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. They have seven options for rafts, plus a range of accessories and spare parts. 7. Cold rains and snow are possible, but mostly, bad weather might come in the form of rain. I bought the Kokatat Swift Entry drysuit with relief zipper. Kathryn Montana Perkinson is a writer living in Lander, Wyoming. The Wind River Range (or "Winds" for short) is a mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in western Wyoming in the United States.The range runs roughly NW-SE for approximately 100 mi (160 km). Backpacking Light helps hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts overcome their barriers to living a life outside in Wild Places. 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. No, it was a swiftwater river between lakes at the Jokullsarlon Lagoon. Use the links below to share this content: Viewing 25 posts - 1 through 25 (of 39 total). Bike rafters can be superior and have no shuttle. 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. We cant know for sure, but the leash seems most likely to have caused entanglement. The next day, his empty raft and backpack were found on the southern shore, about 12km away. One-meter waves were reported on shore after the incident. John & Roman et al that 14 oz vest is a Stearns Class III, you can buy them at Wal-Mart. If there's a perfect packraft day trip, this might be it. Thanks for your post. Come to Wind River Country, and enjoy the magic of our mountain water. 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. Sport-boating anything Class III and over must of course be done in solid foam PFD I think! Close calls are abundant within the packrafting community, serious injuries and fatalities have been rare. Join. It is not clear if they were in the boat or swimming when they came into contact with the debris. No other details are available at this point. Christchurch to Clarence Bridge - 240km. The reporting party was reached and assisted within hours, and the missing packrafter was found, deceased, on rocks farther downriver. Pack less. Gratuity for guide(s). A Premium or Unlimited Membership* is required to view the rest of this article. I like your approach of considering the drysuit as part of the initial kit & cost. For another place to enjoy a quiet romp around the water, head up the Loop Road above Bruces Bridge in Sinks Canyon into the Shoshone National Forest. If you find yourself in Dubois, check out Wind River Flyfitter. From the Elkhart Park trailhead, the trail passes several alpine lakes before you reach its crown jewel: Titcomb Basin, surrounded by the amazing Cirque of the Towers. You can now take guided packrafting trips in Wind River Country. 08/19/21 we all successfully passed the Straight Rapid on the Levaya Mama River (category 3). Hoping to find something under the 2 pound mark.. Ryan mentioned a 14 oz pfd here, but never said what brand it was. You mention "a few weeks back", and "fall colors". Take your own kayak, canoe or raft, and enjoy the serenity of places like Boysen Reservoir and State Park near Shoshoni. I have led several canoe/backpack loops of the Bigelow range and Flagstaff lake in western Maine. All boaters had dry suits, helmets and PFDs. More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore. For ocean kayaking I use the Sabre, and I also need pockets, they are stuffed with signal/commo devices. 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. He road scouted a section of the Bugaboo and determined that it was below his skill level. However, as the water makes its way out of the mountains it negotiates deep granite gorges. I am most familiar with California Canoe and Kayak (CCK) classes and guides in Northern CA. Richard, Kapok? While the water is flat and calm as it passes the dramatic cliffs in the state park, right above it is continuous class IV with some short flat areas and only a few access points into the canyon. Any correctly-fitted, US Coast Guard-approved PFD in working condition will keep you safe in a spill. A good starting point is to keep a visual of this model in mind, recognize and acknowledge all of the little decisions that can lead to an incident. I misspoke relative to the Astral Kapok (natural material) PFDs. I believe he had some gear essentials (stove, etc.) Saw another packraft on the lower lake with a fisherman inside, excellent fishing on the Green R. too. Wyoming Rivers Cooperative is strategically located just 2 hours from Yellowstone National Park and Jackson Hole Wyoming, nestled in the foothills of the Wind River Mountains. I would guess that the upper lake would also fish well. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. Many rivers, some close to Wiseman, offer a variety of skill-level for packrafters. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. Stephen Andrew Bowler, 30, died in a packrafting incident on the Caples River, New Zealand. Duration 1-4 Days Level Moderate Dates May-September Price $219-$425 View Tour. He had a paddle leash attached to his spray skirt pull loop. The group was evacuated three days later by helicopter. If AW isnt a good fit, maybe APA would host something? Autumn on the Wind offers clear cold nights, aurora viewing, fall colors, and excellent hiking. The lyrics seem more real after seeing that video of you bombing through the reeds. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. Packrafting Escalante River. The Nizina is Class II where Aidan flipped out of his boat, but very cold and choked with glacial silt. 