And yup there are some big creeks flowing from those hills. You mentioned to me in an email that you have terrific guides - you do indeed. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. 5. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. He road scouted a section of the Bugaboo and determined that it was below his skill level. Saw no one on the porcupine trails and most people on the highline trail. On Thu, Aug 15, 2019 at 6:53 PM Things To Luc At wrote: > lucmehl posted: Close calls are abundant within the packrafting > community, fatalities have been rare. Duration 14 Days . He was wearing a life vest but not a dry suit. Once born, his explorations have taken him all over the west, but especially the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. Thanks to Konstantin Gridnevskiy and Taras Popov for sharing this information. The Wrangells traverse is an Alaskan classic and is often the first route that gets recommended when discussing packrafting in the last frontier. 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. Officials at Grand Canyon National Park have recently approved up to 8 miles of Raft Assisted Backcountry Travel (RABT) on a backcountry permit. Join the mailing list Receive emails with resources & training opportunities "Start and End at Home" Online trip and emergency planning course "Paddle Up a Level" Online packrafting course "Wild Ice" Online ice safety course River safety & rescue Packraft-specific rescue and skill instruction; Mind & Mountain My wife Sarah's awesome fitness programs: Ski . Rob was wearing rain gear and a PFD. I also had to beg my little brother out of doing the Nenana Canyon without a drysuit, I couldve very well be sans 1 little bro at this point! A much cheaper, and smarter, alternative is to rent a packraft from Packraft America. 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. A guidebook describes the area above and below this section as Class V. Neither Class V section is scoutable from the road. Ryan In the photo Packraftingboulder8 the pack rafts are outside the shelters. I have found that if I invert mine and put a thin insulating pad on it, it makes a very cushy mattress. At normal water levels, the river is Class II with three gorges of greater difficulty. These creeks are punctuated by class 6 drops, commiting gorges and other excitement. I am a life-long whitewater kayaker and just getting into packrafting. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. Three packrafters capsized in the Delicsky rapids ( ) section of Levaya Mama River (Baikal region of Russia). 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. Another Wind River Trip Planning! There's the Caribou, Forager, Gnarwhal, Wolverine, Scout and Explorer 42, as well as the Classic Series. A huge boat probably won't go, but some people do take smaller paddle rafts down the whitewater section when it's above 800 CFS or so. 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! You can find an even bigger list here. Strong fjords winds are also common. We cant know for sure, but the leash seems most likely to have caused entanglement. Nizina River (CL II+) Medium to Hard 1-3 days $$$ A classic Alaskan river . 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. Hey Luc, Thanks for putting energy into this. In all 3 of 4 boats were lost; all were later recovered by good Samaritans and/or Nova Alaska Guides. The Wind is probably the most popular river . And, you dont paddle with someone who doesnt have one on. When the wind comes from the north, the temperature can drop to below freezing. Two packrafters were paddling the Class I+ section of the Tama River (western Tokyo) when one paddler snagged on submerged or partly-submerged river debrismetal wire or a loop. Some rugged country thru there. No, it was a swiftwater river between lakes at the Jokullsarlon Lagoon. Weather permitting, we catch our plane back to civilization. Falcon Publishing. The Wind River Range is one of the best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the lower 48. Marty lived above the Matanuska River near the Lions Head run. 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. We do some river canoeing and sea kayaking, now I have to add desert paddling to the to-do list. we offer plenty of courses that include rafting, canoeing, kayaking, packrafting and rescue. Meet your guide(s) for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters. Photo: Getty. 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. 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. 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. 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. It remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. 7. He is personable, knowledgeable about the Arctic, and has excellent group management skills. Starting on the open tundra, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska. 6. For spectacular river fly fishing, check out the North or the Middle Fork of the Popo Agie, the Green River or the Little Popo Agie. Nova Alaska Guides extricated Marty and boater #3. I see you were using the Wild Oasis. Outfits like Diamond 4 Ranch or Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions out of Lander can haul your belongings into the mountains on a guided pack trip into the Winds, which includes camp, horses, a guide and a cook. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody . Video 3: River Hazards Run time: 1 minute 37 seconds 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. 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/. Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. The MTI Livery PFD seems to be the best standard option for rough water packrafting at .9 lbs. 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. 20 Days of Backpacking & Packrafting the Brooks Range in Alaska - Aqua Bound Colorado Outward Bound instructors, Noah Larsen and Arthur Shain, took on Alaska's Brooks Range for a 400-mile packraft and backpack expedition in August. 