Rule #1 when packrafting – Bring your valve cap!
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I get my Alpacka Yak packraft this week and can't wait to take it for a spin this weekend. I live in Nashville and got up Sunday morning around 4:30 a.m. to drive to Bryson City, North Carolina to go down the Nantahala River: http://noc.com/plan-your-trip/nantahala-river
The NOC is a great outfit. $7 for a shuttle ride for the 8 miler. I get on the shuttle and get to the drop off point. Lo and behold, I left my Valve Cap (you know, the thing you have to screw on so the inflatable raft retains air – kind of a key piece) at home. I freak. I just drove 4.5 hours with a new toy and I may be stuck with a rental duckie.
Time for improv. I go ahead and inflate it with the bag. I think that I might be able to tie a knot in the bag and leave it attached and that would work. There was a minor leak around the seal. I get back on the shuttle and head back to the outdoor center.
Someone had a great idea of creating a blockade of sorts. I get a grocery bag from the car and borrow some duct tape. I inflate the raft. Remove pump. Place the plastic bag over the hole and rescrew the pump bag into the hole allowing the bag to help block the airloss. Tie knot. I then duct tape around the whole thing. I then reinflate to max using the mouth tube.
It works! I was able to do the 8 mile run twice yesterday with this setup.
Moral of the story? BRING THE STUPID VALVE CAP!
Moral of the story #2? Don't give up – find your inner MacGyver!
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