Nizina River Packrafting Video
Trip FAQs
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How challenging is this trip?
There are a few features in the upper river that require your attention. We can also walk this section if need be.
The lower canyon, just before the takeout, can be a bit squirly.
You definitely need some whitewater boating experience.
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What's the time frame?
I’ve done this paddle in a single day. Water levels can affect the time drastically.
I think it’s best as an overnight packraft, and even better with a day on Nizina Lake and Nizina Glacier before hand.
Or, backpack down from Skolai on The Goat Trail, we’ll pick up our boats at Nizina, and start the trip there.
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What if I swim?
Then swim hard.
Packrafting is all about self-rescue. Yes your guide is there with a throw bag and safety line. But packrafting requires you to be competent at some degree of self-rescue. Hold on to your paddle, grab your boat, flip it up the right way, and climb back in.
Quickly.
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Do we need packrafting gear?
No, we’ll cover all that.
Packrafts, paddles, PFDs, helmets, booties, drysuit, etc.
Dry bags and safety gear.
All included.
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What's a good option to extend this trip?
We have a couple of backpacking options. One is to hike down the Goat Trail. Allow 5-6 days for that. shorter hike is to hike down from Wolverine (the west end of the Goat Trail). Allow 1-2 days for that.
For the Goat Trail I recommend having the packrafting gear flown in when we get to Nizina.
I’d suggest carrying packraft gear if you hike from Wolverine. It’s not that far, will lower the cost significantly over having it flown in and is logistically much easier.
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What’s our travel schedule – MXY trips?
Very briefly
– We pick you up and drive to McCarthy, overnight there, and fly in to the backcountry the next morning. … hike … – We fly back to McCarthy, overnight there.
– We take you back to Anchorage and drop you at your hotel.
For a much more comprehensive outline and schedule of this, see this page
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Is there a basecamp option available?
There certainly is.
Avoid the hassles of carrying a heavy backpack. As an example, travel to our jumping-off destination, overnight, fly into the backcountry, camp and explore the area via day hikes and packrafts (* option on some trips), fly back, overnight and return travel to Fairbanks/Anchorage. Trip logistics and itinerary will vary with the specific trip. Fully-outfitted or do it yourself.
These trips are extremely flexible, wonderfully fun and a whole lot easier on your body than a backpacking trip is.
Looking for something “in the middle”? Sure, we can do that too. Fly in and out of the same location, and make a smaller backpacking loop or out and back, combining a few days camping and a few days of backpacking. Contact me via email or call 1-770-952-4549 and we’ll set it up.
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I Have More Questions
I know you do. I do as well.
I recommend starting with the General Trip FAQ page
More questions? Email me or call me and we’ll go through them.
Upon your reservation I’ll also send out a comprehensive trip information packet that covers just about everything and more you might imagine about your trip.