A 50% deposit is required when you sign up. The remaining balance will need to be received through 30 days prior to your course. The remaining balance is due immediately if you are registering inside of the 30 day window.

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

An open Alpacka Classic packraft, PFD, paddle, helmet. We recommend you rent a whitewater boat, as you’ll be spending a lot of time learning whitewater skills.

Food and lodging, though you are welcome to add 1-4 nights at Scullbinder Ranch, which includes breakfasts and dinners.  Transportation is also not included. You need a car or to carpool. We do not have a shuttle. Finally, we do not include: whitewater boats, drysuits, river knives, whistles or throw bags. 

You will need a drysuit for this course. You may rent them locally for 10% off at 4CornersRiversports.com (they only have four), or get a 15% discount if you order them online at BackcountryPackraft.com We’ll give you the discount code once you sign up.

Thad Ferrell

Thad is a Level 4 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructor. He additionally has advanced Swiftwater Safety training and he is a certified Wilderness First Responder. An early adopter of packrafting and life-long cyclist and bikepacker, Thad has accomplished some ground-breaking, multi-week climb-bike-packraft adventures in the desert Southwest. He is also an expert fly fishing guide.

Please note you may or may not learn all of these skills. It depends on the motivation and existing skill level of participants, along with the length of the course. Generally you will not learn as much on a two-day course as on our three-day courses.

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,. Scouting, 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

Swiftwater Safety: Handling common emergency situations on the river

• ✔Identify and demonstrate the use of appropriate rescue and safety gear for packrafting

• ✔Responsibilities of the group, rescuer, swimmers

• ✔Boat-based rescues

• ✔Group communication

• ✔Using throw bags

• ✔Swimming in rivers & water confidence (aggressive & defensive swimming position)

• ✔Self-rescue & buddy assistance (we re-entry)

• ✔River dynamics: currents, obstacles and hazards

• ✔Rescue priorities: people, craft, paddle, gear

• ✔Discuss how to avoid and prevent cold water shock, hypothermia, and hyperthermia by choosing proper clothing and recognizing and treating early symptoms

• ✔Discuss the safety implications of access to remote paddling environments

• ✔Bow and stern towing for a tired swimmer

• ✔Towing or bulldozing a capsized boat

• ✔Shoreline Rescue: Extension rescues, Use of throw ropes/bags, Pinned craft

• ✔Wading principles: Avoiding foot entrapment & foot entrapment extrication: Limitations (water depth and speed, bottom conditions, downstream hazards, debris in water); One and two person techniques