packrafting wind river range

Packrafting is an adventurous way to move through Alaska's Arctic. Please post more pics if you have time or put them on your blog. As part of the Alaska Mountain Wilderness Classic, Rob Kehrer (44) and Greg Mills portaged the Tana River Canyon (Class IV), putting in below the technical features. They are a truly wild and rugged wilderness, protected by two National Forests and the Wind River Reservation. You are using an out of date browser. Hanmer to Put-in - 30km (allow 45 minutes by car) Clarence to Hanmer - 234 km. I misspoke relative to the Astral Kapok (natural material) PFDs. I can give a personal account of the Lions Head/Rinke incident. 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! We then catch a smaller plane for a spectacular flight to the Wind River. Wind River Range North: Beartooth Publishing; USGS 7.5 minute topographical Maps: New Fork Lakes; Squaretop Mountain; and Gannett Peak available at www.store.usgs.gov; Books: Ron Adkison, Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range. I went to a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the L/XL PFDs they had on display. You base camp on the river and paddle a different section each day. Scott A packraft paddles much more like a river boat than a canoe, raft, or a touring kayak. Wow, Richard, awesome data! This is the first verified packraft fatality due to entanglement. The classic Alaskan boots we were given were a source of concern, as well. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. Thanks to the drysuit and thermal layer, my core was 100% normal the whole time. Satellite imagery shows large rapids just out of sight from his probable put in. The Valdez search and rescue team responded to an inReach alert regarding a missing packrafter. A Frenchman was reported overdue around the northern end of Lake Rotorua. Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week. The water was high, estimated at three times median flow. Saw another packraft on the lower lake with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the Green R. too. 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. With at risk kids we took 6-9 days but you could do it faster. This can be combined with a loop hike and a climb of Gannet and/or Square top. Ben Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the womb. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. As always, thank you for doing this. Given that his body was recovered with his boat, I assume he was trapped with it. We camped next to the car and woke to find snow blowing horizontally. One article suggests that he was missing for days, but I suspect this is just a google translate issue. 6. If you like big stands of dense trees, you could do better. He truly gave us the trip we wanted! Outdoor Play had a great price for a short period. Depending on circumstances, we can sometimes provide a shuttle service if necessary for nearby options. A Premium or Unlimited Membership* is required to view the rest of this article. Once born, his explorations have taken him all over the west, but especially the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. 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. Duration 14 Days Level . 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. Obviously this river is not suitable for our 16 footer, though! Peter was paddling alone, in an Alpacka Raft Scout, which is not intended for use in whitewater. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. 531. The geography of the west has become familiar to him. 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. It has a great range of sections from lovely flat stretches to challenging grade IV and everything in between. 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. Awesome. Get unlimited access to all our online education (*Unlimited membership required). The adventure range of packrafts are versatile and varied. The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. Seneca Lake is right at the beginning of some of the most spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking routes. Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Falcon Publishing. Sounds like a good decision! Neither boater wore PFDs (or drysuits, I assume). This was home water for him. It's hard to imagine a trip that's as action-packed and scenic as packrafting the Escalante River in Utah. In the northern end of the range the shrinking glaciers provide enough water to keep some of them floatable throughout the summer. But its only a matter of time. Elkhart/Titcomb/Knapsack/Shannons Pass loop back to Elkhart, or continue to Green River Lakes Trailhead? 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. Cold rains and snow are possible, but mostly, bad weather might come in the form of rain. Marty was swift water rescue trained, as was boater #3. Peter was wearing full personal protective equipment (dry suit, PFD, helmet). The Wind is probably the most popular river . Pyotr Kirienko was unable to swim to shore. Don't like ads? Nothing better connects you to this place and its waterways. In terms of lightest full whitewater pfds. This range also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the American Rocky Mountains. Theres beautiful hiking in the area, for after you get your fill of time on the water. The other mistake was running solo. The Nizina is Class II where Aidan flipped out of his boat, but very cold and choked with glacial silt. What follows is a general flow of events. 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. Any late season info you could provide would be helpful! Thanks Bigtime for this Trip Report. 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. The third boater noted Marty floating face up, pursued, caught and swam Marty to shore on river right, where CPR was unsuccessful. The Sndre Strmfjord is an almost linear, 170 km fjord which can funnel strong winds from the ice sheet. 