Good TR. Flows are subjective, of course. I've run everything you listed at about the flows you listed. Perhaps I'm just getting old, but I wouldn't want much more water than what you had for any of 'em. It's been ~10 years since I ran EF and WF San Juan. Did you run the burly hike-in box on the WF?

The Smith river system in SW OR and NW CA is a gem to be experienced.

https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2019/12 ... miths.html

Why is the gnarwhal so much better Mike? Because Mike is an Ambassador for Alpacka haha. For a very new paddler, the Gnarwal will be a little more forgiving (especially in the regular fabric, because it's less rigid.) But as a hardshell boater, I think you'll find the self-bailer Nirvana edges bett...

Pics, vid, and words here:

https://mikesee.exposure.co/upper-mercednbsp

Pics, vid, and words here:

https://mikesee.exposure.co/upper-mercednbsp

Sold.

They aren't even close.

Gnarwhal is in a league of its own.

I glue 2 alpacka grab loops to the inside of my cockpit, at the bow, right about where my toes touch when I'm sitting in the boat. These patches are glued about a fist-width apart. Then I connect them with a loop of ~5mm p-cord. This creates a handle that I can grab while shouldering the boat, w whi...

Pics, words, details here:

https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2019/05 ... pring.html

Price dropped.

Pics, specs, pricing, and contact info here:

https://bigwheeldeals.blogspot.com/2019 ... -sale.html

If the ad is still here the boat is still available.

Thanks.

I've paddled a Forager and Gnu a fair bit.

I've seen the PR49 in action. It is a barge -- capable of hauling lots of weight, but not really good in whitewater.

I think the Forager is hard to beat. Big, comfy, light, and nimble (for a 2 person boat) in whitewater.

I have one of the Suspicious Devices versions and if we have a group of ~4 or more that's what we take.

If I'm solo I take a foil turkey basting pan from the local grocery.

I often use a POV camera when paddling.  When I do post-trip write-ups I like to sprinkle some POV in there to give an idea of what the creek/river was like.  It's also nice to be able to visually refer back to a certain line or level when sharing beta with others, or for others to use when 'youtube...

This and Sheep next time, with a Honolulu capper.

Sounds like a great find, Brad. Thanks for sharing.

Cleaning out the attic, the garage, and the corners of the shop. Way overdue.

I just posted a pile of ads at my sale page. Please check 'em out here.

Thanks.

Here:

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2018/06/ ... eview.html

I get that not everyone is broasting already this summer. Maybe not even a lotta people. Ganey pinged me from Anchorage yesterday to tell me that Hatcher Pass was at 800% of average snowpack. https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kc7ZaQmowjg/WxoO6I4blZI/AAAAAAAA8kQ/gmnO7hN0oZsTTe3jdPmIGoUbNTZMHbX_gCKgBGAs/s160...

Browns is a great intro to Colorado class III. We've run it as low as 500cfs and as high as 3000. It is a fast-moving riot of waves, holes, and wave trains at 3k. Maybe pushing IV- at that level. Swims could get long. I've run Numbers from 300 to 1200. I feel it is easy class III- to III creeking at...

Video and details here:

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2018/06/ ... house.html

Please read here:

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2018/05/ ... falls.html

Full details here:


https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2018/02 ... d-bay.html

I also shared an opinion on the headspace required for a traverse of this nature, along with a handful of out-takes, here: http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2011/09/lava-coast-adversity-entertainment-and.html Gear geekin' extravaganza here: http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2012/04/lost-and-found-random-g...

Way back in the summer of 2011 I completed a traverse of a chunk of the Alaska Peninsula with Dave Gray, Pete Basinger, and Brian Blair. I shared a detailed writeup and lots of pics in several chapters after returning: One. Two and three. Four. Five. Six. Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten, eleven, twelve. Thi...

any holes from cat's claws?

