Juneau Police Department information release (2021-09-07)Juneau Empire article. Like the fiber from the tropical tree? Click here for more info. I could head south and hop on a river, but the 100-degree heat in the Moab area made this look pretty unappealing. Double Drop Hutt Gorge ( Dan Clearwater) is Class III due to the size of the drops and the holes that develop at higher flows. You must log in or register to reply here. 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. Marty had extensive wilderness experiences throughout his lifetime. Peter was paddling alone, in an Alpacka Raft Scout, which is not intended for use in whitewater. The Classic: Titcomb Basin Trailhead Start: Elkhart Park Mileage: 29-30 miles RT Trip Type: Out-and-back The article does not discuss prior experience but mentions that they had life jackets and insufficient insulation layers given the water temperature. Most parties use either gullible friends or commercial shuttles. Autumn on the Wind offers clear cold nights, aurora viewing, fall colors, and excellent hiking. 1 mo. 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". Seneca Lake is right at the beginning of some of the most spectacular high alpine climbing and backpacking routes. 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. This feature requires an active Backpacking Light Membership. Denali provides a wide range of rivers to run in the park, from wide, braided streams to deep, boulder-strewn rivers. Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. It's fine with me for folks to take whatever risks that they wish, as long as they are informed. Richard, we pulled into camp late and didn't want to inflate our rafts until morning, but yes, they are actually pretty comfy. We found his foot tracks in a gravel bar where we believe he had pulled in and looked downriver, Tim said. Ive been much lower on the Green a few times, in much larger rafts, and always wondered what it was like way up there. 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. No, it was a swiftwater river between lakes at the Jokullsarlon Lagoon. . 08.20.21 to 13:20 we approached the rapid of the Delikskiy cascade (category 3). After the climb we packrafted back to the trailhead, awesome! The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. Packrafting is a unique sportyou carry your inflatable boat on your back to access the water. 09-09-2016, 08:05 #7. The last few days of paddling promise steady and fun white water as this steep little river races towards the Chandalar River. No direction but to follow what you know. What sort of construction keeps it dry? Im planning a fishing/packrafting trip for July of 2017. Consider it an insulation layer in camp a very bulky vest and pillow. On our trip of Big Wild Adventures, we travelled through a part of the range very seldom visited by backpackers. There was a rafting death on the Landsborough River recentlya really popular wilderness packrafting trip. Wrangell / St. Elias NPS Incident reportsWashington Post article. The total distance for his route was about 120 miles. A guidebook describes the area above and below this section as Class V. Neither Class V section is scoutable from the road. For someone not at all familiar with this region- when specifically? 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. Backpacking in one of the lesser-known areas of the CO Rocky Mountains. 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. Make sure you have your biggest net ready to go. This range also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the American Rocky Mountains. Insufficient safety equipment (PFD and/or drysuit) was common in the earlier incidents, and perhaps less so more recently. Pretty depressing to see fatalities related to no-PFD. About 2 minutes into this run he went over a hole and flipped. I have led several canoe/backpack loops of the Bigelow range and Flagstaff lake in western Maine. 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. These creeks are punctuated by class 6 drops, commiting gorges and other excitement. Much more comfortable than I was expecting. Colin Buness (25) disappeared on a solo trip to the Katate, a tributary to the Stikine. No other details are available at this point. Wind could hold you up in a packraft at times. Starting on the open tundra, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska. 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. While the second highest peak in Wyoming - the Grand Teton - is located in the Teton Range, the next 19 tallest mountains in the state are also in the Wind River Range. Is there a publication that lays out the basics? If AW isnt a good fit, maybe APA would host something? If you find yourself in Dubois, check out Wind River Flyfitter. I capsized in Iceland. The paddlers were two weeks into a bikepacking trip. 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. I dont recommend trimming the neck gasket as you can easily ruin it stretch it over a form and check it regularly so you dont over stretch it. 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! The water in Wind River Country is not to be missed. Twenty of the 21 highest mountains in Wyoming are in the Winds, all except for the Grand Teton, just a couple hours' drive north. There is not much information about this fatality yet. A Membership is required to post in the forums. Stephen Andrew Bowler, 30, died in a packrafting incident on the Caples River, New Zealand. 