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    A Floater's Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed
    A Floater's Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed
    A Floater's Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed
    Ebook177 pages1 hour

    A Floater's Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed

    By Neil Nikirk

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    About this ebook

    Just south of the US/Mexico border (Arizona) lies an expansive and impressive watershed that offers a variety of rivers to be run – the watershed of the Rio Yaqui. While not officially part of the Copper Canyon system, the headwaters of the Rio Yaqui are very near the headwaters of other rivers that flow through Copper Canyon. Instead of flowing south through Copper Canyon, the Yaqui drains the area north of Copper Canyon, flowing through a maze of canyons that twist and turn in every direction to eventually enter the Sea of Cortez south of Ciudad Obregon in the State of Sonora.

    This E-book is an attempt to consolidate what little information there is on boating the rivers of the Yaqui drainage so that other adventurous boaters can experience the thrill of exploration but still have some idea of what they are getting into. It includes photos, maps, river descriptions, and a mile by mile guide identifying the approximate locations of rapids, potential camps, and possible water sources. Much of this information comes from the author’s own exploration of this drainage, having completed cataraft descents of the upper Rio Bavispe, Rio Verde, upper Rio Sirupa, Rio Mulatos (three times), Rio Tutuaca, upper Rio Aros, and lower Rio Aros/Rio Yaqui (five times) and the Rio Sahuaripa (first descent). It also contains stories of descending these rivers by others and those that have accompanied the author in his exploration of this fascinating and beautiful region.

    The canyons and rivers that run through them in the Yaqui drainage are like nothing else the author has run in the United States. The boatable river sections range from mellow floats to canyons filled with rapids formed by giant boulders and bedrock ledges. Some sections are for experts only and may require portages. The rapids range from tight, technical Class II and III rock gardens, to mini-gorges with Class III and IV water; wide open Class III’s with big waves and whirlpools to thundering Class V (or more). There truly is something for everyone. Well, not everyone... It takes a special breed of boater to enjoy dropping into this no-man’s land of northern Mexico to go boating! So buy the book, enjoy the stories, and use the information to get out there and experience the rivers of the Yaqui watershed for yourself. Better yet, join the author on one of his expeditions.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherNeil Nikirk
    Release dateDec 21, 2015
    ISBN9781310299339
    A Floater's Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed
    Author

    Neil Nikirk

    The author is a long-time river rat, having been whitewater boating for over 35 years. His rafting “resume” includes most of the classic rafting (and some obscure) runs in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and California as well as internationally in Canada, Peru, Ecuador, and Guatemala. In Mexico, he has run many rivers in the states of Veracruz, Chiapas, and Oaxaca. His latest passion is exploring the rivers of northern Mexico in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua. The last several years exploring this region are what led to this book. Having run all the rivers described here, some multiple times, Neil wants to share this knowledge and encourage others to explore the rivers of the Yaqui drainage. This is a beautiful and fascinating region with quality whitewater that almost no one knows about. You can join him and Lacey on trips during the monsoon season. Check out the trip offerings at http://golightoutdoors.com/trips/. Neil is also the owner of Go Light Outdoors (https://www.golightoutdoors.com), your source for quality lightweight whitewater equipment. Although specializing in catarafts, Go Light Outdoors offers a full line of rafts, inflatable kayaks, frames, oars, bags and other gear. Over the years, Neil has designed custom boating equipment that is lightweight and functional, enabling anyone to continue running rivers and surfing waves for years to come. See what Go Light Outdoors has to offer on the sales page https://golightoutdoors.com/sales/.

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      Book preview

      A Floater's Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed - Neil Nikirk

      A Floater’s Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed

      Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico

      2017 Edition

      By Neil Nikirk

      Published by Go Light Outdoors

      guidebook@golightoutdoors.com

      A Floater’s Guide to the Rivers of the Yaqui Watershed

      Sonora and Chihuahua, Mexico

      © 2015, 2017 Neil Nikirk and Go Light Outdoors

      No part of this book may be use or reproduced in any manner without written permission from the author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews. To request permission, contact Neil Nikirk at: guidebook@golightoutdoors.com

      Cover Photo: Lacey Anderson at a beautiful spot along the upper Rio Sirupa

      Photo credits in book: All photos were taken by Neil Nikirk unless otherwise specified.

