Piermonte and Tessin Trip:
May 2006
Featuring the talents
of: |
Dom Crawford |
Mark Browning |
Ewart Aylward |
Simon Morse |
Roger Ford |
Mike
Scutt |
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We had earmarked the first two
weeks in May as the optimum time to return to the Piermonte and explore
the creeks further to our trip in 2005. But as it turned out we arrived
too early, with lots of snow in the mountains, not much rain and all the
melt locked in. So a few days were spent scratching around for bedrock,
base flow runs, contemplating, drinking wine, and sampling various
cappuccinos and pastries in historic town squares. |
The low water suited some sections
on the Sermenza: |
Mark flairs a sweet drop on
the Middle Sermenza |
Mike admires his technical
dismount on the Middle Sermenza. More water would have been
nice. |
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Dom C in the action on the
Middle Sermenza
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We also scouted the Lower
Canyon of the Sorba and planned to return another day for this.
Ewart running the last drop on this
section. |
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Then, thanks to Simon of http://www.gene17com/, we
were given some vague information about low flow runs in the Tecino region
and off we went. |
We headed to the Canobino
(sp?), a low flow run in a tight canyon with many must run rapids
and blind corners. A combination of kayaking and canyoning made this
trip memorable if not technically demanding. |
We had a crack at the Ribo.
We descended this river with the style and panache you would expect
from a tight-knit creeking team, including running the 'portages' by
mistake. Only Simon (pictured) and Mike summoned the courage to run
this big boy half way down the
run. |
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We then headed for the famous
Verzasca River in Switzerland. A river that holds a bit more water in a
unique valley. |
Ewart on the lower section
of the Verszaca. Strange rock formations on the river give it a
unique feel. |
Then it was back to the
Sesia valley for another attempt at the rivers there - hoping levels
would have improved while we were away. That night it rained very
hard, and we awoke to find the rivers in the Sesia valley were now
very high. |
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With the recent rainfall and
sunshine melting in the afternoon, we had an epic days boating on the
Seminzino and Gronda rivers, both holding a good flow. |
Ewart styles the penultimate
drop on the Gronda 'race course' section. |
Ewart employs the 'box
stance' for the last drop. |
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We vowed we would return
next year and continue exploring this beautiful region in our quest
to run all the rivers at their optimum level.
Photos by Simon Morse, Mark
Browning and Roger
Ford
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