Pics, words, and details on this trip shared here: https://mikesee.exposure.co/grand-canyon-of-the-elwha

Early in September I joined two friends for a late-season trip into Olympic National Park. https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0BDBzd7PQkE/Wf1VOAtu8XI/AAAAAAAA39I/xTaDZDQUqJ8QmrxK1XdLGSuzxBtOuh3dACKgBGAs/s1600/8A3A8088.jpg It was my first trip to the peninsula, and, as you'd expect, only made me want to dive...

Is rolling a practical, valuable skill for packrafters? In other words are there many people out there who can combat roll a packraft when they capsize in a rapid? It seems like even really good, capable boaters are swimming/ wet-exiting when they capsize, not rolling how a hard shell boater would....

I had the very first cargo fly prototype back in (I think) 2012.

I've logged 200+ days/nights of use with them since then. They completely changed the game of multi-day packrafting.

Keep it clean, keep it lubed, and treat it with respect and you'll get many years of use out of it.

I agree that the 'lypse rolls easiest.

rolling a packraft requires a modification to standard kayak roll technique. kind of a blend of a sweep and a c to c.

Depends on which pad/valve. I wrapped a Big Agnes valve with a few laps of electrical tape to solve this years ago. Worked OK. Faster to blow it up by mouth, but easier to do it with the bag.

One advantage to using the bag is that you aren't blowing moisture into your pad with every breath.

Not for everyone, and lots of logistics to figure out, but worth it for some.

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2017/07/ ... d-box.html

Not for everyone, and lots of logistics to figure out, but worth it for some.

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2017/07/ ... d-box.html

Dark Canyon came and went unceremoniously last week. I couldn't find any packrafters to join me, but was graciously adopted by a hard-boat bunch. Here's the trip report, complete with stills and video: https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2017/07/open-mind-summit.html Check it when you get a minute or th...

A trip report on Dark Canyon, complete with stills and video, from last week:


https://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2017/07 ... ummit.html


Check it when you get a minute or three.

Marsh Creek, Middle Fork, Main.

We put on at 6.8' and falling.

Trip report with pics, words, and video here:

Big Wheel Building: MMM.

Marsh Creek, Middle Fork, Main.

We put on at 6.8' and falling.

Trip report with pics, words, and video here:

Big Wheel Building: MMM.

A few words and some POV from a fun day out, here:

Big Wheel Building: Urban paddling.

A few words and some POV from a fun day out, here:

Big Wheel Building: Urban paddling.

TR, beta, pics, and video all at the link below.

Exploratory: Middle Vallecito Creek.

For big water roadside runs I do exactly this -- add ballast. A sleeping bag or puffy jacket(s) in each twinkie, and maybe a liter or two of water in a dromedary wrapped up inside works well. For lower volume stuff I'll limit it to a liter or two of water in my bow bag, depending on the run. Easy en...

Moab Daily -- many sections of the Colorado that run along the hwy ENE of town. Class III at most, although mostly I and II.

TR, pics, and some details here:

http://lacemine29.blogspot.com/2017/03/ ... river.html

This boat has sold.

A few weeks ago I attended the annual Grand Canyon self-support with 8 other likeminded folks. It'll be weeks until I have a chance to sit down and process photos, and probably longer until I've fully processed the whole trip. But I wanted to share a teeny, tiny slice of awesome before winter bleeds...

A few weeks ago I attended the annual Grand Canyon self-support with 8 other likeminded folks. It'll be weeks until I have a chance to sit down and process photos, and probably longer until I've fully processed the whole trip. But I wanted to share a teeny, tiny slice of awesome before winter bleeds...

Full details, pics, specs, and contact info here:

http://bigwheeldeals.blogspot.com

Thanks,

MC

Sold.

Full details, pics, specs, and contact info here:


http://bigwheeldeals.blogspot.com/2017/ ... -sale.html


Please use the contact info found at that link, as I don't check in here often.


Thanks.