Alaska Packraft School

Taken during our trip last week.

So much fun teaching folks to packraft from the ground up while exploring beautiful parts of Alaska!

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We’ve really had some incredible days on the river this past week. Thanks to all who show up and participate and bring the high vibes to match our guides! This is a truly wonderful sport and so much of that has a the community around it. Keep spreadin’ the love, paddlers. Be safe out there on Sixmile!

Incredible second day on the water with the LGBT+ Outdoors Trip!!

Honolulu Creek at various levels

1. Highway Bridge - Sept 2022
2. Highway Bridge - Sept 2023
3. Gauge Rock - “Perfect Level” in 2022
4. Gauge Rock - Talkeetna Flooded in 2023

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HIGH VIBE GUIDE FEATURE FRIDAY!

This is Fiona Brown! She began teaching paddlesports in 2009. She grew up in faraway Cambridge, Massachusetts, but couldn’t sit still in class, and eventually found her way to Alaska. She paddled a packraft for the first time in 2014 on the Matanuska river and couldn’t stop giggling. She has led packraft expeditions for NOLS but also works rafting, mountaineering, skiing, hiking and sea kayak programs because she can’t pick just one fun thing. Indoors, she’s an ambitious cook, reader, and parent to a demanding herding dog. She is also four feet, eleven inches tall.

We are so stoked to have Fiona on the team and we can’t wait for everyone to get a chance to paddle with her and pick her brain for paddling stories and wisdom!

Scoutin’ Scannin’ Boatin’ & Plannin’ with these guys!

ACA Instructor Certification Course with Tommy Gram this weekend!

Check out this new Alaska River Forums’ post!

Savage River - Alaska Packraft School Difficulty: IV (with one Class V rock sieve/mandatory portage) Length: 3 miles Gradient: 100 ft/mile Gauge: No gauge Shuttle: None, hike back to where you started Cutting through the same…

2nd airing at 8pm tonight, 91.1FM radio

Each month, Outdoor Explorer invites listeners to step outside in Alaska. Discover a new trail or fishing hole, learn what to pack, when to go, and most importantly how to stay safe. Find inspiration & tools to access wild places from Alaska backcountry experts- outdoor guides, park rangers, authors, artists, lodge owners, bush pilots, educators & YOU, the explorer.

Paul Twardock- Sea Kayak guru, author & longtime APU outdoor professor hosts todays “Spring into Boating” episode.

Boating AK for decades, leaders , Chris Hellman & Eric Downey invited me to join. Lots of insight hearing early era stories & perspectives from older generations who’ve watched paddlesports diversity evolve & gain popularity in AK… & how Packrafts have contributed to our river & adventure community

CHECK THIS OUT 🌏🔥

Spring is a great time for new ideas! International Packraft Film Festival
www.packraftfilmfest.org

MISSION: Connect communities through packraft adventure stories & films around the globe. Celebrate human creativity & paddle diversity - how packrafts have inspired & opened up ways to explore the water of our world.

The leadership team: are working on the website, trailer, film categories, sponsorship packets & other details… it truly takes a village

I’m making a premature announcement because .studios sent me this logo that she is currently working on. I’m pretty excited & had to spill the beans before we’re ready with the rest of the details. Typical Jule. Stay tuned. IM STOKED!

Happy belated birthday Justin!!! I’m SO FORTUNATE to have you on the APS team. I met Justin last year, he was a level 2 student & was blown away by his enthusiasm for boating & his ability to authentically connect with anyone around him. ❤️



Justin returned to Alaska in 2022 from Arizona after a transient life moving around the world. He studied at the University of Hawaii and Northern Arizona University to become an elementary school teacher and taught for 5 years.  Ultimately, he left teaching in search of  ways to become more connected with the outdoors. 

Justin discovered packrafting and fell in love with it because it allows him to connect with the water in a deeply spiritual way. If he’s not packrafting, he can be found in the mountains skiing, backpacking, rock climbing, fishing, or sitting on a rock taking it all in. Yaaaaa

I don’t want to play favorites, but I’m especially excited about today’s FEATURE FRIDAY

Ya know, cuz he’s my life partner (work too🤓) in crime, love, rivers, mountains, and all things Alaska & beyond ❤️. He is professional, incredibly skilled in so many outdoor avenues and super sexy. YIKES 🙌 Love you sweetie!



Pete’s love of rivers and mountains really kicked in during the 90s - falling deep with whitewater kayaking, rock climbing and backcountry skiing. Even as a boy in Ohio he was a giddy teenager feeling gratitude in the wilderness.

“Teaching and guiding in wild places compounds my own joy as our team matures with competence in both skills and self awareness.”

Moving to AK in 2017, Pete soon began packrafting- he’s passionate and looks forward to sharing his skills & love for Alaskan rivers with students. If he’s not skiing or paddling, he’s spending time building his dream home & airplane hangar near Tonsina, AK.

He has made a career of helping people explore wild places- he loves it wholeheartedly. In the winter months he works as a heli-ski guide with & avalanche forecaster.

Pete holds several certifications including Advanced Swiftwater Rescue, Emergency Medical Technician, Rope Rescue Technician, Avalanche Level 3, AMGA Ski Guide, and Leave No Trace Trainer.

he also inspires health and wellness through many modalities, especially Life Wave patches.

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Craving long Alaska summer days, perfect for multi-day Packraft trips.

Here’s a few shots of one of my favorite routes in the Chugach Mountains. Two full days of backpacking to access Greyling Lake, which feeds into Greyling Creek & the Tonsina River, both class III+. really makes the ideal boats for this style of trip

Its not included in the guidebook, but I’m working on a write up for the ALASKA RIVER FORUMS. (Link in bio)

.johnson

Uploading new photos to the Alaska River Forums and getting stoked!!

