Sunday, August 12, 2012

Shooting Rapids in a Big Dugout

In 1926, during a national craze for daredevil stunts, Al Faussett built a 32-foot spruce dugout canoe and successfully piloted (or perhaps just rode) it solo down Sunset Falls on the Skykomish River in Washington. The falls drop 104 feet over a distance of 275 feet -- quite a drop! -- and Faussett wisely carved his canoe, Skykomish Queen, with a great deal of rocker for maneuverability. For details, see this nicely-written article on History Link: The Free Online Encyclopedia of Washington State History.

 Speaking of running rapids in dugouts: I recall a spectacular chase scene in the Robert De Niro film The Mission, in which Portuguese and Spanish soldiers pursue Guarani Indians down the Iguaza River in what is modern-day Brazil. The Indians are paddling dugouts, and their capabilities in heavy whitewater were most impressive. Wish I could find a clip of this scene on YouTube.

 Addition, 13 Aug. 2012: Brazilian pal Silvio Antunha provided this link to YouTube clips of the Iguaza Falls, which play a role in The Mission, mentioned above: http://www.youtube.com/channel/HCtGWVIfsSwJg 
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2 comments:

  1. Silvio Titanic NerudaAugust 13, 2012 at 7:44 AM

    Hi, my friend. I foun some you tube links for The Mission, in Portuguese A Missão:

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlfYUFYfEuo

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLGSpo8S0q0

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cqcLJopZJ2A

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyOkX0R6-sE

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  2. Silvio Titanic NerudaAugust 13, 2012 at 7:49 AM

    Pelase, see for Iguaçu River:

    http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ficheiro:CataratasdeIguazu.JPG

    See also, please: Hector Babenco's A Play in the fields of the Lord

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcJF-5MPHX4

    http://pt.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rio_Amazonas

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