The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)

A Quick, Non-Technical Look at the Alpacka Raft Mage

Please note this is a non-technical look at the Mage, where I compare how it *feels* compared to the Wolverine and the Gnarwhal. On January 6th, we’re publishing Episode #11 of, A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, featuring one of Alpacka Raft’s designers, Dustin Partridge. In it, Dustin offers a more technical description of the Mage versus the Valykyrie. You can also find out more technical specs about the boat on launch day on the Alpacka Raft website. I put this quick video and podcast together to answer your questions. And, yes, if you are a Class II to IV boater or an whitewater packrafter aspiring to run Class III and the occasional Class IV and who also wants to do backcountry adventures, get the Mage. ~Lizzy
Correction: The backband configuration is different on the Wolverine compared to the Mage. There are only three points of contact on the Mage versus four on the Wolverine. Thus, there are fewer moving parts. As well, the Mage has a piece of webbing instead of the bungees found on the Wolverine. I like the Mage configuration much better. I always found the bungees annoying to deal with, especially when using the Sockdolager Equipment Seat Bag, which is now a standard feature on my boats. It appears that Alpacka is using this new configuration on all their whitewater boats. It's a small, but noticeable improvement. 
Technical specs from Alpacka: https://alpackaraft.com/products/mage Video by Dustin: https://vimeo.com/1035769419/786623251f

Episode #10: Thor Tingey Talks Hunting & Fly Fishing & How Packrafts Fit Into the Mix

In Episode #10 of, A Beginner's Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting, we talk with Alpacka Raft co-owner, Thor Tingey, about the hunt packrafting and packraft fly fishing scene. We start by discussing his background in those two activities and how Alpacka Raft’s hunt and fish boats developed along with changing hunting trends generally, along with Alaskan trends toward minimalism and packrafts as a part of the float fish and hunt market.
Fewer and fewer people are hunting, says Thor. But the reality is the same numbers of animals are being killed because the people who are doing it are more and more dedicated, core hunters, as opposed to those who are casually digging their rifles out in October to go hunting. “These are guys who think all year long about how they are going to go hunting,” Thor adds. “We have seen over 20 years a way more dedicated  population of outdoor enthusiasts who are focused solely on hunting.” And “they want the full experience. They’re physically training. They’re buying fancy supplements and backcountry meals. It’s a big activity for them.” 
What do we cover in this interview:
What has inspired the changes in the hunting community? A broad mix of marketing, equipment and culture. “And the reality is the more you show people this is a really cool way to do this, the more they will want to do it.”
The problems Alpacka has solved with its packrafts for hunters and anglers. The first goal with big game hunting is, can the boat carry out a harvested animal? Do we have enough physical space in the boat to carry an animal? Alpacka’s Forager will do it, and the Ranger and Mule are both excellent for carrying up to a moose-sized animals. But those three boats have only been around for about ten years. Alpacka solved that problem for multiple sizes, while companies like Pristine Ventures solved that problem for people needing to carry bigger loads.
The second thing Alpacka looked at was: How were people going to use the boats? They’ve always focused on hiking in and out with the boats. And that has become even more important with the expense of flying bigger boats, gear, people and harvest in and out of the backcountry on backcountry planes. Packrafting, Thor says, has become increasingly popular because it’s simply more affordable than flying planes. So people are using them more often for float trips. “You can save the price of the packraft just on this first flight that you do.”
The company also considers the walkability of the packraft. Can they easily be carried into a river from a gravel bar, small lake or other small place where a plane might land? People are wanting to get deeper and deeper into the backcountry. So the less they carry, the easier they can access these hard-to-reach places. “It’s a great thinner,” Thor explains. “It’s amazing how many fewer people you see who are willing to hike even a mile to get to better hunting. Even here in Colorado, if I get a mile away from the road there are 90% fewer hunters.” 
He also makes recommendations to hunters who are just getting into boating, including things they should consider as far as safety and training and practice before they get out hunting in the backcountry. He also discusses the gear people should consider.
He talks about his exploratory missions into the backcountry. He says: “We are always looking for rivers that have good whitewater and good hunting. If we can find a Class III or IV canyon, we go there because nobody else will be there.” This illustrates the  expansive possibilities of packrafts. The more you learn and the better you get at paddling, the more access you will actually have.
The last ten years he’s been blown away by the small number of absolutely incredible fishing locations that he and friends have been able to locate that no-one else is fishing. He’s super tight lipped about these spots. But they do exist around the world, and he encourages people to get out there and find these spots on their own.
But he also discusses how it’s not necessarily finding the fish or getting the animal that is important. “People really go out there and look for first ascents or descents, and there’s nothing wrong with that,” he explains. But, like his friend Brett Davis says, “sometimes it’s the first time for me” being there in that place.  While Thor says he does “chase beta” with the best of them, he also loves the experience of just going and doing something, not knowing what’s around the corner. “I love that experience. It’s what drew me to packrafting, and what draws me to a lot of outdoor activities.” 