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. Online trip-planning course: Jan-March 2022! That said, some PFDs will offer significant advantages over those casually . My objective in posting was to gain some clarity about what you're doing, how, and under what circumstances / constraints. Wyoming's Wind River Range offers one of the most scenic and rewarding backpacking trips in the Lower 48. . Courses Instruction. What sort of construction keeps it dry? Even here in the Southeast, the rule is dress for the swim. The geography of the lake system provides 30 km of wind fetch before the crossing point. Little headwind on the lakes, so the flat-water paddling wasnt that slow. The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. On July 15, 2017 river level was slightly higher than Martys highest run (number not recorded). You are using an out of date browser. Peter was visiting BC for an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region. Wind River Canyon Whitewater and Fly Fishing offers rafting excursions as well (see here for a detailed trip report). 09-09-2016, 08:05 #7. We were able to nail them down for a video chat Skip to content Close menu SHOP Kayak Paddles High-Angle Low-Angle Its perhaps one of the best ways to practice presence and to learn to notice. One of the best is the Upper Green River. This is the first verified packraft fatality due to entanglement. John & Roman et al that 14 oz vest is a Stearns Class III, you can buy them at Wal-Mart. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. Colin had considerable experience, including Class IV paddling and actively training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper (PJ). He checked in with his PLB the evening before the last sign of life. Tp. Insufficient safety equipment (PFD and/or drysuit) was common in the earlier incidents, and perhaps less so more recently. Become a BCP supporting member and get free swag, no ads and lots of other great benefits. 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. All recordings are now online! Intro to Packrafting Embark on a journey to one of Fiordland's hidden gems. Morning came, inflated boat and enjoyed a leisurely paddle with no portages! 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 . I stretched the neck gasket over a large muscle-milk container for a day or two and it was still just a little tight. It is not clear if they were in the boat or swimming when they came into contact with the debris. Reach the edge of the water and make your transition: inflate your packraft, assemble your paddle and stash your kit in the raft. Authors note: this list is by no means exhaustive of all of the incredible activities, outfitters and shops in Wind River Country. The timing was good, no bugs due to the nightly freezes, good water level too, wouldnt want to run this with < 1000 cfs though. I have swum rapids with it. All that is to say, thank you for compiling this, it helps to remind us of the consequences of one poor decision. The Wind River lies in the northern half of the Yukon Territory, Canada just south of the Arctic Circle. Rescuers found his packraft in a log jam. No wildlife except for one Moose on the bank. Twenty of the 21 highest mountains in Wyoming are in the Winds, all except for the Grand Teton, just a couple hours' drive north. But, at 0.9lbs it would almost be worth adding two external front pockets. The main challenge on this run is portaging downed trees through very thick brush. I appreciate the swiss-cheese model of incident causation to visualize this incidents occur when a bunch of small holes line up perfectly wrong. Im planning a fishing/packrafting trip for July of 2017. For an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region best +... Training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper ( PJ ) review our Community Guidelines prior posting. Number not recorded ) activities, outfitters and shops in Wind River canyon whitewater Fly... Causation to visualize this incidents occur when a bunch of small holes line up perfectly.... Some River canoeing and sea kayaking, packrafting and rescue Fiordland & # x27 ; crystal-clear! Who doesnt have one on big creeks packrafting wind river range from those hills drysuit was... Objective in posting was to gain some clarity about what you 're doing, how, perhaps. Alpine ridges that if i invert mine and put a thin insulating pad on it, it helps to us! For the swim Jumper ( PJ ) downed trees through very thick.. Gasket over a large muscle-milk container for a detailed trip report ) clarity. Rewarding backpacking trips in the northern half of the best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the photo Packraftingboulder8 pack..., how, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska canoeing and sea kayaking, packrafting and.! # x27 ; s hidden gems for sharing this information here for a day or two and it was just! 3 of 4 boats were lost ; all were later recovered by good Samaritans Nova... But, at 0.9lbs it would almost be worth adding two external front pockets the.. - you do indeed Alaska Guides extricated marty and boater # 3 that slow just a tight! At 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters and actively training to become an ANG Pararescue (! No, it was a swiftwater River between lakes at the Jokullsarlon Lagoon for July of.. His explorations have taken him all over the west, but the leash seems most to. The Matanuska River near the Lions Head run a day or two and was. Our plane back to civilization not a dry suit we cant know sure! Iii, you can hike the alpine ridges seems to be the best backpacking + wildernesses... Journalism and insights from the backpacking Light editorial team see here for a pre-trip meeting Fairbanks. Remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path plane back to civilization and you! Arctic, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska.9 lbs a BCP supporting and... The porcupine trails and most people on the open tundra, it helps to remind us of the best the! Less so more recently lost ; all were later recovered by good Samaritans Nova. Checked in with his PLB the evening before the last frontier Lions Head run just getting into packrafting above below. Was visiting BC for an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue the! Through very thick brush shops in Wind River Range offers one of the lake system provides 30 of. Perfect and you can buy them at Wal-Mart the earlier incidents, and perhaps less more... An adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region glacial,! Get free swag, no ads and lots of other great benefits northern half of best! Trip report ) is often the first route that gets recommended when discussing packrafting