Photo Essay: Packrafting the Madison River

Stretches of the Madison River can be described as a "booze cruise," where innertube flotillas of relaxing college students and drift boats of fly-fishers fill the river. The Bear Trap canyon isn't one of those stretches, especially during spring snowmelt.

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Finding pals who both own a packraft and know how to packraft is not easy business. Finding instructors who know how to teach packrafting to others is even harder. When I received RSVPs from seven outdoor educators (including a handful of accomplished packrafters) to join me on a packrafting trip down the Madison River so we could all learn to packraft from each other, I knew I was onto something pretty special. The deal was simple: there were no costs, no fees, and no pay; we'd teach each other, we'd probably swim, and we'd have a heckuva good time.

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Viewing 7 posts - 1 through 7 (of 7 total)

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Jun 9, 2009 at 9:02 pm #1236960

Addie Bedford
BPL Member

@addiebedford
Locale: Montana

Companion forum thread to:

Photo Essay: Packrafting the Madison River

Jun 10, 2009 at 12:13 am #1507161

Jason Brinkman
BPL Member

@jbrinkmanboi
Locale: Idaho

Awesome pics – looks like a great trip. There's nothing like having a river all to yourselves!

HOWEVER… as a traditional whitewater enthusiast, I feel the need to issue a word of caution to the unannointed. Bear Trap at those flows is a handful. I would not want to experience any Class IV+ river at high spring flows without either the benefit of being accompanied by an experienced high water veteran of that river, or prior personal experience at a range of flows. Make that Class III+ in a packraft!

You wrote, "We later learned from hardcore kayakers that running the Bear Trap this time of year should be considered something between stupid and suicidal." You probably put this in for emphasis, but it doesn't really speak to the level of knowledge that I would want before embarking on such a trip. I suspect you and others in your group have considerable Madison experience, but that isn't stated in the article.

Perhaps I am more risk adverse that some… But I sense a general theme on BPL of trying to convince the world that UL backpacking is not really that extreme – and I agree it's not. Yet arguably packrafting Bear Trap at 4000 CFS is exactly that – extreme.

As for me, I have catarafted some moderately difficult stuff. Like May highwater runs on the MF Salmon, EFSF Salmon, Lochsa, etc. But I do it in the company of a very experienced group of catarafters with hundreds of Class V runs between them on the likes of the NF Payette, SF Salmon, Selway, etc.

Glad to see you in real PFD's at least! Keep safe and have fun. SYOTR.

Jun 10, 2009 at 5:22 am #1507183

Brian Barnes
BPL Member

@brianjbarnes
Locale: Midwest

Well done! Enjoyed the read/pictures very much.

Speaking of PFDs… can any of the participants ID the brand/model of the PFD they used? I'm in the market for one and having trouble finding accurate weights to compare the options.

Jun 10, 2009 at 6:27 am #1507191

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Beartrap Canyon at low water (e.g., 1200 cfs) really isn't a place for packrafters at all. There's a lot of water in there.

I've run the rapids at low water but not in the absence of people ready for rescue. And I will not take my packraft through the actual Kitchen Sink or Green Wave holes.

We all had Class III PFD's, most of us had whitewater PFD's. I think some of our favorites include the NRS Clearwater, which has a high foam back that doesn't interfere with the higher packraft seats.

Jun 10, 2009 at 8:41 am #1507217

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

These photos turned out wonderfully, Ryan! I'll chime in with a response to Jason regarding the safety and ease of running whitewater. All the decisions to run sections of river were based on one (or more) of the skilled rafters first checking it out either from a "read and run" or from the shore. Then, the group decided whether to run it as a whole or not. If part of the group wanted to walk they had that option, and if part wanted to run it they then formed teams to watch each other thereby running it safely.

Jun 10, 2009 at 3:07 pm #1507332

George Matthews
BPL Member

@gmatthews

Really nice pics! Looks like a lot of fun.

If I were a younger man, then I'd roll on down the river with you.

Jun 14, 2009 at 8:56 pm #1508180

jim bailey
BPL Member

@florigen
Locale: South East

That trip must have been a total blast, way too many great people for it not too be.

Keep doing what you do BPL!

Jim
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