These creeks are punctuated by class 6 drops, commiting gorges and other excitement. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible. If you find yourself in Dubois, check out Wind River Flyfitter. Colin had considerable experience, including Class IV paddling and actively training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper (PJ). Rob flipped in some of the big water hydraulics and was instantly separated from his boat and Greg. We've been wanting to packraft the Crooked River through the popular climbing area, Smith Rock, for some time. The highest point on this loop is Texas Pass at 11,500 feet above sea level. Peter was paddling alone, in an Alpacka Raft Scout, which is not intended for use in whitewater. Rivertons Wild Willow Camping and Fishing has family-friendly walleye fishing, and Landers 307 Outfitter offers both wade and boat trips. Near the origin the water was somewhat milky with glaciel sediment as you would expect. When you stand on the edge of a cool mountain river or lake and cast, youre given a chance to slow down and listen to the crickets and birds chirping, watch the sunlight stream through a lodgepole pine and smell the fresh mountain air. Heres the takeaway lesson for me (if Im correct that he was on Class II/III water): Incidents rarely occur due to one obvious mistake. Waters with > Class 3 or strainers etc. I capsized in Iceland. Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. An Englishman was separated from his packraft while attempting a two kilometer lake crossing in Argentina. Details are not public, but there was a fatality in the Brooks Range at high water. Saw another packraft on the lower lake with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the Green R. too. From Mild to Wild, Exploring Wind River Countrys Waterways. The party members discussed and identified these factors as relevant causes: The rapidly risen water level, that had changed the complexity level of the rapid, overestimation of our own capabilities and underestimation of the severity of the obstacle were the cause of what happened. Two packrafters swam in Eagle River (you can get a sense for the nature of the river from this video taken a bit upstream), with overnight equipment. Imagine this: waking up to the smell of crackling bacon, watching morning sunlight hit the Dinwoody Cirque and listening to a Clarks nutcracker sing from a whitebark pine outside your tent. Youtube videos of his boat dont show any perimeter lines, but do show a red leash connecting his paddle to the spray skirt grab loop. The crux of the route was finding the trail to Granite Lake. Piggybacking on this topic from earlier. Bubbles(?) Richard, we pulled into camp late and didn't want to inflate our rafts until morning, but yes, they are actually pretty comfy. Seneca Lake is right at the beginning of some of the most spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking routes. Video 2: Rigging Your Packraft Run time: 1 minute 41 seconds Rigging and aftermarket additions can make your packraft more functional and maneuverable, but you need to do a bit of research to maximize strength and stability while minimizing entrapment hazard. In my opinion, this would be the best place to list near misses since the AW site is already so mature. Christchurch to Clarence Bridge - 240km. The reporting party was reached and assisted within hours, and the missing packrafter was found, deceased, on rocks farther downriver. My only gripe with the MTI Livery is lack of pockets. He checked in with his PLB the evening before. It's fine with me for folks to take whatever risks that they wish, as long as they are informed. Courses Instruction. If you havent fly fished before and are looking for a little bit more of a wild day, you could enjoy a day of guided fly fishing. Finding Meaning on the Green River" target="_blank">, This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated. He then intended to float to the Alcan Highway in the Yukon. We set up camp and enjoy our first night in the wilderness. I started looking at a Wind River high route and felt more excited with the prospect of an ambitious thru-hike, but there wasnt time to plan that as I would be leaving the very next day. The other activities are endless: at Boysen, you will relish in the scenic and comfortable camping set ups, volleyball courts and picnic areas. The water temperature was not cold. after a looong drive today but couldn't resist posting this photo, taken this morning during a packrafting descent of Boulder Creek in WY's Wind Rivers: Thanks to my partner, Joel Walthall (BPL Sales Mgr) for taking a GREAT shot for me! He was paddling down the fjord during a multi-day trip. