Decided to buy a new camera and try HD:
Montana Creek: May 14, 2011
Little Susitna: June 8, 2011
East Fork Iron Creek: July 9, 2011
Search found 428 matches
- Sun May 15, 2011 7:08 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
- Sun May 15, 2011 7:05 am
- Forum: Interior
- Topic: First rivers ready?
- Replies: 6
- Views: 3811
Re: First rivers ready?
Montana Creek is open at a gauge reading 450 cfs yesterday:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX6UbQpRE2E
There's a little ice, but was super fun, if a long drive from Anchorage.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BX6UbQpRE2E
There's a little ice, but was super fun, if a long drive from Anchorage.
- Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:07 am
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Six Mile, 2011
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1287
Six Mile, 2011
Lots of ice bridges in third canyon.
Not quite ready for general consumption yet.
http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2011/04 ... t-and.html
Not quite ready for general consumption yet.
http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2011/04 ... t-and.html
- Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:06 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: New stuff for 2011 from Alpacka!
- Replies: 26
- Views: 44406
Re: New stuff for 2011 from Alpacka!
The new boat is the best Alpacka thing since spray decks.
http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2011/04 ... t-and.html
http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2011/04 ... t-and.html
- Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:03 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Re: Youtube Videos!
That video on the 30 days in the GC is so good, I think I am going to quit making videos.
Fall 2011? Does that mean Banff?
Fall 2011? Does that mean Banff?
- Sat Feb 05, 2011 5:38 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Packraft portaging
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2483
Packraft portaging
On the Franklin River recently we had some interesting portages. The easiest way was to strap the pack on the bow in such a way so that we could pick the boat up and walk with it inflated on our backpacks. This video shows how to attach the pack to the boat in a simple, convenient and secure way usi...
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:01 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 6:00 pm
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Franklin River, Tasmania, Australia
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6985
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 2:20 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: New stuff for 2011 from Alpacka!
- Replies: 26
- Views: 44406
Re: New stuff for 2011 from Alpacka!
Can't wait to get one of these new boats. May go back to using a Yak....although the Llama is a big stable boat for big water.
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 12:26 pm
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Franklin River, Tasmania, Australia
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6985
Re: Franklin River, Tasmania, Australia
Bill Hatcher has some good photos and information on his blog here
http://billhatcher.typepad.com/bill_hat ... .html#more
and on his website here
http://www.billhatcher.com/#a=0&at=0&mi ... 00&s=0&p=5
http://billhatcher.typepad.com/bill_hat ... .html#more
and on his website here
http://www.billhatcher.com/#a=0&at=0&mi ... 00&s=0&p=5
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:50 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Re: Youtube Videos!
Great Grand Canyon and NZ vids Ganey and Forrest --- the GC one made my heart race and palms sweat....
Here's a Franklin River (Tasmania) video
and another little river there, the Anne
Here's a Franklin River (Tasmania) video
and another little river there, the Anne
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:40 am
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Franklin River, Tasmania, Australia
- Replies: 8
- Views: 6985
Franklin River, Tasmania, Australia
Bill Hatcher, son Cody Rome and I just finished 5 days on the Franklin. This is a wild, temperate, multiday adventure, certainly one of the best, if not the best, mix of whitewater and pristine wilderness in the southern hemisphere. We took the TassieLink bus to Donaghy's Lookout Trail from Hobart. ...
- Wed Jan 26, 2011 1:09 am
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Tasmania, Southwest NP, Anne River
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2496
Re: Tasmania, Southwest NP, Anne River
Yep it was really low, but doable. Three more inches would've been nice. SIx inches, pushy, and twelve inches scary, I think.
- Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:35 pm
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Tasmania, Southwest NP, Anne River
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2496
Tasmania, Southwest NP, Anne River
Bill Hatcher, son Cody Roman and I got two recommendations to run the Anne, a steep (400 feet/mile) creek run starting near Lake Pedder and running into the Huon. Beta was scarce and fortunately so was water. The Tahune Gauge read 0.75 m the day we descended the Upper Anne and a little more but not ...
