Six Packraft Loops in the Bob Marshall Wilderness

Thanks for the report. :)

Every time David C. posts about packrafting or bikepacking, I am more and more intrigued. Just need to put together the money for my own.

This article is a wonderful gift, very very good.
Thank you very much Dave
Warn Regards.

We have had some problems this year but we're fine. This year we can not travel to Usa but I hope to meet again soon with you in the Montana Wilderness.
Thanks
Cheers

Nice article Dave, thanks!

Really hope to do Numbers 2 and/or 3 someday . . . . Looks like great fun.
Dan

Thanks for the tip Dave. I've been looking forward to this event in order to actually sit in a packraft and see what it feels like. Unfortunately, it looks like the main events are on Monday and Tuesday; blasted work getting in the way of the important stuff again!

At least I thought I would participate in the one-day water safety course on Sunday, just for general knowledge; although it looks like it might be a bit awkward not owning a packraft to bring along for this. Or a helmet. Or a river knife. Hmmm. I'm guessing if I show up with the proper clothing and don't ask a lot of annoying questions, they might let me in?

Bradford, my usual packraft-specific gear for a summer trip in the Bob is a Yak with a cruiser deck, 4 piece paddle, simple foam PFD (you can get decent ones for 40 bucks), inflation bag and repair kit, 2 6' lash straps (with ladderlocks), and raingear. If the forecast looks a little on the cool or wet side I add a fleece shirt or vest. That's it.

I don't like paddling specific splash gear because it's heavy and sucks for hiking. An exception is a nice neoprene waistband on your rain pants, which helps keep out leaks. I added one to a pair of side zip Goretex pants.

I like the security of the foam PFD. I have a goofy little inflatable snorkeling vest, but pretty much bring the foamie all the time.

I'd bring a helmet and throw bag if going through Three Forks and Spruce Park on the lower Middle Fork, and maybe a farmer john wetsuit if the weather was especially cool.

Much of the time on sunny days (like this past weekend on the South Fork), I'll just be wearing board shorts and my windshirt (more for sun than anything). Raingear might go on if you're floating right from camp in the morning, but it often is warm enough by 11am you won't need it again until late.

I should say that folks who run colder might disagree.

From what I can tell whenever you see what you want come up is the best time to buy used. Demand for packrafts seems to only be increasing, and the used market hasn't really come down in price in the last few years. Alpacka expanded production last year, and Kokopelli came on the market; both raised prices over the winter and none of that seems to have impacted market capacity in the least.

Eric, it really depends on how the rest of winter and spring go.  In 2011, after an exceptional winter, the Middle Fork was doable from Schafer down all the way to Labor Day.  In a more normal year I’d restrict late August floating to the South Fork below the White River, or even Big Salmon Creek.  Everything else is too low.  I used to think the South Fork below Big Salmon was always floatable, but going that stretch over a long day this past fall at 280 cfs changed my opinion.  350 would be my minimum.

I’d humbly refer to my packrafting guidebook, which has a flow chart for exactly this purpose.