Packraft Fly Fishing in Colorado & the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, Plus Tips on Packraft Fly Fishing with guide Thad Ferrell

In Episode #9 we dive into packraft fly fishing with guide Thad Ferrell. Thad was an early adopter of packrafts, and a longtime cyclist, rock climber and fly fisherman. He recently packrafted the Kongakut River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to fly fish for char. In this episode we talk about how Thad got started with fly fishing and guiding, his multi-sport adventures, his new venture to teach packraft fly fishing on the Dolores and Animas rivers in Colorado in 2025, some tips and trips for packraft fly fishing and, of course, his trip to the Refuge. Stay tuned because in episode #11 we'll be chatting with Thor Tingey. Thor and Sheri Tingey spearheaded the development of the world's first fishing-focused packrafts. We hope you enjoy episode #10!

Whitewater Bikerafting New Zealand with Deane Parker

In Episode #8 of, "A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting," Deane Parker talks about how he got into pairing bikes and packrafts on pretty hardcore whitewater from the get-go, in addition to his history kayaking and rafting Class V rapids, his raft guiding business in the 90s, his mountain bike adventures, his filming projects through Deane Parker Adventure Channel, and his family farm. One of the most renown whitewater bikerafters in the world, Deane is also an all-around super nice guy. We always have fun chatting with Deane. And after eight years of working with him on various projects, we really look forward to meeting him in person February 15-25, 2025 when we finally visit New Zealand for a 10-day expedition packrafting course Four Corners Guides is running with Deane and Huw Miles of Packrafting Queenstown. (58 views before changing it over to an MP3 for Spotify).

Seeking Wild Adventures? 1st Descents? Good Beer? Try Packrafting New Zealand

Episode #7, A Beginner's Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting
Starting today and through fall we’ll be sharing stories, podcasts, videos and photos focusing on international packrafting adventures. We'll explore places we guide or will be guiding, such as La Venta River in Chiapas, Mexico, and Chilean Patagonia. But also some places we are not guiding, such as Tajikistan and beyond.
February 2025, we’re heading over to New Zealand to partner with Huw Miles of Packrafting Queenstown and Deane Parker of Deane Parker Adventure Channel on a specially curated adventure of that country’s finest rivers. So for episode #7 of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting, we decided to talk with Huw first a bit about his life and his business. But we primarily are focusing on what packrafting New Zealand’s South and North islands is like.
Well spoken and extremely knowledgeable about his adopted country, Huw shares stories about his favorite adventures, the wide variety of rivers available for beginner to advanced boaters, the first descent opportunities for the world’s heartiest packrafters, and the many highlights of paddling in New Zealand.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I have some serious FOMO right now. 
Read the show notes: https://fourcornersguides.com/2024/08/29/podcast-episode-7-seeking-wild-adventures-1st-descents-good-beer-try-packrafting-new-zealand/
#IfYouSeekNZ

Healing Adventure Trauma: Julia Yanker on How Adventurers Can Get Back Into the Activities They Love

For Episode #6 of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafing & Bikerafing, we did interview with Julia Yanker, a long-time packrafter, life coach and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, aka trauma resolution specialist. My primary goal with chatting with Julia was to really find out what can be done for adventurers who experienced trauma that now affects the other adventures they partake in. 
I had a terrible climbing accident 6 years ago that increased my levels of anxiety exponentially, no matter the activity I’m doing, but primarily in regards to packrafting. This manifests in an irrational fear of whitewater. For example, I’ve done the Grand Canyon twice. But despite that I have an unreasonablefear of the big waves, though I’ve swam a few dozen times on the Colorado, and I have always been fine. But still, when I even just think about the Grand Canyon
now, my heart beats faster, my palms sweat, and I get a constriction in my chest.  No joke! I wanted to talk with Julia to see if there was anything I could do about this seemingly irrational fear. And she told me, yes, there is, in fact, a way to deal with it. So in addition to delving into her personal background and packrafting history, we talk about how to alleviate trauma experienced while adventuring. I hope you enjoy this podcast!
#39 views before I changed it to an mp3

Podcast #5: Luc Mehl on Close Calls, & How Knowing More About Them Can Enhance Packrafting Safety ++ His Safety Tool Kit

PLEASE NOTE. WE DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS SHOW ISN'T UPLOADING IN ITS ENTIRETY TO SPOTIFY. PLEASE LISTEN TO IT ON PODBEAN. LINK BELOW. 
 
