Pack rafting Sept 20/21/22 in North Wales - 5 ranges of pack rafts to test for free

[JohnClimber]

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.

[JohnClimber]

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

[Bearbonesnorm]

I should hopefully be up for this John. Sounds perfect for the packraft curious amongst us,

[psling]

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

[Dave Barter]

John I am interested as well, should be on my way back from a conference in Scotland so could work well for me

[JohnClimber]

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

[thenorthwind]

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 ).

[Bearbonesnorm]

Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.

Are you quite mad?

[Taylor]

Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.

Are you quite mad?

Think about how much swearing there will be if I manage to finish my boat.

[Dave Barter]

Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.

Are you quite mad?

Think about how much swearing there will be if I manage to finish my boat.

Can Shona come too to complete the sweary trinity?

[Taylor]

Stuart and Dave it will be a pleasure to see you both there.

Are you quite mad?

Think about how much swearing there will be if I manage to finish my boat.

Can Shona come too to complete the sweary trinity?

[JohnClimber]

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

[thenorthwind]

Nice video John. Made me want to go and dig the raft out immediately... which I guess is the point.

[Bearbonesnorm]

Lovely film John, very much enjoyed it.

[summittoppler]

Nice mate, you made it look almost tempting!

[barney]

Hi John, interested in coming along. Would need to hire a boat though.

Cheers

[barney]

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.

[JohnClimber]

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.

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

[Alec]

John, I would definitely be up for this, i have a packraft so wouldn't need to borrow or hire.

[JohnClimber]

John, I would definitely be up for this, i have a packraft so wouldn't need to borrow or hire.

Cheers Alex
I've just messaged you.

[Woody]

Sounds great, count me in. I own a packraft, I just need to get out and use it a bit more.

[Dezmtber]

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

[JohnClimber]

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.

[JohnClimber]

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?

[yourguitarhero]

I'm in for this.
Have my own raft!