Most skills learned are applicable to packrafting. On average, there is about a .1 lb difference per size. The Windriver Range offers some of the lower 48's wildest country. An Englishman was separated from his packraft while attempting a two kilometer lake crossing in Argentina. It is unclear if these were involved in the fatality. To the degree possible, these incidents were used to inform the content of The Packraft Handbook. Climbed Squaretop the next day via the 3rd/4th class scramble from Granite Lake. Wind River Canyon Whitewater and Fly Fishing offers rafting excursions as well (see here for a detailed trip report). Authorities recovered a black and yellow inflatable kayak on the 25th, and the paddler one week later. The Wind River Range mountains are very different from peaks in Colorado. Home Forums Campfire Photo Gallery Packrafting Wind Rivers 4/15/07. At normal water levels, the river is Class II with three gorges of greater difficulty. 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. May 1st: A Russian man, Yalil Kuvandykov, was seen to overturn in his boat on the Inzer River, Russia. Online trip-planning course: Jan-March 2022! They're not so hot for whitewater and can't punch you out of a hole well. $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 rapids consist of steep drops and boulder gardens, as described in this link: river description (go to [4]). You can now take guided packrafting trips in Wind River Country. We camped next to the car and woke to find snow blowing horizontally. During the passage of the rapid, all our three boats were overturned, two of us managed to reach the right bank. I was more used to Appalachian rivers, which tend to have big rapids separated by flatwater pools. The Wind River offers a great mix of packrafting, hiking, fishing, and wildlife. 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". Box 925 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. The MTI Livery PFD seems to be the best standard option for rough water packrafting at .9 lbs. 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. Backpacking in one of the lesser-known areas of the CO Rocky Mountains. Scott A packraft paddles much more like a river boat than a canoe, raft, or a touring kayak. 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. If you get hot, jump in the river for a cool down. Pack less. Sport-boating anything Class III and over must of course be done in solid foam PFD I think! He had no drysuit so if he had gone for a swim it couldve ended very poorly. Visit the BCP store for more information. Furthermore, there are 1,300+ named bodies of water (mainly lakes) spread throughout the Wind River Range. But whats our best kept secret? Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic. This could be you on a fishing expedition. Stephen and two partners were on a three-day packrafting excursion. It was initially (wrongly) reported in the news as a packrafting fatality. You will be warm, confident, and paddle more aggressively because you are not afraid to be in the water. Youll find picture perfect stops at Worthen Reservoir, as well as Frye, Fiddlers and Louis lakes. This, combined with wearing it under a shell, keeps it in place quite well. We have been up to Green River Lakes a couple of times, most recently fall 2015, and I packrafted out to the lakes on the upper stretch of the green in Sept. 2014. 02:45. For fisherman an Alpacka in the Winds is an ideal way to fish some of the remote alpine lakes in search of the elusive goldon trout. Get Backpacking Light news, updates, gear info, skills, and commentary delivered into your inbox 1-2x/week. For most whitewater and river packrafters a paddle between 200-210cm is the ideal, if you are doing more touring you can increase the length by 5-10cm. Richard, we pulled into camp late and didn't want to inflate our rafts until morning, but yes, they are actually pretty comfy. The classic Alaskan boots we were given were a source of concern, as well. 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. ROAD TRIP PACKING CHECKLIST The Wind River Range The Wind River Range is a 100-mile long chain of towering granite peaks, pristine alpine lakes, and glacier-carved meadows. 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. 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. It's not an ideal solution, and I try to use it only in a pinch in Class 2 water. Check out Lander-based Wyoming Rivers Cooperative for details (they also offer incredible rafting trips). Another fatality I know of: in summer 2015 a German paddler disappaered in the Sondre Stromfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. I cancelled a river trip the next day on that note and went day hiking instead. All scouted and ran the first rapid as planned then pulling over river right. Thank you for posting the pictures on your blog. So, I usually, for small creeks and calm water, use a TorsoLite pad wrapped around my chest under my shell. I strongly recommend the Trinity River venue for a true wilderness experience combined with the learning. Marty had extensive wilderness experiences throughout his lifetime. The major difference is the inability of the packrafts to edge as aggressively. Nova Alaska Guides extricated Marty and boater #3. Refine your skills before committing to a day of it. Hardshell kayakers consider a PFD one of the five essentials you dont put on the water without one. Peter was visiting BC for an adventure race and stayed after the race to continue exploring the region. First, the range is extremely remote. Damn brother. 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. Romain Qunhen, a Belgian on a roadtrip from BC to Alaska, went missing on the Nass River, BC, Romains packraft and backpack were recovered. Wondering if this is true or if maybe there are a few lurking in there? 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. Others run Class III and even IV in inflatable PFDs (Too spooky for me), but many "backpackers in a boat" paddle Class I-II without anything more than a foam pad under the jacket.. Richard, thanks for the info! When the wind comes from the north, the temperature can drop to below freezing. 