Packrafting Expedition Clinic

It's best to use the equipment you are familiar with and will be using in the future. For this clinic you will need to bring your own packraft and sprayskirt. We can supply a paddle, pfd or helmet if necessary. Depending on the weather and water conditions, you should come with proper insulation and/or sun protection. This clinic includes river-side camping, so be sure to bring the camping gear you normally carry for overnight trips. You will be receiving preparation checklists and packing information prior to the clinic, but if you have any questions about what to bring, feel free to give us a call at the office. 

• Insulation if necessary (wetsuit, thermal jacket, splash jacket, neoprene booties)
• Lunch on day 1 and 2 
• Dinner on the first evening
• Effective, technique-based paddling instruction
• Comprehensive expedition planning
• Safety and rescue information and practice
• Equipment maintenance and repair
• Helmet, pfd, and paddle if needed

Other items you will want to have with you that are not included:

• packraft-- Backcountry packraft rentals is a great spot to rent one. Matt, the owner, is a great person, and he can mail you the boat! Make sure you check with him ASAP he is very popular.
• ultralight camping gear
• food for overnight trip--backpacker style meals can be bought at REI in Boise, Idaho
• water bottle
• sunscreen
• eye glass retainer
• small dry bag
• gratuity for your guide

Check in at the Cascade Raft River Center (7050 Highway 55, Horseshoe Bend, ID 83629) and meet your instructors. Each of the three days will include some dry-land discussion (introductions and planning, chalk-talk, question and answer sessions and more) as well as sessions on the water. Our River Center has private parking and complimentary lockers, so you are welcome to leave dry clothes or personal belongings in your vehicle or in the lockers. The Center is also equipped with a gift shop and cafe, restrooms and changing rooms.

The first day of the clinic will include an overview, gear review and fitting, morning river session, lunch at the Center (included), lunch discussion, river safety and communication, afternoon river session, dinner at the Center (included) and discussion and connection time. The second day will include expedition packing and planning, river skills review and Q&A session, morning river session, lunch at the Center (included), start of the overnight river trip, camp set up and related expedition skills, risk management and awareness. The final day will include the remaining river miles as well as equipment maintenance and repair, general first aid and evacuation information, river safety and team paddling. We'll also take some time on the third day to solidify whitewater skills, and take some video of the skills and drills we have addressed during the clinic. We will return to the Center where we will have time for video review, developing personal paddling plans, and a final discussion.

Expect to spend a lot of time in your boat! Though this clinic is group instruction, we keep a low student-to-instructor ratio so that we can address your specific packrafting goals and give you lots of mastery time. The typical daily schedule includes a technical session where we'll focus on a particular skill set, as well as a river-running session to apply those skills to various situations. Each day we'll build on those skills, concepts and applications.

Cascade Raft & Kayak is located at 7050 Highway 55, Horseshoe Bend, Idaho about one hour  from downtown Boise. Our River Center is easily visible on the west (river-side) of the highway half way between mile markers 70 and 71. The River Center is a tan building with a blue roof where the highway widens to 4 lanes. It is approximately 5 miles north of the town of Horseshoe Bend and approximately 8 miles south of the town of Banks.

Driving time from Boise: about 1 hour
Driving time from McCall: about 1.5 hours

Full payment is required to reserve your spaces.  For cancellations made ten or more days before your trip, receive a full refund.  For cancellations made three to nine days before your trip, receive a 50% refund or 100% Cascade credit.  Cancellations made within 48 hours of the trip are non-refundable. This policy is applicable to each member of your party. Please call for our group reservations policy.