Hike in, boat out! Oh, Canada: Packrafting The Northwest Territories. A Deschutes trip is the best overnight family rafting trip in the Pacific Northwest. The people were cool, the setting was gorgeous, and I am not yet good at packrafting. So, when Kirk came up with a combo backpacking and packrafting trip in the Alpine Lakes Wilderness in Washington, it sounded perfect. Flying in to Upper Paradise Lake is the only easy option. Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window) In a way it was a bummer to split up for a few days but in the end it was for the best. We hit the Mackenzie. The river continued to test us until we came to another canyon. Once we reached Hell Roaring Creek, the big hike began. These parks have great trip planners available online and are Canada’s packraft nirvana. Come explore them with us. The long miles coaxed 2/3rds of our 10 person crew to opt for the more predictable route east over Pagoda, but 3 of went up Silvertip. We all felt a little tense as a slot canyon isn’t the ideal place to weather a rain storm. Multi person packrafts are a great way to get out on the water with a friend. Bugs and rain accompanied us as we groveled up the climb. 2 of us thought it was fantastic, while the 3rd felt the bushwacking that bookended this route largely offset the awesomeness of Silvertip. Sweepers, Strainers, Undercuts, Debris. The river slowed. Packrafting Equipment. Alpackarafts are handmade in the USA. Find climbing partners in the Pacific Northwest. Flying in to Upper Paradise Lake is the only easy option. There were certainly some class 4 features thrown in for good measure. We did go home when we reached Tulita the next day. I had never heard of packrafting until my good friend Seth told me about it. While most of this post has focused on what we did, that’s not what makes a trip. Sheep watched us pass by as they sheltered under cliffs from more storms. Momentum. These feeder canyons proved tricky to get around. Last week my girlfriend and I took our new packrafts on a 6-day, 70-mile trip from the headwater lakes of the Yukon River to Whitehorse. We decided to knock off early for the only time during the trip and did laundry in our Porter packs–good for keeping water IN too. by dandurston July 14, 2016 Leave a Comment on Bob Marshall Packrafting 2016 Myself, family and friends headed into the Bob Marshall Wilderness for the last week of June. Jun 22, 2015 - Packrafting pictures from backpacking and river trips. In the spring of 2019, I and two friends bought packrafts and hiked and paddled the North Fork of the Koyukuk river. We didn’t know much about Oregon, Washington or any other places in the Pacific Northwest (PNW). It has many difficult … / October 08, 2020, Packrafting Our next phase was to paddle the rest of the Broken Skull and then the South Nahanni as far as Hell Roaring Creek. See the Women's Arc'teryx Beta FL See the Men's Arc'teryx Beta FL A few weeks ago his latest book about his thru-hike came out, and it was such a good read that I had a hard time to put Grizzly Bears and Razor Clams down. I struggle with being able to see my future. Eddy Hopping. The view from my packraft as Aubrey comes around the river bend in her kayak. Chris Townsend set off to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail [PNT] in 2010, and I followed his adventure with interest on Twitter and via his blog. Packrafting Packrafting Packrafting Trip reports, beta and more for packrafting near Vancouver, BC, throughout the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Though no official boundary exists, the most common conception includes the Canadian province of British Columbia (BC) and the U.S. states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. American Packrafting Association was founded in October of 2012 by a group of avid packrafters from across the United States interested in safety, education, conservation, and ensuring that packrafting has a place on America’s public lands. Once we popped out we were in an amazing green valley cut with the Flood Creek canyon and several feeder canyons. I wanted to get out and explore what Washington had to offer. Ultralight Backpacking Packrafting Best illustrated with when you put your life in the hands of the craftsmanship and product quality when packrafting several kilometers from shore, often in ice cold water. We needn’t have bothered; we were soon stopped by two waterfalls with nasty portages. I had hiked through the Alpine Lakes area 12 years ago on the Pacific Crest Trail, but that September the whole stretch was drenched in … A blog about exploring using packrafts in Oregon and the Northwest. I’ve heard many people complain that their raingear was “leaking”, when in fact it is really perspiration and condensation accumulating against the inside of the jacket. We’d thrown around the idea of a food drop but decided the added complexity, cost and intrusion weren’t worth it. Join me and Dave Morrow as we backpack into one of the most REMOTE places in the Pacific Northwest. Along the