A small amount of each fee goes into (very) slowly building up PRANZ funds: For future projects which could involve training subsidies, maybe legal fees for the court battle to prevent a company damming a fantastic packrafting river The future is uncertain, and PRANZ wants to be in a position to help defend our packrafting opportunities. All that is to say, thank you for compiling this, it helps to remind us of the consequences of one poor decision. Backpacking in the Wind River Range. I like your approach of considering the drysuit as part of the initial kit & cost. It heads directly uphill, very steep, with no switchbacks for the first 100yrs then becomes obvious. Or you could take a few sandwiches, a case of bubbly water and a sun hat and spend the day fishing out of a canoe on Boysen Reservoir or on the outlet of Worthen Reservoir. Unrestricted access to all forums, plus the ability to post and start new threads. From the toe of the glacier, the river leaves the lake and heads through a windy mini . While the water is flat and calm as it passes the dramatic cliffs in the state park, right above it is continuous class IV with some short flat areas and only a few access points into the canyon. It remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. The consistent theme in these fatalities is getting separated from boats and partners, typically in cold and/or surprisingly swift (high) water. In Alaska, I urge people to consider the cost of the drysuit as part of the packraft purchase price. In the northern end of the range the shrinking glaciers provide enough water to keep some of them floatable throughout the summer. Online trip and emergency planning course, My wife Sarahs awesome fitness programs: Ski Babes and Summer Strong. Every time a string of free days approaches, Ive been waiting until the very last minute to nail something down because nothing exciting has been jumping out at me. New TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! Bike rafters can be superior and have no shuttle. Peter was paddling alone, in an Alpacka Raft Scout, which is not intended for use in whitewater. Rescuers found his packraft in a log jam. Nothing better connects you to this place and its waterways. Gratuity for guide(s). Select a suitable river (class 1 -2 ) by picking one, close to your home, from the book, "California White Water A Guide to the Rivers". Any input would be greatly appreciated. I'm wanting a real whitewater PFD. Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. Thanks for the video, I was having a hard time wrapping my head around reeds and strainers, but seeing what you were dealing with makes it very clear. With a packraft or IK, people boat this river down to 120 CFS, which opens up the season to fall through spring. Ever had the shell balloon while swimming if so what happened? We are lucky enough to be located 10 minutes walk from the diverse Murrumbidgee river. Wind River Country reservoirs and lakes are really fun for stand up paddleboarding. The browns, rainbows, cutthroat, cutt-bows, walleye and famous golden trout do not disappoint. Great work, and another post worth saving. Continuing to encourage drysuit use in the packrafting community is important. I am very interested in cruising mild river conditions during an extended backpacking trek at some point in the future. Green River Seedskedee in April: Float or Class I Weber River through Coalville Class I or the Long Bear from Hilliard to Evanston in May: Class I to III Pacific Creek near Jackson May: Class II North Platte near Casper, WY in May: Float Upper Green River from Green River Lakes to Whiskey Bend (near Cora, WY) in June: Class II You can expect to learn about local fauna, see magical sights and catch some really big fish! Marty then led the group from shore down stream. Dave is a superb guide. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. I underestimated the river and capsized in a river-wide ledge. I have a 9 oz SOS inflatable that I trimmed, but they are wholly uncomfortable while paddling (restrict mobility) and too hard to inflate on the fly if you bite it. P.K. The trip can also be combined with the Arrigetch Peaks Backpacking Trip.. Departs from Fairbanks, AK. The Valdez search and rescue team responded to an inReach alert regarding a missing packrafter. The ideal packrafting PFD. Packrafts are known as very forgiving crafts. The geography of the west has become familiar to him. Allrightsreserved. As always, thank you for doing this. With 100 miles of incredible hikes to explore (popular during July and August), you'll have plenty of options. Close calls are abundant within the packrafting community, serious injuries and fatalities have been rare. They also have a one week class called Rapid Immersion they conduct on either the Trinity River or the South Fork of the American River. Richard, Thanks for sharing! Post new content to the community including gear swaps, reviews, trip reports and more! 3 miles of this was really fun class II+ starting just before Moose Creek Rd junction. As your data shows, a drysuit is also an important piece of safety gear especially for packrafting because rolling up is unlikely and swims are more likely. . In all 3 of 4 boats were lost; all were later recovered by good Samaritans and/or Nova Alaska Guides. Ryan, thanks that paints a picture of small, semi-technical, low volume streams. Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Reach the edge of the water and make your transition: inflate your packraft, assemble your paddle and stash your kit in the raft. Ben Kilbourne hikes and packrafts along the Green River in Wyoming. What is the best way to do that? If you own one, bring it along, and if you dont, you can buy one of your own at Murdochs in Riverton. It's identifying what risk level they need it at and there are many kinds of packrafting from just crossing rivers and streams that people would otherwise wade to hucking waterfalls. Packrafting is very simple. Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. He had no drysuit so if he had gone for a swim it couldve ended very poorly. Wind River Country is known for its pristine mountains and all of the activitiesthat go along with themrock climbing, backpacking, trail running, horsepacking and mountain biking, just to name a few. The Hollyford-Pyke loop is probably NZ's most classic packrafting trip.