Level 3 is designed for students looking to packraft more demanding class III rivers and execute longer wilderness trips. Level 3 focuses on developing the paddling techniques and judgment skills required for running complex rapids and the swiftwater rescue skills most often employed in packrafting class III rivers.

Level 3 combines the best parts of a whitewater kayaking class with the best parts of a Swiftwater Rescue Class. Competent paddling skills combined with knowledge of how rivers flow create a much safer paddling environment. Your goal is to be proactive and not reactive. Avoid an accident don’t be the accident!

Half of this class is devoted to paddling and river reading. Accidents do happen, and one needs to be prepared to respond. Level 3 devotes time learning and practicing selected topics from the traditional Swiftwater Rescue Class. Level 3 identified the types of safety situations that most often confront a packraft group. You spend time practicing and improving the skills required to resolve these situations. Our motto; “Have a story, don’t be the story”.

PackRafting Level 3 employs a “Learning by Doing” philosophy . The river is your classroom. Come prepared to be outdoors on the river all day.

Itinerary:

Level 3 starts on a lake to focus on paddle swimming, efficient paddling, remounting and towing skills. The afternoon is conducted on Eagle River, the same section as the Level 2 course. You will cover the same topics as Level 2, but you will be held to a higher standard.

Day two will be on Willow Creek or Six Mile Creek.  Everything is faster and steeper today. The  focus is executing day one’s skills in more demanding water where timing and angle become critical components for success. In addition, the swiftwater skills of: solo wadding, group wadding, swimming, throw bags, securing run-away boats and engaging strainers will be practiced. This is a long fatiguing day.