Women learn differently from men. “Whether you call it ‘girl power’ or ‘feminine energy,'” says Jule Harle of Alaska Packrafting School, ladies have a different learning style. And women’s packrafting courses can offer a distinct environment where they can talk through concepts and issues more thoroughly than might happen in a mixed class or class with just men.

“There’s a part of the brain that’s twice as big in a female that processes new experiences or manages fear through talking,” Jule says.

Who knew? Well, we women did, of course 

So, we’ve expanded our women’s bikerafting and packrafting courses. Want to read/listen more about how women learn differently from men? Check out our, “A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting” podcast with Jule Harle, owner of Alaska Packraft school and sometime guest instructor for FCG. You’ll find it on our website or on Spotify. 

Email us if you want to schedule a bikerafting course for you and your lady friends. Also ask about our full-ride scholarships for BIPOC women, queer and transgender folks through the Armida Huerta Adventure Fund.

A 50% deposit is required within 90 days of the course to hold your spot. And we will need the remaining balance 30 days prior to your course. If you are registering inside of the 30 day window, the remaining balance is due immediately.

Please review our cancellation policy, which you will find on our Terms, Conditions & Cancellation Policy Page.

This course does not include food, lodging or shuttling. As well, we do not provide whitewater boats or drysuit. We expect you to have your own whitewater boats and equipment already.

Annie Bussell

After moving to the southwest in 2013, Annie found a deep passion for backpacking into remote wildernesses and floating wild rivers. As a raft guide since 2014 and a Level 4 ACA-certified packraft instructor since 2025, she has long held a love for navigating and immersing herself into river corridors. After starting work at Alpacka Raft in 2021, she discovered packrafts. These tiny inflatable boats have allowed her to merge her love of backpacking and paddling and find new ways to access the remote wildernesses she loves. When not paddling or hiking, Annie makes art, including stunning murals you can find on the outside of the Alpacka Raft factory and at the La Plata County Airport.

Lizzy Scully

Lizzy is a Level 3 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructor and will have her Level 4 by spring. She additionally has advanced Swiftwater Safety training and he is a certified Wilderness First Responder. Lizzy started packrafting in 2017, after started as the marketing maven for Alpacka Raft. She spent most of her adult life rock climbing around the world, doing first ascents and major expeditions to Pakistan, India and elsewhere. But now, at 50, she prefers more horizontal terrain on rivers and mountain bike trails. Lizzy occasionally teaches women’s courses and assists when needed on other courses, but primarily runs all logistics for Four Corners Guides.

These 2-day Intermediate or Intermediate paddling courses are for people who have paddled Class III and up to Class IV, can easily self rescue (or roll) every time and who have taken a swiftwater rescue course with us, the ACA, SSI, International 3 Rescue or other accredited guide services. These courses are ideal for people who want to learn and/or advance their knowledge of technical and complex strokes, expertly navigate eddies, make excellent group decisions, manage vertical drops and surf like a pro. These courses are for solid paddlers who want to take their paddling skills to a more elite level. 

Level 2 skills you should already be well-versed in

Paddling & River Running Skills

• ✔Equipment (use and care + boat rigging, fit, and release of thigh straps)
• ✔Posture, safety, comfort, rocking and balance
• ✔Swimming and general water confidence
• ✔Self-rescue & buddy assistance
• ✔Dealing with currents
• ✔Aggressive & defensive swimming position
• ✔River hydrology/dynamics, features & hazards
• ✔Beginner to Intermediate Paddle strokes: Forward, Draw, Sculling draw/brace, Sweep (including stern draw), Reverse sweep, Rudder, Bracing
• ✔Maneuvers: Spin: boat pivots in place; Draw Stroke to move the boat sideways without headway; Forward: boat goes forward in a reasonably straight line; Turns: boat turns in a broad arc while underway 
• Ferries: Facing downstream (to stop in current and move laterally to avoid hazards) and Facing upstream to move laterally with control
• Using eddies: Eddy turns; Deep into eddy vs. near eddy line; Peel outs; Deep into current vs. pivot near eddy line; C-turns (eddy turn and peel out from the same side of an eddy); S-turns (eddy turn on one side of an eddy, peeling out from the other side)
• Surfing
• River communication: Paddle, hand, and whistle signals
• ✔Trip planning – 6Ps: Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance
  • ★Review elements of a float plan (who, what, when, where)
  • ★Sourcing local beta such as river sections, flows, weather conditions, forecasts, etc. (i.e., online groups, guidebooks, websites, apps, businesses, gauges, etc.)
  • ★Local rules, regulations, and permitting requirements
  • ★Shuttle logistics (where do the keys go?)
• ✔Evaluate current weather conditions, forecasts, and other environmental hazards
• ✔Field repair-tips & tricks

• ✔Strategies in running rivers: Spacing; Avoid tunnel vision; Paddle your own route, Scoutingl Portaging; Group organization on the river; Cohesiveness (lead, sweep boats, etc); Safety boats (group members with repair kits, first aid kits, and first aid and CPR training); Communication and signaling 

✔Discuss danger vs. difficulty

Level 3 Advanced Paddling & River Running Skills

• ✔You should already have mastered all the Level 1 & 2 Course Skills. 

• ✔Technical and complex strokes

• ✔Dancing with the river: running big waves and laterals.

• ✔Managing vertical drops

• ✔Advanced surfing

• ✔Paddling a expedition loaded boat in whitewater

• ✔How to read whitewater

Advanced Group Dynamics Skills

• ✔Scouting and decision-making

• ✔Group selection

• ✔Expedition group dynamics

• ✔Group downstream travel technique & communications

• ✔Eddy hopping, traveling in groups. How to travel down a river safely by eddy hopping in groups

• ✔Clear communication: hand signals

• ✔Setting safety and choosing challenges: review, practice and implementation

Packraft Hacks

• ✔Backcountry repairs clinic

• implementation

You must have packraft experience and your own whitewater gear (i.e. a boat with a deck or self bailer), including rescue gear, to take this course. It’s a Level 3 in terms of both the terrain you’ll be paddling (up to Class III) and the padding skills  be learning and practicing. Be prepared to learn a lot and have even more fun!