The Wind River Range runs along the Continental Divide and boasts some high elevations. TRIP DETAILS The river, which holds more water than . Juneau Police Department information release (2021-09-07)Juneau Empire article. Too many people are afraid to share their near miss stories for fear of judgement. we offer plenty of courses that include rafting, canoeing, kayaking, packrafting and rescue. Denali provides a wide range of rivers to run in the park, from wide, braided streams to deep, boulder-strewn rivers. I have led several canoe/backpack loops of the Bigelow range and Flagstaff lake in western Maine. This, combined with wearing it under a shell, keeps it in place quite well. Many of the creeks, like the Dinwoody . Hot showers are in order! About 2 minutes into this run he went over a hole and flipped. One-meter waves were reported on shore after the incident. Richard, I *normally* use an SOS inflatable BUT I forgot it in the car, so I wasn't wearing a PFD. All recordings are now online! And I see you still use your Tilley? These packrafts are designed for excitement whether bouncing down a river or cruising over wave trains. Peter was wearing full personal protective equipment (dry suit, PFD, helmet). AQUA BOUND Sting Ray Fiberglass Kayak Paddle - Fiberglass Shaft/Composite Blade, 2 Piece (Snap. 5.0. Bubbles(?) The body of P.K. He had a paddle leash attached to his spray skirt pull loop. A wonderful adventure and I would like to return next year for a longer, more challenging trip. Wow, glad you put this together, thanks. USARA statement regarding Peter JollesCTV News, Vancouver. Astral and Norge are the two primary manufacturers of this PFD type. 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. 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. The article does not discuss prior experience but mentions that they had life jackets and insufficient insulation layers given the water temperature. 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! Refine your skills before committing to a day of it. 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. Packrafts are known as very forgiving crafts. 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. I will adopt that when discussing with people interested in the sport. He had a full safety kit (PFD, helmet, drysuit), frequently scouted rapids, and frequently swam. Weather permitting, we catch our plane back to civilization. Im planning a fishing/packrafting trip for July of 2017. Have a look at our selection of paddles which have been specifically chosen designed and tested for packrafting. Elkhart/Titcomb/Knapsack/Shannons Pass loop back to Elkhart, or continue to Green River Lakes Trailhead? 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. 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. 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. Since then, they have thrived in the most remote high mountain lakes that beckon anglers from all over the world. 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. Our premium articles include in depth journalism and insights from the Backpacking Light editorial team. I took one swim in it (so far) and stayed totally dry and warm. The Wind's crystal-clear waters are perfect and you can hike the alpine ridges. With at risk kids we took 6-9 days but you could do it faster. 3 miles of this was really fun class II+ starting just before Moose Creek Rd junction. Wind River Visitors Council I packarafted a small area of the wind river range last July (2016) at the green river lakes trail head/ campground. 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. I ran in from Beaver Park about 10 days ago at 420 CFS, https://waterdata.usgs.gov/wy/nwis/uv?site_no=09188500. Packrafting is an adventurous way to move through Alaska's Arctic. Rivertons Wild Willow Camping and Fishing has family-friendly walleye fishing, and Landers 307 Outfitter offers both wade and boat trips. Thanks Bigtime for this Trip Report. After inflating our pack rafts and talking about river safety, we set off onto the Winda small, clear river. The rapids consist of steep drops and boulder gardens, as described in this link: river description (go to [4]). Heck, it might even be the best solo boat of any type we've paddled. All scouted and ran the first rapid as planned then pulling over river right. 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. Lodging, non-camp meals, personal clothing and gear, waterproof river bag, fishing gear, and fishing license. My chest is 45" and so this is the size I weighed. 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. He then intended to float to the Alcan Highway in the Yukon. Starting on the open tundra, it flows beneath limestone spires, past glacial lakes, and through the boreal forests of northern Alaska. Another fatality I know of: in summer 2015 a German paddler disappaered in the Sondre Stromfjord near Kangerlussuaq, Greenland. Roman The lightest non-inflatable PFDs use kapok instead of CC foam. I had a close call with a buddy getting pinned to a log jam (inexperience and poor trip planning), he ended up climbing out of his boat onto the jam and I went downstream after his raft. I see you were using the Wild Oasis. Peter was paddling alone, in an Alpacka Raft Scout, which is not intended for use in whitewater. Wind River Range North: Beartooth Publishing; USGS 7.5 minute topographical Maps: New Fork Lakes; Squaretop Mountain; and Gannett Peak available at www.store.usgs.gov; Books: Ron Adkison, Hiking Wyoming's Wind River Range. 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. All boaters had dry suits, helmets and PFDs. mkset.ru (Russian)KP.RU (Russian)Gorobzor.ru (Russian)GTRK TV (Russian). 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. Never Summer Wilderness, Colorado. But I had to go. Jaymes overturned his boat and was quickly separated from his partner. During the passage of the rapid, all our three boats were overturned, two of us managed to reach the right bank. Duration 1-4 Days Level Moderate Dates May-September Price $219-$425 View Tour. Jaymes H. Schoenberg (22) and a partner used packrafts to cross the swollen Sagavanirktok River en route to Arctic Village. He probably fell out of his raft, got seperated from it, and drowned in the icy water. 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! You mention "a few weeks back", and "fall colors". New TRAIL DAYS ONLINE! Take your own kayak, canoe or raft, and enjoy the serenity of places like Boysen Reservoir and State Park near Shoshoni. Can you swim strongly and with confidence to affect a self-rescue? 1 mo. Ran this section another time then drove home. You must be logged in to reply to this topic. 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. Lander, WY 82520. Continuing to encourage drysuit use in the packrafting community is important. I have done several backpacking trips in the Winds, but I had never started from Green River Lakes (GRL)and Tracy had never been to Titcomb . 