If a recent trip down the South Fork of the Flathead River is any indication, packrafting is becoming an increasingly popular way for backpackers to carry the small boats into remote waters. At the headwaters of the river, deep in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, 10 packrafts converged in three separate groups at one time. Although a Flathead National Forest official said packrafting use is up on the wild river, she noted that it comes at a time that traditional horsepacking-rafting trips offered by outfitters are declining. Consequently, she said water recreation on the river has stayed about the same. A small packraft will add about 10 to 12 pounds to a backpackers load and require a minimum investment of about $1,100 for the most popular, durable and light rafts made by Alpacka Raft Co. in Colorado. That compares to a cost of about $2,000 per person to ride in with an outfitter who will haul the raft to the river. To read more about packrafting the South Fork of the Flathead River, see my story at The Billings Gazette’s website: http://bit.ly/UDt81t
(Written by Brett French-Outdoors Editor for the Billings Gazette)