banks of the mighty Klamath River in far northern California rests a sleepy mountain town. Pacific Northwest Clothing. Bikepacking No need to register, buy now! Arc'teryx Beta FL Jacket. I’m a West Virginian at heart. Even the place doesn’t make the trip (although it can unmake it). A packraft is designed to fit in your backpack, or even on a bike, so you can carry it into the mountains to reach rivers and lakes. Paddling Magazine's 12 Days of Giveaways is here! Performance Weather Protection. A sketchy ramp got us out of the canyon after Paul went up and tied off a fixed line. Bob's Slo Mo Brace. Huge thanks to Carrie for lots of help with this post. Rain starts in the mountains, slipping down over the foothills in Seattle’s famous gray clouds until it reaches the coast; then the ocean swirls it away, marking its own defining line along the edge of the Sound. Enter to win! In the morning we paddled out of the lake and into Black Wolf Creek. Bikepacking | Climbing | Packrafting | Skiing | Mountaineering | Hiking. At 10 pm we were out of water and energy and decided to camp. Practice! What makes the trip is the experience. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Route Planning Alpackarafts has the industry highest strength to weight ratios and the highest strength to volume rations. The packraft are made for minimizing weight and maximizing fun. We both got humbled a bit but came through unscathed. Or maybe this was just me. The Landing Craft, by Rogue Jet Boatworks, has become an all-around favorite for sporting and utility applications throughout the Pacific Northwest. “It was the best decision of my life,” Hill says. Email Floris van Breugel | + larger view "Packrafting" no. Other Trips. Packrafting the Sauk I tried my hand and paddle at packrafting this past weekend. The Alpackaraft brand is the original packraft brand and the company is often referred to as the inventor of commercial packrafts (NOTE: be aware of unsafe/low quality china copies) . At our campus, a 40-acre former dairy farm, you’ll enjoy fresh veggies from our on-site garden and breathtaking views of the Talkeetna Mountains and Chugach Range. What if you can’t catch your boat right away? #Packrafts are gaining popularity and are perfect for the mulit outdoor sport enthusiast. Filming was done with the permission of Parks Canada Agency, in Nááts’ihch’oh National Park Reserve and Nahanni National Park Reserve. We figured on 100 kilometers up Hell Roaring and Flood Creeks and then down Thundercloud Creek until we had enough water to paddle. Scotty Railton: On Trail In The Pacific Northwest. Pimp My Packraft! Backpacking Light and the Yellowstone River. The next day we reached Thundercloud Creek and were able to blow up the boats we’d been carrying for 3.5 days. Read more about our series here: The Classic is our iconic original packraft and the staple of our lineup for 19 years—the packraft to own if you just own one. The rest of the unnamed river to the confluence with the Broken Skull River was pretty and interesting with no major rapids. 2020-12-31T20:00:00-08:00: United in Song: Celebrating the Resilience of America: 2020-12-31T21:30:00-08:00: Pink Martini Celebrates New Year's Eve Northcoast 87 Northcoast This veteran Pacific Northwest yard was acquired three years ago by Steven Yadfish, whose Yachtfish Marine on Seattle's Lake Union was a popular yard for custom yachts and refits. We went down the river with head nods as our primary means of communication. An overnight rafting trip on the Deschutes River offers rapids, fishing opportunities, family … “Packrafts inspire adventurers to reimagine backcountry travel. Or maybe the experience is just the place and people together, I don’t know. See more ideas about river trip, river, pictures. After reaching the Broken Skull we paddled down to Grizzly Bear Creek which was the start of our next portage. Paul and Sky took our extra food and paddled down the Broken Skull to wait for us. On this trip they put our Ultamid Pyramid Tents + Inserts, Flat Tarps, and 4400 Porter pack to the test. We didn’t want to lose a boat. Options 2 posts Page 1 of 1. jeremymclain Posts: 1 Joined: Wed Mar 18, 2020 10:49 am Thanked: 0 time in 0 post. / January 12, 2021, Bikepacking We’d had heavy rains and thunderstorms, for hours on end, the previous night and during the day. For more in-depth trip reports, photos and videos from their time exploring Canada, check out Paul on Exposure.co. Filming was done with the permission of Parks Canada Agency, in, Packrafting Belize: Caves, Waterfalls and Remote Jungle Paddling in the Land of the Maya, Chasing Ten with Huw Oliver (Scottish Edition), Yoga to Rejuvenate and Strengthen Your Shoulders (On and Off the Trail), Taking the Route Not Traveled: A Starter Guide to Wilderness Backpacking, A Great Cause to Climb For: Seeking the Peak on Mount Washington, The Situation is the Boss, Man: A Grizzly Tale, The Situation is the Boss, Man: Sometimes it's better not to know, Ultralight Backpacking And Mountain Gear Blog, Oh, Canada: Fat Rafting