The Oropa, a tributary of the Cervo River in Northwest Italy, is a little-known but spectacular creek featuring technical rapids and breathtaking drops set against a backdrop of granite rocks and enchanting forests. Only navigable after heavy rains, its winding course alternates between intense sections and calmer pools. In October of last year, a well-timed rainfall provided the perfect conditions for a group of paddlers to run it. As a narrow creek with small eddies, the Oropa is best tackled by small groups of no more than five or six; however, in true Italian fashion, fourteen paddlers showed up at the put-in that day. The initial plan was to run two laps so paddlers could take turns on the water, but the whole group ultimately managed a single five-hour descent.…
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Kayak Session (Digital) - 1 Issue, Spring 2025