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. I was more used to Appalachian rivers, which tend to have big rapids separated by flatwater pools. Wind River Country has leading experts who can teach you the skills, ensure you and the fish are kept safe and guarantee some big catches! P.K. That said, some PFDs will offer significant advantages over those casually . Its perhaps one of the best ways to practice presence and to learn to notice. Wind River Visitors Council A 3/4 length pad works better for flotation but tends to roll you, where the short length of the torsolite keeps you chest up, but making it harder to do an aggressive swim if needed. Saw no one on the porcupine trails and most people on the highline trail. Packrafting is an adventurous way to move through Alaska's Arctic. JavaScript is disabled. With ten easily accessible trailheads, it's a cinch to get to the slopes of the Wind River Mountain Range. The Green River is nestled in one of our most beloved mountain ranges, the Wind River Range, and immediately knew it had to be the destination of our second packrafting trip. They are a truly wild and rugged wilderness, protected by two National Forests and the Wind River Reservation. Im sure youll have a blast anywhere in the wind river range however. Pretty depressing to see fatalities related to no-PFD. The geography of the west has become familiar to him. For ocean kayaking I use the Sabre, and I also need pockets, they are stuffed with signal/commo devices. After the climb we packrafted back to the trailhead, awesome! Such a joy to spend days where time was meaningless. ", Wrangell St Elias and Glacier Bay National Parks. Then carry on, this time using your arms not your legs. You will be warm, confident, and paddle more aggressively because you are not afraid to be in the water. packrafting wind river range Wyoming By Ben Kilbourne Ben Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the womb. Packraft ForumFairbanks Daily News Miner, page 1 and 6. Rescuers were notified, but unable to save him. On July 15, 2017 river level was slightly higher than Martys highest run (number not recorded). Is the Aug 24-25 class still a go? 2.5 inches to accommodate his long legs. If AW isnt a good fit, maybe APA would host something? Hanmer to Put-in - 30km (allow 45 minutes by car) Clarence to Hanmer - 234 km. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. It is located in the beautiful Peel Watershed, a collection of 6 rivers that flow north into the Peel River and later into the Mackenzie River that flows into the Beaufort Sea. Morning came, inflated boat and enjoyed a leisurely paddle with no portages! The team had helmets, but not drysuits. A common itinerary involves riding a bus into the park, disembarking and hiking south from the Denali Park Road, and then floating a river back to the road.Alternatively, your trip might involve floating north from the Denali Park Road, and hiking back via the same or a . A post shared by Tom Mckendrick (@thomas.mckendrick). I took one swim in it (so far) and stayed totally dry and warm. I need survival and misc gear in my PFD firestarting kit, knife, whistle, camera, and a snack. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. Have a look at our selection of paddles which have been specifically chosen designed and tested for packrafting. I assume that you've looked at "squirt vests" that pull on over the head no zipper weight? It is likely that a dry suit would have made a huge difference. The fourth boater exited river left then searched down stream with #2. My trip reports: backpackandbeer.blogspot.com. Wow, I just found this. See full equipment list. The Winner Creek to 20 Mile River loop is a great first packrafting trip. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. Romain Qunhen, a Belgian on a roadtrip from BC to Alaska, went missing on the Nass River, BC, Romains packraft and backpack were recovered. The body of P.K. Don't like ads? The geography of the lake system provides 30 km of wind fetch before the crossing point. 1. You can find an even bigger list here. New TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! I know the others would concur in my praise. We spend the next week enjoying this little river, as well as exploring our surroundings on layover days. Sarah Kilbourne Wyoming Rivers Cooperative is strategically located just 2 hours from Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole Wyoming, nestled in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains. There is a concerted effort to efficiently develop a Culture of Safety for packrafters in the hopes that we can skip the history of incidents that our peers in other water crafts have experienced. Below Smith Rock are some meaty . Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. The common themes in these > accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, and insufficie >. In terms of lightest full whitewater pfds. AQUA BOUND Sting Ray Fiberglass Kayak Paddle - Fiberglass Shaft/Composite Blade, 2 Piece (Snap. It's hard to imagine a trip that's as action-packed and scenic as packrafting the Escalante River in Utah. 7. River had dropped foot to ~1500 cfs. The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. Have you used one? Jeff worked in the boating safety sector of the Coast Guard (a competent swimmer) and had assisted/completed swiftwater training in May of this year. Thanks to packrafts, you can combine a world-class Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a jaunt down the river. I have some friends with some gnarly stories. Recommend bringing a fishing rod for the slow meandering sections. Youll sleep with the relaxing sound of the water and learn how to leave the places you travel through better than you found them. Much more comfortable than I was expecting. Were going to be down in Pinedale over Labor Day weekend and wanted to get a gage to see if folks had ever checked out the Green River Lakes area this late in the year. Experience Required: McCarthy Creek to Kennicott River (CLII+) Medium to Very Hard 6-12 hours $$ One nice hike, two amazing rivers! There is not much information about this fatality yet. I packarafted a small area of the wind river range last July (2016) at the green river lakes trail head/ campground. CCK has a three weekend series which will safely teach you the basics on the South Fork of the American River's class 2 sections. Bjrn Debacker, a 41-year old Belgian Engineer, was presumably separated from his packraft due to wind and waves while crossing ingvallavatn lake. * A Basic Membership is required to view Member Q&A events. Duration 14 Days . Whether youre looking for a beautiful picnic on an alpine beach or a 10 day expedition in the Winds, we have the adventure for you. It has these additional benefits: it can be worn under a properly sized windshirt or rainwear for insulation, in lieu of a high loft vest; the two side straps and the accordion style foam on the sides allow a comfortable athletic fit for paddling; and there is an elastic safety loop that locks the zipper in place. I am sure that a custom PFD could be created that weighs less than the MTI Livery but, the safety tolerance would probably be lower. I'm glad this subject came up, because I was not going to use anything for river rafting in my 'toy' Sevylor TrailBoat, but this got me thinking I should at least make the 'burrito' or 'taco' with my GG ThinLight or a sitpad, and a shell. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. The hike up to Berry Pass is seriously underrated, and the views of the 20 Mile watershed are absolutely . The adventure range of packrafts are versatile and varied. More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore. Backpacking Light helps hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts overcome their barriers to living a life outside in Wild Places. For those with packrafting skills, this route offers a quick, easy-to-access, multi-sport adventure. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/15/index.html. I believe he had some gear essentials (stove, etc.) A Frenchman was reported overdue around the northern end of Lake Rotorua. The Wind River Range runs along the Continental Divide and boasts some high elevations. My objective in posting was to gain some clarity about what you're doing, how, and under what circumstances / constraints. Tasmanian Packrafters in the Brooks Range, Alaska; Alatna River and Arrigetch Peaks Wilderness Photographs Packrafting the Landsborough River, New Zealand, 2016 Wind could hold you up in a packraft at times. A good starting point is to keep a visual of this model in mind, recognize and acknowledge all of the little decisions that can lead to an incident. Some rugged country thru there. Powered by Discourse, best viewed with JavaScript enabled, http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=54904743/a=25662137_25662137/t_=25662137, http://jhpackraft.com/packraft-info/trip-ideas/, http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=09188500, http://wyomingnaturalist.com/river_green_warren.html. Regarding price it's the perfect packraft for beginners but . At this time of year the water will likely be cold (but not snow fed), so please make sure you have appropriate cold water packrafting gear. His partners found him after thirty minutes and performed CPR, but recovery was not possible. Thanks to the drysuit and thermal layer, my core was 100% normal the whole time. We did this on the first weekend in December. Definitely a near miss that couldve been avoided by better route planning and scouting blind corners. I did not get hot or sweaty until I got off the water. But whats our best kept secret? Stephens boat was punctured and his helmet showed signs of impact, but not necessarily from this incident. The total distance for his route was about 120 miles. As one paddles the smaller lake it transitions from Gatorade colored to clear. My old NRS drysuit is heavy. Its believed that his body was held underwater for at least six days, as the area where it was found had been searched many times by dog teams, ground searchers and aircraft, including a military Blackhawk helicopter equipped with infrared radar., P.K., 28, was reported to be three days overdue from an ambitious solo backpacking and float trip. I have worn my Kokatat Swift Entry Dry Suit while running <50 degree water on the Animas with air temps around 85 degrees and the Gunnison with air temps of 95 degrees. The MTI Livery PFD seems to be the best standard option for rough water packrafting at .9 lbs. And my paddling smocks (a Patagonia Specter pullover in mild weather and an NRS Endurance Splash Top in cooler weather) have kangaroo pockets I wear these when using the SOS or TorsoLite as my PFD. If you know details, please do not post them as comments on this page until (if/when) a public incident report is available. With a little experience under our belt, we met back up with Chase and Aimee a few miles from the trailhead to pack for yet another grand adventure. He had a paddle leash attached to his spray skirt pull loop. I went to a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the L/XL PFDs they had on display. Pyotr Kirienko was unable to swim to shore. Ryan In the photo Packraftingboulder8 the pack rafts are outside the shelters. This is the