Packrafting: Exploring the Wilderness by Portable Boat

by Molly Absolon

Overview

Don’t Be Left Up a River… Without a Packraft Packrafts are lightweight, inflatable boats that can be carried in a backpack, on a bicycle or in a duffel bag. These compact, tough personal watercrafts are used to float rivers, run rapids, cross lakes, and even drop waterfalls, often as part of a broader wilderness expedition that includes backpacking. Packrafting is rapidly gaining in popularity, with increasingly varied options for gear, ranging by size, cost, and function. With the number of guided packrafting trips on the rise, this is the perfect book for the beginner interested in the up-and-coming sport.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781493027477
Publisher:	Falcon Guides
Publication date:	05/15/2017
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Molly Absolon has written 10 titles for the Backpacker Magazine Outdoor Skills Series (Falcon). She is also the author of the Basic Illustrated Winter Camping and the forthcoming Basic Illustrated Alpine Ski Touring. Molly spent years working as an outdoor educator for the National Outdoor Leadership School and her experience teaching beginners technical skills translates on the page into easy-to-read and follow instructions. Molly is a packrafter who has found that her 5-pound boat has transformed the way she looks at a map and explores the backcountry. She lives in Victor, Idaho, with her husband and daughter.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vi

Introduction vii

Chapter 1 Packrafting History 1

Chapter 2 Packrafting Equipment 8

Chapter 3 Getting Started 47

Chapter 4 Basic Paddling Technique 63

Chapter 5 Reading Water 100

Chapter 6 Putting It All Together 124

Chapter 7 Hazards and Basic Rescue 151

Chapter 8 First Aid 164

Chapter 9 Leave No Trace 175

Chapter 10 Maintenance, Repair, and Modifications 185

Chapter 11 Trip Planning 200

Appendix A Sample First-aid Kit 239

Appendix B NOLS Wilderness Medicine Institute Sample Patient Assessment Form 241

Appendix C Sample Drug Kit 244

Appendix D Sample Group Repair Kit (Non-boating) 246

Index 247

About the Author 251