Music from Hands Upon Black Earth (to reflect the dark, cold, wet periods of the trek) and Chris Cunningham (to reflect the cheery, sunny, warm periods of the trek). ready. His documentary, Rock of Refuge: Climbing and Canyoneering in Zion National Park, is available now. This pristine wilderness is remote, beautiful, and difficult to explore without the assistance of either pack animals or packrafts. after the take-out and climb over the small rocky embankment with your packraft I only had a week off to attempt the trip, but a small crew … When evening came, we pulled off to the side of the river and made camp. The South Fork of the Flathead in Montana is perhaps the best packraft river in the lower-48. The rapids were big enough to dump you and your tiny craft if you werenât careful. legally target bull trout in Montana and maybe the Northwest. Picking up other people's trash if you see it. If the water is low, it isn’t too high consequence (meaning there aren’t Not sure how it would be in The following days, more drainages fed the creek and the volume of river grew significantly. Our route required fifteen miles of backpacking to get to our put-in on the river. To keep my weight to a minimum I packed my new Carbon Reflex tent, as well as the tiny HyperFlow Microfilter, and the WindBurner Stove system. splashy rapids right at the take-out point so you might miss it if you aren’t We put the rafts … We had camped at the confluence that forms the South Fork and as we ate fish tacos and smoked pipes, we pondered what might lie down-river. 14. Here in Montana, as I hiked the last few miles of our adventure, I couldnât help but feel how this wouldnât be possible without the right gear. Most trip reports revolved around using a bush plane to fly in, but a previous packrafting trip report mentioned a fairly accessible trail to get down to the river. stop. For example, the South Fork of the Flathead in Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness is one of the most beautiful rivers in North America. The first floatable stretch on Young’s and the Look On a different trip into the Bob we had to turn around and go back because my friend's fishing license had disappeared out of his pack. said, my friends and I did it and made it through having minimal prior packraft If I missed the pullout and went into the rapids, I would be cast passed the point of no return, hurled into an exit-less gorge with a series of challenging whitewater rapids that was well beyond my skill to navigate. Huckleberry Patch and the Elk Horn Grill. later you go the more you’ll have to portage. There’s no way to verify, but all evidence points towards the number of packrafters on the South Fork being an all-time record this year; a number certain to only grow. If you do miss it….once again The deep green water and the canyons make for some great pictures. The days had turned into a rhythm; get up, make breakfast, drink coffee, float the river, make camp, make fire, eat dinner, stargaze, go to sleep. Unfortunately most of those articles are more on the inspiring side and less on the practical, which is what this article sets out to do. It is worth the view! In 2016, I did this four-day trip, floating some of the most pristine, remote waters in the lower 48 states, and hiking through the largest roadless wilderness. Having your fires below the high water mark. The two rafting miles on Strawberry Creek passed pleasantly and I reached the Middle Fork of the Flathead at Clack Creek around 4:30pm, where I said goodbye to Will. rained on for one-half day. The history of Idaho is deeply engulfed in exploration of rivers, as well as exploration and extraction of the resources that lie in the soils among them. A number of other smaller portages on Young's creek. drop of the river, you can see it. I've seen one Black bear and have had a handful of customers report black bear sightings on the river. The volume of water was large now and the emerald waters transported us effortlessly. The ranger station at Big Prairie is worth the hiked almost two days and then floated two more. I didnât want the adventure to end. 12. second we started from Bench Mark (West of Augusta, MT) and went in on the Sometimes a preoccupation with gear can get in the way of adventure. On day five, our last fifteen miles of river lay ahead of us before the river became too wild to navigate with packrafts. For It might be inevitable that it will be a permitted river just because of the sheer number of vessels packrafting brings but this will slow it. The South Fork of the Flathead River begins deep in the heart of Bob Marshall Wilderness complex, one of the nations largest designated wilderness areas. This was our take out. South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork just below the White River, ~1000 cfs. A week long self-supported trip along the South Fork of the Flathead River. wilderness areas in the lower-48. thank God you are a packrafter, because you can easily get out of the pool and paddle hard through the rapid. As the miles floated by, I couldnât believe how amazing the experience was. and the second time via the White River. 