Kluane National Park, THE ALSEK RIVER: TIME TRAVEL THROUGH THE VANISHING ICE AGE. I planned my trip along Pacific Creek as an easy one or two-night practice run before a more difficult longer trip. There were very few eddies and boat retrieval would be very difficult with only the two of us. Meet our multi person packrafts. Which raises the real risk of open water packrafting – the wind turning the wrong way! PACKRAFTING. We were already partly home and tied up with future activities, work, spouses etc. Alpackarafts are handmade in the USA. A wilderness lake ecosystem separated from the remote and rugged pacific ocean by only a few miles of coastal rainforest. The yarn and weave of the material combined with the chemistry and application of the polyurethane (PU) laminates are critical to the performance packraft fabric. / November 18, 2020, Thru Hiking I’ve had a love affair with the verdant and rugged topography of the Appalachian Mountains my entire life. The riv­er flows 40 miles through the Bob Mar­shall Wilder­ness — Mon­tana’s largest — and has some of the clean­est, clear­est water you will ever see. The Alpacka packraft and Packraft Fishing Table allows you to get away from marshy edges and log jams, and have a totally liberating alpine fishing experience. Shore… She completed the Executive Program in Private Practice Management through EIM in 2015. Our fabrics have the highest tear strength, PU adhesion, UV protection, and long term durability in the industry. Momentum, 45°, Leaning Downstream, Planting Blade. Packrafting is the relatively new sport of merging backpacking with rafting. How couldn’t you be? The creek flows through a spectacular valley that reminded us a bit of the Carcajou Canyon we’d been in two years earlier. The west side of the North Cascades is a land defined by water. Bonus Cool Ferns 6) Licorice Fern 7) Maidenhair Fern. The material construction is optimized for use in packrafts in terms of weight and durability. Thanks to Tony for dropping us off, we missed you out there. Oct 3, 2018 - All things packrafting & white water sports. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, and having spent the last three decades in Alaska, I’ve done a bit of hiking in the rain. The remainder of the hike to unnamed river was tough but stunning. You simply cannot compromise on quality when buying a packraft! After a few kilometers of hiking down the river we’d gained enough water to blow up our Alpacka Rafts and paddle. Combine backpacking, packrafting and fishing for a wild adventure in a nearly unexplored corner of Alaska. The greatest thing about the Pacific Northwest is how much accessible adventure hides in the creases of its maps. We get off the beaten path, actually there are no paths. (women’s small) Waterproofing: Gore-Tex Pro Denier: 40D What we like: Premium Gore-Tex Pro protection in a lightweight and breathable design. I’ve read everything I could about the Nahanni for years and was keen to take a look. We have been making packrafts almost two decades and many of our original models are still going strong – and still ultralight. We were soaked and a little cranky when we got back in the boats. The founder of Packrafting.com, bought the first Alpackaraft in 2005 and it is still in use and has never had a leak or been repaired,  several years and hundreds of trips of heavy use in both rocky rivers, salt water and lakes. Sunday, June 23, 2019. / November 22, 2019, Day Hiking Our entire crew are basically Google Earth addicts, searching for ways to link different areas together with entertaining paddling and scenic hiking. Packraft Field Repair Kit. You don’t need to talk about it but you do because that’s what there is to talk about. The greatest thing about the Pacific Northwest is how much accessible adventure hides in the creases of its maps. Basically, it involves small individual rafts, which are designed to navigate anything from remote mountain lakes to class IV+ rapids. What we found instead was a glorious and scenic campsite-just when we needed it. We still had 100 kilometers of river to paddle but the unknowns were behind us and we started paddling by ourselves, in our own heads. It’s gone-likely shredded below in some unknown and waiting canyon. It is my love for the outdoors that made me decide to pursue a degree in Outdoor Recreation, because I want to … Just upstream a great campsite was waiting for us. No one needs to look out for anyone but everyone does. … The Ultralight Series is all about the essentials. So she set out to hike the Pacific Crest Trail Southbound from Canada to Mexico on July 12, 2014. Technical Water. I wanted to be back in the clear steep mountain rivers – but I also wanted to go home. The South Fork of the Flat­head Riv­er is home to the wildest cut­throat trout fish­ing in the Amer­i­can West. Leaning In. She is a 1987 graduate of Marquette University's program in physical therapy and earned her Doctorate in Physical Therapy (DPT) through Evidence in Motion in 2016. The boats are made from the highest quality