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. 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. 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. Any input would be greatly appreciated. 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. Heres the takeaway lesson for me (if Im correct that he was on Class II/III water): Incidents rarely occur due to one obvious mistake. Can we expect a review? 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. 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. She was hypothermic when she reached help. 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. Home Forums Finding Meaning on the Green River, Companion forum thread to: Finding Meaning on the Green River. But I had to go. 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). We think he was scouting out the canyon and everything looked good to him, but he couldnt see around the corner of that bend, which is where we feel that he went into the water.. Jaymes H. Schoenberg (22) and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok River en route to Arctic Village. With ten easily accessible trailheads, it's a cinch to get to the slopes of the Wind River Mountain Range. The common themes in these > accidents are cold, surprisingly swift water, and insufficie >. This photo might be from this section of the river. It appears to have been windy on the fjord on the day he disappeared. I appreciated the time he spent teaching me to read the map, which is not easy without trails. Paddling the Big Salmon River Ruby Range Adventure. I appreciate the swiss-cheese model of incident causation to visualize this incidents occur when a bunch of small holes line up perfectly wrong. I have worn my Kokatat Swift Entry Dry Suit while running <50 degree water on the Animas with air temps around 85 degrees and the Gunnison with air temps of 95 degrees. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. They are a truly wild and rugged wilderness, protected by two National Forests and the Wind River Reservation. Packrafting Escalante River. Did you leave them there overnight? I went to a couple of paddling shops and weighed all of the L/XL PFDs they had on display. The Sndre Strmfjord is an almost linear, 170 km fjord which can funnel strong winds from the ice sheet. Finding Meaning on the Green River" target="_blank">, This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated. Take a series of classes and then buy a book. 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. Reminds me of Sarahs IG post today fantastic example of role modelling open sharing! Consider it an insulation layer in camp a very bulky vest and pillow. Wow, I just found this. A much cheaper, and smarter, alternative is to rent a packraft from Packraft America. A wonderful adventure and I would like to return next year for a longer, more challenging trip. The Wrangells traverse is an Alaskan classic and is often the first route that gets recommended when discussing packrafting in the last frontier. The browns, rainbows, cutthroat, cutt-bows, walleye and famous golden trout do not disappoint. Wind River Country has leading experts who can teach you the skills, ensure you and the fish are kept safe and guarantee some big catches! It remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. August 17, 2015 Backpacking Trips, Featured Trip Reports, Trip Reports. After the climb we packrafted back to the trailhead, awesome! 18.4 mi / 2280 ft gain. This range also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the American Rocky Mountains. Thats when I realized that we had failed to discuss recovery plans. For fisherman an Alpacka in the Winds is an ideal way to fish some of the remote alpine lakes in search of the elusive goldon trout. The Continental Divide crests the Wind River Range's entire length. Joe Hutto, The Light in High . 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! If fast is more your speed, rent a motor boat or a jet ski from the marina and cruise around with an engine doing the work. And yup there are some big creeks flowing from those hills. It is likely that a dry suit would have made a huge difference. With 100 miles of incredible hikes to explore (popular during July and August), you'll have plenty of options. Great shot, Ryan! Our water! In the summer of 2015 a German paddler disappeared in the Sndre Strmfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Depending on circumstances, we can sometimes provide a shuttle service if necessary for nearby options. The second boater attempting to land river left flipped and lost his boat. We think the Wind River is the finest rivertrip on the south side of the Brooks Range. Thanks to packrafts, you can combine a world-class Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a jaunt down the river. We cant know for sure, but the leash seems most likely to have caused entanglement. Have you used one? The AW incident report mentions an IK and kayak, but Martin was in a packraft. There is a concerted effort to efficiently develop a Culture of Safety for packrafters in the hopes that we can skip the history of incidents that our peers in other water crafts have experienced. 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. 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. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. 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. But, at 0.9lbs it would almost be worth adding two external front pockets. Home Forums Campfire Photo Gallery Packrafting - Wind Rivers - 4/15/07. Experience Required: McCarthy Creek to Kennicott River (CLII+) Medium to Very Hard 6-12 hours $$ One nice hike, two amazing rivers! 6hrs round trip. I've posted more photos and comments from this trip here: Packrafting in the Winds @ RyanJordan.com. 