Office Boy Goes Forth: The Basso and Loana

A potential problem with working in the paddlesport industry is that you often don’t get as much time in a boat as you’d like. So when team paddlers Simon Westgarth, Matt Tidy and Nick Horwood invited me out for a week’s boating and photoshoot in Ticino, Italy, it seemed rude to say no! 

Full report coming soon but for the meantime here’s a few shots from the major mission of the week – the Loana and its sidecreek, the Basso. 

 

We were lucky to catch the Basso with plenty of water and were rewarded with a truly spectacular run. From the epic hike in, to the endless bedrock slides, to the horrendous portages – the whole river had the feel of a high Sierra Californian creek. 

 

 

 

After a full day of sunburn, dehydration and 200m slides aplenty we finally reached the Cascada di Loana – the takeout. Matt chose to run the first fall and, after an exciting takeout just above the second ‘gutter drop’ (in the background of the second shot below) fired up the third as well! 

I’d definitely recommend the run if you’re in the area and there’s water – but bring some decent shoes, there’s a lot of hiking!