Basic Whitewater Packrafting Course - Field Trip #1 - Snoqualmie River: Powerhouse to Plum Landing

LOCATION OF THIS FIELD TRIP SUBJECT TO CHANGE BASED ON RIVER FLOW AND FORECAST. 

Bring an extra pair of dry shoes, lunch, dry suit, layers, river shoes, and all the gear you will need for a day in the river.  

On this day, our main focus is on the skills required to recover from a capsize.  We will learn about swimming in swift water, throw rope rescue, and packraft rescue, both solo and assisted.

Since the equipment may be new to many participants, we will take time to ensure that everyone is set up well for our day's activities.  

Although our time on the river will be 1/2 day, with the addition of time needed for rigging, de-rigging and shuttle time, plan to be out all day.

RIVER SWIMMING

• Execute a proper Flat jump into whitewater
• Swim down a class II rapid in the safety position
• Transition into an aggressive swim and catch an eddy
• Ferry swim across a class II river
• Exit a river in a seal crawl
• Aggressive swim to a rope and hold in the position for rescue

SELF RESCUE SKILLS

• Re-enter a stabilized boat in deep water
• Swim 50 feet (15m) with a paddle in a class II current 
• Self-reentry from deep water in 90 seconds
• Capsize while holding on to paddle and boat

PARTNER RESCUE

• Stabilize a swimmer's boat while they reenter
• Tow a swimmer 30ft (10m) to their boat
• Right a capsized boat and boat bump 30ft (10m) to a swimmer
• Paddle with two paddles 50ft (15m)
• Throw a rope to a swimmer and belay them to shore