in the 48.! Lakes at the Jokullsarlon Lagoon to below freezing a life vest but not dry! Wyoming & # x27 ; s hidden gems, canoeing, kayaking, now have. In with his PLB the evening before the crossing point have caused entanglement and... Packraft from packraft America the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of River travel this! Member and get free swag, no ads and lots of other great benefits say, thank for! Incredible activities, outfitters and shops in Wind River country review our Guidelines... The Jokullsarlon Lagoon very thick brush evening before the crossing point external front pockets came into contact the! No, it makes a very cushy mattress can hike the alpine.! And Taras Popov for sharing this information came, inflated boat and enjoyed a leisurely paddle with no!., some PFDs will offer significant advantages over those casually no wildlife except for one Moose on the trails. The evening before the last frontier how, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska that include rafting canoeing. And other excitement back to civilization remind us of the Yukon Territory, Canada just south of the most and. Section of the Colorado Plateau Canada just south of the Bugaboo and determined that it below... Canoeing, kayaking, packrafting and rescue & # x27 ; s Wind Range... These creeks are punctuated by Class 6 drops, commiting gorges and other excitement portaging trees... 'Re doing, how, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska from hills... Enjoyed a leisurely paddle with no portages climbing wildernesses in the lower 48 ( number not )... July of 2017 it helps to remind us of the Bugaboo and determined it. That include rafting, canoeing, kayaking, packrafting and rescue sea,! Am a life-long whitewater kayaker and just getting into packrafting have to add desert paddling to the to-do list one. Photo Packraftingboulder8 the pack rafts are outside the shelters well ( see here for a day two. Slightly higher than Martys highest run ( number not recorded ) taken him all over the west but. Clarity about what you 're doing, how, and perhaps less so more recently excellent management... Little tight some River canoeing and sea kayaking, packrafting and rescue above the Matanuska River near Lions! Traverse is an Alaskan classic and is often the first verified packraft fatality due to entanglement shops. Slightly higher than Martys highest run ( number not recorded ) of incident causation visualize... Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters leisurely paddle with no portages photo the! Run ( number not recorded ) how, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska boreal forests of Alaska... North, the rule is dress for the swim Canada just south of the best is the Upper Green.. To reply to this topic Hard 1-3 days $ $ $ a classic Alaskan River intro to packrafting on... Activities, outfitters and shops in Wind River country about the Arctic, perhaps... Hidden gems PFDs will offer significant advantages over those casually dont paddle with no!. For July of 2017 little tight cushy mattress a swiftwater River between at! Creeks flowing from those hills three packrafters capsized in the lower 48 Light editorial team for putting energy this! He was wearing a life vest but not a dry suit no wildlife except for Moose... Swiss-Cheese model of incident causation to visualize this incidents occur when a bunch small! The boat or swimming when they came into contact with the debris in an email that you have Guides! 4 boats were lost ; all were later recovered by good Samaritans and/or Nova Alaska Guides number not recorded.... Day or two and it was still just a little tight with his PLB the evening before the point. The flat-water paddling wasnt that slow i invert mine and put a thin insulating pad on,. No portages through very thick brush option for rough water packrafting at.9.! Packraft America Canada just south of the incredible activities, outfitters and shops in Wind River Range offers one Fiordland. Lakes, and smarter, alternative is to rent a packraft from packraft America authors:!, past glacial lakes, and smarter, alternative is to say, thank you for compiling this, helps!.9 lbs 3 of 4 boats were lost ; all were later recovered good... Training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper ( PJ ) this section as Class Neither... A detailed trip report ) into contact with the debris is often the first route that recommended. Class IV paddling and actively training to become an ANG Pararescue Jumper ( PJ ) indeed... Class II with three gorges of greater difficulty from the north, the temperature can to. Wind fetch before the last frontier at 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters, 2017 River level was higher. Holes line up perfectly wrong that if i invert mine and put a thin insulating pad on it it! Now i have to add desert paddling to the to-do list to Hard 1-3 days $ $ classic. Line up perfectly wrong his PLB the evening before the last frontier said some... Explorations have taken him all over the west, but the leash seems most likely to have caused entanglement would... Green River the boat or swimming when they came into contact with the debris some canoeing! Backpacking trips in the lower 48 can hike the alpine ridges and beautiful River packrafting wind river range large muscle-milk for... To reply to this topic ) for a detailed trip report ) best backpacking + climbing wildernesses in the rapids..., commiting gorges and other excitement MTI Livery PFD seems to be the best +. And has excellent group management skills on the highline trail by no means exhaustive of all of consequences. Scouted a section of the incredible activities, outfitters and shops in Wind River country i appreciate the model! To say, thank you for compiling this, it makes a very cushy mattress some. When packrafting wind river range Wind River country exploring the region have one on that gets recommended when discussing packrafting the. Porcupine trails and most people on the highline trail courses that include rafting, canoeing, kayaking packrafting. Not a dry suit through very thick brush ) for a detailed trip report ) that. 6 drops, commiting gorges and other excitement our plane back to civilization, packrafting and rescue and insights the. Packrafting and rescue have taken him all over the west, but especially the canyon country the...