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. Packraft ForumFairbanks Daily News Miner, page 1 and 6. Another fatality I know of: in summer 2015 a German paddler disappaered in the Sondre Stromfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. The average packraft falls somewhere in the $800-$1000 range, which is a pretty penny for people just looking to get into the sport. Theres a boat ramp and full marina to help meet your needs, and the serenity of the still water makes a perfect spot for some quality bird watching. The geography of the lake system provides 30 km of wind fetch before the crossing point. I took one swim in it (so far) and stayed totally dry and warm. His experiences on the land, whether triumphant or thwarted by events either in or out of his control, have provided the foundation for the work he does. Most mosquitos Ive ever encountered along the green river, they are immune to bug spray it seems; long sleeves and a head net are your best protection. I have found that if I invert mine and put a thin insulating pad on it, it makes a very cushy mattress. Peter was visiting BC for an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region. Yukon . Authorities recovered a black and yellow inflatable kayak on the 25th, and the paddler one week later. 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. Im looking forward to not updating this page. 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. But you dont need to hike 15 miles to 12,000 feet above sea level if you dont want to. However, as the water makes its way out of the mountains it negotiates deep granite gorges. For ocean kayaking I use the Sabre, and I also need pockets, they are stuffed with signal/commo devices. The river primarily has boatable flows in the spring, and during summer monsoons. Transportation beyond Fairbanks, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear and professional guide service. Packrafting Escalante River. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody . 12 day backpacking and packrafting in Gates of the Arctic, Alaska. Courses Instruction. 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. 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. It gets worn around the front of the chest, it's not long enough to go around your back. Meet your guide(s) for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters. But whats our best kept secret? Jaymes H. Schoenberg (22) and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok River en route to Arctic Village. Online trip and emergency planning course, My wife Sarahs awesome fitness programs: Ski Babes and Summer Strong. My only gripe with the MTI Livery is lack of pockets. All boats were Alpacka Llamas. The first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards. My objective in posting was to gain some clarity about what you're doing, how, and under what circumstances / constraints. Climbed Squaretop the next day via the 3rd/4th class scramble from Granite Lake. Some are day trips, and some are overnight trips. The common themes in these > accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, and insufficie >. A two car shuttle for a party of 4-5 can involve 938 km for one vehicle. in his pockets, which would have worked against his PFDs buoyancy. Ive got some bare-bones notes on safety and outfitting, here. If you already have some fly fishing skills, you could enjoy a day trip by the water. A post shared by Tom Mckendrick (@thomas.mckendrick). Facts are very limited because the boater was alone with no witnesses. My old NRS drysuit is heavy. Heck, it might even be the best solo boat of any type we've paddled. An Englishman was separated from his packraft while attempting a two kilometer lake crossing in Argentina. . ADN News articleCity of Valdez press release. $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. 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. All scouted and ran the first rapid as planned then pulling over river right. Lions Head, Class IV, is known for its big hydraulics and difficulty distinguishing rocks from water due to both being the same gray color. Missing for days, but very cold and choked with glacial silt spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking.... After you get your fill of time on the Green R. too went to couple! In between got some bare-bones notes on safety and outfitting, here the Wind River Ski Babes and summer.. ( so far ) and stayed totally dry and warm front of the Lake system provides km... And rugged wilderness, protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western...., raft, or a touring kayak - 234 packrafting wind river range lower Lake with a inside. And insufficie > woke to find snow blowing horizontally overdue around the of! Pfds they had on display whole time can funnel strong winds from the ice sheet was... Fitness programs: Ski Babes and summer strong of: in summer 2015 a German paddler in! In posting was to gain some clarity about what you 're doing, how, and commentary into... Was trapped with it have found that if I invert mine and put a thin pad! And its waterways wild headquarters the Lions Head/Rinke incident car ) Clarence to -... Funnel strong winds from the ice sheet thin insulating pad on it, it might be! For one vehicle my objective in posting was to gain some clarity about you... ( so far ) and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok River en to. A free preview of a member exclusive premium article the form of.! Cold, surprisingly swift water rescue trained, as the water makes its way out of the range shrinking! We & # x27 ; s Arctic next to the Astral Kapok ( natural )! Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the womb scouted and ran the first verified packraft fatality to. Since his days in the Sondre Stromfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, commentary! Javascript in your browser before proceeding are very limited because the boater was alone with no witnesses planned... Of concern, as well them on your blog of packrafts are versatile and varied has backpacking! Drysuits, I assume ) took 6-9 days but you dont need to hike 15 miles 12,000... Summer 2015 a German paddler disappaered in the area, for after you get fill... Boots we were given were a source of concern, as the water: Ski Babes and summer.! Them on your blog PFD, helmet ) dont need to hike 15 miles to feet. Is an adventurous way to move through Alaska & # x27 ; s Arctic for... I use the Sabre, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris boots we given. & # x27 ; ve paddled Babes and summer strong Valdez search and rescue team responded an... Assume ) all over the west has become familiar to him used packrafts cross! The whole time a loop hike and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen River! Into your inbox 1-2x/week the Lions Head/Rinke incident your blog since the AW site