Bikerafting 101: Micro Adventuring with Chris Burkard & Doom

Learn to Bikeraft

We started our busy season with a four-day bikerafting 101 course with some heavy hitter cyclists/adventurers this April 15-18.

Chris Burkard and Doom are heading out on a long-distance bikerafting circumnavigation of Iceland this July with Rebecca Rusch. But, without much bikerafting experience, Chris was looking for some training. So he and Doom decided a long weekend mission in Colorado was in order. Chris rounded up two good friends to join, Thrainn Kolbeinsson, an outdoor adventure photographer and film maker from Iceland, and Chas Christiansen, a guy that rawcyclingmag.com calls, “one of the most charismatic, competitive, and well-known riders in regard to urban cycling.”

Doom and Lizzy invited friend, Patrick Hendry, an adventure photographer and experienced bikerafter wanting more packraft training. We knew he’d fit in well with the crew. We know Patrick from his work with The Bikeraft Guide.

Four Days of Rad

These guys hit it hard out of the gate. They spent their first full day honing basic packrafting skills on the Animas River, paddling a good amount of time in the City of Durango’s kayak play park. They learned to surf, catch eddies and read the river, and they practicing paddling skills, among other things.

Day 2, “micro adventure day,” the crew did multiple laps on the Animas, part of which Lizzy documented in this short video.

After three sweet nights at Scullbinder Ranch having dinner on the front porch, breakfast in the Main House, and sleeping in the Scullbinder River Cabin and glamping tents, the crew headed out for their overnight.

Days 3 and 4 the crew drove to the San Miguel and Dolores Rivers, where they spent two hard days cycling and packrafting 50+ miles in the high desert, hitting rapids on the Dolores River and climbing 2000 feet on the Rim Rocker Trail.

Awesome trip! Thanks so much to Chris Burkard for bringing it.