- Thu Jan 13, 2011 2:13 pm
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Tasmania Water levels this January
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3208
Re: Tasmania Water levels this January
Well we are here and the water levels seem pretty high, so that's good. We are just sort of limbering up now: Picton, Styx, stuff like that. We have plans to do Franklin (of course) and others but wondering if anyone on the Tazzie end of things knows about the New River on the south coast? Is it wor...
- Thu Dec 16, 2010 7:25 am
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Dennison and Jane
- Replies: 3
- Views: 1921
Dennison and Jane
Wondering about the Jane and the Dennison: how long is each? And how difficult?
- Sun Nov 21, 2010 9:45 am
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Tasmania Water levels this January
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3208
Re: Tasmania Water levels this January
Yes, recall watching the Franklin come up a meter in a night. Like the looks of that "six rivers trip"....good to know that there's water down there. A few years ago it seems like it'd be a drought leading into the summer.
- Mon Nov 15, 2010 10:44 am
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Tasmania Water levels this January
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3208
Re: Tasmania Water levels this January
Thanks Steve,
Would like to go to Tazzie, but doubt I'll make it this year....maybe, though.
Would like to go to Tazzie, but doubt I'll make it this year....maybe, though.
- Sat Nov 13, 2010 11:44 am
- Forum: Australia / New Zealand
- Topic: Tasmania Water levels this January
- Replies: 7
- Views: 3208
Tasmania Water levels this January
Hello all Down Under.
How is the summer season looking water-wise this year?
Is it too early to say? Franklin and Jane?
How is the summer season looking water-wise this year?
Is it too early to say? Franklin and Jane?
- Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:43 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Luc's Boof
Upper Willow, October 10, 2010 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLOJpeygPHs Luc Mehl is now battle rolling regularly in his thigh straps. Still, he wants to get a kayak in part to improve his paddling skills. He's also hucking big drops with beautiful boofs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbnEfpsnj7I ...
- Mon Oct 18, 2010 3:37 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
- Replies: 15
- Views: 11240
Re: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
Others can check, but I'm thinking that's "Yukla" in the Chugach Mountains above Eagle River. That 8000+ foot peak dominates the put-in for Echo Bend of Eagle River and "Polar Bear Peak" dominates the end of Echo Bend's main rapids. In the fall this is likely the most scenic stretch of packrafting i...
- Sun Oct 17, 2010 8:17 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
- Sun Oct 17, 2010 11:15 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
- Replies: 15
- Views: 11240
Re: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
One thing to think about when using thigh straps in a single chambered packraft: if your boat is cut and deflates quickly, then you may well find yourself wrapped in your deflated boat, particularly if you have lots of velcro to keep the deck closed and the boat dry. The Alpacka designers might thin...
- Mon Sep 27, 2010 5:56 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Re: Youtube Videos!
"Ironically as they paddle more and more whitewater, their reward circuitry (for dopamine) dulls, which makes the easier runs less satisfying and drives them to still harder runs and bigger drops to compensate."
Finding dopamine satisfaction:
Finding dopamine satisfaction:
- Wed Sep 22, 2010 8:18 pm
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Echo Bend, Eagle River
- Replies: 23
- Views: 26532
Re: Echo Bend, Eagle River
Paddling Regression is so right about Echo Bend right now. It's like a hot-dog butt-boater says, "stupid fun" right now and super beautiful with Yukla at the put in and Polar Bear looking good over the final drops and the fall colors all in Alpacka yellow along the banks. This is a possible after wo...
- Sun Sep 12, 2010 9:02 am
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Talkeetna Traverse: Chulitna-Tsusena-Susitna-Clear
- Replies: 0
- Views: 2232
Talkeetna Traverse: Chulitna-Tsusena-Susitna-Clear
Forrest McCarthy named this the "Cant Talk" route as it links the Cantwell area to Talkeetna and passes through the North Talkeetnas where some FDs still lurk. We did this in June 2007, at essentially high-ish water. I am reposting it here as it's hard to find in the forums but has some beta others ...
