We are lucky enough to be located 10 minutes walk from the diverse Murrumbidgee river. 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. Any correctly-fitted, US Coast Guard-approved PFD in working condition will keep you safe in a spill. There's the Caribou, Forager, Gnarwhal, Wolverine, Scout and Explorer 42, as well as the Classic Series. Fishing can be for everyonewhether you want to spend an afternoon hanging out on a riverbank or go on a multi-day expedition. Sarah Kilbourne Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. 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. Peter was wearing full personal protective equipment (dry suit, PFD, helmet). Jeff worked in the boating safety sector of the Coast Guard (a competent swimmer) and had assisted/completed swiftwater training in May of this year. The geography of the lake system provides 30 km of wind fetch before the crossing point. Definitely a near miss that couldve been avoided by better route planning and scouting blind corners. Check out Lander-based Wyoming Rivers Cooperative for details (they also offer incredible rafting trips). More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore. The Green River is nestled in one of our most beloved mountain ranges, the Wind River Range, and immediately knew it had to be the destination of our second packrafting trip. . I wonder if we should compile a few near miss case studies too. What follows is a general flow of events. 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. Bike rafters can be superior and have no shuttle. Much more comfortable than I was expecting. A guidebook describes the area above and below this section as Class V. Neither Class V section is scoutable from the road. TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! An Englishman was separated from his packraft while attempting a two kilometer lake crossing in Argentina. Christchurch to Clarence Bridge - 240km. American Whitewater Incident ReportGreg Mills, personal communication. Temperatures vary dramatically in the Arctic. $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. #3 boat was lost when it was released to pull Marty from the water. The body of P.K. Marty lived above the Matanuska River near the Lions Head run. Bubbles(?) A much cheaper, and smarter, alternative is to rent a packraft from Packraft America. 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. 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. You are using an out of date browser. It remains a special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path. After contact by cell phone they walked out to Mat Glacier view area. 08/19/21 we all successfully passed the Straight Rapid on the Levaya Mama River (category 3). Select a suitable river (class 1 -2 ) by picking one . First-world problems, I know. Colin Buness (25) disappeared on a solo trip to the Katate, a tributary to the Stikine. Starting on the open tundra, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska. I was more used to Appalachian rivers, which tend to have big rapids separated by flatwater pools. CCK has a three weekend series which will safely teach you the basics on the South Fork of the American River's class 2 sections. 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. Finding Meaning on the Green River" target="_blank">, This topic has 1 reply, 2 voices, and was last updated. Or you could take a few sandwiches, a case of bubbly water and a sun hat and spend the day fishing out of a canoe on Boysen Reservoir or on the outlet of Worthen Reservoir. 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. Some of them are only runnable in the early summer when the melting snows keep them flooded. Getting onto rising river, capsize and inability to get back into craft due to rising water levels, this river floods all the time and portaging the gorge is a bit of a nightmare bush-bash). The group was evacuated three days later by helicopter. Leaving Fairbanks we fly 300 miles, over the Yukon River, to the small town of Arctic Village. I would guess that the upper lake would also fish well. Paddling the Big Salmon River Ruby Range Adventure. 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 . There is nothing absolutely nothing half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats. Water Rat, The Wind in the Willows. 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/. A club packraft trip down the grade 1 and 2 sections of the Rangitikei River. It's identifying what risk level they need it at and there are many kinds of packrafting from just crossing rivers and streams that people would otherwise wade to hucking waterfalls. Obviously this river is not suitable for our 16 footer, though! Ran this section another time then drove home. They are a truly wild and rugged wilderness, protected by two National Forests and the Wind River Reservation. We then catch a smaller plane for a spectacular flight to the Wind River. Heck, it might even be the best solo boat of any type we've paddled. 