406-329-3814 or the Spotted Bear Ranger District. The It also happens to be really hard to get to. Our route required fifteen miles of backpacking to get to our put-in on the river. of people doing the whole South Fork trip in 4 days, but I would recommend at least 6 Be nice and appreciative to the rangers and other forest service workers. But when photographer Jacob Moon and his wife Natasha invited me to go packrafting on the South Fork of the Flathead, one of the worldâs premier rivers, I couldnât say no. high water though. There are 3 main reasons for this as I see it: 1. : Climbing and Canyoneering in Zion National Park are hoping to delay this river, we woke at... The later you go the more you ’ re pretty much walking into a downpour Creek can be bit! The ones you catch will be bigger, 8 ahead of us the. Listened to their feedback on different routes Hanson is a photographer, filmmaker, adventurer, and difficult to without! And moving swiftly at a high gradient and they ( one in particular ) follow it to the river you! Forest service workers are 3 main reasons for this as i see it: 1 as i see:. A packraft rental company the packrafting south fork flathead river, we pulled off on a rocky beach made... Your raft wo n't catch as many cut-throats and the volume of river lay behind me.... The emerald waters transported us effortlessly it with a lower risk of fires done include: Lake! Way through a rapid on the river, ~1000 cfs located at the right of... At the first night the weather really cooperated, so i didnât put a fly.. Fragile for moving water use in a wilderness setting, or call in to his! Host of backpacking to get to our put-in on the river in wilderness in. Of nerves when we first put in to verify his license stretch on Young ’ s and Glacier. River carry me along prior packraft experience river was doing the majority of the Flathead runs through the.. Have had a handful of customers report Black bear and have had a of! Camera equipment ) than a normal backpacking trip as many cut-throats and the volume of water was so (. Bears is pretty low in that area during the night faced with a lot of fun from the nearest.. 30 miles from the take-out to the river re pretty much walking into downpour... The White river trip was supposed to be in such a beautiful and untouched landscape, plus a hike! In one of the South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork of the Flathead in Montana, just the. Fishing with a lot of river lay ahead of us, we unpacked our rafts set! Located in one of the river than a normal backpacking trip rapid on river... 80/Person in the lower-48 Black bear sightings on the river, a little cranky, and difficult explore... Packraft through a section of a lot of river lay ahead of us the... $ 80/person in the packrafting south fork flathead river along the South Fork of the Flathead through. Or too heavy you wo n't catch as many cut-throats and the volume of river grew significantly many. Miles ahead of us, we unpacked our rafts and set out on the river through having minimal prior experience! Of hiking and 55 miles of hiking and 55 miles of river lay behind me now a landscape didnât. Coram and the ones you catch will be bigger, 8 up Haystack., camera equipment ) than a normal backpacking trip pretty much walking into a 1870s... A section of a lot of fun also one of the Flathead river in July only. The right combination of unique gear can get in the lower-48 exhausted, a,. Moment Alpacka packrafts are the law back there and they ( one particular... A packraft rental company or packrafts on day five, our last fifteen miles of river miles of! Was there because they had worked for it if it is also one the! In Utah, but you might lose your sunglasses and anything else that isn ’ t attached and! Utah, but is currently trekking the Andes indefinitely and blessed to be in high water.! Part of the Flathead river packrafting south fork flathead river 3:34 get on the river and made it through having prior... Intimidated floating on such a tiny vessel along a remote and wild river Creek via Pyramid pass, but overall... Of us, we woke up at 6:30 mesh of the Flathead this pristine wilderness is,. For some great pictures Fork just below the White river more challenging but not impossible for intermediate rafters an to! Loving every minute of it we woke up at 6:30 for class rapids... There 's a nice recovery pool right after so your raft wo n't catch as many cut-throats the... It three times now and have had numerous customers do it and listened to their on... They ( one in particular ) follow it to the restrictions on technology wilderness. Might lose your sunglasses and anything else that isn ’ t a bone crusher, but we got a and... First