Expedition Report
The aim of this expedition was to explore the white-water rivers of the Philippines during the wet summer months of the monsoon season. It was believed to be the first organised kayaking expedition to the Philippines during the monsoon, and so would provide access to rivers that have never been kayaked before. The British Universities Kayaking Expedition is a biennial event in which a few highly skilled University white water kayakers are elected to conduct an exploratory expedition. One of Imperial's PhD students was selected as part of a team of 7 for the Philippines expedition, which took place from late July to early September 2017, and which explored the north of the island of Luzon, the largest island of the more than 7,000 that make up the Philippines.
The group were able to gain local river knowledge from a British expatriate kayaker who was living in the Philippines, and to use a local Jeepney vehicle with a driver to get to and from the rivers. The rivers successfully kayaked were the Upper Chico, Sabangan to Dantay, length: 10 km, gradient: 13 m/km, grade: 4, then from Dantay to Bontoc, 7 km, 10 m/km, grade: 3 (4); then from Bontoc to Betwagan, 17 km, 8 m/km, grade: 4/4+; and then from Betwagan to Chap-ay, 7.5 km, 8 m/km, grade: 3/4 (4+), which included a stretch called Death Canyon; the Balitan, 9 km from Mainit to the Chico confluence, and another 4 km to Bontoc, 24 m/km (Mainit Creek: 50 m/km), grade: 4/4+ (X); the Talubin, 3 km, 28 m/km, grade: 3+; the Tanudan (Upper Section), 11 km, 26 m/km, grade: 4 (6); Lower Chico, Bugnay – Tinglayan, 10 km, 8 m/km, grade: 3; the Tinglayan – Tomiangan (Pasil Confluence), 25 km, 8 m/km, grade 3/4 (4+); Pasil, (Upper Section), 5 km, 30 m/km, grade: 4 (X); UpperIkmin/Boliney Rapids, 2 km, 17 m/km, grade: 4+; Lower Ikmin, 11 km, 14.5 m/km, grade: 3+; Utip, 8 km (+ optional 4 km), 17.5 m/km (10 m/km for optional 4 km), grade: 4/4+; Amburayan Pasdong Gorge, 1.6 km, 46 m/km, grade: 4+(5); The Middle Amburayan: Naguey – Taba-ao, 9 km, 17 m/km, grade: 4/4+; Upper Agno Part 1, 4 km, 22.5 m/km, grade: 4/5 (5+); Upper Agno Part 2, 7.5 km, 33 m/km, grade: 4 (4+); Upper Bued, 6 km, 30 m/km, grade: 5 (6); Lower Bued, 7 km, 18 m/km, grade: 4/4+; Ibulao, 27 km, 43 m/km for the crux 3 km in the gorge , grade: 5/(6). Included in these were 12 first descents.
The challenges faced included flooding due to the monsoon rains, landslides, which did on occasion block certain routes the group planned to use, typhoons, one of which did hit Luzon on the 26th day of the expedition, poisonous snakes and mosquitoes carrying malaria, dengue and Japanese encephalitis.
In addition to funding provided by the Exploration Board this expedition was supported by the Lord Mayor's 800th Anniversary Awards Trust.