Luc Mehl on The Risks & Rewards of Leveling Up in Packrafting, What Close Calls Are & How Knowing More About Them Can Make Our Play Safer, Plus His Safety Tool Kit
 
Today we’re talking with one of the most interesting and accomplished guys in the world of packrafting, Luc Mehl. He’s traveled more than 10,000 miles by packraft, ski, bike and ice skates, often utilizing two or more of those tools on the same adventure. He wrote the definitive guide on packrafting safety and skills. Every Packrafter should have a copy of The Packraft Handbook. And he’s one of the world’s best packraft instructors. He’ll absolutely hate that I’m saying these things. But as far as I and many others are concerned, he’s the man. He’s also someone I love having conversations with him. I always learn so much.  Today Luc and I are talking about a wide variety of subjects, but mostly focused around culture of safety issues, such as the risks and  rewards of Leveling up in packrafting, what “close calls” actually are and how knowing more about them can help the packrafting community (and other adventure communities) play safer. Plus we review a bunch of tools he uses to be the best partner he can be to the people he adventures with. I hope you enjoy Episode #5 of, “A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting.” (CLICK HERE TO LISTEN TO THE FULL EPISODE)
 
Buy The Packraft Handbook! 
Listen to the podcast," What to do When Your Adventure Falls Apart Thanks to Another Human." Human’s Outside, with Luc Mehl and Sarah Histand
“PLAN so things go right.
TRAIN for when they don't." Courses with Luc Mehl
The Packrafting Podcast #11, "The Packraft Handbook: Behind The Scenes with Luc Mehl." 
Luc on Instagram!
 

Expedition Packrafting & More with Jeff Creamer, SSI Instructor & Alpacka Raft Boat Tester

Today, for our fourth episode, we’re bringing you an interview with Jeff Creamer, a Swiftwater Safety Institute Instructor and a boat tester and boat maker at Alpacka Raft. Jeff is one of America’s top packrafters, having done numerous remote, challenging expeditions on up to Class V whitewater in the mountains, along with some creative trips pairing boats and skis. We are stoked this year, as Jeff is teaching a Level 4, intermediate/advanced paddling course for Four Corners Guides this spring, May 17-19, 2024. In the first 15 minutes of this episode we learn a bit about Jeff’s previous life as a ocean canoe racer and PhD student, his packrafting mentors Dan Thurber and Mike Curiak, and his early adventures skiing, packrafting and backpacking. And then we dive into Jeff’s expeditions, how he plans for them, how he chooses partners, and more. 

A Chat with Alaska Packraft School's Jule Harle on How Women Learn Differently from Men & More

In the third episode of our Podcast, A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, Four Corners Guides owner Lizzy Scully talks with renowned Packraft Instructor Jule Harle. A long-time kayaker and packrafter and owner of Alaska Packraft School, Jule has been instrumental in legitimizing packrafting as a sport through her work as a guide and her work with others to get the American Canoe Association packrafting curriculum in place to accredit packrafting guides across the country. She volunteers with the Alaska Chapter of the American Packrafting Association, and she was this year’s Golden Paddle winner. Jule is coming to the Four Corners June 15-17 to teach a women’s packrafting clinic for beginner/intermediate boaters.
In this episode, Jule and Lizzy take about a variety of things, including: 
 How Jule got into teaching and why she started the Alaska Packraft School
What she loves about teaching
How she teaches women and men differently
And did you know that women have a significantly bigger part of the brain that processes things through talking? Unsurprising!
How when Jule started, her boat was too big for her and she couldn’t get back in, and how she’s come up with some hacks to help women with that particular skill and other skills.
Jule doesn’t think men have an advantage because of their strength or willingness to take bigger risks. Rather, she says women and men just learn differently, and she has techniques that make some of the things that seem easy for men easier for women.
Different ways to deal with PTSD and stress if you’ve had a bad boating or other traumatic experience
Finally we discussed what we’ll do in our first annual women’s beginner/intermediate course this June, including running scenarios where we “practice controlled chaos,” wet exits and re-entries, and boat fittings to optimize your performance on the water.

Whitewater Packrafting Gear: Recommendations From an Expert

In the second episode of A Beginner's Guide to Packrafting (& Bikerafting),  Tony Miely talks whitewater gear for packrafters. While he doesn't review the full spectrum of gear available (that would be a 5-hour video!), he talks about some of the basic gear that people need to get started with whitewater boating. Tony is one of the long-time owners of 4Corners Riversports, the premier boating store in SW Colorado.