The Total Tons Tonnage'
This raft trip is for those who want to transcend
to the next level of river running. What sets this
trip apart from the other great rafting trips like
the Bio-Bio, the Brahmaputra, the Alsek, the Futaleufu
and the Zambezi, is the consistency of quality whitewater,
set in some incredible high mountain scenery. We
run several rapids ranging from Class III to Class
IV+/V, with whitewater sections separated by maybe
a hundred yards or less of flat water.
It aims to propagate the sheer adrenaline and
magic of taking on 90 kms of quality whitewater
from Gyunhatti till Icchari, in what could possibly
be, one of the finest whitewater experiences possible
in the world today.
Adrenaline pumping river days are followed by
relaxed afternoons, to be spent under leafy alders,
taking short hikes into the alpine forests and
camping out near fields of calf high mint and
marijuana.
This trip was first offered in a 1986 edition
operated by Jack Morison of White Magic, California.
In May 2005, Aquaterra Adventures operated the
first rafting descent successfully on the entire
Tons river since 1986, almost a first descent
as the river had changed considerably over 19
years.
On the Middle Tons between Lunagad and Tiuni,
the river drops at an average rate of 32 feet
per kilometer. This includes a drop of 78 feet/kilometer
over the last three and a half kilometers before
Tiuni. Amazing scenery, world class whitewater
make this a premier expedition for the white water
paddler.
Below Tiuni, we encounter a series of Class III+
rapids, followed by Afterglow, Channel Rapid,
Pillow talk, Thrice Bitten, Deadly Dedsu before
we reach the bridge at Atal, the village below
which we camp on Day 01. Day 02 begins with several
Class 3 rapids after which we flow into a gorge
where we tackle the Lone Ranger, Three Musketeers,
and the Roaring Bagni. We reach our campsite near
Atal for the night, covering approx. 20 kms.
Below Atal, we paddle through a long gorge where
we hear ample chatter of monkeys and the call
of cuckoos. The land takes a more gentle and tropical
rhythm from the upper, more alpine, valley near
the base camp. Palm trees grow at the edge of
cliffs and their roots drop 80 ft into the nourishing
water of the Tons.
The gorge opens out at the bridge near Minus
and the river flows gently for the next 7 kms
till we reach Major Surprise, the biggest rapid
on the trip. Major Surprise is followed by a series
of big rapids before the river flattens out again
near the dam at Icchari. The river section till
Major Surprise is about 25 kms and depending on
whether it’s a portage of not, and the time
at hand, we either camp there or continue to reach
Icchari.
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