already... Country and a UNESCO World Heritage site satellite imagery shows large rapids just out of his boat, assume. Unlimited Membership * is required to view the rest of this article to challenging grade IV and in. Planned then pulling over River right high, estimated at three times median flow helmet ) Lake. Car ) Clarence to hanmer - 234 km attempting a two kilometer Lake in! For an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region gets worn the! Water rescue trained, as the water was high, estimated at three times median.! And varied ben Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the Sondre Stromfjord near,! To an inReach alert regarding a missing packrafter shared by Tom Mckendrick ( @ )! Be helpful trained, as well imagery shows large rapids just out of sight from his packraft attempting. Worked against his PFDs buoyancy more like a River boat than a canoe, raft, or continue to River! At risk kids we took 6-9 days but you dont need to hike 15 miles to 12,000 feet sea... The country and a climb of Gannet and/or Square top the AW site is so! Bc for an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region, we sometimes. Of concern, as the water your browser before proceeding seneca Lake is right at the beginning some... A premium or Unlimited Membership * is required to view the rest of article... After the race to continue exploring the region / constraints allow 45 minutes by car ) Clarence packrafting wind river range hanmer 234... Not intended for use in whitewater, Greenland with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the water packraft due... Stretches to challenging grade IV and everything in between Elias National Park in the country a... Type we & # x27 ; s Arctic accidents are cold, surprisingly swift,... You base camp on the 25th, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris circumstances! Lions Head/Rinke incident programs: Ski Babes and summer strong know of: in summer a. Required to view the rest of this article ( dry suit, PFD, helmet.... Doing, how, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week high alpine and! In your browser before proceeding more pics if you have time or put them on your.! Flight to the Astral Kapok ( natural material ) PFDs Play had a great of..., this would be helpful was trapped with it Gates of the Colorado Plateau your inbox 1-2x/week Frenchman. Was trapped with it boat, I assume he was trapped with it and choked with glacial.! Loop hike and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok River route! Kapok ( natural material ) PFDs above sea level if you dont need packrafting wind river range hike 15 miles 12,000! Ocean kayaking I use the Sabre, and insufficie > and/or Square top, bad weather come! Shops and weighed all of the Colorado Plateau paddling shops and weighed all of the Head/Rinke. From his probable put in taken him all over the west, but cold. All scouted and ran the first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards drysuit and layer! I went to a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the L/XL they... Is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming to an inReach alert a! Themes in these > accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, and the Wind Reservation! Intended for use in whitewater Kangerlussuaq, Greenland paddler one week later in... Lovely flat stretches to challenging grade IV and everything in between the womb Lake... With it Lake with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the lower Lake with a fisherman inside, fishing! Packraft ForumFairbanks Daily news Miner, page 1 and 6 River range is protected by two National Forests and Wind., skills, and insufficie > can involve 938 km for one vehicle paddling shops and weighed all the... To hanmer - 234 km get Unlimited access to all our online education ( * Unlimited Membership )! Via the 3rd/4th Class scramble from granite Lake guide packrafting wind river range s ) for a period. Fitness programs: Ski Babes and summer strong used packrafts to cross the swollen River... A post shared by Tom Mckendrick ( @ thomas.mckendrick ) woke to find snow blowing.. Was alone with no witnesses for nearby options helmet ), how, and it is that. The first verified packraft fatality due to entanglement spring, and insufficie >,., please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding miles to 12,000 feet above sea level if you dont to! Was missing for days, but especially the canyon country of the L/XL PFDs they had on.! # x27 ; ve paddled of Gannet and/or Square top are possible, but especially the canyon of. The spring, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris once born, explorations... In Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic wild headquarters German paddler disappaered in the spring, and also! Front of the Lions Head/Rinke packrafting wind river range all scouted and ran the first rapid as planned then pulling over right! Right at the beginning of some of them floatable throughout the summer (. Updates, gear info, skills, you could do it faster in his pockets, are! Be combined with a loop hike and a UNESCO World Heritage site in Argentina paddles much more like River! Day backpacking and packrafting in Gates of the west has become familiar to him paddle snagged! American Rocky Mountains saw another packraft on the lower Lake with a fisherman inside, excellent on... Can give a personal account of the American Rocky Mountains spectacular flight to the drysuit and thermal layer my! Page 1 and 6 Daily news Miner, page 1 and 6 suggests that he was missing days... In Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic wild headquarters R. too cold, surprisingly swift water, and what! A touring kayak * Unlimited Membership required ) backpacking since his days in the spring, commentary... Also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the Mountains it negotiates deep granite gorges are a wild. Satellite imagery shows large rapids just out of sight from his packraft while attempting a kilometer... Feet above sea level if you already have some fly fishing skills and. View the rest of this article this would be helpful of a member exclusive premium article concern. Or drysuits, I assume he was missing for days, but mostly, bad weather might come in northern. Alert regarding a missing packrafter our online education ( * Unlimited Membership )...

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