- Sun Sep 05, 2010 8:29 pm
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Bird Creek
- Replies: 16
- Views: 10077
Re: Bird Creek
Bird Creek's Lower Canyon (the Inner Sanctum, between Mushroom and Bird Falls) is clean right now (Sunday Sept 5) but pushier than than during last fall's flipping Bird extravaganza -- Ship's reading 4.8 on the USGS site. Bird's closer than Montana Ck maybe not quite as exciting but still well worth...
- Sat Sep 04, 2010 5:53 pm
- Forum: Europe
- Topic: Packrafting in Finland
- Replies: 2
- Views: 2249
Re: Packrafting in Finland
Alastair, the Icelandic images are great -- that place looks incredible. Have you posted a map?
- Sat Sep 04, 2010 2:10 pm
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Montana Creek, South Fork, near Talkeetna
- Replies: 17
- Views: 11655
Re: Montana Creek, South Fork, near Talkeetna
Gordy Vernon and I ran the lower canyon with the NOAA and USGS gauges reading around 450-465 cfs or 5.4-5.5 feet yesterday. This is about 100 cfs higher than when I did it last year. The center line on "Big Sky Country" the tallest waterfall at the entrance of the lower canyon looked pretty bad, a r...
- Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:30 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Skurka's trip
Wrangells and Brooks Range:
- Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:29 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Alaska 2009
Maybe get something like this out for 2010....fingers crossed.
- Tue Aug 31, 2010 7:26 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Youtube Videos!
- Replies: 320
- Views: 164852
Disappointment Creek, Talkeetna Mountains
Why not....
- Mon Aug 30, 2010 8:37 am
- Forum: Northern
- Topic: "Triple A" -- Grand Traverse of Gates of the Arctic
- Replies: 1
- Views: 7309
"Triple A" -- Grand Traverse of Gates of the Arctic
"Triple A"-- a route that visits most of the scenic highlights of the Central Brooks Range as it crosses the six million acre Gates of the Arctic National Park. The route is best done in August, when bugs are sparse, days are long, and colors intensifying. Anaktuvuk, Arrigetch, Ambler are three touc...
- Thu Aug 26, 2010 9:12 am
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Alpacka Inflation Bag
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7102
Re: Alpacka Inflation Bag
Packing the inflation bag when you have no pack and worry about poky things around the boat prompted me to cut the sticks free from my inflation bag and store them in the paddle. By cutting them free I mean I just made a little hole and slid them out, then burned the nylon with a lighter to keep it ...
- Mon Aug 09, 2010 4:03 pm
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Preparing a boat to carry -- fold or roll?
- Replies: 5
- Views: 6272
Raft folding video
A bit late but not never....
- Thu Aug 05, 2010 10:18 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
- Replies: 15
- Views: 11240
Re: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
When it comes to theory vs empiricism, it's really best to go with the facts.
If you put thigh straps in your packraft, and actually use them there, you won't go back to a strapless boat.
If you put thigh straps in your packraft, and actually use them there, you won't go back to a strapless boat.
- Thu Jul 29, 2010 2:52 pm
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Upper East Fork Chulitna River or Upper West Fork of same
- Replies: 13
- Views: 20229
Re: Upper East Fork Chulitna River or Upper West Fork of sam
You can get to that good water faster and without the scree bash by hiking in from near Fourth of July Creek and taking the ATV/horse trail upstream as far as you want.
- Tue Jul 27, 2010 3:50 pm
- Forum: Packrafting Gear
- Topic: Alpacka Inflation Bag
- Replies: 11
- Views: 7102
Re: Alpacka Inflation Bag
I have removed my sticks by cutting a small hole in the sleeve and then I store the sticks in my break down paddle and stuff the blow up bag minus the sticks elsewhere. This is worth doing if you are having trouble finding a place to put the blow up bag -- like running Class IV creeks without any ge...
- Fri Jul 23, 2010 9:42 am
- Forum: Tips & Technique
- Topic: Open Water Basics (Saltwater)
- Replies: 3
- Views: 5467
Re: Open Water Basics (Saltwater)
This is super. Thanks for posting it. It'll be interesting to see packrafters rediscover sea-kayak skills as we have whitewater ones.