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. 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. You can also see a progression of the sport from Alaska-centric, to global, from 2009 to today. As your data shows, a drysuit is also an important piece of safety gear especially for packrafting because rolling up is unlikely and swims are more likely. Thanks to the drysuit and thermal layer, my core was 100% normal the whole time. Please be mindful of our values and boundaries and review our Community Guidelines prior to posting. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody, have wonderful floatable sections. He also reportedly lost his prescription glasses in a river crossing.. 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. 20 Days of Backpacking & Packrafting the Brooks Range in Alaska - Aqua Bound Colorado Outward Bound instructors, Noah Larsen and Arthur Shain, took on Alaska's Brooks Range for a 400-mile packraft and backpack expedition in August. Great detail that it works with the shorter torsolight and that it's actually better to avoid a full body wrapyou're going for a taco rather than burrito :~). Nahuel Huapi took them by surprise with violent waves, hit their boats and threw them into the water. A second boater was able to recover her boat, presumably re-enter, and paddle to shore. These are the fatalities Im familiar > with; all but one have occurred in Alaska. Saw no one on the porcupine trails and most people on the highline trail. Seemingly defying gravity, the Hollyford's waters take you to the coast, then after only crossing an 80m high saddle, the Pyke guides you most of the way back towards where you began. We then catch a smaller plane for a spectacular flight to the Wind River. 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. They're not so hot for whitewater and can't punch you out of a hole well. Body Glove mens 3t Cinch-m Water Shoe, Black/Yellow, 11 US. The Sondre Stromfjord is an almost linear, 170km fjord which can funnel foehn winds fjord the Ice Sheet. Im planning a fishing/packrafting trip for July of 2017. 5. Ive been in touch with American Whitewater about trying to get packrafts listed as their own category (they keep statistics on non-US rivers too). Enjoyed tour trip report and video! Courses Instruction. You base camp on the river and paddle a different section each day. We were able to nail them down for a video chat Skip to content Close menu SHOP Kayak Paddles High-Angle Low-Angle (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! It heads directly uphill, very steep, with no switchbacks for the first 100yrs then becomes obvious. I also had to beg my little brother out of doing the Nenana Canyon without a drysuit, I couldve very well be sans 1 little bro at this point! It's hard to imagine a trip that's as action-packed and scenic as packrafting the Escalante River in Utah. Denali provides a wide range of rivers to run in the park, from wide, braided streams to deep, boulder-strewn rivers. 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/. It is size large and weighs 2lb-4oz or 1024g on my scale. (sorry could not figure out how to post a narrative does it go here?). Nope. Use the links below to share this content: Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). 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. The analogy that comes to mind is going back to using cloths line to "protect" climbing routes becaues of it's handling characteristics while in your pack. On July 15, 2017 river level was slightly higher than Martys highest run (number not recorded). I assume that you've looked at "squirt vests" that pull on over the head no zipper weight? Fishing can be for everyonewhether you want to spend an afternoon hanging out on a riverbank or go on a multi-day expedition. I can give a personal account of the Lions Head/Rinke incident. Virginia resident Peter Jolles, 46, was reported overdue at a Bugaboo Creek takeout, British Columbia, and has not yet been located. Twenty of the 21 highest mountains in Wyoming are in the Winds, all except for the Grand Teton, just a couple hours' drive north. Sarah Kilbourne Unrestricted access to all 2,300+ articles, gear reviews, skills, stories, and more. For sometime going here to the Verde and the Mazatzal in the winter to hike and wander for abit has been big on my list. The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. I am not sure this post will gain the attention of those needed to input, but can anyone suggest a starting point for packrafting? ", "That feeling of wide open wonder, the possibilities for nearly limitless wandering, and the image of those proud caribouthat will stay with me a long time", "Our guide was an encyclopedia on legs. Video 3: River Hazards Run time: 1 minute 37 seconds I need survival and misc gear in my PFD firestarting kit, knife, whistle, camera, and a snack. Youll find picture perfect stops at Worthen Reservoir, as well as Frye, Fiddlers and Louis lakes. Moments later he went through another hole and was separated from his boat. There has been some discussion about how they were able to rent boats without safety equipment. You can expect to learn about local fauna, see magical sights and catch some really big fish! Packrafting is very simple. The paddlers were two weeks into a bikepacking trip. 3 miles of this was really fun class II+ starting just before Moose Creek Rd junction. Rescuers found his packraft in a log jam. I often leave the drysuit