A how-to & inspirational Bikerafting & Packrafting Podcast for beginner adventurers
In our new, A Beginner’s Guide to Bikerafting & Packrafting podcast, we’ll talk with our head guides and other experts in the industry about their suggestions for getting into bikerafting and packrafting, plus their gear recommendations and personal stories of learning to packraft and bikeraft. We’ll also share fireside chats and adventure stories. Anything goes in this catch all podcast. So if you have thoughts, suggestions or comments, email us! You can find us on Podbean and Spotify. We are having trouble getting on Apple podcasts. Check out the show notes and transcriptions of our bikerafting & packrafting podcasts on our blog
At the end of 2024 we snagged an interview with Alpacka Raft Design Engineer Dustin Partridge before he left for three months of packrafting in Patagonia, Chile. We’re super stoked on Episode #11, the first full episode of 2025. Dustin is Alpacka Raft founder/owner Sheri Tingey’s right hand man, and a long-time employee at Alpacka. He came on board as the 15th or 16th employee and worked his way from flooring boats to learning how to build every piece and part of a packraft. And when it became apparently that both his pattern making and computer-aided design skills would make the company operate more smoothly and make Sheri’s job easier, she “stole” him from production.
In this episode, Dustin and I talk about Alpacka’s design process, his mentorship with Sheri, the design of the Valkyrie versus the Mage versus the other whitewater boats (and which boat suit which kind of boater), and the work he finds most difficult and is most proud of at his job. We hope you enjoy this conversation as much as we did!
In Episode #10 of, A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting, we talk with Alpacka Raft co-owner, Thor Tingey, about the hunt packrafting and packraft fly fishing scene. Listen to the full episode to learn more about how hunters and anglers have adopted and now use packrafts on their remote adventures, how using packrafts can save you money and make your hunt and fish adventures simpler, how growth and changes in the market have increased desire and need for packrafts and all the ways packrafts significantly increase access for these sportsmen and women. Also learn about the boats Thor and his mother, Sheri Tingey, designed for hunters and anglers, plus the real meaning of adventure. Hint: it’s the journey & the experience, not catching a fish or harvesting an animal. See the show notes on our accompanying blog post!
In Episode #9 of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, Thad talks about packraft fly fishing. Thad was an early adopter of packrafts, and a longtime cyclist, rock climber and fly fisherman. He recently packrafted the Kongakut River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to fly fish for char. In this episode we talk about how he got started with fly fishing and guiding, his multi-sport adventures, his new venture to teach packraft fly fishing on the Dolores and Animas rivers in Colorado in 2025, some tips for packraft fly fishing and, of course, his trip to the Refuge. Stay tuned because in episode #10 we’ll be chatting with Thor Tingey. Thor and Sheri Tingey spearheaded the development of the world’s first fishing-focused packrafts. We hope you enjoy episode #9!
In Episode #8 of, “A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting,” Deane Parker talks about how he got into pairing bikes and packrafts on pretty hardcore whitewater from the get-go, in addition to his history kayaking and rafting Class V rapids, his raft guiding business in the 90s, his mountain bike adventures, his filming projects through Deane Parker Adventure Channel, and his family farm. One of the most renown whitewater bikerafters in the world, Deane is also an all-around super nice guy. We always have fun chatting with Deane. And after eight years of working with him on various projects, we really look forward to meeting him in person February 15-25, 2025, when we finally visit New Zealand for a 10-day expedition packrafting course Four Corners Guides is running with Deane and Huw Miles of Packrafting Queenstown.
Starting today and through fall 2024 we’ll be sharing stories, podcasts, videos and photos focusing on international packrafting adventures. We’ll explore places we guide or will be guiding, such as La Venta River in Chiapas, Mexico, and Chilean Patagonia. But also some places we are not guiding, such as Tajikistan and beyond.
February 2025, we’re heading over to New Zealand to partner with Huw Miles of Packrafting Queenstown and Deane Parker of Deane Parker Adventure Channel on a specially curated adventure of that country’s finest rivers. So for episode #7 of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting, we decided to talk with Huw first a bit about his life and his business. But we primarily are focusing on what packrafting New Zealand’s South and North islands is like.
Well spoken and extremely knowledgeable about his adopted country, Huw shares stories about his favorite adventures, the wide variety of rivers available for beginner to advanced boaters, the first descent opportunities for the world’s heartiest packrafters, and the many highlights of paddling in New Zealand.
I hope you enjoy this conversation as much as I did. I have some serious FOMO right now.