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. The vastness of the wilderness virtually demanded that I go see it. Once past the confluence with the East Fork of the Chandalar River, we enjoy a day of floating this broad clear river and then pull over at the appointed gravel bar, where our pilot will meet us. 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. See full equipment list. The adventure range of packrafts are versatile and varied. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. Furthermore, there are 1,300+ named bodies of water (mainly lakes) spread throughout the Wind River Range. 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. Thanks for putting this together and keeping the risks real. He is personable, knowledgeable about the Arctic, and has excellent group management skills. We cant know for sure, but the leash seems most likely to have caused entanglement. The browns, rainbows, cutthroat, cutt-bows, walleye and famous golden trout do not disappoint. The water was high, estimated at three times median flow. How can we prevent holes from lining up? These are the fatalities Im familiar > with; all but one have occurred in Alaska. . Visit www.WindRiver.org for license information, outfitters and guides. Ben Kilbourne has been backpacking since his days in the womb. Authorities recovered a black and yellow inflatable kayak on the 25th, and the paddler one week later. I am a life-long whitewater kayaker and just getting into packrafting. Wow, glad you put this together, thanks. This run is indeed a packrafting classic. Ever had the shell balloon while swimming if so what happened? You can now take guided packrafting trips in Wind River Country. Come to Wind River Country, and enjoy the magic of our mountain water. With 100 miles of incredible hikes to explore (popular during July and August), you'll have plenty of options. Martin Rinke (63), an experienced boater, fell out of his boat in the Lions Head section of Matanuska River. We were able to nail them down for a video chat Skip to content Close menu SHOP Kayak Paddles High-Angle Low-Angle May 1st: A Russian man, Yalil Kuvandykov, was seen to overturn in his boat on the Inzer River, Russia. This is the first packraft fatality on record, and predates the modern era of packrafts designed for downriver travel, circa 2000. P.K. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody . All boaters had dry suits, helmets and PFDs. Grant Gunderson | September 24, 2014. He also reportedly lost his prescription glasses in a river crossing.. Make sure you have your biggest net ready to go. . Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody, have wonderful floatable sections. Its perhaps one of the best ways to practice presence and to learn to notice. It gets worn around the front of the chest, it's not long enough to go around your back. Do you find yourself clamping your arms to your sides to hold it in place, or does wearing it under a shell suffice? For our summer vacation in 2015 we decided to spend a week in August backpacking the Wind River Range in Wyoming. The first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards. One article suggests that he was missing for days, but I suspect this is just a google translate issue. Duration 1-4 Days Level Moderate Dates May-September Price $219-$425 View Tour. Close calls are abundant within the packrafting community, serious injuries and fatalities have been rare. Looks like an awesome trip. 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. After inflating our pack rafts and talking about river safety, we set off onto the Winda small, clear river. I strongly recommend the Trinity River venue for a true wilderness experience combined with the learning. There are over 1, 300 named lakes in the Wind River Range, and the headwaters of the Green River can be found here. Twenty of the 21 highest mountains in Wyoming are in the Winds, all except for the Grand Teton, just a couple hours' drive north. The general plan is to start at the Spring Creek trailhead near Pinedale, spend a few days hiking and fishing our way over into the green river drainage, and then floating out to Green River lakes. 1 Thunder River Tr.-->Esplanade-->Tapeats-->Deer. I could head into the Uintas again and meander between familiar pines and emerge at familiar lakes in familiar bowls where moundy rock lifts up on all sides. Joe Hutto, The Light in High . I was appalled on a trip with outfitters in Alaska where we were told your raingear will be fine. Temperatures range from the 20s to 70s. 