      Note: The author of this book assumes no responsibility for the well-being of any user of this book. It is understood that river running involves inherent risks and dangers. Use of this book and accompanying maps and downloadable files is voluntary and users of the information contained in these materials are liable for their own actions. The author and publisher of this book cannot be held responsible for accidents or injuries incurred on any river run, or getting to and from any river run. The author does not advocate running any of the rivers contained in this guide; instead only offers information that may be useful to anyone attempting to run these rivers. Please read all of the introductory material on hazards, difficulties, and ratings before attempting to run any river. Ultimately, each individual is responsible for their own safety, on and off the river.

      Table of Contents

      Preface

      Chapter 1: Where is the Yaqui?

      Map of the Yaqui Drainage

      Chapter 2: When to Go

      Rain

      Flows

      Chapter 3 How to Use This Book

      River Descriptions

      River Difficulty and Rapid Ratings

      Maps and Google Earth Files

      Camps

      Water Sources

      Hikes

      Mile by Mile Guide

      Story 1: Rafting Down the Bavispe River

      Chapter 4: The Upper Rio Bavispe

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide

      Story 2: Fear and Dread on the Rio Sirupa

      Chapter 5: The Rio Verde/Upper Rio Sirupa

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide

      Story 3: Twelve Days On the Rio Tutuaca

      Chapter 6: The Lower Rio Tutuaca

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide

      Twelve Days On the Rio Tutuaca (Now the Upper Aros)

      Chapter 7: The Upper Rio Aros

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide

      Story 4: Mexico Whitewater—Rio Mulatos-Aros

      Chapter 8: The Rio Mulatos

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide:

      Twelve Days On the Rio Tutuaca (Now the Lower Aros)

      Chapter 9: The Lower Rio Aros/Yaqui

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide:

      Chapter 10: Rio Sahuaripa

      River Description

      Mile by Mile Guide:

      About the Author

      Maps

      ***~***

      Preface

      Just south of the US/Mexico border (Arizona) lies an expansive and impressive watershed that offers a variety of rivers to be run – the watershed of the Rio Yaqui. While not officially part of the Copper Canyon system, the headwaters of the Rio Yaqui are very near the headwaters of other rivers that flow through Copper Canyon. Instead of flowing south through Copper Canyon, the Yaqui drains the area north of Copper Canyon, flowing through a maze of canyons that twist and turn in every direction to eventually enter the Sea of Cortez south of Ciudad Obregon in the State of Sonora.

      The canyons and rivers that run through them in the Yaqui drainage are like nothing else the author has run in the United States. The canyons are spectacular, with rocky headlands towering over thorn bush and cactus covered hills above the river. The river corridors range from lush riparian areas with sycamore trees to rocky walls adorned with agaves and cacti to areas of solid rock carved into spires and hoodoos and filled with caves. The geology is incredibly variable, giving rise to multi-hued canyons filled with reds, blacks, oranges, and whites. There are multiple arroyos and side streams, some with tight slot canyons, waterfalls, and palm oases. Wildlife observed include an untold number of birds, river otters, deer, inquisitive coatis, snakes, Gila monsters, frogs and toads, even an ocelot! Another common animal seen are cows, lots of cows. Still, this area is truly one of my favorite places to visit.

      The boatable river sections range from mellow floats to canyons filled with rapids formed by giant boulders and bedrock ledges. Some sections are for experts only and may require portages. The rapids range from tight, technical Class II and III rock gardens, to mini-gorges with Class III and IV water; wide open Class III’s with big waves and whirlpools to thundering Class V (or more). There truly is something for everyone. Well, not everyone… It takes a special breed of boater to enjoy dropping into this no-man’s land of northern Mexico to go boating!

