Has anyone made a tracking fin for the alpacka rafts that will make flatwater paddling tolerable?

The packraft is not well suited to traveling distance on flatwater. One answer to the problem is to find places that there is no (or at least less) flatwater to travel. Many of the whitewater river destinations are ideal for packrafting trips. Park your vehicle near the end of the quick moving section of the river and hike, or shuttle, to the start of the fast water. Rapids can be portaged easily, or scouted then challenged .
Here in the midwest, packrafting is very similar to "tubing" (using truck tire inner tubes to float rivers with enough flow that no paddling is required).

Where are the best packrafting places in the lower 48?

Who out there will share their favorite routes?

>>"Park your vehicle near the end of the quick moving section of the river and hike, or shuttle, to the start of the fast water. Rapids can be portaged easily, or scouted then challenged ."

Since you made mention of waters with rapids, Dead and Kennebec Rivers in Maine for whitewater rapids - release of waters behind a dam cause the whitewater. Dies down a bit 'til the next "release". Dead released prit near daily at times during the year (last mo. for instance); Kennebec ~1x per week. So the "Kennee" has a longer period sans real rapids.

Dead = class III & IV after the water has been released, until it starts to die down a bit. Dead has more continuous whitewater rapids than any other river in the East.

Dead & "Kennee" near the AT.

Know of a company up there which, besides whitewater rafting, plans canoeing, kayaking trips, hikes, backpacking, nordic/x-cntry skiiing & some other 'motored' activities year-round. Can rent cabins, if overnight in forest is not your (or your wife's) thing. Much more than just whitewater adventures (not my thing).

NAOA

No. Amer. OA

1-800-RAPIDS-9
located on the National Scenic Byway Route 201 in West Fork, Maine

owned by one of my son's closest friends & his father. can't promise anything, but possibly could get reduced rates if referred by me/my son.

You could also try the Penobscot River in Maine.

I have a co-worker who is an avid packrafter. he prefers the "enjoyable" adventure Dr. J mentions just below (or above if you sort your posts in rev. chrono order) - New York Adirondack Mtns ('ok', 'ok'...hills to y'all out west). I can get more info fr/him if you're interested. Bears are starting to become a problem = bear canisters likely in some places this year - for the first time.

If you need more info, let me know.

Hope this clarification helps.

Edited by pj on 07/11/2005 05:28:12 MDT.

The most "enjoyable" packrafting for most people will be on those rivers that are long and moderate, and are in an area where you can hop ridges between drainages so a cool hike/packraft can be combined.

The Wind River Range has good packrafting opportunities, e.g., on the Green, which makes for an awesome traverse of the range from the east side, crossing the crest (combine with a climb of the WY high point, Gannett Peak), then float out the Green.

Yellowstone National Park would be a HAVEN for packrafting, if...it was legal. The Yellowstone, Snake, Lamar, Madison...wow, it would be awesome.

The Frank Church in Idaho is really the premier packrafting destination in the lower 48, with all the elements of being remote, having a good trail network, enough bushwacking routes to connect drainages, and fantastic rivers. This is probably my favorite lower 48 place to packraft.

Per the earlier message in this string, I would be interested in any recommendations for packrafting in the Adirondacks. I was contemplating a backcountry pond circuit, fishing trip and bushwack from Henderson lake to Duck Hole to Lost Pond Mtn and down through the Wall face ponds. Any thoughts on that or other ideas would be appreciated. Thanks

“Has anyone made a tracking fin for the alpacka rafts that will make flatwater paddling tolerable?” - John Shannon

The Alpacka Dory comes with a tracking fin that attaches with Velcro. If you would like to use it with the Alpacka, Lama, or Yak contact alpackaraft.com and I am sure they would sell you a fin.

Thanks Forrest. I will look into that.

Ryan, Curious about what rivers are good in the Frank Church.

The Salmon River is I believe the main white water attraction in this area and also the Selway River. The Frank Church Wilderness is very rugged, remote and wild. I've hiked in this area for twenty plus years, at times going 7-8 days without seeing a another person. Visit this area if given the oppertunity, you will be rewarded with a trip of a lifetime. Also check out the Seven Devild area and areas along the Lochsa River.

Thanks Thom, I was wondering about little creeks and rivers not run often or that maybe have only been done in packrafts....