN, CO-FOUNDER OUTWARD BOUND
Dear Earth River;
Early this morning, the river trips of my life suddenly started cascading around in my mind with such intensity that I though I’d better write you. As I’m sure we’ve talked about before, whitewater rafting has been “my thing” over the years. It’s a marvelous way to see wild country and there’s always a fine group of folks who are nearly always like minded about their enthusiasm for river running.
Earth River and the Futaleufu stand out in my memory as the very best of the best. I’ve been on nearly all the challenging, commercially run rivers in the world and I must say that your group on the Futaleufu gets the very highest laurels. The scenery could not be grander, nor the water swifter, clearer or more pristine. The spectacular camps were superior, the food a camping gourmet’s delight and the river guides and their safety precautions of superb caliber.
It was my good luck to select the Futaleufu and Earth River Expeditions for my “swan song” as a river runner.
Fred Wiedemann,
Co-founder Outward Bound
Veteran of nearly 50 outfitted trips
Thank you for the incredible experience
DAN KLEIN, PRODUCER ABC SPORTS
"I want to thank you again for the wonderful experience you made possible for ABC Sports on the special we shot on the Futaleufu. Your guide team in Chile could not have been more helpful, professional and enthusiastic. You have brought together quite a group of people. During our week of shooting, we worked hard and accomplished a tremendous amount, but also had a great time. Personally I can't wait till I have a chance to return."
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