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Packrafts are small and light enough to be carried in a backpack. They are opening up a whole new world for exploration by backcountry enthusiasts. Rivers that are formidable obstacles to a hiker can be crossed safely in a packraft. In the Grand Canyon, routes have been put together using packrafts to safely cross the Colorado that haven't been explored since famous explorers Colin Fletcher and Harvey Butchart risked their lives on air mattresses. Fantastic traverses involving equal parts paddling and hiking have been created in places like the Bob Marshall Wilderness in Montana and in Alaska and New Zealand. First packraft descents of rivers have been logged in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

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