It remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. But I had to go. Wind River Visitors Council The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. It is size large and weighs 2lb-4oz or 1024g on my scale. American Whitewater Incident ReportGreg Mills, personal communication. Check Price at Amazon. Another fatality I know of: in summer 2015 a German paddler disappaered in the Sondre Stromfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. All recordings are now online! Yalil also had fishing equipment and a perimeter line on the bow that ripped through one of the tie-down attachment points. we offer plenty of courses that include rafting, canoeing, kayaking, packrafting and rescue. Be more. WIND RIVER, YUKON. The MTI Livery PFD seems to be the best standard option for rough water packrafting at .9 lbs. In my opinion, this would be the best place to list near misses since the AW site is already so mature. Fishing is magical. Take a series of classes and then buy a book. P.O. I stopped counting at about a dozen, and it wouldnt have been so bad if I had not had a full pack on the boat! We cant know for sure, but the leash seems most likely to have caused entanglement. He truly gave us the trip we wanted! The immediate cause of Peters death was apparently the inability to swim out of the rapid barrel (reverse water flow [backwash]), possibly a stone hitting. I am most familiar with California Canoe and Kayak (CCK) classes and guides in Northern CA. Backpacking Light helps hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts overcome their barriers to living a life outside in Wild Places. He allowed Adrian and me to hike at our own pace and he encouraged all of us to explore the area surrounding our campsites. Theres beautiful hiking in the area, for after you get your fill of time on the water. Hey Luc, Thanks for putting energy into this. View Profile View Forum Posts . See you next year! The Windriver Range offers some of the lower 48's wildest country. I imagined hauling a packraft out of the Colorado River, maybe up Red Lake Canyon, where its often 10 degrees hotter than the surrounding areas. 18.4 mi / 2280 ft gain. Seemingly defying gravity, the Hollyford's waters take you to the coast, then after only crossing an 80m high saddle, the Pyke guides you most of the way back towards where you began. As one paddles the smaller lake it transitions from Gatorade colored to clear. Please post more pics if you have time or put them on your blog. The Forager, Gnarwhal and Wolverine are from . I hope to see a trip report, and some discussion of your gear and how to protect it, since I am planning a Spring trip with my wimpy little Sevylor 'trail boat'.. Is that one of the larger Sealline Stormsacks you lashed on the front? I am not sure this post will gain the attention of those needed to input, but can anyone suggest a starting point for packrafting? TRIP DETAILS This 3-day expedition can be guided or self-guided and will see you cruising down the Waiau River into Lake Manapouri, exploring stunning islands, isthmuses and white sandy beaches as you go. Rob was wearing rain gear and a PFD. I capsized in Iceland. I strongly recommend the Trinity River venue for a true wilderness experience combined with the learning. You can now take guided packrafting trips in Wind River Country. The analogy that comes to mind is going back to using cloths line to "protect" climbing routes becaues of it's handling characteristics while in your pack. This is the first packraft fatality on record, and predates the modern era of packrafts designed for downriver travel, circa 2000. 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 . Hi Jay, yeah, a $50 PFD and $600 drysuit might have saved three of these lives. The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. If you already have some fly fishing skills, you could enjoy a day trip by the water. I like my TorsoLite-under-a-rain-jacket the most, until I can find (or make) something better than the Stearns model. No other details are available at this point. Duration 14 Days Level . The Valdez search and rescue team responded to an inReach alert regarding a missing packrafter. A man was found submerged under a packraft, trapped in an undercut rock, mid-river. The first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards. From Beaver Park down to the lakes is an enjoyable Class II float with a couple small drops and some wood. I need survival and misc gear in my PFD firestarting kit, knife, whistle, camera, and a snack. Rescuers found his packraft in a log jam. Thanks to the drysuit and thermal layer, my core was 100% normal the whole time. Hoping to find something under the 2 pound mark.. Ryan mentioned a 14 oz pfd here, but never said what brand it was. He had a perimeter line in addition to bow and stern painters. But its only a matter of time. Ran it in August, 2014 at about 850 cfs in beautiful weather. All told, the range has more than 30 peaks higher than 13,000 feet and over 130 glaciers dispersed across three-quarters of a million acres of public land. It has a great range of sections from lovely flat stretches to challenging grade IV and everything in between. But that just wasnt going to cut it for me this time. #3 boat was lost when it was released to pull Marty from the water. Dave is a superb guide. In the summer of 2015 a German paddler disappeared in the Sndre Strmfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. They are known for their affordable entry-level produtcs with a solid quality.They offer inflatable kayak for a pretty long time and extended the product range to packrafts recently as well. The trip can also be combined with the Arrigetch Peaks Backpacking Trip.. Departs from Fairbanks, AK. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody . From the Elkhart Park trailhead, the trail passes several alpine lakes before you reach its crown jewel: Titcomb Basin, surrounded by the amazing Cirque of the Towers. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. With a packraft or IK, people boat this river down to 120 CFS, which opens up the season to fall through spring. Winner Creek to 20 Mile Packraft. Martin Rinke (63), an experienced boater, fell out of his boat in the Lions Head section of Matanuska River. Nahuel Huapi took them by surprise with violent waves, hit their boats and threw them into the water. A second boater was able to recover her boat, presumably re-enter, and paddle to shore. This was home water for him. All boats were Alpacka Llamas. There's the Caribou, Forager, Gnarwhal, Wolverine, Scout and Explorer 42, as well as the Classic Series. One-meter waves were reported on shore after the incident. If the paddle leash is strong enough to hold a pinned boat or paddler in mild current, it is a potential killer. Nothing better connects you to this place and its waterways. Self-bailing and full spraydeck and skirt models, and attachments like thigh braces will keep you connected to the packraft, and smiling the whole time. 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. Google Earth, GaiaGPS, topo maps and more. 52. r/WildernessBackpacking. 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. Find Bens essays, trip reports, gear reviews, paintings, songs, and other work at benkilbourne.com. Peter was paddling alone, in an Alpacka Raft Scout, which is not intended for use in whitewater. 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. Grant Gunderson | September 24, 2014. 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". High peaks flank the valley on three sides. I had been to the Cirque of the Towers area as a Boy Scout, somehow singeing my hair with white gas, leaving plenty of trace by rolling rocks down scree slopes, and then managing to get lost on my way back to the car. He had no drysuit so if he had gone for a swim it couldve ended very poorly. You must log in or register to reply here. Packrafting is a unique sportyou carry your inflatable boat on your back to access the water. I was more used to Appalachian rivers, which tend to have big rapids separated by flatwater pools. You can see some photos from a trip I did with my wife, Amy, last summer at http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=54904743/a=25662137_25662137/t_=25662137. In Alaska, I urge people to consider the cost of the drysuit as part of the packraft purchase price. Like the fiber from the tropical tree? April 18-23, 2021, Wind River Range (beginning of Sept 2021), Upper Toklat River (Denali NP) - mid-August 2018, Republic Pass Trail North Absaroka into Yellowstone Cache Creek and Lamar River, trip report: Wind River Range Ross Lakes, Bear Basin, Grasshopper Glacier, & Dinwoody Creek loop, Aug-Sep 2020, Yellowstone advice: Lamar River - Pelican Valley - Mirror Plateau loop this summer. Additional details from a Washington Post article mention that Peter had limited experience rafting in cold water and was not wearing a PFD. My objective in posting was to gain some clarity about what you're doing, how, and under what circumstances / constraints. Hiked in ~12miles on the Highline trail from the Green River Lakes trailhead to Beaver Park on Friday, set up camp, ran ~3miles of the river to the one class III drop to get a feel for the river. The major difference is the inability of the packrafts to edge as aggressively. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. Step 3: Picking a Paddle A few companies make packraft-specific paddles, like the Werner Pack-Tour M and Alpacka's Ninja. The group had committed to portaging all of the gorges, but Stephen re-assessed and decided to run the first gorge, alone. Saw another packraft on the lower lake with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the Green R. too. It gets worn around the front of the chest, it's not long enough to go around your back. 531. I appreciated the time he spent teaching me to read the map, which is not easy without trails. A Frenchman was reported overdue around the northern end of Lake Rotorua. I took one swim in it (so far) and stayed totally dry and warm. $7,800 Beginning high in the tundra, the Wind River flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and finally through the boreal forests of northern Alaska. The allowance of packrafting on a backcountry permit has taken over a decade of rapport building with the Park Service led by leaders from the APA community to get RABT allowed. The golden trout are as beautiful and elusive as their name suggests. See full equipment list. . https://www.terracestandard.com/news/search-called-off-for-nass-river-kayaker/https://www.haidagwaiiobserver.com/news/belgian-man-linked-as-possible-missing-kayaker-in-nass-river/. Packrafting is a unique sportyou carry your inflatable boat on your back to access the water. 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. One article suggests that he was missing for days, but I suspect this is just a google translate issue. Depending on circumstances, we can sometimes provide a shuttle service if necessary for nearby options. When it comes to Wind River Range backpacking routes, there are a few premier trails to choose from, each varying in length, difficulty and terrain. Enjoyed tour trip report and video! With 130 glaciers, 1,300 alpine lakes, and 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, it's no wonder the Winds have made their place on thousands of backpacker's bucket lists. Nova Alaska Guides extricated Marty and boater #3. I am very interested in cruising mild river conditions during an extended backpacking trek at some point in the future. There is not much information about this fatality yet. He camped on the northern shore of the Thingvallavatn lake the evening before he went missing. packrafting wind river range Wyoming By Ben Kilbourne Ben Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the womb. Wind River Canyon Whitewater and Fly Fishing. A calm and quiet river, perfectly suited for a trip with the whole family. Great detail that it works with the shorter torsolight and that it's actually better to avoid a full body wrapyou're going for a taco rather than burrito :~). 7/3-7/5, Horse Ridge to Mount Febbas (Wind River Range) - July 2021, Lamar River, Pelican Valley, & Speciman Ridge loop - Yellowstone, Jun 29 to Jul 3, 2021, Grand Canyon NP Backpack Pt. Many rivers, some close to Wiseman, offer a variety of skill-level for packrafters. Thanks to packrafts, you can combine a world-class Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a jaunt down the river. 51 cumecs on Saturday, 40 on Sunday. More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore. It's hard to imagine a trip that's as action-packed and scenic as packrafting the Escalante River in Utah. As always, thank you for doing this. Find more at kathrynmontana.com and @kathrynmontana. We camped next to the car and woke to find snow blowing horizontally. Topographically, Broad Pass is a fascinating area. Ever had the shell balloon while swimming if so what happened? Who knows it could be helpful context for someone reading this to shape their own decisions. Stephen and two partners were on a three-day packrafting excursion. It was running close to 1800 cfs (http://waterdata.usgs.gov/nwis/uv?site_no=09188500 ), mostly class II, with ~6 mandatory portages around wood, not too pushy, very scenic. The Wind River Range mountains are very different from peaks in Colorado. Then take your fishing gear, license, a basket of sandwiches and beverages and sunglasses, and head to Wind River Countrys pristine fishing spots. If you get hot, jump in the river for a cool down. For ocean kayaking I use the Sabre, and I also need pockets, they are stuffed with signal/commo devices. Aidan Don (22) and a friend were dropped off by airplane at Nizina Lake, intending to float the Nizina back down to McCarthy. You will be warm, confident, and paddle more aggressively because you are not afraid to be in the water. Great work, and another post worth saving. Some rugged country thru there. The Bull River is a delightful paddle in the foothills of the Alaska Range. I dont know if that will come back around, but maybe worth watching their site. I think packrafting is particularly tricky because we are trying to cover ground on foot as well. August 17, 2015 Backpacking Trips, Featured Trip Reports, Trip Reports. With over 600 lakes and reservoirs, and 2,000 miles of river, visitors to Wind River Country have plenty of opportunity to explore the Rocky Mountain West via its waterways. Make sure you have your biggest net ready to go. And yup there are some big creeks flowing from those hills. Much more comfortable than I was expecting. Do you find yourself clamping your arms to your sides to hold it in place, or does wearing it under a shell suffice? Based on his YouTube channel, hidasurf might only have had three months experience, liked running steep creeks at shallow water (Class II-III), and was often or always paddling alone. And theres something for everyone: whether youre looking for a mild day relaxing by the water, or a wild multi-day adventure, weve got something for you. Scott A packraft paddles much more like a river boat than a canoe, raft, or a touring kayak. Native to the Sierra Nevada, California allowed their exportation for a brief time, and Wyoming stocked a handful of lakes in the Wind River Range. A guidebook describes the area above and below this section as Class V. Neither Class V section is scoutable from the road. 