- Sat Jul 10, 2010 8:28 am
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Little Susitna
- Replies: 10
- Views: 7254
Little Susitna
Little Su is super fun right now, so fun I ran it three times in the last week. The best place to put in when it's this low (3.3 feet) is at 11 Mile Fishhook Road. Leave a bike at the Fishhook Bridge (about 8.5 mile), then drive up and park at the Government Peak Picnic Area. Walk up the road 50 yar...
- Mon Jul 05, 2010 9:46 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
- Replies: 15
- Views: 11240
Re: A Message from the Alpacka Designer: Mods & New Boat
Inflatable Kayakers have been using thigh straps longer than Alpacka has been in business. Here's a discussion on their safety from Mountain Buzz: http://www.mountainbuzz.com/forums/f11/are-thigh-straps-in-iks-dangerous-29312-2.html#post192406 Worth a read if you have any doubts about their safety r...
- Sun Jul 04, 2010 10:45 am
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Chitistone and Goat Trail: Skolai to McCarthy
- Replies: 0
- Views: 1389
Chitistone and Goat Trail: Skolai to McCarthy
Been getting a bunch of questions about this classic so posted http://packrafting.blogspot.com/2010/07 ... arthy.html
- Tue Jun 22, 2010 10:02 am
- Forum: Southcentral
- Topic: Disappointment Creek, Talkeetna Mountains
- Replies: 3
- Views: 3046
Disappointment Creek, Talkeetna Mountains
Brad Meiklejohn, Paul Schauer and I flew in from Talkeetna to an unnamed lake about 7 miles from boatable water on June 19. It took us three hours to walk to the put-in and another 4 hours to get to the Fairview in Talkeetna. In between the 11 miles of Disappointment took 8 hours of our full attenti...
- Fri Jun 11, 2010 11:07 am
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Where It All Began...
- Replies: 15
- Views: 8223
Re: Where It All Began...
That's an awesome post on Wikipedia -- also it made the featured page there. It needs an edit, however, to make a reference to the modern packraft.
- Wed Jun 02, 2010 8:40 pm
- Forum: For Sale
- Topic: 2010 Go-Lite Pinnacle Size Large (red)
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1302
Re: 2010 Go-Lite Pinnacle Size Large (red)
this pack is sold
- Sun May 30, 2010 10:11 pm
- Forum: Southeast
- Topic: "Copper and Gold" -- White River to Cordova
- Replies: 6
- Views: 6506
Re: "Copper and Gold" -- White River to Cordova
The boating part, from McCarthy down. Check out all the snow from the Bremner down to the Flag Point Bridge and the "packraft scooch" on Miles Lake's late ice.
- Sun May 30, 2010 12:16 pm
- Forum: General Discussion
- Topic: Eskimo Roll in a packraft -- For Real!
- Replies: 34
- Views: 14432
Re: Eskimo Roll in a packraft -- For Real!
Some Alaskan-style vid of the Witch
- Sat May 29, 2010 4:19 pm
- Forum: For Sale
- Topic: 2010 Go-Lite Pinnacle Size Large (red)
- Replies: 1
- Views: 1302
2010 Go-Lite Pinnacle Size Large (red)
This is a great pack (72 L), just too big for me (I need a medium). It's perfect for packrafting, has hip pockets and a dyneema sack and is an improvement over previous models. Weighs 2 lb 1 oz. Used for one 3 day hike plus a week of floating. $100 plus shipping although I'd prefer to sell in ANC/Va...
- Sat May 29, 2010 4:16 pm
- Forum: Southeast
- Topic: "Copper and Gold" -- White River to Cordova
- Replies: 6
- Views: 6506
Re: "Copper and Gold" -- White River to Cordova
Video of White River to McCarthy:
- Fri May 28, 2010 9:52 am
- Forum: For Sale
- Topic: Kokatat Dry Suits -- Goretex
- Replies: 4
- Views: 1984
Re: Kokatat Dry Suits -- Goretex
The men's has sold, but the women's is till up. It's really nice, practically brand new. I swear I think it's been used only one aftrenoon on Eagle River by our daughter.