Issue link: https://bluemagazine.uberflip.com/i/25037
• 6 people with an experienced guide. This team navigates of the river which have been tested for their safety levels. ough private kayakers may run the same river, often they opt n rapids deemed too dangerous for commercial rafting Many of the quotes in the article regarding the Futaleufu from kayakers describing the most dangerous parts of the r, which are not generally rafted by commercial companies. is certainly no doubt that Chile's Futaleufu is safe for water rafting groups that visit with an experienced rafting (I am hoping to go myself, soon). Nor is it Blue's intention to discourage our readers from the rivers. Part of the whole point of Blue is to inspire river responsibility I am concerned about what I consider an inaccurate description of Chile's Futaleufu River in Jim Krane's article "The World's Best Rivers" (April 1998). Instead of misleading adjectives like "hairy" and "savage" as Jim Krane used to describe the Patagonian river, why not choose "challeng ing" and "extremely rewarding" as the over 500 commercial clients which we have successfully guided down the same river would choose? Clients we have guided range in age from 10 to 86 and most often describe Chile's Futaleufu as "one of the most spectacular rivers on the planet." The use of the word "savage" to describe the river seems accurate only to describe two of the mandatory portages (for rafters) that are simple to walk around and which commercial rafting trips never run. The importance of clarity in these matters is so timely today when so many of the world's rivers are threatened by development. Dam builders translate words like "dangerous" and "killer" into "useless for anything other than hydroelectric power." Articles such as this easily become insidious propaganda for the dam builders in their war against rivers. Elliot Porter and David Brower summed it up best when they called the once magnificent but since submerged Glen Canyon on the Colorado River, "The Place No One Knew." With three major dams currently slat ed for Chile's Futaleufu, this magnificent river is not far behind. It is for this reason, as well as the principle of editorial accuracy, that writers and magazines have a moral obligation not to sensationalize a story to the point where future visitors are scared away. Eric Hertz President, Earth River Expeditions earthriv@ulster.net Chile's Futaleufu River includes the world's toughest rapids. These are located primarily on the Futaleufu's upper reaches and not on the lower portion whl.ch is where the majority of guide$. __ and commercial rafting companies bring rafters. The professional kayakers I interviewed spoke in awe of the upper Futa's fury, telling me with ease about how they could have been killed. Fortunately, most paddlers don't mess with the upper Futaleufu. Instead they sign on with a reputable outfitter and put-in down stream on a stretch known as the lower Futa. Here the river runs somewhat tamer. Beginners can be reasonably certain they will come out alive.- Jim Krane The distinction that needs to be made lies in defining the differ ence between kayaking privately and whitewater rafting with an experienced outfitter or adventure travel company. Whitewater rafting with an experienced outfitter generally involves at least 4 Thanks so much for Blue! A magazine that doesn't harp on the crazy, too-amped-to-feel-pain, kid-that-will-do-anything-for-a-rush, adrena line-junky image of our wonderful generation. You have given us some credit and acknowledged our intelligence with articles about international economics, the environment, politics and other truly important issues. Dylan Smith Washington, DC Blue. It's my favorite color (anything from Turkish plum to sky). Now it's my favorite magazine. And it's about travel. Double plus good. Erasmo Guerra New York City readers to travel and visit first hand all the amazing geogra- peoples and places of the globe. The entire article "The Best Rivers" reads between the lines "The World's Best (to Visit). " We are also concerned about the global ing issues you mention and which the article mentions, plan to cover them further in future issues. Amy Schrier, Blue Magazine How wonderful to find a magazine that celebrates the beauty and pos sibilities of life while not pursuing selfish hedonism. Sara Hare's arti cle on Burma ("The Lady and the SLORC," Jan/Feb 1998) is an excel lent example of the fine line separating exploration and costly cultur al voyeurism. Blue skies to you! Steven Rourke Montreal, Canada I was first attracted to your magazine on the newsstand due to the great design, but I was thrilled to discover the great content to go along! Good job on "The Lady and the SLORC." It's such a tragedy when events such as the situation in Burma go unr.oticed by most, and it is articles and writers like this that really help "open a window" (your term) to educate more people about what goes unseen. Tricia Ulberg Salt Lake City, Utah