Return To Pakse
Sean and I have returned to Pakse with some unfinished business on the Champi river.
On the day Craig and I completed the first descent on the Upper Champi he lost his camera with our only shots of the white water. It was not described in much detailed but this section of river between the abseil and the horrible hike out was some of the best creeking I have ever done in my life.
Hiking Back into "Hell" - Upper Champi
I promised that I would never return to that eddy I sat in and truly wondered how I was going to get out alive. Today I saw it again, Sean and I hiked in through the jungle where Craig and myself spent 6 hours trying to escape, in hope that we could possibly return to the Upper Champi and get some media from this amazing river.
Last eddy on river right is where Craig and I found ourselves on the first descent
Tomorrow we plan to do just that.
On our hike out just when things looked like they were going well I stood both legs in some kind of wasp or flying ant nest, it was the most I have screamed since I was two I think. I was honestly in more discomfort then when I shattered my ankle and broke my leg. The jungle always has surprises!
After our hike out we travelled further upstream to look at the 45ft waterfall that Craig had run earlier on in the trip. The decision was easy for Sean and I, feeling good after spending a couple of weeks back in out creek boats.
I went first hitting my line but unfortunately my deck popped on impact, too proud to swim I paddle my full boat of water to shore.
Lachie Tad Champi 2nd Descent
Sean ran the drop twice and stomped his line both times.
Sean on Tad Champi
Our plans for the next few days are to run the Upper Champi again, head to Tadlo to get some good quality photos of these drops. From Tadlo we plan to head to the wild west town of Attapeu, near the Vietnam border. From here we are looking at a couple of first descents; 30 and 60 foot waterfalls.
We may be away from the Internet for a while so wish us luck,
Lachlan Carracher
