{"id":944,"date":"2012-05-06T12:00:37","date_gmt":"2012-05-06T19:00:37","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/community.nrs.com-2\/?p=944"},"modified":"2022-01-05T15:15:30","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T23:15:30","slug":"mexico-boating-adventures","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/community.nrs.com\/duct-tape\/2012\/05\/06\/mexico-boating-adventures\/","title":{"rendered":"Mexico Boating Adventures: Part I"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lacey Anderson had one heck of a boating year in 2011, rafting over 30 rivers in the U.S. and Mexico.\u00a0In this first of a series of articles, the longtime guide and author of the <\/em>Camp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers cookbook lets us ride along for a second descent of Mexico\u2019s Mulatos-Aros River.\u00a0<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

The five of us looked wide-eyed with disbelief at what lay in front of us. The normally dry creek bed was flashing!<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Mexico Whitewater, Copper Canyon
\n<\/strong>Many of Mexico\u2019s best whitewater rivers can only be rafted during the monsoon season, when little creeks become raging whitewater rivers. We were headed for the put-in of the Mulatos-Aros River to do a 150-mile exploration. This would be a second descent.<\/p>\n

Our truck crawled slowly along a muddy four-wheel track in the plateau country of Copper Canyon, Mexico. A monsoonal downpour raged as lightning struck and vibrated the ground all around us. I was exhilarated and terrified as each lightning bolt lit our path just enough to catch a momentary glimpse of the jagged mountain silhouettes of subtropical Mexico. We had spent an entire day driving since our last stop at the small village of Sahuaripa. Many hours later, we were still driving, determined to get to the put-in before midnight.<\/p>\n

We had just climbed out of one canyon and were barreling down into another canyon only to be stopped dead in our tracks. The five of us looked wide-eyed with disbelief at what lay in front of us. The normally dry creek bed was flashing! High water roared across the road. We were stuck and couldn\u2019t drive through the arroyo. The only thing we could do was set up our tents and roll out the sleeping bags right there in the muddy road to wait out the flood.<\/p>\n

By noon the next day, the water had subsided enough for us to tentatively drive through the slick mess. Later that afternoon, we reached our launch destination \u2013 two days late. Good thing I had packed a menu such as the one you will find in my cookbook \u201cCamp Cooking WITHOUT Coolers II\u201d. If I had packed the traditional rafter\u2019s menu with coolers full of ice-dependant meals, we would have been in trouble. Some of our food would have spoiled, and the rest would have been well on its way to getting funky.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Lacey at the oars of her lightweight \u201cno cooler\u201d cataraft set up. \u00a9Jason Burke<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The next eight days on the Mulatos-Aros River were a delight with exceptional scenery, Class IV rapids and good company. The Mulatos-Aros turned out to be one of the best long-distance river expeditions in Mexico. We passed only one village the entire trip. The water is clean, reliable and big. There are fun Class III and IV rapids almost every day and interesting side canyons to hike and warm, clear swimming holes.<\/p>\n

Because the Mulatos-Aros exploration was a great success, we were stoked for our next adventure on the Conchos River. Even better, we did not have to hunt down a store in rural Mexico that would have groceries and quality ice because I had the next four days of river meals waiting in our truck, all packed up and ready to go \u2013 no ice needed!<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s one of the delicious \u201cno cooler\u201d recipes from my cookbook:<\/p>\n

Asian Couscous<\/span><\/strong> \u2013 makes about 10 cups, serves 8
\n(vegetarians can simply leave out the chicken)<\/p>\n