1. The Tsaina River at low water, the rapids in the upper canyon have a “creeky” feel. October low low low water.

2. The bottom of Toilet Bowl rapid on the Talkeetna River, 5500 cfs

3. Cam Brailey in the Resurrection Cascades when the Sixmile gauge was at 8.9 ft

Every Tuesday in May! Gain confidence & get ready for river season while meeting new paddle partners!

Alaska Packraft School, a leader in skills courses & education, is teaming up with for this special course.

This progressive 4 week series starts at ground zero & helps anyone new to paddling or river sports grow the skills needed to access class II rivers with packrafts in Alaska. This course exposes you to everything from gear, paddle skills, rescue basics, river mechanics- even the “raft packing” land travel tips & tricks essential for hiking & integrating their use as access tools.

The beauty of weekly lessons allows time to practice & refine the skills you just learned- this allows for a deeper & more thorough understanding of material covered. Different from a typical “weekend warrior” course format, you’ll have time to let the content really sink in before we meet again the following week to strengthen & build on skills covered the week prior. “Tune Up Tuesdays” have low student to instructor ratios (4:1) & a “challenge by choice” teaching methodology to help meet you where you’re at with your packraft goals.

Don’t miss this opportunity! Gain confidence & get ready for river season while meeting new paddle partners!

NEW COURSE SERIES! Tune-Up Tuesdays!

Every Tuesday in May. $400 for all 4 courses!

This progressive 4 week series starts at ground zero & helps anyone new to paddling or river sports grow the skills needed to access class II rivers with packrafts in Alaska.

This course exposes you to everything from gear, paddle skills, rescue basics, river mechanics - even the “raft-packing” land travel tips & tricks essential for hiking & integrating their use as access tools.

“Tune Up Tuesdays” have low student to instructor ratios (4:1) & a “challenge by choice” teaching methodology to help meet you where you’re at with your packraft goals!

More Info at link in bio!

Join the Knik Canoers and Kayakers in their annual Anchorage Paddling Film Festival, a human-powered boating celebration at in Anchorage on Monday April 15th, 5:30pm. Check out www.npff.org for a preview

“Spring into Boating” with us! Meet local paddlers & fellow river folk, let’s share the vibe & start the stoke for floating with this years inspiring films (there’s local contributions as well!)

GA is $10 & includes DOOR PRIZES 🙌🥳 liiiike….

Alaska Packraft Guidebook

Discounts/vouchers for Alaska Packraft School 2024 offerings

Lightweight Packraft bowbag by .designs

Proceeds support AK Water Conservation & . The Anchorage Paddling Film Festival is a roadshow of the National Paddling Film Festival.



.paddling .sheridan

FEATURE FRIDAY! Each Friday we will introduce an Alaska Packraft School staff member. Our instructors are “cream of the crop” - the real magic behind our reputation as leaders in the industry, “High Vibe Guides”
More than just talented paddlers, they have a passion for being on the water, authentically sharing that vibe with others in their own (fun, weird, unique & inspiring) way. ❤️

“Herrow! My name is Russ aka Russy-Russ 😜
I was born and raised in Spanish Fork, Utah. I grew up hiking, backpacking in the Wasatch Range and hunting rocks in the west desert. I moved up to AK full time in 2010 and I am stoked to live in Denali National Park for most of year. The rest of the time I am travel boating, on the skinny skis noodlin’ or getting in some downhill action.

I have been working with since 2019 guiding, and instructing Packraft courses. I also assist in teaching SRT courses throughout the summer in the state of Alaska with The Rescue Company where I am known as Safety-Russ 😉

Packrafting has been a spark that reignited the fire in my soul. It brought me back out into the outdoors and really motivated me to push myself to see what I could accomplish, and what I could see! Packrafting for me is multifaceted. The adventure, community, and scenary are some reasons why I do it. I also love a long scenic slog, but I’ll snack on some tasty whitewater if you got it. The Nenana River in Alaska is where I started packrafting, but I consider the Chattooga (KLCG) to be my home river. “

ALASKA RIVER FORUMS UP & RUNNING! (Link in Bio)

A project Justin Bickley, John Schauer & I have been working on. It’s intended as a community resource for all paddlers in AK (rafts, kayaks, canoes, packrafts, etc). Any river user can log in, comment to existing posts or add their own contributions/rivers not mentioned or listed yet.

We are also ISO more moderators, msg me of Justin Bickley if interested in helping out more with this project!

Feature Friday! Each week we’ll introduce a different instructor on our team. Our “High Vibe Guides” are more than great paddlers who love Alaska-their diverse outdoor resumes, professional skills & years of experience are why our courses stand out. These industry leaders are more than staff, but my personal friends & paddle partners. I can attest to their on the water decision-making & teaching skills, but truly impressed by how eager & passionate they are to share the JOY of packrafting w/others & help students reach their paddling goals.



“Howdy! My name is Kurt! I grew up in Hamilton, MT but have called White Salmon, WA home since ‘93. I love floating, boating, fishing and fungi- all over the world, but especially in Alaska.

I’ve been leading wilderness trips for in AK every summer since 2012 including several month long packrafting course expeditions.

I’ve always said that it’s hard to take yourself too seriously in a packraft and that’s truly what I love about them. Silly looking, colorful pool toys that take us to the most amazing places I’ve ever been AND, despite the inherent goofiness, they can still shred whitewater….What’s not to love!?

In the off-season, my wife and I spend a good portion of the year in the Mojave desert, working with endangered tortoises and enjoying sandy beach vibes. I’m passionate about wildlife conservation and environmental stewardship-I want to play, explore & take care of our AWESOME planet“