Packraft Whitewater Transition

Clinic

Packraft Whitewater Transition - Middle Fork Snoqualmie River: Tanner to North Bend

This one day clinic offers the training needed for an experienced paddler to transition to whitewater packrafting.

  • Class II River
  • Challenging
  • Mileage: 4.3 mi

The exact river section will depend on river flows.  The Snoqualmie from Tanner is very likely as it is commonly runnable in a range of flows.  

Anticipate meeting time of 8:30 at a take out location.  From there, we will shuttle to a put-in.  

This clinic will teach the essential skills of whitewater packrafting to experienced paddlers.

Anticipate a full day of activity.  We will emphasize the river rescue skills, which means everyone will swim several times during the day.  Dress warmly.  Pogies are recommended for paddling.  Also, bring water gloves for swimming.

Notes

Participants should have a solid paddling background and familiarity with paddling equipment.  Sea Kayakers who are competent paddling in dynamic water, surf, and rock gardening are good candidates.   

Before the class, participants should have

  • Practiced inflating their boat and paddling in flat water
  • Outfitting their boat with thigh straps, backhand, and foot rest all positioned properlly
  • Practiced self-rescue in flat water.  (from deep water, self-enter your boat
  • Comfortable with other paddling gear:  dry suit, PFD, paddle, etc. 

On completion of this clinic, you should have the skills needed to pass a subsequent equivalency evaluation.  On completion of equivalency, you will obtain the Basic Whitewater Packrafting badge.

SKILLS

RIVER SWIMMING

  • Execute a proper Flat jump into whitewater
  • Swim down a class II rapid in the safety position
  • Transition into aggressive swim, catch an eddy
  • Exit a river in a seal crawl
  • Catch a throw 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

    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

    PADDLING SKILLS

    • Launch into current
    • Back-ferry across a class II current
    • Catch and exit from an onshore eddy
    • Catch and exit from a mid-stream eddy
    • Paddle through a small hole
    • Paddle through a class II wave train
    • Manage boat speed by backpaddling and sideways slowing

    READING WHITEWATER

    • Current, eddies, boulders, holes, wave trains
    • Wood hazards, strainers
    • Mid-stream and onshore eddies
    • Sieves, siphons, whirlpools
    • Channels and cobble bars
    Route/Place

    Middle Fork Snoqualmie River: Tanner to North Bend


    Roster
    Required Equipment

    Required Equipment

    Required Equipment

    • Whitewater Packraft (deck or self-draining)
    • Paddle 
    • PFD
    • Helmet

    Trip Reports