This would be enough of a happy ending for most ordinary people.   however, for those of you who know the Scott brothers… they are far from ordinary.  Just four months after the incident Joel and Jordan arrived back in Mexico to complete their expedition where they left off.  A surprise arrival left the Esprit Mexico crew speechless.  Caleb Nelson was  ”blown” away to be joined by his friends that he last saw off the tarmac in veracruz as Joel was being airlifter to Canada.

The following days paddle was surreal.  Joel, Jordan and the entire Esprit Mexico went back to the incident site (now known as Joel’s Rapid) and put in to complete the final 5km back to Jalcomulco.  En route the Esprit crew recounted the events to Joel as if they had just happened yesterday.  The trip was completed without incident… Mission Accomplished!  

It was a great experience to “close the chapter” of Joel’s incident, rescue and recovery.  I felt honoured to paddle with everyone there… students that came to WILD not knowing how to do CPR… have now used their training to save their friend and classmates life… an experience that will never be forgotten.

Esprit's Jim Coffey running La Gloria on the Oro.

WOW!  How could I have lived here in Mexico and not paddled the Oro before now.  This trip really has it all.  It is remote, spectacularly beautiful, crystal clear clean water and ends by paddling right out into the ocean!

Not to mention the Oro has continuous, fun, challenging whitewater!

Oh ya… as if I forgot… the Oro has two super clean waterfalls… La Gloria (40ft) and El Cielo (30ft) .  both are absolutely spectacular, clean and fun!  Check out the esprit staff as we scout out the run to add to some of our 2009-2010 programs!

Jim

I speak for Canadian rivers ... You can too!

As support for the preservation of the of the NWPA increases many people have asked me “what can I do to help”. At this point we are forming our public awareness and education  strategy and plan to make a “Significant Call To Action” on Friday Feb. 20.  Until then… we have a major undertaking in front of us that ANYONE and EVERYONE  can help with.  Right now we need to continue and increase the mobilization of supporters.  To do this we are currently using facebook as the meeting place for group members to collect and connect.  To join search for the cause Save the NWPA Protect Canada’s Waterways .   I would really like it if WE can get the group up to 1000 supporters by Friday Feb. 20.  Please… reach out to your friends, family, networks and encourage them to join us!The following video is an excerpt from Canadian Rivers Day  last June.  Esprit was part of an event on the hill afte5 completing an 8 day,  500km “Paddle to Parliament” from the Kipawa River to Ottawa.  We launched the P2P to raise awareness about the proposed dismantling of the NWPA.  In the video is Rob Monti, kayaker, lawyer and friend speaking about what we have at stake if the act is gutted.

Take a look to get a better idea of where we are coming from!

Stay tuned … “Call To Action coming Soon”

Jim

Unfortunately we have just entered a very discouraging time for river advocacy in Canada.  Just as you would think that we should be doing everything we can bolster the protection of our rivers for future generations…. our government has just decided the opposite.  

One of the first laws enacted in Canada was the Navigable Waters Protection Act.  Its purpose was to place our waterways within the “public trust” to be managed for the overall benefit of ALL Canadians.  Essentially it required a federal environmental assessment for projects that would interfere with navigation…. specifically the building of bridges, dams, booms and causeways…Under the disguise of an economic stimulus package the government has lumped the dismantling of the NWPA into the new economic omnibus bill.  The rationale is that going through the environmental assessment process is too lengthy and cumbersome and impedes development and infrastructure enhancements.  So…instead of  making the environmental assessment more fluid or efficient they have decided that it is in “the publics best interest” to just do away from environmental assessment all together.  this means that development projects on our lakes and rivers will be “at the discretion of the minister” rather than based on environmental assessment and impact.  This is a huge blow to the environmental movement in Canada.  No longer will science, assessment and the good of the environment be weighed into development on our lakes and rivers.  On the contrary development will have an easy route to alter our waterways which in fact alters our historic right to navigation.

Unfortunately, as the changes to the NWPA are connected to the budget bill our opposition is reluctant to act as they feel the country does not want to be plunged into an election.  We are currently acting as quickly and diligently as possible to push for a “de-coupling” of the NWPA from the “economic stimulus” package.

I will keep you updated with our upcoming “Call to Action”…. Stay tuned!

jim

View from camp 1 hostel!

Today we completed an amazing and spectacular scouting mission for our upcoming Pico 2 Playa Adventure Race Training Expedition.  This is a partner program we run in conjunction with Geoff Lanford and Frontier Adventure Sports.  

Geoff and I along with Esprit’s Caleb Nelson and Laura Harvey set off early to reach the village of Nuevo Jacal.  The village is located at 3300m in the shadow of Pico De Orizaba, North America’s third highest peak….En route we ran into Hector who operates a spectacular hostel with the world’s greatest view.  The backdrop of the building is the majestic Orizaba rising high into the sky while in front of the hostel lies a vast array of lush, verdant canyons just waiting to be explored.  From Nuevo Jacal we found a new route across to Chichaquila which features an amazing downhill off the edge of Orizaba.  Last year Damien McCarthy (gearheads.ca)  our P2P bike expert clocked himself at over 75km/h.  This year he plans on beating his record.

Pico 2 Playa is really Mexico’s most spectacular and adventurous eco-adventure trip .  Trekking  up Orizaba, cycling cross country to the Barranca Grande, paddling, swimming, hiking and navigating to Jalcomulco where a 65m rappel awaits before cycling to the gulf coast… tired yet?  it sure beats sitting in the beach!

Just one month to go (March 14-21)… I  better start training!!

jim

www.whitewater.ca

Please let us know what you think of the new look!

jim