Packrafting the Chickaloon River

Its funny how I didn't really know what I was getting myself into when Kellie asked me if I wanted to go float the Chickaloon river. I was anticipating a 4 mile walk, and on the drive there learned it was more like 15. Leaving early made so much more sense with that clarified.

We parked on the road by the river and started hiking up a four wheeler trail, which disappeared at about mile 2.

Then we were in the trees with no trail in site. As far as off trail travel goes it wasn't terrible, but it wasn't fast either.

It became clear we weren't going to make it the whole way and so we bailed back to the river, and got ready to float.

 

I have never felt so off balance packrafting before. I flipped my boat twice on waves that would usually not make me pause. The water was high and a little pushy, but I was just having an off day I guess.

 

Fun day out in a beautiful area, and I'll definitely know more when I go next year.

Train Ride, Sidewalks, and Floating the Placer River

When we woke up we had no idea what to do with the beautiful day. A few minutes on the great internet secured us seats on the AK railroad to get a drop off at the Spencer Glacier whistlestop. We had a 1/2 hr to pack and head out the door!

Getting off the train

 

Hiking Around the Lake

 

 

We decided to walk around the lake to the toe of the glacier, I was just as psyched to walk back, but we decided to float across the lake, all I can say is that I'm glad that there wasn't a head wind, and the views were incredible.

Blowing up the Boats

 

 

The Placer river is a pretty boring float. If it didn't involve a glacier and a train ride it would be much less appealing. A wonderful day out with great company, no complaints!

 

An Almost Attempt and Float out Eagle River

Ryan and I woke up to low clouds and our dreams of ascending Yukla started to wither. We gave it a good go, but the bush schwack and dreary weather defeated us. There were amazing beaver trails up the hillside near Twin Falls, we could have been more persistent.

 

 

We decided to stay another night after our futile bush schwack.

 

 

A quick paddle navigating trees brought us to Echo bend where we took out and hiked back to the nature center.

 

Crow Pass to the Eagle River

It was a glorious morning on top of the pass,and no need to hurry.

 

 

 

A lingering snow patch below the pass

 

We hiked all the way up to the lake, neither of us had been up there before. The toe of the glacier still looked far away. We paddled to the start of the river and were treated to a fantastic ride down. It was cranking, there were some super fun wave trains, then it of course mellows out farther down. We took out below Twin falls, and camped with dreams of Mt. Yukla above us.

 

Glacier Creek and Up to Crow Pass

Ryan came into town for a week, and I was a bit surprised he was ready to head back outside for a float, hike,and camp trip, but I ran with it! He got a new alpacka raft, it looks like an inflatable kayak, its pretty sweet.

Glacier Creek was Cranking

 

Glacier creek was significantly higher than the last time I was there, but it almost made it easier because there weren't as many rocks to avoid. Ryan definitely was in love with his new boat after the first corner. Having a spray deck is pretty nice, he's been roughing it in the old alpacka!

The Put In

 

The float was fast, we were out within the hour. Ryan biked back up to the car while I dried gear in the sun. We still had a good amount of daylight so we headed up to Crow Pass for the night.

 

Berry Pass to the 20 Mile River

A pretty impressive showing of girl power met at Carr's Huffman at 8am on a Monday morning.   By 11, all six of us we were hiking on the Winner Creek trail up to Berry Pass.

It was an overcast, muggy day, but it seemed to magnify the greens in the rain forest. 

 

 

Hiking without trails is the most sure fire way to appreciate an amazing trail the next time you are on one.  The trail has been extended on the 20 mile side of Berry pass, rumor has it, eventually it will extend all the way out to the highway. 

 This is the second time I've been with a virgin packrafter on this trip and I'm not convinced that this is the best river to start on.  The first bit is fast and tends to suck newbies into the alders along the side, its painful and scary to watch.  Poor Margo was wet, cold and scared within the first 5 minutes.  Luckily the latter half  is  mellow, if not a little unrelentingly flat and slow . What makes this trip worthwhile are the beautiful views and ability to chat the whole way.

Merrick towed me for a little while, it was pretty entertaining.

 

 

I absolutely had a great day, but an all together different experience than I usually seek. Its funny how a small group outing can turn into a larger one, and my reaction to that. I'll just be lame and say it, but I don't like doing outdoor trips with more than 3-4 people. My patience to wait for all the separate pieces just isn't there.

T.9ish:D.24.6:EG.2760

Resurection Creek

I called Heather up one random afternoon and an hour later I was on my way to meet her to go float Resurrection creek out of Hope. We hiked up the Resurrection trail about 5 miles where the trail follows the river and then heads away from it again. It looked a lot splashier than I had envisioned.

 

I can't believe I have never done this float before, nor have I heard people talking about it. It was awesome! Clear water, small drops, tight maneuvering, beautiful eddies, and face shots. Heather and I grinned the whole way down.

 

The fun continued past the foot bridge over the creek, but towards the end we started to get shut down by river wide strainers. After a couple portages and what looked like more to come we took out by someones cabin and walked about 5 minutes to Hope where we had left a car. It was an awesome float, way more interesting and exciting than I had ever dreamed.

 

Glacier Creek with the Girls

Caitlin, Krista and I all had the morning free and decided to go float Glacier creek in Girdwood. It was running higher than when Ryan and I were there last week.

 

 

 

 

Glacier Creek

Ryan and I headed down to Glacier creek in Girdwood for some quick and easy packrafting. A beautiful 1 mile trail took us to the hand tram.

 

I love how right off the bat its go time on this fast little creek. I think this is my favorite type of float, low volume and splashy.

 

Ryan's boat got swamped and he couldn't avoid hitting the corner which dumped him out of his boat. He got out in an eddy and I caught his boat and pulled into an eddy on the opposite side of the river. Sometimes I debate bringing a throw rope because its not something you can use in the boat, but it can be effective in getting someone else stuck on the opposite shore without their boat a more secure way back across the river.

 

With that excitement behind us we cruised down the rest of the river, such a pretty place to spend a few hours.

 

The Lower Eagle River

Ryan, Raina and I floated the lower Eagle River from the Hiland Bridge onto base. The water was running low, but it was still fun.

Ryan at the Put In

 

 

Ryan went over something sharp on the left side of camp ground rapids and tore a 6 inch perfect slit in the floor of his boat. It quickly became apparent that the boat was flooding too fast, luckily Raina brought a repair kit.

Raina and Ryan

 

 

A super fun float and I look forward to doing it at higher water.