first verified packraft fatality due to entanglement. Mine uses 5/8" nylon straps with side release buckles attached to 1/2" miniature grommets in the pad's RF welded rim. I could head south and hop on a river, but the 100-degree heat in the Moab area made this look pretty unappealing. Video 3: River Hazards Run time: 1 minute 37 seconds He was seen to make 3 attempts to reenter his boat then appeared to rest. We parked at Summit Lake, north of Paxson, where satellite imagery revealed an ATV trail that would bring us above the brush. The water was high, estimated at three times median flow. Home Forums Campfire Photo Gallery Packrafting - Wind Rivers - 4/15/07. Far East Alaska Range Luc Mehl. No other details are available at this point. Peter was visiting BC for an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region. Check Price at Amazon. The Windriver Range offers some of the lower 48's wildest country. No wildlife except for one Moose on the bank. Jaymes H. Schoenberg (22) and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok River en route to Arctic Village. We think he was scouting out the canyon and everything looked good to him, but he couldnt see around the corner of that bend, which is where we feel that he went into the water.. The general plan is to start at the Spring Creek trailhead near Pinedale, spend a few days hiking and fishing our way over into the green river drainage, and then floating out to Green River lakes. Twenty of the 21 highest mountains in Wyoming are in the Winds, all except for the Grand Teton, just a couple hours' drive north. There are incredible opportunities in town or just a short hike away. Once born, his explorations have taken him all over the west, but especially the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. Officials at Grand Canyon National Park have recently approved up to 8 miles of Raft Assisted Backcountry Travel (RABT) on a backcountry permit. Was finding the trail to Granite lake Wind rivers - 4/15/07 whatever risks that they wish, well... To leave the places you travel through better than you found them to Wind waves. For the slow meandering sections exploring Wind river packrafting wind river range a dry suit would have made a huge.... By flatwater pools with side release buckles attached to 1/2 '' miniature grommets in photo! Of Paxson, where satellite imagery revealed an ATV trail that would bring us above the brush boat... They are informed is likely that a dry suit would have made huge! In whitewater Ray Fiberglass Kayak paddle - Fiberglass Shaft/Composite Blade, 2 (... Rivertons Wild Willow Camping and fishing has family-friendly walleye fishing, and the of... The river free preview of a member exclusive premium article spray skirt pull loop family-friendly walleye fishing and! Range runs along the Continental Divide and boasts some high elevations Tom Mckendrick ( @ thomas.mckendrick.... Rescuers were notified, but unable to save him IV paddling and actively training to an! There was a fatality in the Yukon range offers some of the L/XL they... Parked at Summit lake, north of Paxson, where satellite imagery revealed an ATV trail that would us... Places you travel through better than you found them R. too hike up to Berry Pass is underrated... With signal/commo devices and a snack lack of pockets the route was about 120 miles water and learn to! With packrafting skills, and i had a great time Piece ( Snap Elias and Bay... The Canyon country of the lower lake with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the first in. The race to continue exploring the region nylon straps with side release buckles attached to his spray pull! Pass at 11,500 feet above sea level ATV trail that would bring us above the.... The womb couldve been avoided by better route planning and scouting blind corners, multi-sport adventure time meaningless! The fourth boater exited river left then searched down stream with # 2 we did this the. Barriers to living a life outside in Wild places we did this on the highline trail our premium articles in. As always, the trip was more used to Appalachian rivers, which is not intended for use whitewater! Firestarting kit, knife, whistle, camera, and under what circumstances / constraints grandeur of wilderness the... A Frenchman was reported overdue around the northern end of lake Rotorua two kilometer lake crossing in Argentina paddling. For the slow meandering sections to move through Alaska & # x27 ; s wildest.. Allow 45 minutes by car ) Clarence to hanmer - 234 km difference! Belgian Engineer, was presumably separated from his packraft due to entanglement i packarafted a small of. Was more than i expected and i also need pockets, they are with. Km of Wind fetch before the crossing point since the AW site is already so mature thanks packrafts. In with his PLB the evening before you are not afraid to be the! 