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. Very nice. Since then, they have thrived in the most remote high mountain lakes that beckon anglers from all over the world. But its only a matter of time. As always, the trip was more than I expected and I had a great time. Southern Utah and Mesa Verde in June with Kids, Day hikes in the White Clouds and Lost River Range, Packrafting the Cumberland River Below the Falls - Kentucky, Backpacking The Wind River Range - Wyoming, September 2022, Fall paddle on the West Branch of the Sacandaga River 10/23/22, Dirty Devil River Impassible at Poison Springs Canyon, Wind River Range: Green River Lakes/Clarks Trail/Porcupine Creek Trail, Amazing Appalachians - Backpacking/Packrafting the AT and Nantahala River, Snake River; Wolverine, Coulter, Pilgrim Creeks, July-Aug. 2022. He also reportedly lost his prescription glasses in a river crossing.. For our summer vacation in 2015 we decided to spend a week in August backpacking the Wind River Range in Wyoming. He checked in with his PLB the evening before the last sign of life. Meet your guide(s) for a pre-trip meeting in Fairbanks at 4 pm at Arctic Wild headquarters. 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. Scott - A packraft paddles much more like a river boat than a canoe, raft, or a touring kayak. Hiked in ~12miles on the Highline trail from the Green River Lakes trailhead to Beaver Park on Friday, set up camp, ran ~3miles of the river to the one class III drop to get a feel for the river. We've been wanting to packraft the Crooked River through the popular climbing area, Smith Rock, for some time. So, I usually, for small creeks and calm water, use a TorsoLite pad wrapped around my chest under my shell. Marty then led the group from shore down stream. You can now take guided packrafting trips in Wind River Country. I took one swim in it (so far) and stayed totally dry and warm. The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. Saw no one on the porcupine trails and most people on the highline trail. You can also see a progression of the sport from Alaska-centric, to global, from 2009 to today. Alpacka made an incredibly light suit for several years, but I think the lightest option currently on the market is something like the Kokatak Swift Entry, 2 lbs. High peaks flank the valley on three sides. Youll sleep with the relaxing sound of the water and learn how to leave the places you travel through better than you found them. A real PFD is a whole lot better. Sunny and no wind! The Windriver Range offers some of the lower 48's wildest country. 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. 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 . More Alaska reading is available from our Bookstore. So rather than get on a high-horse about it, could someone just describe the experience of swimming rapids in this rig? 52. r/WildernessBackpacking. Packrafting Course Level 1: Medium 2 days (3rd optional) $$ Learn and practice the foundational skills you need to have fun on the water. The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. Luc, thanks for caring, researching, and publishing! 08/19/21 we all successfully passed the Straight Rapid on the Levaya Mama River (category 3). But I had to go. 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! Home Forums Finding Meaning on the Green River, Companion forum thread to: Finding Meaning on the Green River. Wow, Richard, awesome data! Packrafts are known as very forgiving crafts. The major difference is the inability of the packrafts to edge as aggressively. His partners found him after thirty minutes and performed CPR, but recovery was not possible. Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. Backpacking Light helps hikers and other backcountry enthusiasts overcome their barriers to living a life outside in Wild Places. But it could have easily been a packrafter (everything leading to the fatality eg. These packrafts are designed for excitement whether bouncing down a river or cruising over wave trains. The Wind River offers a great mix of packrafting, hiking, fishing, and wildlife. Snake River Lollipop Loop - Yellowstone National Park - August 8, 2021, Jemez River, Las Conchas Trail and Beyond, Pine River, Lake Creek, Flint Creek Loop San Juan. Continuing to encourage drysuit use in the packrafting community is important. New TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! I was appalled on a trip with outfitters in Alaska where we were told your raingear will be fine. Anybody out there find the lightest foam-filled PFD? 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. 51 cumecs on Saturday, 40 on Sunday. I believe he had some gear essentials (stove, etc.) 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. The Valdez search and rescue team responded to an inReach alert regarding a missing packrafter. Bike rafters can be superior and have no shuttle. Rescuers found his packraft in a log jam. There's the Caribou, Forager, Gnarwhal, Wolverine, Scout and Explorer 42, as well as the Classic Series. 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. Please post more pics if you have time or put them on your blog.