Refine your skills before committing to a day of it. The body of P.K. Routes. This is the first packraft fatality on record, and predates the modern era of packrafts designed for downriver travel, circa 2000. Hanmer to Put-in - 30km (allow 45 minutes by car) Clarence to Hanmer - 234 km. Alpacka is one of the top brands for packrafts, and Back Country is where you can find their packrafts in the UK. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. Check out Lander-based Wyoming Rivers Cooperative for details (they also offer incredible rafting trips). I'm wanting a real whitewater PFD. What sort of construction keeps it dry? Some may question whether it was worth lugging a 6lb boat, ~2lb paddle, ~1lb life jacket in addition to my backpacking gear up 3,000 feet of rugged mountains to 11,000 feet to float out the green river for half a day, but I believe it was. Depending on circumstances, we can sometimes provide a shuttle service if necessary for nearby options. You base camp on the river and paddle a different section each day. A Membership is required to post in the forums. He had a perimeter line in addition to bow and stern painters. Outdoor Play had a great price for a short period. I would guess that the upper lake would also fish well. Virginia resident Peter Jolles, 46, was reported overdue at a Bugaboo Creek takeout, British Columbia, and has not yet been located. 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 About 2 minutes into this run he went over a hole and flipped. This, combined with wearing it under a shell, keeps it in place quite well. He was dropped off by an air taxi at Glacier Creek and planned to hike the Chitistone Canyon, climb over Skolai Pass, cross the Russell Glacier, then float down the White River in a small pack raft. Rob was wearing rain gear and a PFD. Thats when I realized that we had failed to discuss recovery plans. From Mild to Wild, Exploring Wind River Countrys Waterways. Meet your guide(s) for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters. 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. Weather permitting, we catch our plane back to civilization. All boaters had dry suits, helmets and PFDs. Romain Qunhen, a Belgian on a roadtrip from BC to Alaska, went missing on the Nass River, BC, Romains packraft and backpack were recovered. packrafting wind river range Wyoming By Ben Kilbourne Ben Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the womb. 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. The Wind River Range exists in a NW to SE layout and consumes around 100 miles in terms of length, and consuming an area of 2.25 MILLION acres! So, I usually, for small creeks and calm water, use a TorsoLite pad wrapped around my chest under my shell. In the absence of a real freeze-up before your trip, I imagine it will be fine but there may be a few cobble bars youll have to walk or scoot through. This was home water for him. Whoever you choose to go with, extended time in the mountains fishing is a must. Some rugged country thru there. This range also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the American Rocky Mountains. A two car shuttle for a party of 4-5 can involve 938 km for one vehicle. 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. Online trip and emergency planning course, My wife Sarahs awesome fitness programs: Ski Babes and Summer Strong. Nothing better connects you to this place and its waterways. 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. Intro to Packrafting Embark on a journey to one of Fiordland's hidden gems. Im planning a fishing/packrafting trip for July of 2017. Elkhart/Titcomb/Knapsack/Shannons Pass loop back to Elkhart, or continue to Green River Lakes Trailhead? I appreciated the time he spent teaching me to read the map, which is not easy without trails. Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. Satellite imagery shows large rapids just out of sight from his probable put in. WRHR - Day 7: Beaver Park to Green River Lakes, Big South Fork National River & Recreation Area Packraft/Backpack Loop (TN), Red River Gorge/Red Byrd Arch Packraft Trip - Kentucky, Gila River - Gila Wilderness, New Mexico - April 18, 2022, Application Period Open For 2023 Private River Trips Through Grand Canyon National Park, Northern Wind River Traverse - September 2021, North Pitchstone Trail, Headwaters of Ouzel Creek, Bechler River and Mr. A 100-mile long strip of stunning, jagged mountains extending southeast of Yellowstone National Park through Wyoming, "The Winds" are a backpacking and trekking paradise. 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? Thank you for posting the pictures on your blog. #3 boat was lost when it was released to pull Marty from the water. 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. What is the best way to do that? Insufficient safety equipment (PFD and/or drysuit) was common in the earlier incidents, and perhaps less so more recently. I believe Forrest quotes the minimum at about 300. Wind River Range. Summary is it was fantastic and my favorite packaraft adventure of 2016 for sure. 52. r/WildernessBackpacking. One of the most sought after activities in the Wyoming water is fishing, and its an incredible way to experience the landscape. In Alaska, I urge people to consider the cost of the drysuit as part of the packraft purchase price. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. Check Price at Amazon. The Wind River Range is one of America's great wilderness areas! I am not aware of any publication that teaches the basics of packrafting but, there are many that teach river kayaking. The vastness of the wilderness virtually demanded that I go see it. Consider it an insulation layer in camp a very bulky vest and pillow. What follows is a general flow of events. I am a life-long whitewater kayaker and just getting into packrafting. The first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards. Duration 14 Days Level . 