Packrafting in Tas - video

[alliecat]

Just came across this on the net. Roman Dial, the guy who literally wrote the book on packrafting was recently in Tas (he might still be). There is a great report and video on his blog about a trip down the Anne River. He was going on to tackle the Franklin after that. His description of Tassie scrub is classic.

One thing I got from the video was that those Alpacka boats are really tough little beasts. If they can survive all that scraping over rocks and scrub they are solidy built.

Enjoy!
Alliecat

[ILUVSWTAS]

That is amazing!! I know some guys take them to much harder, remote places. But seeing them in action like that is awesome. They look very strong. I love that hug Huon Pine he scrambles through at the start too!!

[ILUVSWTAS]

Oh yeh, this was the description...lol

"world class stumble %#@*&%g brush.
It's hard to exaggerate the Tasmanian brush -- worst in the world I reckon: makes Appalachian laurels, California manzanita, Alaskan and BC alder, Chilean quila, and whatever it is they call their scrub in NZ a look like stuff for pre-school kids who are too young to know what alcohol is, while the stuff down here is Tassie is for hard-core alcoholics on crack.

minor mod: language. Yes I know you were quoting. (discussion here)

[walkinTas]

His description of Tassie scrub is classic.

I should add that to the definition of scrub bashing on the wiki.

[HitchHiking]

I have a new respect for the Alpaca rafts! They are treating them terrible ! Awesome. Still looks like they track only slightly better then Jack the local drunk on his way home on a saturday night:)

[alliecat]

Yeah, I think tracking always going to be an issue with such a flat bottom. I notice that on the alpacka site their latest news includes changes to their boat shape that should improve tracking and steering.

Alliecat

[Nuts]

Ow, thats excruciatingly slow to load... Thanks though alliecat, i will get back to it soon
I have a packraft, which ends which when it comes to tracking better
I saw a mention earlier of using one on lake pedder, from my kayaking days I imagine there wouldn't be a worse craft for flatwater. Better hull design or fins would be only a tad more useful.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Ow, thats excruciatingly slow to load... Thanks though alliecat, i will get back to it soon

Really?? worked within seconds for me! Whats your connection type??

[Nuts]

Somewhere between snail and turtle!
Its OK, ive never been able to load vids, i persevere sometimes when they are really interesting but need something done about my ip.

[flyfisher]

If you explore that site a bit further you will find two interesting videos on rafting 6 rivers as a through trip down the Jane, Maxwell & Denison to the Gordon plus a couple of smaller ones used as access. Interesting, with fabulous scenery.
ff

[north-north-west]

Gee that looks like fun. If only one didn't have to carry the things in to wherever you start paddling . . .

[sirius Tas]

These craft certainly look tuff...though you wouldn't know if they had punctures. Amazing footage of their unique go any where ability.
Some years ago I bought a 2 person Sevylor Fishhunter model which also had a boat boot....this is a thin tough outer nylon skin that covers the complete underside of the raft. This raft weighed just 7kg but was big enough to take the three of us up a section of the Arthur to our camping spot.
It was also easy enough to paddle and pull through rapids to travel upstream which we did for a couple of hrs then came racing back down with the current in a fraction of the time. This craft has been dragged/paddled over some pretty rough ground and not one puncture as yet. Also lilo-ed down a large section of the Arthur 40 yrs ago...camping along the way...brilliant fun.
Have often thought of rafting the full length of the Arthur some time...these Alpacka rafts would be the ducks guts...bit eccy but worth it.