An Ultralighter Paddles on the Dark Side: Packrafting a Remote Canyon “Heavy” Style

This is in response to a couple of points that have been made.

Firstly, dropping 1500$ to get into packrafting is not that much more than some people spend on good backpacking equipment. A nice sleeping back will cost you a couple hundred or more, so will a tent, so will your 'technical' ultralight clothing, so will your cooking set, etc… It's really a matter of perspective. I really don't think packrafting is that different from backpacking in that respect.

Secondly, bikes are a very different issue. You can't (realistically) carry a bike in or on your pack. Nor would you want to actually. While a packraft provides an mode of locomotion on an alternate type of terrain, a bike provides an alternate means of locomotion on the same terrain. Two different issues. Moreover, I don't know of anyone that would do a 1+ week expedition in the wilderness with his bike.

Also of note is the idea that 'bikers tear up the trail'. I've done a lot of biking and hiking in my day and I can attest to the fact that two walking poles and a set of deep lugged vibram soles will do as much or more damage than a carefully used bike.

The point made by Chris is also very valid. Rafts, in their various forms, have always been an integral part of the backpacking experience. Hell, Canada was basically made by rafting and hiking (fur trade, etc…). There are even people that the canoe should replace the maple leaf as the national emblem. So yes, my point of view is that packrafting does have a place in a backpacking magazine. A lesser place than 'pure' backpacking, but still an important one.

I have really appreciated the articles on packrafting and Doug's article on mountain biking was awesome. I'm now considering mountain biking a variation on the Colorado Trail. I now look at the local water ways in a new light. Keep the alternative articles coming! On balance there should be more straight up backpacking content and you know what, there is. You can't please everyone all the time and that's okay. When the product is ideas and opinion you can't buy 100% satisfaction. The membership fee is only $25 per year. And why does every thing need to be spelled out like a contract. What's wrong with a good surprise every once in a while. Ultralight concepts have spread into the rest of my life. My last business trip was an ultralight tour de force :). Articles on packrafting and biking and even general travel seem appropriate to me in measured doses and I'm nowhere near overdosing.

"I will concede that Carol's article didn't hit our mission squarely on, but that had nothing to do with her being in a packraft, it had to do with the wine, the easy chairs, and the support ;)"

That's my issue with the article. What's the point of paddling a packraft if you need a barge to haul your gear?

BTW, my wife & I did a canoe trip down the Green River from Mineral Bottom to Spanish Bottom from 5/11/08 – 05/18/08. It was a great trip. We probably had 250lbs of water + chairs + table + outfitter tarp + tent + who knows what. Would have really needed to lighten up to do it in packrafts ;-)

I also agree with Christo. This is a slippery slope that Backpackinglight is going down, and we all know what happens when a company loses its focus and tries to be all things to all people. I like to hunt and there are lightweight guns out there but I do not expect to see a review on them here. A photographer could carry their gear also in a backpack but I do not want to read about photography here either. My main issue is this: when you go to the homepage the main pictures and prime website real estate focuses on packrafting not backpacking. I pay for a backpackinglight membership and I am happy with what I get in return but I would prefer less emphasis on packrafting. Could there just be a link somewhere at the top of the page for packrafters so it is not the main focus of the website? I am not against packrafting and I do not believe that there is a conspiracy to turn us all into packrafters but lets keep the focus and the homepage devoted to Backpackinglight.

Dave:

I completely agree. Its not that the number of packrafting articles are overwhelming or that I hate packrafting, but the overall member content just seems to be extremely low lately. I really miss those old BPL gear comparision articles where they reviewed a whole genre of equipment. Those broad-scale articles are so much more helpful and apply to more people than individual gear reviews.

Another vote for staying true to the original ideal.

That said, reality demands that we all need to recognize that BPL is now no longer purely a Ryan Jordan operation; significant outside investors have been added. Those investors/partial owners have a right to make directional changes (at their own peril) in accordance with their own interests since it's now their companty. Witness the massive expansion of the items now offered for purchase in the SHOP. Obviously, the goal is to make BPL a money-making business, one way or another.

Regretably, those of us who don't care for the new direction have choices to make regarding renewing our memberships, being content merely with Forums, or even continuing to visit the site altogether.

Life is not fair, and smart businesspeople recognize this and plan accordingly to maximize their advantages.

Wandering Bob

Folks,

There have been many times that I have hiked in the backcountry boondogging it the whole way only to end up having to turn around because the river ford spot was too heavy to cross. I have at times used an inflatable pad to try and safely cross rivers only to have to turn back and end a planned through hike. I would have given my eye-teeth for a pack raft on those HIKING trips. I remember one occasion where my shoe got wedged into some rocks with water at close to chest level and I had to pull my foot free and the shoe stayed where it was. I never recovered the shoe and had to hike almost 16 miles with no shoe on one foot and almost all of that through alders and thick brush. I wrapped my foot in two pairs of socks but it was still a bloody mess by the time I got done. A packraft would have saved my trip, my foot and my attitude that day.

So I consider packrafts at times a critical piece of equipment that allow me to hike into areas I want to go more safely than would otherwise be possible. To me they are more essential than a stove is or a tent.

I consider this article and others on packrafting to be well worth the content price associated with it.

Thank you BPL staff,

john the xcar

I appreciated the articles on bike packing and packrafting. I have had acl surgery on both my knees in the past and due to some recent problem, I have had to cut down n my distance from 16-18 miles on most hikes to 6 – 8, and reconsider some interests. I have more time now to train and I am hoping this fixes the problems. But I the article on bikepacking gave me hope that if this does not work I can visit the wilderness in alternative ways which I hope may be easier on my knees.

An excellent article. Well done. It certainly gives one the sense of what it was like on the trip and a comparison to conventional river running.

Thanks