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. Hoping to find something under the 2 pound mark.. Ryan mentioned a 14 oz pfd here, but never said what brand it was. Im looking forward to not updating this page. No, it was a swiftwater river between lakes at the Jokullsarlon Lagoon. During the passage of the rapid, all our three boats were overturned, two of us managed to reach the right bank. Can we expect a review? . Scott - A packraft paddles much more like a river boat than a canoe, raft, or a touring kayak. Did you leave them there overnight? Life on the river is sensational. Login or become a member to post in the member forums! 09-09-2016, 08:05 #7. Wind could hold you up in a packraft at times. The other activities are endless: at Boysen, you will relish in the scenic and comfortable camping set ups, volleyball courts and picnic areas. Another fatality I know of: in summer 2015 a German paddler disappaered in the Sondre Stromfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/15/index.html. The team had helmets, but not drysuits. I am not sure this post will gain the attention of those needed to input, but can anyone suggest a starting point for packrafting? He had a paddle leash attached to his spray skirt pull loop. Unrestricted access to all 2,300+ articles, gear reviews, skills, stories, and more. If you like big stands of dense trees, you could do better. Can you swim strongly and with confidence to affect a self-rescue? Nope. The Continental Divide follows the crest of the range and includes Gannett Peak, which at 13,802 ft (4,207 m), is the highest peak in Wyoming; and also Fremont Peak at 13,750 ft (4,191 m), the third . 1. One article suggests that he was missing for days, but I suspect this is just a google translate issue. Thanks to the drysuit and thermal layer, my core was 100% normal the whole time. Video 3: River Hazards Run time: 1 minute 37 seconds View Profile View Forum Posts . It is not uncommon to have eagles above you and salmon or steelhead below you in the crystal clear water. A Premium or Unlimited Membership* is required to view the rest of this article. 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. You can now take guided packrafting trips in Wind River Country. Most parties use either gullible friends or commercial shuttles. The major difference is the inability of the packrafts to edge as aggressively. We parked at Summit Lake, north of Paxson, where satellite imagery revealed an ATV trail that would bring us above the brush. It has a scenic and brushless hike in, fun Class II to III whitewater, and sweeping views of the Alaska Range and Talkeetnas. Additional details from a Washington Post article mention that Peter had limited experience rafting in cold water and was not wearing a PFD. An alpine valley at over 10,500 feet deep in the Wind River Range, Titcomb Basin lies below peaks on the Continental Divide that soar 3,000 feet above the Titcomb Lakes, the highest of which is 13,745-foot Fremont Peak. These creeks are punctuated by class 6 drops, commiting gorges and other excitement. 18.4 mi / 2280 ft gain. All recordings are now online! Or you can rent a canoe or kayak at Louis Lake Lodge and have a fun overnight stay. But I had to go. My only gripe with the MTI Livery is lack of pockets. The combination of a free-flowing, undammed waterway, whitewater that is fun and challenging but (with one exception) in the easy Class III range, and a huge trail network adjacent to and along the river should be like catnip for packrafters, but there's a surprising paucity of information. Cosmic Ashtray via Wolverine/Little Death Hollow & Escalante River? Thanks to packrafts, you can combine a world-class Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a jaunt down the river. And yup there are some big creeks flowing from those hills. The trip can also be combined with the Arrigetch Peaks Backpacking Trip.. Departs from Fairbanks, AK. This is only .06 lbs heavier than the SOS Scout inflatable suspenders before any modifications to lighten them. A wonderful adventure and I would like to return next year for a longer, more challenging trip. It remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. It's not an ideal solution, and I try to use it only in a pinch in Class 2 water. While these paddles impressively combine a lightweight and packable build with durability, a range of standard double-bladed kayak paddles can also get the job done. There was a rafting death on the Landsborough River recentlya really popular wilderness packrafting trip. If you own one, bring it along, and if you dont, you can buy one of your own at Murdochs in Riverton. Ran this section another time then drove home. Hey Luc, Thanks for putting energy into this. 08/19/21 we all successfully passed the Straight Rapid on the Levaya Mama River (category 3). A calm and quiet river, perfectly suited for a trip with the whole family. You can expect to learn about local fauna, see magical sights and catch some really big fish! Join us for fun paddling and wildlife watching in the Brooks Range this fall. Colin Buness (25) disappeared on a solo trip to the Katate, a tributary to the Stikine. Wrangell / St. Elias NPS Incident reportsWashington Post article. apparently flipped his small raft shortly after putting in and quickly encountered violent waves and hydraulics. Packrafts are known as very forgiving crafts. Backpacking Light helps hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts overcome their barriers to living a life outside in Wild Places. Authorities recovered a black and yellow inflatable kayak on the 25th, and the paddler one week later. I bought the Kokatat Swift Entry drysuit with relief zipper. They are a truly wild and rugged wilderness, protected by two National Forests and the Wind River Reservation. Sounds like a good decision! If you already have some fly fishing skills, you could enjoy a day trip by the water. Separation has been due to rapids, inexperience, or high winds. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. The Valdez search and rescue team responded to an inReach alert regarding a missing packrafter. Morning came, inflated boat and enjoyed a leisurely paddle with no portages! Anfibio is also making a really light, less that 2 pound, dry suit. Backcountry access Bettles, AK. You must log in or register to reply here. Is the Aug 24-25 class still a go? Below Smith Rock are some meaty . 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. Ryan, thanks that paints a picture of small, semi-technical, low volume streams. Officials at Grand Canyon National Park have recently approved up to 8 miles of Raft Assisted Backcountry Travel (RABT) on a backcountry permit. The common themes in these > accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, and insufficie >. So I guess it had been a while and a world ago since Id experienced that area. 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. He checked in with his PLB the evening before. Wind River Visitors Council 6hrs round trip. It is a harsh environment with very short summers, 24-hour daylight, strong winds, unrelenting terrain, grizzly bears, wolves, hazardous rivers, and no help for as far as you can imagine. 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. Damn brother. ", "I am just finishing my tenth trip with you guys. Wow, glad you put this together, thanks. $$$ We think the Wind River is the finest river trip on the south side of the Brooks Range. The total distance for his route was about 120 miles. 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 like my TorsoLite-under-a-rain-jacket the most, until I can find (or make) something better than the Stearns model. 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. Richard, we pulled into camp late and didn't want to inflate our rafts until morning, but yes, they are actually pretty comfy. The river, which holds more water than . To the degree possible, these incidents were used to inform the content of The Packraft Handbook. I considered the same old loops. I went to a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the L/XL PFDs they had on display. He has developed a rudimentary understanding of its geology, and an awareness of the subtle changes in flora and fauna due to soil, elevation, aspect, and precipitation and how these elemental things interact with both ancient and modern humans. Every boater, even those with backpacks, need some sort of PFD at some level of risk. The nature of the river at their put in was cold, silty, with large hydraulics, but technically Class II. - Yellowstone National Park - September 13, 2021, Grand Canyon Loop: Thunder River -> Tapeats -> Kanab -> Sowats. 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. Our water! Earthwalk Press: Hiking Map and Guide: Northern Wind River Range, WY. Check out Lander-based Wyoming Rivers Cooperative for details (they also offer incredible rafting trips). TRIP DETAILS He truly gave us the trip we wanted! Waters with > Class 3 or strainers etc. After contact by cell phone they walked out to Mat Glacier view area. From the toe of the glacier, the river leaves the lake and heads through a windy mini . We are positioned for easy access to many Wyoming Rivers and currently offer raft and packraft trips on the Popo Agie River, Wind River, Sweetwater River, and Green River. Pyotr Kirienko was unable to swim to shore. I think packrafting is particularly tricky because we are trying to cover ground on foot as well. Even the low point along this trip (Big Sandy Trailhead) is at 9,100 feet, so you'll be at high elevation for the duration of the trip. He also reportedly lost his prescription glasses in a river crossing.. Sunny and no wind! Experience Required: McCarthy Creek to Kennicott River (CLII+) Medium to Very Hard 6-12 hours $$ One nice hike, two amazing rivers! There has been some discussion about how they were able to rent boats without safety equipment. The Windriver Range offers some of the lower 48's wildest country. In this case it is likely that Peter didnt get to see the hardest rapids from the road, he was in a boat that wasnt designed for whitewater, the water was high, wood was likely in the river, and maybe the biggest hole: he was paddling alone. Wildland Trekking has a six-day rim-to-rim trip where you'll hike into the canyon. He is personable, knowledgeable about the Arctic, and has excellent group management skills. Kathryn Montana Perkinson is a writer living in Lander, Wyoming. All recordings are now online! Check Price at Amazon. 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. Three packrafters capsized in the Delicsky rapids ( ) section of Levaya Mama River (Baikal region of Russia). Close calls are abundant within the packrafting community, serious injuries and fatalities have been rare. I need survival and misc gear in my PFD firestarting kit, knife, whistle, camera, and a snack. 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/. I was appalled on a trip with outfitters in Alaska where we were told your raingear will be fine. Scott A packraft paddles much more like a river boat than a canoe, raft, or a touring kayak. It is likely that the rapids caught Romain off guard. I will soon own one of those Kokatats. Autumn on the Wind offers clear cold nights, aurora viewing, fall colors, and excellent hiking. Martys was custom extended approx. There's the Caribou, Forager, Gnarwhal, Wolverine, Scout and Explorer 42, as well as the Classic Series. 1 mo. And yup there are some big creeks flowing from those hills. In the summer of 2015 a German paddler disappeared in the Sndre Strmfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. First, the range is extremely remote.