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Waterlevels: Medium volume (~30 cumecs).
Accessibility: Tarmac road degrading to good dirt track above Kayndy village. There is a vehicle barrier low down the valley - foreigners are 'supposed' to pay 300 som per person, we negotiated down to 50. Higher up the valley the local yurt dweller had his own barrier and wanted to see the receipt. We met some challenging fisherman too - its a lovely valley.
Upper Chong-Kemin
Mainly grade II/III, but the road goes far up the river making it easily accessible all the way along its length.
Middle Chong-Kemin
A fun section, turquoise water, green pastures and granite boulder gardens.
Length: 10km
Grade: III-IV+
Put in/Get out: A suggested put in is the highest bridge in the valley, just below an obvious braided section 76deg,41. Get out can be at the sickle shaped bend in river (76deg,22).
Description: After the river has rested on the upper plain, it gathers pace to Gd2/3, soon you come to a bridge at 76deg,35. It isn't soon after this that the river reaches Gd4, clean lines and fair paced water. Another section of Gd 3 follows with the best section soon after. About 4km of Gd4/4+ around 76deg,26 technical rapids around bends, pourovers and shoots all make this a delight. The river settles down until the suggested egress at 76deg,22.
Last Paddled: Mid-september 2005.
Lower Chong-Kemin
A committing and beautiful section away from the road, continious with one gd 5, alpine style paddling at its best.
Length: 10km
Grade: III-V
Put in/Get out: Get in at the sickle shaped bend in river, for easy access (76deg,22). Get out where road meets river at 76deg,15.
Description: Above and below the crux gorge can be seen from the road. Where the banks become a gorge, the entry rapid is a sweet class 5 feature. 100yds of boulder garden Gd4, with eddies river right. From here, the river plunges down folding in from right and left, piles into a boulder, swings to right into a river wide pourover - best scoutable from river right. Below this, its Gd4, with one or two 4+, a good path cuts down yet back up river from the lower end of the gorge, walk pass the farmhouses. Below the gorge, the river is constricted by high banks, Gd 3/3+ until the egress.
Last Paddled: Scouted only.