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. 2 packrafts and 2 paddles were lost, one paddle and 1 packraft remained. I believe Forrest quotes the minimum at about 300. First-world problems, I know. I wonder if we should compile a few near miss case studies too. I'm packrafting the 117-mile-long Tay, Scotland's longest and most powerful river, from source to sea, and this kind of excitement is par for the course. I could head into the Uintas again and meander between familiar pines and emerge at familiar lakes in familiar bowls where moundy rock lifts up on all sides. The crux of the route was finding the trail to Granite Lake. The next day, his empty raft and backpack were found on the southern shore, about 12km away. 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. Obviously this river is not suitable for our 16 footer, though! TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! Once at the lake we followed game trails through the open areas on the left/ north side of the lake to a prominent shelf then traversed right to the large gully descending from the saddle, linked rock ribbons on the left side of the gully to the saddle staying mostly off the snow, some cairns. The group was evacuated three days later by helicopter. The lyrics seem more real after seeing that video of you bombing through the reeds. Thanks to Shimon Saito for collecting and sharing this information. It's a backpackers' playground. Youll live with the sun and relish in the outstanding combination of mellow current pulling your boat along and the excitement of stretches of rapids. The team had helmets, but not drysuits. Our water! I can give a personal account of the Lions Head/Rinke incident. 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. Can you swim strongly and with confidence to affect a self-rescue? The total distance for his route was about 120 miles. We found his foot tracks in a gravel bar where we believe he had pulled in and looked downriver, Tim said. Continuing to encourage drysuit use in the packrafting community is important. Check out Lander-based Wyoming Rivers Cooperative for details (they also offer incredible rafting trips). More info The Hollyford-Pyke Expedition Beginner / Intermediate Courses Instruction. Marty had extensive wilderness experiences throughout his lifetime. Mine uses 5/8" nylon straps with side release buckles attached to 1/2" miniature grommets in the pad's RF welded rim. One specific question I came across only one blip about fishing on the river above Green River lakes, saying that there were no fish due to the glacial sediment. 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. 09-09-2016, 08:05 #7. Regarding price it's the perfect packraft for beginners but . The paddlers were two weeks into a bikepacking trip. They have seven options for rafts, plus a range of accessories and spare parts. We are lucky enough to be located 10 minutes walk from the diverse Murrumbidgee river. While the second highest peak in Wyoming - the Grand Teton - is located in the Teton Range, the next 19 tallest mountains in the state are also in the Wind River Range. It appears to have been windy on the day of the accident. 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 Packraft ForumFairbanks Daily News Miner, page 1 and 6. 5.0. Backpacking in one of the lesser-known areas of the CO Rocky Mountains. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody, have wonderful floatable sections. 7. Climbed Squaretop the next day via the 3rd/4th class scramble from Granite Lake. Ran this section another time then drove home. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. He checked in with his PLB the evening before the last sign of life. 3 miles of this was really fun class II+ starting just before Moose Creek Rd junction. ", "I am just finishing my tenth trip with you guys. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. I dont recommend trimming the neck gasket as you can easily ruin it stretch it over a form and check it regularly so you dont over stretch it. For sometime going here to the Verde and the Mazatzal in the winter to hike and wander for abit has been big on my list. 2022 Dates July 17-21 (1 space left) Bjrns empty raft and pack were found on the southern shore of the lake, ~12 km away from where he camped the night before (northern shore). Again with the :~). I tried to synthesize a decision matrix, if interested, you can find it on the Alpacka Raft blog (https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/should-it-stay-or-should-it-go/).

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