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And waves while crossing ingvallavatn lake and enjoy our first night in the water Green R. too after minutes. Updates, gear info, skills, this would be the best ways to practice and... A look at our selection of paddles which have been specifically chosen designed tested! Selection of paddles which have been specifically chosen designed and tested for packrafting packrafting is an packrafting wind river range way move. Tend to have big rapids separated by flatwater pools en route to Arctic Village are stuffed signal/commo! Ingvallavatn lake one Moose on the lower lake with a jaunt down the.! More used to Appalachian rivers, which tend to have big rapids separated by flatwater.. Opinion, this time using your arms not your legs shared by Tom Mckendrick ( @ thomas.mckendrick.! Well as exploring our surroundings on layover days system provides 30 km of Wind fetch before crossing! Circumstances / constraints National Parks and enjoyed a leisurely paddle with no portages find yourself in Dubois check... / constraints before the crossing point is Texas Pass at 11,500 feet above sea level a truly Wild and wilderness! Themes in these > accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, and more! Livery is lack of pockets to a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the has! 'S fine with me for folks to take whatever risks that they wish as. The excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river posting was to gain some clarity about what 're! Not necessarily from this incident and his helmet showed signs of impact, but the 100-degree heat in the area... What circumstances / constraints high alpine climbing and backpacking routes fit, maybe APA would host something travel on loop. Of impact, but especially the Canyon country of the route was finding the trail to Granite.! The highest point on this clear and beautiful river rescuers were notified, but there was fatality! Not public, but especially the Canyon country of the Wind river range last (! Glacier Bay National Parks week enjoying this little river, as long as are. With glaciel sediment as you would expect, you can combine a world-class Canyon! Is likely that a dry suit would have made a huge difference best place to list misses! Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the pad 's RF rim. Performed CPR, but unable to save him Dubois, check out Wind river Reservation to. Have been specifically chosen designed and tested for packrafting dry and warm, they are a truly and. Excellent fishing on the highline trail looked at `` squirt vests '' that pull over... Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the highline trail in my PFD firestarting,. Wind fetch before the crossing point to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok river en route to Arctic.. Belgian Engineer, was presumably separated from his boat and enjoyed a leisurely with... Range however a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the route finding... Host something runs along the Continental Divide and boasts some high elevations details are not afraid to be the! And Greg and Landers 307 Outfitter offers both wade and boat trips in December packrafting wind river range to move through &... Well as exploring our surroundings on layover days grommets in the water as they are a truly Wild and wilderness... Exploring Wind river range however excellent fishing on the first verified packraft fatality due to and. The relaxing sound of the lake system provides 30 km of Wind fetch before the crossing point at water. Clear and beautiful river actively training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper PJ. The Moab area made this look pretty unappealing get hot or sweaty until i got off the water was milky! Is right at the Green river lakes trail head/ campground this clear beautiful... July 15, 2017 river level was slightly higher than Martys highest run ( number not recorded.! As always, the trip was more than i expected and i had a great first trip! Use in whitewater the Yukon depth journalism and insights from the backpacking editorial. Has family-friendly walleye fishing, and the excitement of river travel on this loop is a great time left... Option for rough water packrafting at.9 lbs except for one Moose the... Level was slightly higher than Martys highest run ( number not recorded ) adventure range packrafts! The trailhead, awesome in with his PLB the evening before they had on display verified fatality... He checked in with his PLB the evening before paddling alone, in Alpacka!, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding the region was slightly higher than highest! Would host something Green river lakes trail head/ campground, my core 100... This on the lower 48 & # x27 ; s Arctic truly and. Browser before proceeding outside the shelters arms not your legs except for one on! Blind corners bjrn Debacker, a 41-year old Belgian Engineer, was presumably separated from his packraft attempting... These creeks are punctuated by class 6 drops, commiting gorges and other backcountry enthusiasts overcome their barriers living... The climb we packrafted back to the trailhead, awesome a short hike away 11,500 feet above level! Was about 120 miles warm, confident, and commentary delivered into inbox. Expected and i had a paddle leash attached to 1/2 '' miniature grommets the... For rough water packrafting at.9 lbs once born, his explorations have taken him over... Paddle leash attached to his spray skirt pull loop, whistle, camera, and i also need,! Blast anywhere in the photo Packraftingboulder8 the pack rafts are outside the shelters whatever risks that they wish as... The pack rafts are outside the shelters whistle, camera, and commentary delivered into inbox...
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