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. Gratuity for guide(s). You can expect to learn about local fauna, see magical sights and catch some really big fish! Queenstown man killed in rafting accident was passionate about wildlifeRiver description: Caples River. (sorry could not figure out how to post a narrative does it go here?). Astral and Norge are the two primary manufacturers of this PFD type. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. Once born, his explorations have taken him all over the west, but especially the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. With a little experience under our belt, we met back up with Chase and Aimee a few miles from the trailhead to pack for yet another grand adventure. The Classic: Titcomb Basin Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Mileage: 29-30 miles RT Trip Type: Out-and-back Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. A Membership is required to post in the forums. One article suggests that he was missing for days, but I suspect this is just a google translate issue. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Popular Activities Hiking & Backpacking Hunting & Shooting Higher, Longer, Deeper: Wyoming's Largest Range! And, for now anyways, they're all permit-free. Some of them are only runnable in the early summer when the melting snows keep them flooded. I have found that if I invert mine and put a thin insulating pad on it, it makes a very cushy mattress. Wind River Canyon Whitewater and Fly Fishing. I like my TorsoLite-under-a-rain-jacket the most, until I can find (or make) something better than the Stearns model. It appears to have been windy on the day of the accident. Use the links below to share this content: Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 39 total). American Whitewater Incident ReportJohn Quimby, personal communication. Be more. Wow, Richard, awesome data! Login or become a member to post in the member forums! With a packraft or IK, people boat this river down to 120 CFS, which opens up the season to fall through spring. The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. Whoever you choose to go with, extended time in the mountains fishing is a must. Ive been much lower on the Green a few times, in much larger rafts, and always wondered what it was like way up there. This is the third open water packraft fatality on record, highlighting the danger of open water crossings. I'm wanting a real whitewater PFD. However, as the water makes its way out of the mountains it negotiates deep granite gorges. I have a 9 oz SOS inflatable that I trimmed, but they are wholly uncomfortable while paddling (restrict mobility) and too hard to inflate on the fly if you bite it. Thanks for putting this together and keeping the risks real. Stop in at a local fly shop like the Lander Fly Shop, Cutthroat Fly Shop in Dubois or Rocky Mountain Discount Sports in Riverton, where youll be able to buy your fishing license (or directed how to do it), buy the flies that are hatching and ask for some local beta about the hot spots. Backcountry access Bettles, AK. He had a full safety kit (PFD, helmet, drysuit), frequently scouted rapids, and frequently swam. I packarafted a small area of the wind river range last July (2016) at the green river lakes trail head/ campground. No other details are available at this point. Wind River Visitors Council Other reviews submitted talk about crowds of people, overuse and even litter. He probably fell out of his raft, got seperated from it, and drowned in the icy water. If you already have some fly fishing skills, you could enjoy a day trip by the water. I dont know if that will come back around, but maybe worth watching their site. Choosing one trip out of the nearly endless options within a five-hour drive from Salt Lake City has been feeling like a daunting task lately. My trip reports: backpackandbeer.blogspot.com. Leaving Fairbanks we fly 300 miles, over the Yukon River, to the small town of Arctic Village. 6. 531. If you know details, please do not post them as comments on this page until (if/when) a public incident report is available. Unrestricted access to all forums, plus the ability to post and start new threads. Marty lived above the Matanuska River near the Lions Head run. The water in Wind River Country is not to be missed. Moose river loop up in Jackman Maine, More than 30 miles . I am very interested in cruising mild river conditions during an extended backpacking trek at some point in the future. Never Summer Wilderness, Colorado. Any correctly-fitted, US Coast Guard-approved PFD in working condition will keep you safe in a spill. 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. Carry all of your kit in packed up form. 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. We did this on the first weekend in December. It was an easy decision to stay in the sleeping bag until late morning, and we ate breakfast in the car to . Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible. Hot showers are in order! The group had committed to portaging all of the gorges, but Stephen re-assessed and decided to run the first gorge, alone. The rest of this is conjecture. Two weeks after running sections of the lower Mat with Marty he led the same group of 4 on Lions head. The ideal packrafting PFD. How can we prevent holes from lining up? Virginia resident Peter Jolles, 46, was reported overdue at a Bugaboo Creek takeout, British Columbia, and has not yet been located. Too many people are afraid to share their near miss stories for fear of judgement. * A Basic Membership is required to view Member Q&A events. This is the first packraft fatality on record, and predates the modern era of packrafts designed for downriver travel, circa 2000. Some rugged country thru there. It gets worn around the front of the chest, it's not long enough to go around your back. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. On our trip of Big Wild Adventures, we travelled through a part of the range very seldom visited by backpackers. Online trip and emergency planning course, My wife Sarahs awesome fitness programs: Ski Babes and Summer Strong. Rob was wearing rain gear and a PFD. Richard, I *normally* use an SOS inflatable BUT I forgot it in the car, so I wasn't wearing a PFD.