Whitewater Packraft - John River

River Characteristics:

The John River is a remote and scenic river in the Brooks Range of Alaska. This trip will go approximately 135 miles from the village of Anaktuvuk Pass to the confluence of the John and Koyukuk Rivers and the town of Bettles. The upper 35 miles of the John River are unpredictable whitewater that depend on flows but should be expected to run at Class III difficulty. The next 100 miles flatten out to Class I-II, then Class I.

Cost and Timing:

The trip will likely be 13 days Seattle-to-Seattle and expected costs per paddler will be around $1500, not including incidentals such as meals on the way.  Each participant is expected to purchase their own air tickets.  Shared expenses will be accounted for and we will settle up periodically.  Each participant is expected to settled up within a week of being asked to. The starting date will be sometime in the first full week of August, pending flight availability. 

Pace: 

We will seek to cover about 20 river miles per day. If the river is flowing quickly, this may be easy to cover and we will have more time for hiking or relaxing on shore. If the flow is slower, particularly in the final 50 miles, we will have to do more paddling. In the upper stretch of the river, flows should be relatively faster and the whitewater more technical, and we will focus more on running the rapids safely. As we go down the river and it becomes more languid, we will paddle more and float less. Expect full days of activity.

Critical Notes

• There is a 5 mile portage.  Participants must be able to carry all gear in one go.
• Purchase of air tickets will happen soon.  Availability may change our schedule.  

Schedule:

• 8/8: Fly to Fairbanks, pick up supplies, overnight.
• 8/9: Fly to Annaktuvuk, visit NPS ranger, visit museum, portage to John River
• 8/17: Arrive Old Bettles.  Shuttle to Bettles*.  Camp there
• 8/18 Fly to Fairbanks.  Overnight
• 8/19: Fly to Seattle.

Shuttle to Bettles

To get from the confluence of the John river up to Bettles is difficult.  A boat or bush plane shuttle will save us from lining and paddling our boats upstream.  We are working on the logistics of this.  The schedule depends on what we find.

Goals * Expectations * Style

Goals

• Paddle the John river from Annaktuvuk Pass to the confluence of the Koyukuk river then upstream to Bettles.
• Be safe:  Aware of risk and management.
• Enjoy being out there, whatever conditions we encounter.
• Enjoy company of each other.

Expectations

• Support the goals above
• Have the skills and fitness required for this trip *
• Bring appropriate equipment *
• Work as a team member to help the group be happy and accomplish our goals 
• Share responsibility for risk management and take responsibility for recognizing when conditions warrant a new risk assessment.
• Participate in group decision making
• Abide by decisions made by the group or by the leader 
• Don't take risks that other group members do not support 

* Participant Skills

• Able to carry all your equipment on a 5 mile portage
• Able to descend class 3 rapids with a loaded packraft.
• Able to paddle 5 hours and cover 12 miles in a day.
• Able to travel 20 miles on a river with modest current.
• Camp skills:  stoves, filters, tarp/bug tent, group systems.
• Able to camp in wet, cool conditions.
• Camp in bear & wolf country:  clean camp, bear proof food storage, carry bear spray, cautious going out alone.

* Personal Equipment

• 2 gallon water capacity
• Bearproof storage for food
• Bear pepper spray

STYLE

• Most days are moving days
• Moving days start 8-9am and end 3-5pm
• 2 or more layover days, depending on distances covered.
• Allow time for people to hike
• Sit together for dinner as time to reflect and discuss
• Intention to create a community of mutual respect and enjoyment.
• Focused, inclusive conversations.

How to Join

Read the above.  If this feels like a trip for you, ask for permission.  When asking, state that you are ready to purchase air tickets.

When you have permission, fill out the poll for ticket purchase.

The provisional itinerary is August 8 to August 20.  The itinerary depends our ability to purchase flights to and from the bush communities.  One of our first orders of business will be to make that purchase.  All participants should be prepared to purchase air tickets in the first week of March.