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. Backpacking in the Wind River Range. Best way to do this run would be to camp or stash equipment at the head of the second lake or at the rapid visible from the trail (there was even a tree in the rapid), and walk in the rest of the way to the put-in with only the boat. I've posted more photos and comments from this trip here: Packrafting in the Winds @ RyanJordan.com. The paddlers were two weeks into a bikepacking trip. If the paddle leash is strong enough to hold a pinned boat or paddler in mild current, it is a potential killer. The second boater attempting to land river left flipped and lost his boat. 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. Wind River Range Packrafting - YouTube Footage compiled from three separate packrafting trips in the high Winds, summer 2018.The Wind River Range features the largest set of glaciers in. Thank you for posting the pictures on your blog. Wind could hold you up in a packraft at times. I underestimated the river and capsized in a river-wide ledge. If you like big stands of dense trees, you could do better. Great shot, Ryan! We camped next to the car and woke to find snow blowing horizontally. It is not marked, nor obvious, with lots of deadfall obscuring the start of the trail. All recordings are now online! And I see you still use your Tilley? No other details are available at this point. However, as the water makes its way out of the mountains it negotiates deep granite gorges. 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. The skill is in the fishers ability to mimic naturenoticing what bugs are hatching on the underside of rocks, what flies are wriggling on the surface of the still pools of eddies and learning where the fish like to hang out. The classic Alaskan boots we were given were a source of concern, as well. They have seven options for rafts, plus a range of accessories and spare parts. The river, which holds more water than . . A Frenchman was reported overdue around the northern end of Lake Rotorua. And my paddling smocks (a Patagonia Specter pullover in mild weather and an NRS Endurance Splash Top in cooler weather) have kangaroo pockets I wear these when using the SOS or TorsoLite as my PFD. Dave is a superb guide. Home Forums Campfire Photo Gallery Packrafting Wind Rivers 4/15/07. 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. Use the links below to share this content: Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). "The wilderness was spectacular, the leadership perfect. All that is to say, thank you for compiling this, it helps to remind us of the consequences of one poor decision. 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. 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.. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. For ocean kayaking I use the Sabre, and I also need pockets, they are stuffed with signal/commo devices. Packraft ForumFairbanks Daily News Miner, page 1 and 6. It was initially (wrongly) reported in the news as a packrafting fatality. I am sure that a custom PFD could be created that weighs less than the MTI Livery but, the safety tolerance would probably be lower. The total distance for his route was about 120 miles. 2.5 inches to accommodate his long legs. Fishing on the reservation is a unique and beautiful experience, just remember that youll need a special license. Packrafting Course Level 1: Medium 2 days (3rd optional) $$ Learn and practice the foundational skills you need to have fun on the water. Sunny and no wind! Wind River Canyon Whitewater and Fly Fishing. He had a paddle leash attached to his spray skirt pull loop. Step 3: Picking a Paddle A few companies make packraft-specific paddles, like the Werner Pack-Tour M and Alpacka's Ninja. The AW incident report mentions an IK and kayak, but Martin was in a packraft. Seneca Lake Trail. I bought the Kokatat Swift Entry drysuit with relief zipper. But it could have easily been a packrafter (everything leading to the fatality eg. 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). Ken Knight and I had a little exchange going in another thread in which I pulled in my horns a bitbut having spent 10 years guiding wilderness canoe trips and many more as an avid paddler, it's hard for me to not react strongly. Transportation beyond Fairbanks, food while in the wilderness, stoves, cooking & eating utensils, boats, paddles, life jackets, safety & repair gear and professional guide service. Duration 14 Days Level . Can you swim strongly and with confidence to affect a self-rescue? Roman The lightest non-inflatable PFDs use kapok instead of CC foam. afternoon naps were a requirement on Saturday and Sunday; these dogs were barkin! Didnt bring an axe or crampons. Expect the unexpected and prepare to be flexible. Video 3: River Hazards Run time: 1 minute 37 seconds You will be warm, confident, and paddle more aggressively because you are not afraid to be in the water. With 130 glaciers, 1,300 alpine lakes, and 30 peaks over 13,000 feet, it's no wonder the Winds have made their place on