For Episode #6 of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafing & Bikerafing, we did interview with Julia Yanker, a long-time packrafter, life coach and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, aka trauma resolution specialist. My primary goal with chatting with Julia was to really find out what can be done for adventurers who experienced trauma that now affects the other adventures they partake in.
I had a terrible climbing accident six years ago that increased my levels of anxiety exponentially, no matter the activity I’m doing, but primarily in regards to packrafting. This manifests in an irrational fear of whitewater. For example, I’ve done the Grand Canyon twice. But despite that I have an unreasonable fear of the big waves, though I’ve swam a few dozen times on the Colorado, and I have always been fine. But still, when I even just think about the Grand Canyon now, my heart beats faster, my palms sweat, and I get a constriction in my chest. No joke! I wanted to talk with Julia to see if there was anything I could do about this seemingly irrational fear. And she told me, yes, there is, in fact, a way to deal with it. So in addition to delving into her personal background and packrafting history, we talk about how to alleviate trauma experienced while adventuring. I hope you enjoy this podcast! Check out transcription and listen to the podcast here.
Today we’re talking with one of the most interesting and accomplished guys in the world of packrafting, Luc Mehl. He’s traveled more than 10,000 miles by packraft, ski, bike and ice skates, often utilizing two or more of those tools on the same adventure. He wrote the definitive guide on packrafting safety and skills. Every Packrafter should have a copy of The Packraft Handbook. And he’s one of the world’s best packraft instructors. He’ll absolutely hate that I’m saying these things. But as far as I and many others are concerned, he’s the man.
Luc is also someone I love having conversations with him. I always learn so much. Today he and I are talking about a wide variety of subjects, but mostly focused around culture of safety issues, such as the risks and rewards of “leveling up” in packrafting, what “close calls” actually are and how knowing more about them can help the packrafting community (and other adventure communities) play safer. Plus we review a bunch of tools he uses to be the best partner he can be to the people he adventures with. Read the transcript and listen here.
Today for our fourth episode of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting, we’re bringing you an interview with Jeff Creamer. Jeff teaches Swiftwater Safety Institute rescue courses and tests and makes boats for Alpacka Raft. One of America’s top packrafters, he’s done numerous remote, challenging expeditions on up to Class V whitewater in the mountains, along with some creative trips pairing boats and skis. He’s also a Level 3 American Canoe Assoc. Packraft Instructor. We are stoked to have Jeff teach an annual Level 4, Intermediate/Advanced Packraft Mastery courses each May, along with Swiftwater Safety Certification courses run through the Swirtwater Safety Institute.
In the first 15 minutes of this episode we learn about Jeff’s previous life as an ocean canoe racer and PhD student. Then he talks about his packrafting mentors Dan Thurber and Mike Curiak, and his early adventures skiing, packrafting and backpacking. Finally, we dive into Jeff’s expeditions, how he plans for them, how he chooses partners, and more. Check out the show notes on our blog. Please note that we edited the transcription with a.i., so please forgive any weird errors. Thanks!
In the third episode of our Podcast, A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, Four Corners Guides owner Lizzy Scully talks with renown Packraft Instructor Jule Harle. A long-time kayaker and packrafter and owner of Alaska Packraft School, Jule has been instrumental in legitimizing packrafting as a sport through her work as a guide and her work with others to get the American Canoe Association packrafting curriculum in place to accredit packrafting guides across the country. She volunteers with the Alaska Chapter of the American Packrafitng Association, and she was this year’s Golden Paddle winner. Check our all our scheduled women’s courses.
In the second episode of our A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting Podcast (& occasional YouTube video) Series, Tony Miely talks whitewater packrafting gear. While he doesn’t review the full spectrum of boats, paddles and helmets available (that would take hours!), he offers an overview of the gear people need to get started with whitewater boating. And he makes a few solid, high-quality brand suggestions. Tony is one of the long-time owners of 4Corners Riversports, the premier boating store in SW Colorado. He is also an accomplished Class V kayaker and all-around nice guy!
In the first episode of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, FCG owner Lizzy Scully interviews Head Guide Steve “Doom” Fassbinder about his packrafting history, his tips for beginners, how Doom got into packrafting and the process he went through as he became an experienced packrafter. He also talks about his gear kit and gear he recommends for beginners, along with the important of swiftwater safety courses (certification or non-certification). He emphasizes the importance of honesty and communication when paddling with others, the importance of seeking guidance and training from experienced paddlers. And he offers advice on how to choose appropriate rivers and trips based on skill level. Finally, he and Lizzy discuss the importance of having fun and enjoying the packrafting experience.
