Dropping into "John's" rapid
photo by John McConville
After a few laps on both the Roadside and the Big Banana we decided to check out another section of the Rio Alseseca, the Tomata Gorge (I have also heard it referred to as the 7 sisters). This is the section just below Tomata Falls (2 waterfalls that are a tourist destination). Jake Greenbaum and some other had tried to scout the whole section from the rim of the gorge, but they were not able to see all of the rapids. Jake also said he found a way to access the Gorge without having to do a 100+ foot rappel (side note: we have no rappel rope).
John McConville at the top of "John's" rapid
photo by Chris Baer
To get to Tomata Gorge, you have to head to Tomata Falls. Before you get to the Falls you have to pass through two gates, each of which has a toll (about a $1 a person). WARNING!! the family at the second gate are not very friendly. It is a public road and there shouldn't be a toll, but suck it up and cough up the $0.50.
Chris Baer on one of the smaller rapids in Tomata Gorge
photo by John McConville
Since no one in our group had a rappel rope, we had to find another way to get to the bottom of the Gorge. After a few minutes of searching Jake found the spot that he previously had scouted for out put-in. It was a steep slope with a lot of vegitation, but it looked like it might work. So John McConville, Chris Baer, Jake Greenbaum, and I anchored some throw bags off of a tree and began our decent into Tomata Gorge.
The 15-20 footer in Tomata Gorge
photo by Chris Baer
After about 2 hours we were finally able to slide into the water, but again we were worried about time. We didn't expect the put-in to take as long as it did, and again we were committing to a class 5 gorge that we didn't know much about. So we took a quick look at Tomata 2 from the bottom and began heading downstream. The first big horizon line that we came up to John got out of his boat to check out. He told us it was good to go down the middle, but that there was "crazy shit" going on both sides. In normal fashion Chris dropped in and John reported to us that his line was good. Jake went next with similar outcomes, and then it was my turn. As I came up to the lip it was a lot bigger than what I was expecting. It was a big slide into about a 10 foot boof, but I missed my boof and had to roll up at the bottom. John went last, ended up further right than he wanted to be, disappeared from view and rolled up at the bottom with half a paddle (2nd paddle John broke). Thus we started calling this rapid John's rapid. Luckily for him I had my break down paddle in my boat.
boiley Chris Baer at the top of "Gorilla"
photo by John McConville
The next big rapid we came up to John and I scouted. I reported back to Chris and Jake that it was about a 15-20 foot waterfall into a big hole. Jake went first and made it look easy, followed by Chris who got a quick surf in the hole at the bottom. I didn't see John's line, but got the signal he was alright and then I dropped in.
boofing "Gorilla"
photo by John McConville
Then came what we called Gorilla. This was because Jake scouted it and his beta to the rest of us was that it was just like Gorilla on the Green. I thought this meant my landing was small and had a big hole in it, so I got out of my boat to see for myself. I agree that it had a nice launch pad, but the landing zone was just a big pool. We all fired big boofs off of it and then convinced John to try a freewheel. Nice attempt, but he didn't quite get it around.
Jake Greenbaum stomping "Gorilla"
photo by Chris Baer
Tomata Gorge ended up being a great find. It was a pain in the ass to access, but the rewards were great. It might have only had 7 rapids, but they were all pretty sweet. For anyone that is thinking about checking out this section keep in mind that even though there are only 7 rapids, this is a class V section, and it is very committing.
John McConvlle attempting a freewheel
photo by Chris Baer
I believe what you call "John's" rapid was first run by Tom McEwan in Dec/Jan 1996-7. Those of us present at the time called it "Martian" because of the way Tom looked running it in his heavy rimmed prescription glasses. We called "Gorilla" Brindle Falls after Matt Brindle, a DC/PA kayaker who had recently passed away. The nasty right hand turn waterfall with the sticky hole was called "MaMcEwan" and the smaller channelized drop in your pic above was dubbed Tuna Tunnel. Most of the names were coined by IR's John Weld, who is creative that way. I guess the names never stuck but there's a bit of trivia for you :-)
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