Companion forum thread to:

24 Hours: Packrafting the Grande Ronde River

Good read, thanks

I keep eyeing that area for a late winter backpack, maybe up the Wenaha from Troy. You have only whetted my appetite.

Ryan nicely done video and I loved the story. Sometimes a daring armature's trip creates a much more exciting story than a perfectly executed trip by an expert. Sometime I gotta write up my near death experience kayaking on a flooded river.
Keep up coming and if you have any more of those, shall we say "learning experiences" I'd love to hear them.

Edited by Cameron on 10/31/2012 12:26:09 MDT.

Ryan,
I could share with you a story of nearly drowning in the Narrows as a young man. Thanks for posting this adventure and for the great pictures. Having grown up in the area I'm feeling a little homesick and will likely have bad dreams about relentless whitewater but reading the article is worth it.

When floating the Grande Ronde you hear the "Narrows" long before you see the intimidating (for me) stretch of whitewater. Putting out on the left bank above the rapids allows you the opportunity to survey the approaching challenge and plot strategy/survival. Back in the water, having hopefully selected to best line, it is a true commitment with no turning back. Once you have dropped into the "Narrows" the only way out is to make it to the other end, with or without your raft!

Edited by thomdarrah on 10/31/2012 08:19:28 MDT.

Ryan

That was a GREAT trip report and video! What was your initial impression of the Alpacka dry suit?

Nice trip report, Ryan! Yeah, the tenkara rods are not exactly designed to let a fish run. Too bad you lost the rod, always annoying...

Steelhead are noted for tail walking and other acrobatics. Once they decide on a direction, often the only thing you can do is throw them slack enough to let them think they "escaped". Not something you can do with a tenkara.

Ryan,

A question on your feet - would you say your system keep your feet dry, wet but warm, or wet and chilly. If you were planning a much longer trip, say a one to two week trip in conditions around freezing, would you change anything with your footwear system?

Edited for second question after watching your video.

The neck gasket looks very loose on you. Is that how it came, or did you stretch/trim it to make it more comfortable?

Edited by Sparticus on 10/31/2012 06:27:37 MDT.

Excellent. Excellent. Excellent.

Thanks!
I'm inspired...


Which "21-foot Daiwa" did you use?

Sounds like a typical Wazzu Cougar.... I miss Pullman. I graduated in CE in 89.
I wish at that time I was as adventurous as I am today.

Edited by HairlessApe on 10/31/2012 13:30:47 MDT.

Ryan,
You are on a roll at the moment. Fine fine work.
Thanks

Ryan, another stunning vid - inspiring, beautiful, well done!

Really enjoyed it! Checking the weather now to see which gear to pack for the weekend after this inspirational video.
24-48 hour adventures, fly fishing and packrafting are "food for my soul".
I can't thank you enough. It was on backpackinglight.com years ago that I was first introduced to the Packraft. Now its hard for me to imagine back country travel along a trout stream without it.

Thanks Ryan!

Excellent Stuff! 24 hours is a nice round number.

Ryan,

I love 24 series and your filming of backpacking!

Killer. I enjoyed this very much Ryan.

Thanks Ryan. Excellent report, video and write up! Have you had any past success landing a steelhead on a Tenkara rod?

Great video. Was that a HMG Porter that you where using for a pack? Been thinking about getting one. Haven't decided between the Porter and the Windrider 3400.

I'm pretty sure that was an Expedition pack. Ryan mentioned it in his photo essay on the Lamar and reviewed it with Chris Wallace a while back.

Great video Ryan.

I hope BPL will be doing more videos in the future as part of the articles on gear reviews, sotm, trip reports and so on...

/Peter