behind, but it is always a calculated decision. When you stand on the edge of a cool mountain river or lake and cast, youre given a chance to slow down and listen to the crickets and birds chirping, watch the sunlight stream through a lodgepole pine and smell the fresh mountain air. But if Im going to be taking several days off from work, I want the intention behind a trip to make me feel like every moment is worthwhile. Don't like ads? We found his foot tracks in a gravel bar where we believe he had pulled in and looked downriver, Tim said. Our water! Visit www.WindRiver.org for license information, outfitters and guides. Thank you for posting the pictures on your blog. What Ive learned is that you can be reasonably comfortable in a drysuit even in warmer weather wear lightest layers or shorts under it. Mostly Class II. The Sndre Strmfjord is an almost linear, 170 km fjord which can funnel strong winds from the ice sheet. So the takeaway is that glacial rivers tend to be more continuous. Jeffrey DeRonde was trapped in river debris (I assume wood) and fully submerged. I have swum rapids with it. Mine uses 5/8" nylon straps with side release buckles attached to 1/2" miniature grommets in the pad's RF welded rim. If the paddle leash is strong enough to hold a pinned boat or paddler in mild current, it is a potential killer. Have you used one? I believe Forrest quotes the minimum at about 300. Wrangell St. Elias National Park is the largest National Park in the country and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Native to the Sierra Nevada, California allowed their exportation for a brief time, and Wyoming stocked a handful of lakes in the Wind River Range. 08.20.21 to 13:20 we approached the rapid of the Delikskiy cascade (category 3). It was an easy decision to stay in the sleeping bag until late morning, and we ate breakfast in the car to . Peter was wearing full personal protective equipment (dry suit, PFD, helmet). I packarafted a small area of the wind river range last July (2016) at the green river lakes trail head/ campground. 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. Backpacking in one of the lesser-known areas of the CO Rocky Mountains. The first two gorges feature Class III/IV drops and frequent wood hazards. 1 mo. Login or become a member to post in the member forums! 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. Too many people are afraid to share their near miss stories for fear of judgement. Packrafting is an adventurous way to move through Alaska's Arctic. Or the Outfitters of the Wyoming Wilderness and Bear Basin Adventures in Dubois offer customizable pack trips with professional guides. Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. I find the notion of the torso light torso burrito "interesting.". Stephen and two partners were on a three-day packrafting excursion. Packrafting is a unique sportyou carry your inflatable boat on your back to access the water. In the summer of 2015 a German paddler disappeared in the Sndre Strmfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. It's risky. Join us for fun paddling and wildlife watching in the Brooks Range this fall. Wind River Range. 5.0. - Yellowstone National Park - September 13, 2021, Grand Canyon Loop: Thunder River -> Tapeats -> Kanab -> Sowats. I was appalled on a trip with outfitters in Alaska where we were told your raingear will be fine. On Sunday, we put in back at the trailhead and paddled ~8miles below the lakes to the Big Bend pullout (http://wyomingnaturalist.com/river_green_warren.html ). When the wind comes from the north, the temperature can drop to below freezing. Routes. Two weeks after running sections of the lower Mat with Marty he led the same group of 4 on Lions head. To be honest, my first reaction is that it's wacked. 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. Unrestricted access to all forums, plus the ability to post and start new threads. Wow, Richard, awesome data! Im looking forward to not updating this page. 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. Rates start at $30 per day for a five- or six-day rental. You will be warm, confident, and paddle more aggressively because you are not afraid to be in the water. The team had helmets, but not drysuits. Wrangell / St. Elias NPS Incident reportsWashington Post article. Definitely a near miss that couldve been avoided by better route planning and scouting blind corners. I'm packrafting the 117-mile-long Tay, Scotland's longest and most powerful river, from source to sea, and this kind of excitement is par for the course. 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. The group had committed to portaging all of the gorges, but Stephen re-assessed and decided to run the first gorge, alone. This is exactly the reason I keep coming back to this site. To get truly wild with your Wind River Country fly fishing, head into the mountains for a few days or a week for the adventure of a lifetime. My old NRS drysuit is heavy. we offer plenty of courses that include rafting, canoeing, kayaking, packrafting and rescue. Starting on the open tundra, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska. Every boater, even those with backpacks, need some sort of PFD at some level of risk. But it could have easily been a packrafter (everything leading to the fatality eg. We parked at Summit Lake, north of Paxson, where satellite imagery revealed an ATV trail that would bring us above the brush. 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.