Greetings from scullbinder ranch!
Hola, buenos dias and greetings from Scullbinder Ranch,
We are back from our various travels around the world–Doom to the inside passage of Alaska and Lizzy to Spain, Scotland and Zambia. Though we love traveling, it has been incredibly beautiful at Scullbinder Ranch this fall. There’s no place in the world we would rather be right here, right now.
Except maybe the place in the above photo… So why the stunning, lush green waterfall pic? That’s definitely not in the Four Corners. It’s actually El Río La Venta, a spectacular river lined with stunning limestone cliffs that we and up to 8 clients will pass through next February! Our big 2024 news is we’re going international with two expedition courses to Chiapas, Mexico, and Patagonia, Chile.
First off, we will be partnering with local businesses and guide services so we can give back to the communities in which we work and also ensure you have an authentic cultural experience. Our local partner in Chiapas, Rod Alfonso, runs an award-winning group of hostels. And he’s just a really great guy. He’ll work hard to make your south-of-the-border trip seamless and safe. And we will work hard to teach you the paddling and expedition skills you need to do your own big, badass adventures. Visit our website to learn more about this 8-day Beginner/Intermediate Expedition Packrafting Course.
After Mexico, Doom is heading far far south to Patagonia for another 8-day Expedition Course, but this time exclusively for intermediate and advanced paddlers. Up to 8 clients will spend 2 days with Steve and local Chilean guide, Waldo Aguayo, learning and practicing advanced paddling skills on various rivers near Puerto Río Tranquilo, followed by a 5-day hike-packraft loop around the Guayas Glacier.
In addition to international courses, we have three packraft-specific swiftwater rescue courses on the calendar. And we will add more if those fill up. Jeff Creamer, Class V packrafter and Swiftwater Safety Institute instructor, is joining our guiding team to teach SSI certification coursesand an Intermediate/Advanced paddling course.
Meanwhile, Doom is heading to the Soca River (lucky!) to train as a Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Technician with world-renown instructor, Seon Crockford-Laserer of Packraft Europe. Steve will teach FCG’s non-certification swiftwater rescue courses.
We are back from our various travels around the world–Doom to the inside passage of Alaska and Lizzy to Spain, Scotland and Zambia. Though we love traveling, it has been incredibly beautiful at Scullbinder Ranch this fall. There’s no place in the world we would rather be right here, right now.
Except maybe the place in the above photo… So why the stunning, lush green waterfall pic? That’s definitely not in the Four Corners. It’s actually El Río La Venta, a spectacular river lined with stunning limestone cliffs that we and up to 8 clients will pass through next February! Our big 2024 news is we’re going international with two expedition courses to Chiapas, Mexico, and Patagonia, Chile.
First off, we will be partnering with local businesses and guide services so we can give back to the communities in which we work and also ensure you have an authentic cultural experience. Our local partner in Chiapas, Rod Alfonso, runs an award-winning group of hostels. And he’s just a really great guy. He’ll work hard to make your south-of-the-border trip seamless and safe. And we will work hard to teach you the paddling and expedition skills you need to do your own big, badass adventures. Visit our website to learn more about this 8-day Beginner/Intermediate Expedition Packrafting Course.
After Mexico, Doom is heading far far south to Patagonia for another 8-day Expedition Course, but this time exclusively for intermediate and advanced paddlers. Up to 8 clients will spend 2 days with Steve and local Chilean guide, Waldo Aguayo, learning and practicing advanced paddling skills on various rivers near Puerto Río Tranquilo, followed by a 5-day hike-packraft loop around the Guayas Glacier.
In addition to international courses, we have three packraft-specific swiftwater rescue courses on the calendar. And we will add more if those fill up. Jeff Creamer, Class V packrafter and Swiftwater Safety Institute instructor, is joining our guiding team to teach SSI certification coursesand an Intermediate/Advanced paddling course.
Meanwhile, Doom is heading to the Soca River (lucky!) to train as a Rescue 3 International Swiftwater Rescue Technician with world-renown instructor, Seon Crockford-Laserer of Packraft Europe. Steve will teach FCG’s non-certification swiftwater rescue courses.
We hope y’all are enjoying autumn as much as we are!
Best, Lizzy & Doom

Dates/courses don’t work for you? Email us about alternatives. We are happy to schedule a course for you and 2+ friends. If you want a private course for 1 to 2 people, you must pay our private course fee.
Winter 2024 Packraft Course Schedule

Spring & Summer Bikerafting & Packraft Course Schedule
April
- 2-5: Private Bikepacking & Ancestral Puebloan Ruin Exploration Tour
April 12-16: Become a Utah Desert Bikerafter! Includes 2-Day Option - 12-16: Desert Bikerafting! With a 2-Day Option
- 19-21: Bikepacking & Ancestral Puebloan Ruin Exploration Tour
- 26-28: SSI Swiftwater Rescue Certification Course: Packraft-Specific with Jeff Creamer
- 27-30: Beginning/Intermediate Expedition Packrafting & Paddling Skills Course
May
- 4-6: Learn to Packraft: Beginner Packraft Paddling & Multi-Day Adventure Skills Course
- 11-15: 5 Days on the Dolores River! Beyond Beginner (but not yet Intermediate) Packraft Paddling Skills & Multi-Day Adventure Course
- 17-19: Learn Advanced Packraft Paddling Skills with Jeff Creamer
- 25-29: Intermediate Packrafting Paddling Skills Development Course, with 2-Day Option
June
- 8-9: Learn to Packraft: Basic Beginner Whitewater Packrafting Skills
- 15-16: Swiftwater Rescue – Packraft-Specific Non-Certification Course
- 28-30: Learn to Bikeraft: Basic Beginner Bikerafting Skills Course
July
- TBA: Queer & Trans Packrafting Retreat
- 5-7: SSI Swiftwater Rescue Certification Course: Packraft-Specific
- 15-19: Kid’s 5-Day Adventure Packrafting Camp
- 20-21: Learn to Packraft: Basic Beginner Packraft Paddling Skills Course
August
- TBA: Packraft Fly Fishing Course on the Animas & San Juan Rivers with Thad Ferrell
- 5-9: Kid’s 5-Day Adventure Packrafting Camp9

Fall/Winter Bikeraft & Packraft Course Schedule
We’ll be announcing more fall courses spring 2024.
September
- TBA: Packraft Fly Fishing Course on the Animas & San Juan Rivers with Thad Ferrell