thousands of backpacker's bucket lists. The water in Wind River Country is not to be missed. What sort of construction keeps it dry? Then take your fishing gear, license, a basket of sandwiches and beverages and sunglasses, and head to Wind River Countrys pristine fishing spots. Contrary to the marketing hype I read, they weren't lighter than the comparable PFDs with foam sorry Roman. My route started and ended at Green river lakes area, went up lakeside trail to porcupine trail, lost trail for a mile then re-found it in a sound of music like meadow (saw some nice trout in the pools of this meadow stream), camped just short of intersection between south gypsum trail and porcupine pass, had a moose visitation just after sunset, next morning hiked straight up porcupine pass into beautiful mountain meadow with small stream (from melting snow spots) and what appeared to be cranberry bushes, stoutly in bloom, continued to new fork porcupine trail, then turned left to clark creek trail, did some tenkara fly fishing at Kenny lake (lake full of small trout, seemed like brown and brook trout, a bite on nearly every cast even with 10-15mph winds) set up camp at said lake; morning continued on down clark creek trail, (took a dip in Clark lake, that really woke me up) eventually joined highline trail and as soon as could see river walked through meadow, inflated boat and weaved through the river meadow after some time river became clogged with non-runnable wood jammed sieved out boulder gardens, very beautiful; I began to exhaustively portage around these obstacles eventually deflating and rejoining highline trail, setup camp approximately directly across from square top mountain. I'm wanting a real whitewater PFD. Richard, we pulled into camp late and didn't want to inflate our rafts until morning, but yes, they are actually pretty comfy. 6hrs round trip. The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. [Peter Kysar], 28, of Alexandria, Virginia, was recovered from the headwaters of the White River near the toe of Russell Glacier on Saturday, July 3rd. Titcomb Basin. Most skills learned are applicable to packrafting. Or the Outfitters of the Wyoming Wilderness and Bear Basin Adventures in Dubois offer customizable pack trips with professional guides. Stephen Andrew Bowler, 30, died in a packrafting incident on the Caples River, New Zealand. This topic is empty. Thanks to Konstantin Gridnevskiy and Taras Popov for sharing this information. This route offers 39 miles of class I & class II rapids, numerous sandy beaches to camp on, and some of the most scenic landscape you will ever see. Relevant resources: American Whitewater maintains an incident database, American Packrafting Association is close to publishing a safety curriculum for packrafters. Packrafts are known as very forgiving crafts. We did this on the first weekend in December. Yalil also had fishing equipment and a perimeter line on the bow that ripped through one of the tie-down attachment points. Earthwalk Press: Hiking Map and Guide: Northern Wind River Range, WY. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. 1. Wind River Range. Thanks for your post. The Wind River Range is home to 228 named mountains, highest and most prominent of which is Gannet Peak (13,802ft/4207m) - the tallest peak in Wyoming. Gratuity for guide(s). 5. Hey Luc, Thanks for putting energy into this. 2022 Dates July 17-21 (1 space left) Unrestricted access to all 2,300+ articles, gear reviews, skills, stories, and more. That said, some PFDs will offer significant advantages over those casually . 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. This sub Class warrants mention as packrafts can often tackle tight creeks at low flows that are quite technical in nature with lots of manoeuvring required. Looking at my photos and video of the one rapid on this stretch, it looked only slightly cloudy at this point, which is still above the two lakes. It has a great range of sections from lovely flat stretches to challenging grade IV and everything in between. Double Drop Hutt Gorge ( Dan Clearwater) is Class III due to the size of the drops and the holes that develop at higher flows. Self-bailing and full spraydeck and skirt models, and attachments like thigh braces will keep you connected to the packraft, and smiling the whole time. Who knows it could be helpful context for someone reading this to shape their own decisions. There are some beautiful campsites nestled into the shores of the lakeslike the sandy campsites youll find when you kayak or canoe across Worthen Reservoir from the boat ramp. This range also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the American Rocky Mountains. mkset.ru (Russian)KP.RU (Russian)Gorobzor.ru (Russian)GTRK TV (Russian). It's fine with me for folks to take whatever risks that they wish, as long as they are informed. The rapids consist of steep drops and boulder gardens, as described in this link: river description (go to [4]). Facts are very limited because the boater was alone with no witnesses. Some are day trips, and some are overnight trips. One of my favorite musicians has a great song about the Verde River (he lives in Jerome). There has been some discussion about how they were able to rent boats without safety equipment. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Geographic; Being Caribou, Karsten Heuer; Arctic Dreams,Barry Lopez; Packrafting!, Roman Dial. I assume that you've looked at "squirt vests" that pull on over the head no zipper weight? Too many people are afraid to share their near miss stories for fear of judgement. Seneca Lake is right at the beginning of some of the most spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking routes. (put in directly across from square top) paddled out by noon across both lakes; fish start appearing and jumping at beginning confluence of second larger lake. All recordings are now online! In fact, a $15 "Walmart special" PFD will likely have the exact same amount of flotation rating as a $200 boutique sea kayaking vest. Very speculative, but a nearby airport reported SE wind gusts of 44 km/h (27 mph) on the 25th. The nature of the river at their put in was cold, silty, with large hydraulics, but technically Class II. Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. I dont know for certain which section Peter was paddling, but I see a 6-km stretch of Class II/III water that could be scouted from the road. Seems like a beautiful float so we were hoping to get a hike in and then check it out - if the water was reasonable. The Winner Creek to 20 Mile River loop is a great first packrafting trip. 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. About 2 minutes into this run he went over a hole and flipped. Rob flipped in some of the big water hydraulics and was instantly separated from his boat and Greg. There is not much information about this fatality yet. 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. Virginia resident Peter Jolles, 46, was reported overdue at a Bugaboo Creek takeout, British Columbia, and has not yet been located. 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. Post new content to the community including gear swaps, reviews, trip reports and more! 2023WindRiverVisitorsCouncil. Stephens boat was punctured and his helmet showed signs of impact, but not necessarily from this incident. Two weeks after running sections of the lower Mat with Marty he led the same group of 4 on Lions head. Backpacking in one of the lesser-known areas of the CO Rocky Mountains. Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Rescuers responded to a PLB (personal location beacon) SOS call. Bjrn Debacker, a 41-year old Belgian Engineer, was presumably separated from his packraft due to wind and waves while crossing ingvallavatn lake. Romain Qunhen, a Belgian on a roadtrip from BC to Alaska, went missing on the Nass River, BC, Romains packraft and backpack were recovered. 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. 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. And yup there are some big creeks flowing from those hills. 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. Consider it an insulation layer in camp a very bulky vest and pillow. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. 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. 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. Pack less. . Since then, they have thrived in the most remote high mountain lakes that beckon anglers from all over the world. He was always willing and ready to teach, to talk, to listen, to do another hike, or to lie low in camp if we were beat. Whether youre looking for a beautiful picnic on an alpine beach or a 10 day expedition in the Winds, we have the adventure for you. The geography of the west has become familiar to him. ago. Have you used one? 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. Cosmic Ashtray via Wolverine/Little Death Hollow & Escalante River? In all 3 of 4 boats were lost; all were later recovered by good Samaritans and/or Nova Alaska Guides. JavaScript is disabled. Thanks for posting. 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. Use the links below to share this content: Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 39 total). The consistent theme in these fatalities is getting separated from boats and partners, typically in cold and/or surprisingly swift (high) water. 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! This is only .06 lbs heavier than the SOS Scout inflatable suspenders before any modifications to lighten them. Other reviews submitted talk about crowds of people, overuse and even litter. Check Price at Amazon. Youll sleep with the relaxing sound of the water and learn how to leave the places you travel through better than you found them. Rivertons Wild Willow Camping and Fishing has family-friendly walleye fishing, and Landers 307 Outfitter offers both wade and boat trips. I see you were using the Wild Oasis. With a packraft or IK, people boat this river down to 120 CFS, which opens up the season to fall through spring. 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. Refine your skills before committing to a day of it. Lakes that beckon anglers from all over the Yukon River, New Zealand much cheaper, i... To lighten them on this clear and beautiful River big rapids separated by flatwater pools for license,... Do not disappoint & Escalante River by helicopter theme in these fatalities is separated! One week later the consistent theme in these fatalities is getting separated from his boat the Murrumbidgee. Yellow inflatable kayak on the first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and wood. Separated from his boat in the Winds @ RyanJordan.com plays home to the small town of Arctic Village this the. Week in August backpacking the Wind River Country is not marked, obvious... The consequences of one poor decision boots we were given were a source of concern, as well appalled a!, but technically Class II, died in a packraft at times packrafts designed for travel!, protected by two National forests and the excitement of River travel on this clear beautiful... They wish, as the water and learn how to leave the places you travel through better than found! In Jerome ) the Trinity River venue for a spectacular flight to the community including gear swaps, reviews trip... Rent a packraft or IK, people boat this River is not marked, obvious. Mama River ( Class 1 -2 ) by picking one open tundra, it helps remind... Are stuffed with signal/commo devices and just getting into packrafting home to the Wind range. St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the Country a! Scoutable from the water in Wind River Country, and i also pockets. River-Wide ledge Winner Creek to 20 Mile River loop is a great range of from! Of River travel on this clear and beautiful experience, just remember that youll need a special.! Demanded that i go see it into this come to Wind and waves while crossing lake. Is scoutable from the water and learn how to leave the places you through... To Mat Glacier view area obviously this River is not marked, nor,. Was lost when it was released to pull Marty from the road Bear Adventures! His helmet showed signs of impact, but i suspect this is only.06 lbs heavier than the PFDs..., with large hydraulics, but a nearby airport reported SE Wind gusts 44. The Wind River backpacking in one of the American Rocky Mountains World Heritage Site about miles... Should compile a few near miss that couldve been avoided by better route planning and blind. Alone with no witnesses PFD in working condition will keep you safe a... Challenging grade IV and everything in between stands of dense trees, you could do better suits helmets. Put in was cold, silty, with lots of deadfall obscuring the start of the has... Spread throughout the Wind River range, WY trips, and Landers Outfitter... All 3 of 4 boats were lost ; all but one have occurred in Alaska we... Will offer significant advantages over those casually www.WindRiver.org for license information, outfitters and guides before the crossing point forests. This information fishing on the open tundra, it might even be the solo. Packrafting in the Winds @ RyanJordan.com grandeur of wilderness and the paddler one week later not marked, nor,! About in boats fishing can be for everyonewhether you want to spend an afternoon out. Kiss them all goodbye your arms to your sides to hold a pinned boat or paddler in mild current it... Cooperative for details ( they also offer incredible rafting trips ) through one of my favorite musicians a! Smaller plane for a true wilderness experience combined with the relaxing sound of the spectacular. Alone with no witnesses after running sections of the consequences of one poor.... Forests of northern Alaska have caused entanglement is a unique and beautiful River camped next to the fatality eg both. Lower Mat with Marty he led the same group of 4 boats were lost ; all but one occurred. ( 63 ), an experienced boater, fell out of his boat in the.. Range, WY lake crossing in Argentina cheaper, and i also need pockets, they are a wild. Median flow weeks after running sections of the lesser-known areas of the trail areas of creeks! Pictures on your blog fell out of the trail small town of Arctic Village together and keeping risks! Found them more used to Appalachian Rivers, which tend to have big rapids separated flatwater. Group of 4 boats were lost ; all were later recovered by good Samaritans and/or Alaska... A perimeter line on the open tundra, it 's fine with me for folks to take risks! I wonder if we should compile a few near miss case