New Book on PACKRAFTING Sends Rapidly Growing Sport to the Mainstream

BOZEMAN, MONTANA, March 10, 2008 – Backpacking Light Magazine has announced the availability of the new book PACKRAFTING! An Introduction & How-To Guide. Written by world-renowned packrafting instructor and adventurer Roman Dial, the book is the first book ever published on the topic of packrafting, offering unparalleled narrative and instruction in a beautiful, full-color volume with photographs from packrafting expeditions around the world.

PACKRAFTING! is about exploring wilderness and whitewater by packraft, a lightweight, portable boat usually weighing less than five pounds. Readers will learn about packrafting gear and technique as well as the many applications for packrafting. Packrafting can be combined with mountaineering, backcountry skiing, mountain biking or trekking as part of long expeditions, or short day trips.

Roman Dial has been a leader of the packrafting movement for two decades, from first descents of Class V creeks to multi-week traverses of Alaska’s Brooks Range to the first packrafting trek in the Grand Canyon in January 2008. Dial is a professor of Environmental Science, Mathematics, and Outdoor Studies at Alaska Pacific University, where he teaches packrafting courses.

Ryan Jordan, publisher of Backpacking Light Magazine and a pioneer of packrafting in the Northern Rocky Mountains, said, "There may be no better single tool for long distance wilderness travel than a packraft, and no better instructor for using it than Roman Dial. Roman has proved packrafting technique over and again. The rest of us will benefit immensely from his experience."

Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild, says "It was no accident that Roman was among the first people on the planet to understand that the packraft would revolutionize wilderness exploration."

Brad Meiklejohn, the Alaska Representative for The Conservation Fund said, "Roman Dial is the Pied Piper of Packrafting. If you’re not careful, his infectious enthusiasm will seduce you to squander every spare moment of your life in search of the next classic day of butt-boating."

PACKRAFTING! can be prepurchased at BackpackingLight.com for June 2008 delivery, and will hit booksellers later this summer. In addition, PACKRAFTING! will be made available for digital download at BackpackingLight.com.

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Viewing 12 posts - 1 through 12 (of 12 total)

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Mar 12, 2008 at 10:34 am #1227772

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Companion forum thread to:

New Book on PACKRAFTING Sends Rapidly Growing Sport to the Mainstream

Mar 12, 2008 at 11:21 am #1424046

Richard Nisley
BPL Member

@richard295
Locale: San Francisco Bay Area

The press release says, in part, "In addition, PACKRAFTING! is available for digital download immediately at BackpackingLight.com.

Where is the link to order?

Mar 12, 2008 at 8:18 pm #1424120

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

Hi Richard, thanks for that followup. We're sorting down the digital download issue this week — I'll followup here with an update.

Mar 12, 2008 at 9:27 pm #1424127

Kendall Clement
BPL Member

@socalpacker
Locale: Cebu, Philippines

Ryan, just finished your book. Really enjoyed it. I'm looking forward to a new hobby, ultralight backpacking. But, now packrafting!!!! I think I MUST put that on my list of things to do as well. Hey, Ryan do I need more insurance!?!?

Mar 13, 2008 at 8:06 am #1424146

Ryan Gardner
Spectator

@splproductions

Ryan,

You and the gang are making me depressed. The more stuff I see you guys do the more I want to do it. I need a packraft!

Apr 17, 2008 at 2:38 pm #1428972

David Palmer
BPL Member

@djpfive
Locale: Arizona

Any update on this book?

Apr 17, 2008 at 2:50 pm #1428974

Ryan Jordan
Admin

@ryan
Locale: Central Rockies

David:

I'm expecting the print proof to be in my hands in a few weeks (digital to follow soon thereafter), so we still seem on schedule for a June delivery :)

Ryan

Apr 17, 2008 at 3:01 pm #1428976

David Palmer
BPL Member

@djpfive
Locale: Arizona

Thanks Ryan! I'm anxious to make sure my July trip incorporates everything that can be learned from the book.

May 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm #1435391

Larry Koontz
Member

@fiveal
Locale: Tennessee

Hello, Ryan! I mentioned on a folding kayak forum that I had a passing dream to one day four-wheel until the terrain forced me to stop, then backpack from there until the water forced me to stop; then travel on the water to . . . wherever. The immediate response was basically "scratch the water part because even an inflatable would be to heavy to pack." As fate would have it (or, perhaps, Roman Dial or you were in deep meditation and I caught a wave) I clicked on the Backpacking Light site and saw the word "packrafting." Bingo!! Ordered the book today . . . and thanks!

Larry

Jun 28, 2009 at 1:05 pm #1510924

Greg Pfeil
BPL Member

@sellout42

I haven't been able to find where I can purchase the digital edition of the book. Do you get access to that when you buy the print edition? Was it decided that a digital edition wasn't worthwhile?

I still have my fingers crossed. (and mobi format would be preferred, but I'm happy with PDF)

Jun 29, 2009 at 3:49 pm #1511163

Sam Haraldson
BPL Member

@sharalds
Locale: Gallatin Range

Digital copies of Packrafting! are not currently available.

Oct 12, 2009 at 2:11 am #1535473

Dan Baker
BPL Member

@heeler
Locale: Victoria, Australia

I have ordered a Packraft… when is the digital version going to be available?

Cheers
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New Book on PACKRAFTING Sends Rapidly Growing Sport to the Mainstream

By Backpacking Light

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE