From Stoke to Bandito and Beer Factor: Dissecting a Stookesberry IG Post
Follow expedition paddler Ben Stookesberry on Instagram? If not, you should…both to keep up on his latest hair-raising exploits and feats of derring-do, but also to bear witness to his unique rating scale he gives some of his first descents, which touch upon everything from banditos to beers.
Consider the following from his first descent of Mexico’s Rio Barranca Basaseachi, located in Basaseachic Falls National Park in the western Chihuahua in the heart of the Sierra Madre Occidental mountain range. The park is named after Basaseachic Falls (Cascada de Basaseachic) the second tallest waterfall in Mexico at 853 feet, which plunge into the Barranca de Candameña canyon below, whose cliffs tower over a mile high.
In case the emoji’s don’t show up in all their cuteness, below is a quick recap of his take and description of the run (in case you’re ever thinking of going there yourself).
First Descent Barranca Basaseachi by the numbers:
Extended Grand Canyon Scale: 11 – 14 (P)
Montana Surf Scale: 5 Beers
Ecuador Danger Scale: 4 skull and crossbones
Himalayan/ Andean Canyon Scale: 4 Mountains
OR/ CAN/ CL/ BR Tuck Fest Scale: 1 Church
Cali/ Nor/ SEUS Slide Fest Scale: 2 Slides
@erikboomer suffer factor: 3 Bombs
Stookesberry Stoke Factor: 4 Smiley Faces with his Telltale Glasses
Bandito Factor: 3 Guns
Find more on Stookesberry’s Instagram here:
