Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales - 5 ranges of pack rafts to test for free
Moderators: Bearbonesnorm, Taylor, Chew
- JohnClimber
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Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales - 5 ranges of pack rafts to test for free
After a great weekend in Knoydart packrafting and wild camping I thought I should organise a get together.
So I posted up an idea of Packrafting UK on FaceBook and it got a great response, Stuart commented that I should post up on here.
I'm working on the plan with a couple of experts in the industry and will be lead by them before I announce all of it's details in full.
But a quick guide is here
Free to enter as it's a pack rafting meet up not a festival with insurance. You join in at your own risk.
Based on a camp site in mid North Wales where you pay for your own camping in advance.
It's aimed at those with your own pack rafts, but if you have any pack rafting curious mates or partners they are more than welcome to join in where they can hire (at their own costs) a pack raft to join in the fun.
If you are pack rafting curious (I'm hoping) there will be pack rafts to test in all different shapes and sizes.
If there are spare pack rafts you can hire these to take in part of the events that are been planned.
Friday arrive
Saturday many different courses and things to do, a fun race and hopefully some talks and demos around the campfire (In an allowed fire pit #BeforeStuartShouts)in the evening.
Sunday more of the same
Sunday early afternoon clear out and head home
So please post up below here if you are interested in joining in and if you have your own pack raft, if you want a raft for your mate, if you want to hire a raft for the weekend, or if you are just fancy joining us for a test paddle and a Saturday night chat.
Also if you think that you have a story to tell or would like to demo something please shout out.
So I posted up an idea of Packrafting UK on FaceBook and it got a great response, Stuart commented that I should post up on here.
I'm working on the plan with a couple of experts in the industry and will be lead by them before I announce all of it's details in full.
But a quick guide is here
Free to enter as it's a pack rafting meet up not a festival with insurance. You join in at your own risk.
Based on a camp site in mid North Wales where you pay for your own camping in advance.
It's aimed at those with your own pack rafts, but if you have any pack rafting curious mates or partners they are more than welcome to join in where they can hire (at their own costs) a pack raft to join in the fun.
If you are pack rafting curious (I'm hoping) there will be pack rafts to test in all different shapes and sizes.
If there are spare pack rafts you can hire these to take in part of the events that are been planned.
Friday arrive
Saturday many different courses and things to do, a fun race and hopefully some talks and demos around the campfire (In an allowed fire pit #BeforeStuartShouts)in the evening.
Sunday more of the same
Sunday early afternoon clear out and head home
So please post up below here if you are interested in joining in and if you have your own pack raft, if you want a raft for your mate, if you want to hire a raft for the weekend, or if you are just fancy joining us for a test paddle and a Saturday night chat.
Also if you think that you have a story to tell or would like to demo something please shout out.
Last edited by JohnClimber on Thu Aug 29, 2019 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
- JohnClimber
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- Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:41 pm
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Update
There should be 3 pack raft manufactures coming to this weekend all with sample boats to test paddle on the lake.
There will be a limited number of pack rafts to hire for the whole weekend.
This is not an "event" just a gathering
Much more info to follow
There should be 3 pack raft manufactures coming to this weekend all with sample boats to test paddle on the lake.
There will be a limited number of pack rafts to hire for the whole weekend.
This is not an "event" just a gathering
Much more info to follow
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
I should hopefully be up for this John. Sounds perfect for the packraft curious amongst us,
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Going off at a bit of a tangent here but...
I was chatting with someone recently who is planning to circumnavigate Wales in a kayak; starting at Chepstow and sea-kayaking around to the Mersey then picking up the canal network back down to the Severn. Sounded like a great trip to me .
I don't think you'd really want to pack raft the canals of Central England on a trip like that but it would certainly be doable by bike around the coast then swapping to kayak / canoe for the inland part.
Sorry, as you were
I was chatting with someone recently who is planning to circumnavigate Wales in a kayak; starting at Chepstow and sea-kayaking around to the Mersey then picking up the canal network back down to the Severn. Sounded like a great trip to me .
I don't think you'd really want to pack raft the canals of Central England on a trip like that but it would certainly be doable by bike around the coast then swapping to kayak / canoe for the inland part.
Sorry, as you were
We go out into the hills to lose ourselves, not to get lost. You are only lost if you need to be somewhere else and if you really need to be somewhere else then you're probably in the wrong place to begin with.
- Dave Barter
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
John I am interested as well, should be on my way back from a conference in Scotland so could work well for me
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- JohnClimber
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.
I'll start a list of those looking to borrow/hire a raft for the weekend
I'll start a list of those looking to borrow/hire a raft for the weekend
- thenorthwind
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
I would be keen for this, but an impending house purchase and all that comes with it means I need to keep my plans for the next few months "fluid" shall we say, so I can't commit to it.
If I make it, I'll bring my own packraft (which hasn't made it out yet this year ).
If I make it, I'll bring my own packraft (which hasn't made it out yet this year ).
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Are you quite mad?Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.
May the bridges you burn light your way
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Think about how much swearing there will be if I manage to finish my boat.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:22 pmAre you quite mad?Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.
- Dave Barter
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Can Shona come too to complete the sweary trinity?Taylor wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:29 pmThink about how much swearing there will be if I manage to finish my boat.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:22 pmAre you quite mad?Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Dave Barter wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 9:21 pmCan Shona come too to complete the sweary trinity?Taylor wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:29 pmThink about how much swearing there will be if I manage to finish my boat.Bearbonesnorm wrote: ↑Thu Jun 06, 2019 7:22 pmAre you quite mad?Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.
- JohnClimber
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
If you have WiFi (I don't want to waste your data as it won't win any Oscars) and 5mins 30secs spare here's my mini movie from last weekends pack rafting and wild camping trip to Knoydart
https://youtu.be/Z6aSyJlPQSM
https://youtu.be/Z6aSyJlPQSM
- thenorthwind
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Nice video John. Made me want to go and dig the raft out immediately... which I guess is the point.
- Bearbonesnorm
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Lovely film John, very much enjoyed it.
May the bridges you burn light your way
- summittoppler
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Nice mate, you made it look almost tempting!
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Hi John, interested in coming along. Would need to hire a boat though.
Cheers
Cheers
Wait for me...
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Quick update... not needed for babysitting that weekend so now confirmed.
Might bring my inflatable kayak in case the demo packrafts have a limited hire time.
Might bring my inflatable kayak in case the demo packrafts have a limited hire time.
Wait for me...
- JohnClimber
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
No worries, there will be people there with canoes who are joining us who are looking to try some pack rafts out.
More details to follow in the next few days.
I'll be leading a short ride with a pack raft return to show people the best way to bike pack raft
The places will be limited to 50 and 25 have shown interest, so I'll be contacting them directly before I launch the full details to fill the other spots.
If you want to join us please let me know
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
John, I would definitely be up for this, i have a packraft so wouldn't need to borrow or hire.
- JohnClimber
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Sounds great, count me in. I own a packraft, I just need to get out and use it a bit more.
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
this sounds like a lot of fun.
though I have little experience in a pack raft, most I have done in a kayak is paddle up and down windermere then. a little journey from iron bridge through jack fields.
but I really want to do a pack raft journey with my fat bike. up cadar idris then down to the mawddach on the pack raft.
feel like I should com and try out some of the rafts
though I have little experience in a pack raft, most I have done in a kayak is paddle up and down windermere then. a little journey from iron bridge through jack fields.
but I really want to do a pack raft journey with my fat bike. up cadar idris then down to the mawddach on the pack raft.
feel like I should com and try out some of the rafts
- JohnClimber
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Thanks Woody and Dezmtber,
I've just sent you a message each.
I'll be sending out message to those on here and the others on FB with the full details either this evening or tomorrow to give those who have shown a interest a chance to book their camping spot (sorry it's not wild camping) before I open it up to the the groups and the others a week later.
I've just sent you a message each.
I'll be sending out message to those on here and the others on FB with the full details either this evening or tomorrow to give those who have shown a interest a chance to book their camping spot (sorry it's not wild camping) before I open it up to the the groups and the others a week later.
- JohnClimber
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- Joined: Fri Feb 17, 2012 10:41 pm
Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
Had the site meeting about this "meet up" (it's not an event) today.
It's going to be great.... Even if I say so myself.
So if you have a pack raft make sure this weekend is booked off to come along.....
If you're pack raft curious it's also going to be perfect for you, with taster sessions with all the gear provided (at a very minimal cost)
There will be a bike, free pack raft "workshop" ride out and paddle back.
Talking of taster sessions there will be wild camping beer tasting and wild camping sourdough making workshops.
Plus several "guest" speaker/talkers and a couple are very well known on here as well.
Full details coming soon.
The more we get signed up the more we might be able to get other companies to join in.
Free test boats from Longshore and Alpaca.
Session boats from kokopelli.
The other good news is it's comply free to join us
The bad news is that it's too big for a wild camp venue so it's on a campsite in the shores of Lake Bala which you do need to pay for.... Sorry
Interested?
It's going to be great.... Even if I say so myself.
So if you have a pack raft make sure this weekend is booked off to come along.....
If you're pack raft curious it's also going to be perfect for you, with taster sessions with all the gear provided (at a very minimal cost)
There will be a bike, free pack raft "workshop" ride out and paddle back.
Talking of taster sessions there will be wild camping beer tasting and wild camping sourdough making workshops.
Plus several "guest" speaker/talkers and a couple are very well known on here as well.
Full details coming soon.
The more we get signed up the more we might be able to get other companies to join in.
Free test boats from Longshore and Alpaca.
Session boats from kokopelli.
The other good news is it's comply free to join us
The bad news is that it's too big for a wild camp venue so it's on a campsite in the shores of Lake Bala which you do need to pay for.... Sorry
Interested?
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Re: Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales
I'm in for this.
Have my own raft!
Have my own raft!