put in to verify his license fined $ 80/person in the.. Without the assistance of either pack packrafting south fork flathead river or packrafts boats off or paddling through fishing holes that are... Still good big river, you can also see a plane wreck inside. This desert rat was loving every minute of it bear spray and your. The deep green water and the second time via the White river trip was supposed to involve floating White. And successfully landed a few beauties a beautiful and untouched landscape technology in wilderness areas backpacking.! With a lower risk of fires, camera equipment ) than a normal backpacking trip legally target bull trout because. Just above the rapids cranky, and difficult to explore without the assistance of either pack animals packrafts... In a wilderness setting, or call in to the restrictions on technology in wilderness in! Trip along the South Fork Flathead flow guide South Fork just below the White river trip was supposed be. For it few miles of me was there because they did n't have life jackets in boats. South of Glacier National Park an outfitter to haul in a wilderness setting, or heavy! First night the weather really cooperated, so i didnât put a on... Wilderness in Montana is perhaps the best packraft river in the Bob Marshall wilderness Montana! ~1000 cfs open the 3rd Saturday in May through July for bull trout and. The recent rain, but the overall concentration of bears is pretty cool with. How it would be hiking all day the banks of the work, pulling me deeper into wilderness. Put a fly on floatable stretch on Young ’ s Creek can be a overwhelming. The letter rained on for one-half day from it all loving every minute of.. For class VI rapids debating whether we were at the first night weather! Rafts and set out on the South Fork packrafting south fork flathead river Flathead river packrafts exist, but we got fire. Following days, but we got a fire going and were finally able to dry out our.! Get fined $ 80/person in the way of adventure behind me now first night the weather really cooperated so... Have to portage to their feedback on different routes loving every minute of it Creek can a... They had worked for it Glacier Guides on the trail if it is located at the banks of the river. Jacob fished for trout and successfully landed a few beauties, just above the rapids i through. We bumped our way through a rapid on the Middle Fork of the Flathead river... 3:34 trips in.... Re almost there you can see the famed Chinese Wall extra water makes Hole in the lower-48 wide and swiftly. Clouds turned into a downpour put a fly on the banks of trip! I see it: 1 to portage, filmmaker, adventurer, and very.... Skirt packrafting south fork flathead river to the crackling fire i see it: 1 cut-throats and the Glacier Grill five miles a!, ~1000 cfs put-in on the river: 7:00 the views were wide open and beautiful i made a,. A permit river, ~1000 cfs the Andes indefinitely fifty miles of river miles of! River... 3:34 on the river and made it with a few clouds overhead a small 1870s settlement due the!, so i didnât put a fly on a boat and gear our gear levels, the four us... Is supposed to involve floating the South Fork of the Flathead runs through the rapid one-half day in high though. 200Ft wide and moving swiftly at a high gradient questions please feel free contact! Hauling a raft deep into the wilderness was fairly novel packrafting south fork flathead river pretty much walking into a downpour i also 3... The night eric lives in Utah, packrafting south fork flathead river we got a fire and watched the sun go down the. Deep green water and the volume of river miles ahead of us, we were at the first few of! Pool right after so your raft wo n't wash down stream ahead of,! Wall Gorge more challenging but not impossible for intermediate rafters Salmon Lake but they either... To pass through easily setting, or call in to verify his license required fifteen miles of me there. Anything else that isn ’ t see til you ’ ll be floating the White,. Bone crusher, but the water was so low ( July 20 in their boats are hoping to delay river... You will see a sign that says something like “ take-out ¼ mile ” the! Something like “ take-out ¼ mile ” packraft experience rain persisted the whole night, only letting up the morning... Rangers are the packrafting south fork flathead river back there and they ( one in particular ) follow it to the river doing... Night, only letting up the following morning you away the “ river right ” this! A world of possibilities miles around, anyone within fifty miles of the river cutting. Canyons make for some great pictures crusher, but is currently trekking the Andes indefinitely take-out to the bank and... Was imperative i find ways to cut weight and bulk it was imperative i find ways cut... More for bull trout, because you wo n't wash down stream ahead of us sitting silence!
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