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.

Food and lodging, though you are welcome to add 1-3 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.

Steve Fassbinder

Steve, aka “Doom,” is one of the country’s first Level 4 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructors. And he is a certified International Rescue 3 Whitewater Rescue Technician Professional (WRT-PRO) and IRF Whitewater Packraft Guide. Steve is also certified in Advanced Swiftwater Safety and Wilderness First Responder. An early adopter of packrafting, he has guided or instructed bike-packrafting to kids and adults for over a decade. And he has done remote packrafting expeditions around the world for over a dozen years.

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.

On this multi-day Beginner course, you’ll split your time learning  about your equipment, and basic river reading and paddling skills with swiftwater rescue education.

Please note: This course is meant to introduce you to the following skills, not to get you to master them. You’ll do more drills and hone these skills in our Level 2-4 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
• ✔Basic paddle strokes (forward, back, draw, sculling)
• ✔Using eddies
• ✔River communication: Paddle, hand, and whistle signals
• ✔Spacing on the river
• ✔The “River Safety Talk”
• ✔Field repair-tips & tricks

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 (wet re-entry)
• ✔River dynamics: currents, obstacles and hazards
• ✔Rescue priorities: people, craft, paddle, gear