fine grade nylon 66 with the most durable polyurethane coating. The river was the same but felt friendlier. Discover for yourself this first frontier above the "head of navigation" and witness the immense beauty of the surrounding granite ridge falls. Sometimes the best packrafting adventures are hidden in plain site. I had hiked through the Alpine Lakes area 12 years ago on the Pacific Crest Trail, but that September the whole stretch was drenched in rain and fog and I … It has many difficult rapids including Crooked Canyon and the Step. The Pacific Northwest is a hub for some of the best kayaking and rafting in the United States. The unknown nature of the river and the gradient wore us down as the day went on. Bob's Slo Mo Brace. In the middle of the night heavy rains returned and we were able to collect several liters of water off the tarps-we’d have coffee! Mission. The Mackenzie River is wide, slow and straight. The creek passed through several interesting ponds as it made its way along the south side of the valley. Choose the series that suits you the best. Backpacking Light and the Yellowstone River. The Little Nahanni was running high and fun. Fortunately he popped up a few seconds later and climbed back in his boat to finish the canyon. 20180907. Our next few hours were laid out in front of us. When packing for the Pacific Northwest, preparation for the elements is key. We had 7 days of perfect weather. Would the unnamed river have another waterfall around the next bend? Kristy and I set out on the 4th of July with the goal of utilizing the packrafts to do a different Ozette loop, only possible with a packraft. Getting the gear off the boat and into the tubes is the single biggest step away from Ramer and toward Dynafit I have seen in my four decades of packrafting (80s, 90s, Oughts, Teens). Paddling is simple: assess the rivers’ difficulty as you go—too difficult? It was hot, there was no current, the water was silty, the coast guard was cruising up the river in a giant boat—this is no place for packrafting. Zippered loads … Steeped in history, fraught with lawlessness, altered by industry, and even haunted by the legend of Bigfoot himself, the oddly-named settlement of Happy Camp has beckoned eclectic groups of miners, adventurers, and mysterious lone wolves throughout its tumultuous history. Paul and Sky had decided that they didn’t want to paddle our next objective-Black Wolf Creek. Scotty Railton: On Trail In The Pacific Northwest. / August 03, 2020, Packrafting Just like you can’t judge a book by its cover, you can’t judge a fabric by its denier and coating. Lake Ozette is the farthest northwest lake in the continental US and the largest unaltered natural lake in Washington state. We made easy 100 kilometer days but took our time scouting canyons that were extremely turbulent in the flood levels. So I told Andrea we were going to Oregon! Thanks also go to Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Alpacka Raft and MEC for their support. Sticky Holes. We cooked up a packraft route that started on the Little Nahanni River, which flows from the Yukon/NWT border. We did one short portage around a river-wide pour over and scouted two more canyons that proved runnable. When we were planning the trip we thought we might be getting the first crack at what looked like a really good river but some Americans had the same idea. This season has been especially fickle so far, with days ranging from wet and mild in North Vancouver to temperatures well below freezing in Manning Provincial Park. Soon our charter arrived and took us back to Yukon. In the spring of 2019, I and two friends bought packrafts and hiked and paddled the North Fork of the Koyukuk river. The lower creek was several hundred meters wide and then suddenly constricted to a few meters as we headed upstream. If it is windy and/or strong tides you might find yourself heading for the wrong continent. We will respond, in the order received, to … Alapackaraft takes the safety of the users of the packrafts very seriously. Everything is carefully thought out to give you only what you need for your adventure. Licorice Fern won’t grow on the ground – it insists on a mossy vertical surface like the sides of mossy boulders and mossy deciduous trees like Big Leaf Maples.It’s also unique in that it only grows in single fronds (which are connected by a rhizome running through the moss) rather than in a cluster of fronds like most ferns. We arrived at the confluence with the Broken Skull and were glad to see Sky and Paul. Packrafts are a boat design developed over the past 15 years for light, flexible travel through the wilderness. All packrafts sold here at Packrafting.com is of the brand Alpackaraft. The result: Portland, Oregon. Momentum, 45°, Leaning Downstream, Planting Blade. Dylan and I have done lots of white water paddling together and quickly fell in step. “After hitting the Mexican border, I knew I would be a hiker for the rest of my life.” Hill is currently in the midst of a Pacific Northwest Trail thru hike.