R i o   T e n o
Character		The Teno is comparable with the Maipo - open rapids, fast and volume. The Upper-upper Teno from the boarder is very steep, extreme fast and sporty. In the middle part, the Teno cuts a mountain range (“Gourge”) with some sections at the limit of the navigability.  The Lower Teno offers open rapids with medium difficulties. The road is always near to the river and easy to access.  During the peak of the melting season, the river is chocolate brown later it is getting a more convenient milky-grey colour.         The ideal base to run the Teno is the Hosteria Los Queñes, which is run by Todd, also a passionate paddler.
How to get there		Coming from Santiago on the highway No5, take the exit "Teno/Montañas". From here follow the signs to "Montañas" until the village Los Queñes.
Put-In  / Take-Out	Put in wherever you like. Standard runs: Upper-upper Teno: This section is also called “Escondido” After the steep zone behind the boarder – Entrance mine (5 km). Upper Teno: From “Piedra de la Mujer” – Put-in of the Lower Teno (approx. 5km) Lower Teno: Parking / wild camping area short before “Quebrada de Fabio”, approx. 12 km above Los Queñes - Los Queñes (12 km).
Distance	In total, approx. 40 km navigable.
Gauge               LW  /  MW  /  HW	A gauge is not existing, but the water level and the consequent difficulties may always be judged from the road. (Most pictures at medium level in February).
Difficulty	Escondido:    WW IV (IV-V), Steep zone V-VI “Gourge”:   WW IV, V, VI, X Upper Teno:    WW IV Lower Teno:    WW III+ (IV)                        One key section is at the entrance of the village Los Queñes. Confident rolling is recommended, a swimmer will be for sure long and uncomfortable.
	The upper steep section. The drop in the background is of approx. 3 m height with a strong hydraulic...     Our put in after the steep section...  ...it is continuous going down like in a chute...     ... and such eddies are very rare..     Who wants to run more, may continue after the entrance into the mine.    Until the “Gourge” - One of the extreme sections, the drop in the middle is at least 4 m high.      The last  cataract after approx. 10 km of predominant extreme WW ... ...after that the put-in of the Upper Teno in the curve above of “Piedra de la Mujer” This section offers permanent, fast and big WW... ... on the pictures at winterly low flow, when the difficulties become less. Short before the put-in to the lower section, the difficulties decrease.    Some of the rapids are still powerful but more open and easier ...    ... and in-between, there are some quiet sections (but always with strong current).   One of the more difficult sections is approx. 500 m before the bridge with the " Mirador Bio Bio".   Just fun !    The key section of the Lower Teno in Los Queñes. Apparently, there is a siphon on the left side !     Short before this spot, there is an easy put-out.   The confluent from the Teno and the Rio Claro in Los Queñes. This might be another put-out (but with hiking    your  boat up the hill), otherwise you must run at least another km before the next possible put-out. After this    point, there is one more massive rapid, which may be seen from the road.
	Photos: Andreas, Felipe    Paddler: Paulo, Mike, Felipe, Juan Pablo, Jaime, Gonzalo, Paulina, Nacho, Andreas