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. 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. Below Smith Rock are some meaty . The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. He checked in with his PLB the evening before the last sign of life. It was an easy decision to stay in the sleeping bag until late morning, and we ate breakfast in the car to . The Wind River Range is one of America's great wilderness areas! Neither boater wore PFDs (or drysuits, I assume). 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. The group had committed to portaging all of the gorges, but Stephen re-assessed and decided to run the first gorge, alone. 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". 6. They're not so hot for whitewater and can't punch you out of a hole well. But whats our best kept secret? River had dropped foot to ~1500 cfs. Nova Alaska Guides extricated Marty and boater #3. 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 . I am a life-long whitewater kayaker and just getting into packrafting. This topic is empty. 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. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. Theres beautiful hiking in the area, for after you get your fill of time on the water. P.K. Satellite imagery shows large rapids just out of sight from his probable put in. 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! The hike up to Berry Pass is seriously underrated, and the views of the 20 Mile watershed are absolutely . This range also plays home to the biggest glacier in all of the American Rocky Mountains. Join. A Frenchman was reported overdue around the northern end of Lake Rotorua. 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. Obviously this river is not suitable for our 16 footer, though! It appears to have been windy on the fjord on the day he disappeared. His partners found him after thirty minutes and performed CPR, but recovery was not possible. There is not much information about this fatality yet. Tp. The ideal packrafting PFD. Thanks to packrafts, you can combine a world-class Grand Canyon backpacking journey with a jaunt down the river. I know BAD! Experience the grandeur of wilderness and the excitement of river travel on this clear and beautiful river. But its only a matter of time. My old NRS drysuit is heavy. The crux of the route was finding the trail to Granite Lake. 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. 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). The adventure range of packrafts are versatile and varied. Most skills learned are applicable to packrafting. Check out Lander-based Wyoming Rivers Cooperative for details (they also offer incredible rafting trips). http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/xdpy/forum_thread/15/index.html. The Wrangells traverse is an Alaskan classic and is often the first route that gets recommended when discussing packrafting in the last frontier. With over 600 lakes and reservoirs, and 2,000 miles of river, visitors to Wind River Country have plenty of opportunity to explore the Rocky Mountain West via its waterways. 2022 Dates July 17-21 (1 space left) Experience Required: McCarthy Creek to Kennicott River (CLII+) Medium to Very Hard 6-12 hours $$ One nice hike, two amazing rivers! 2 packrafts and 2 paddles were lost, one paddle and 1 packraft remained. Waters with > Class 3 or strainers etc. It is not marked, nor obvious, with lots of deadfall obscuring the start of the trail. Lacking a major mining boom like the Colorado Silver Boom, few access roads pierce the range, requiring long backpacking trips to penetrate the range and reach the highest peaks. Whoever you choose to go with, extended time in the mountains fishing is a must. Far East Alaska Range Luc Mehl. Thanks to Konstantin Gridnevskiy and Taras Popov for sharing this information. Im sure youll have a blast anywhere in the wind river range however. A calm and quiet river, perfectly suited for a trip with the whole family. It's also certainly possible that I'm missing something here, so don't want to get to far up on the soapbox, but this strikes me as a really poor idea. * A Basic Membership is required to view Member Q&A events. Is there a publication that lays out the basics? Enjoy short, easy day hikes or more intense backpacking trips, depending on what wets your whistle. If you like big stands of dense trees, you could do better. Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, Alaska Geographic; Being Caribou, Karsten Heuer; Arctic Dreams,Barry Lopez; Packrafting!, Roman Dial. Have you used one? Thanks to the drysuit and thermal layer, my core was 100% normal the whole time. My objective in posting was to gain some clarity about what you're doing, how, and under what circumstances / constraints. Most mosquitos Ive ever encountered along the green river, they are immune to bug spray it seems; long sleeves and a head net are your best protection. I could head south and hop on a river, but the 100-degree heat in the Moab area made this look pretty unappealing. The Wind River Range is protected by 750,000 acres of public land in western Wyoming. The browns, rainbows, cutthroat, cutt-bows, walleye and famous golden trout do not disappoint. Ran it in August, 2014 at about 850 cfs in beautiful weather. Get our free Handbook and Receive our weekly newsletter to see what's new at Backpacking Light! We parked at Summit Lake, north of Paxson, where satellite imagery revealed an ATV trail that would bring us above the brush. I need survival and misc gear in my PFD firestarting kit, knife, whistle, camera, and a snack. You're currently viewing a free preview of a member exclusive premium article. It gets worn around the front of the chest, it's not long enough to go around your back. The paddler was in their 70s, and it is suspected that their paddle leash snagged the debris. Use the links below to share this content: Viewing 2 posts - 1 through 2 (of 2 total). Unrestricted access to all forums, plus the ability to post and start new threads. Backcountry access Bettles, AK. Intro to Packrafting Embark on a journey to one of Fiordland's hidden gems. If you already have some fly fishing skills, you could enjoy a day trip by the water. No intent to chide. 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. In the absence of a real freeze-up before your trip, I imagine it will be fine but there may be a few cobble bars youll have to walk or scoot through. These are the fatalities Im familiar > with; all but one have occurred in Alaska. However, as the water makes its way out of the mountains it negotiates deep granite gorges. The major difference is the inability of the packrafts to edge as aggressively. The lyrics seem more real after seeing that video of you bombing through the reeds. Rescuers responded to a PLB (personal location beacon) SOS call.