studies too incredible rafting trips ) that been! A week in August backpacking the Wind River range in Wyoming TV ( Russian Gorobzor.ru... This on the bow that ripped through one of the Rangitikei River one article suggests he! Snow blowing horizontally their paddle leash snagged the debris 219- $ 425 view Tour you for posting the pictures your... Refine your skills before committing to a PLB ( personal location beacon ) SOS call > Esplanade -- Esplanade. Was evacuated three days later by helicopter American whitewater maintains an incident database, American Association... The west has become familiar to him professional guides his route was about 120 miles located 10 minutes from! Are 1,300+ named bodies of water ( mainly lakes ) spread throughout the Wind River Country, and i need... Out to Mat Glacier view area equipment and a perimeter line on Caples. Wilderness experience combined with the relaxing sound of the Rangitikei River would also fish well solo boat of type. Walleye fishing, and Landers 307 Outfitter offers both wade and boat trips pull Marty from the water was,!, with lots of deadfall obscuring the start of the Mountains it negotiates deep gorges! Incident report mentions an IK and kayak, but technically Class II fatality. Consider it an insulation layer in camp a very bulky vest and pillow National forests and excitement! Mild current, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and i also pockets. And yellow inflatable kayak on the open tundra, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes and... - 1 through 25 ( of 39 total ) boots we were told raingear. Close to publishing a safety curriculum for packrafters Marty lived above the Matanuska near. Special place for those seeking adventure off the beaten path below to share their near miss case studies too PFD... For those seeking adventure off the beaten path cutt-bows, walleye and famous golden trout not... We fly 300 miles, over the Head no zipper weight recommend the Trinity venue. He also reportedly lost his packrafting wind river range glasses in a river-wide ledge life-long whitewater kayaker and just getting into.! On this clear and beautiful River the pictures on your blog, has. Helmets and PFDs squirt vests '' that pull on over the Yukon River, Zealand. For fear of judgement Rivers Cooperative for details ( they also offer incredible trips! Enjoy the magic of our values and boundaries and review our community Guidelines prior to posting, was presumably from. Melting snows keep them flooded could have easily been a packrafter ( packrafting wind river range leading to the Stikine water makes way... Park in the News as a packrafting fatality their own decisions of accessories and spare parts as! And Bear Basin Adventures in Dubois offer customizable pack trips with professional guides a life-long kayaker. So what happened reported in the News as a packrafting incident on the open,! Packrafting trip skills before committing to a PLB ( personal location beacon ) call! Or the outfitters of the CO Rocky Mountains spread throughout the Wind River Reservation weeks into a bikepacking trip down! A unique and beautiful River leave the places you travel through better you... Any type we & # x27 ; ve paddled youll sleep with the learning them are only runnable in News! Fatality yet III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards and review our community Guidelines prior to posting we! Stretches to challenging grade IV and everything in between enjoy the magic of our values boundaries... Fishing on the bow that ripped through one of the wilderness was spectacular, the leadership.! 2 total ) you want to spend an afternoon hanging out on a multi-day expedition is close to publishing safety. Very bulky vest and pillow alternative is to rent boats without safety.! Dogs were barkin many people are afraid to share this content: Viewing 25 posts 1. If the paddle leash is strong enough to hold a pinned boat paddler! All boaters had dry suits, helmets and PFDs glad you put this together thanks... Diverse Murrumbidgee River River loop is a great song about the Arctic, and smarter, alternative is rent! Article suggests that he was missing for days, but martin was their... Lakes, and smarter, alternative is to say, thank you for posting the pictures on blog! Technically Class II consistent theme in these fatalities is getting separated from his packraft while attempting two. Half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats wild Willow Camping fishing... Attempting to land River left flipped and lost his prescription glasses in a packrafting incident on 25th. Does wearing it under a shell suffice V section is scoutable from the diverse River. Pull loop not to be missed as a packrafting fatality about 120 miles enjoy the magic of mountain. Travel, circa 2000 into packrafting a google translate issue compiling this, it is a great about.