      Boaters need solid backcountry and boating skills to safely navigate these rivers. Once you enter the canyons, you are pretty much on your own. There are few people inhabiting this area and rescue and medical services are virtually non-existent. However, there are isolated ranches and small villages along the rivers where you may be able to exit the canyon in the event of an emergency. The weather can be extremely hot and humid; there can be brief, but torrential, rainstorms accompanied by spectacular displays of lightning and thunder. Everything growing there seems to have spines and/or sharp edges! There are bugs, snakes, scorpions, and other dangers. This is a harsh and unforgiving landscape. It is also an extremely beautiful area to visit. For those of you that are up to the challenge, the rivers of the Yaqui drainage offer challenging whitewater, incredible scenery, and a rewarding journey without hordes of people, permits, or rangers checking your equipment, as has become common on many of the best multi-day river trips in the United States.

      Back to TOC

      ***~***

      Chapter 1: Where is the Yaqui?

      The Rio Yaqui drainage lies just south of the U.S./Mexico border in the states of Sonora and Chihuahua at the northern end of the Sierra Madre Occidental, the mountain range extending from Arizona to Guadalajara. The Río Yaqui has the largest watershed in northwest México and is formed by two tributaries—the Río Aros and the Rio Bavispe. The Rio Aros and its tributaries (the Rios Tutuaca, Sirupa, and Mulatos) drain almost the entire northern Sierra Madre including areas of northern Chihuahua. The Río Bavispe drains the rest of the northern Sierra Madre, parts of northeastern Sonora, and even part of Arizona. The map below gives you a general sense of the region and how the rivers link up to form the Rio Yaqui.

      As is common in Mexico, the names of the rivers often change when they join up with another river. The Rio Sirupa is formed where the Rio Verde (Tomochi) and the Rio Papagochic join near Madera in Chihuahua state. When the Rio Sirupa is joined by the Rio Tutuaca, the river becomes known as the Rio Aros, which is joined downstream by the Rio Mulatos. When the Rio Bavispe joins the Rio Aros many miles downstream of the Rio Mulatos, the river becomes known as the Rio Yaqui. On some maps, there is no Rio Sirupa; the river is referred to as the Rio Papagochic all the way down to the junction with the Rio Bavispe! The Rio Yaqui flows south from the Rio Bavispe, is dammed at Presa Novillo and Presa Alvaro Obregon, and eventually enters the Sea of Cortez south of Ciudad Obregon in the State of Sonora. There are boatable sections on all of these rivers that can generally be linked to provide an extraordinary multi-day journey lasting from a few days to two weeks.

      Map of the Yaqui Drainage

      ***~***

      Back to TOC

      Chapter 2: When to Go

      Most of the water that flows through the Yaqui drainage occurs as rainfall during the monsoon season from June through September. In my opinion, the best time to raft the rivers of the Yaqui drainage is from July-September. Boatable flows may exist at other times of the year depending on your craft and willingness to hike as you float.

      Rain

      This is not an area that gets a lot of rain. Sahuaripa, for example receives about 40 cm (16 inches) of rain annually. About half of the annual rainfall occurs in July and August, but the rainy (monsoon) season extends from mid-June through September (see Rainfall Graph for Sahuaripa below). During the monsoon season, much of the rainfall occurs during intense thunderstorms, some of which can generate an impressive lightning show. Once the ground is saturated, even a small, but intense thunderstorm with moderate rainfall generates a relatively large amount of runoff and the rivers respond very quickly and rise rapidly. If the rain stops for a few days, the rivers recede quickly as well.

      Rainfall Graph for Sahuaripa

      Back to TOC

      Flows

      In general, these rivers are not dam controlled and can rise and fall very quickly. They can go from extremely low (and unboatable) flows to very high (sometimes dangerous) levels very quickly, often in a matter of hours. It is not unusual to put-in on creek like flows and experience Grand Canyon style flows sometime during the trip. For example, in 2013 we put on the Rio Verde with an estimated 250 cfs and took out a week later on the Rio Sirupa at an estimated 7,000 cfs. Our 2014 trip on the Rio Tutuaca started with around 2,000 cfs and when we joined the Rio Sirupa, the combined flow in the Rio Aros was over 14,000 cfs and rose to almost 19,000 cfs the next day! By the time we took out a week later on the Rio Yaqui, the flow was down to under 7,000 cfs. In 2015, we launched on the Rio Mulatos with an estimated 600 cfs. Rain that night brought the river up to over 2,000

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