Wilderness Packraft + Fly Fishing

Expedition Overview

Dates: July 9–23, 2019
Age: 16–18 years old
Group size: max 8 students/2 instructors
Length: 15 days
Tuition: $3,450

1 week backpacking & 1 week packrafting (inflatable kayaks) + Fly Fishing

Questions? Send us an email.

Packing List 
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Expedition Highlights

Backpacking in a remote wilderness area (likely the Bob Marshall Wilderness)
Packraft (inflatable kayak) whitewater on a scenic Montana river
Learn swift water rescue techniques
Adventurous backcountry paddling experiences
Learn to fly fish
Wilderness decision-making and communication skills
Experiencing abundant wildlife and pristine ecosystems

Expedition Description

The Wilderness Packrafting + Fly Fishing Adventure provides multiple forms of adventure while promoting personal growth, character development, and technical skills. Students will spend the first week of their expedition backpacking covering significant mileage and negotiating mountain passes. Upon reaching a remote river launch point , students will spend the second week packrafting out of the wilderness and fly fishing along the way. The unique continuous flow of this expedition itinerary will give students outstanding opportunities to develop land and water based leadership skills while traveling through the vast and remote Montana backcountry. In addition to basic paddling, students will learn swift water rescue skills and be challenged to apply those on the river. For more information about MWS core curriculum and expedition progression see Expedition Life.

Expedition Objectives and Learning Outcomes

Teamwork and communication skills

Learn positive communication skills with diverse group members to create a healthy community, build trust, and make sound decisions in the backcountry together
Develop an expedition philosophy, apply it to the course, and understand how it can transfer back to the student’s home environment

Safety and wilderness based decision making

Backcountry hazard evaluation and risk reduction guidelines and tools
First aid awareness for backcountry settings: identification and treatment of common backcountry illness and injuries
Learn to collaboratively make decisions in remote environments that prioritizes individual and group safety

Conservation Ethic

Use basic observational and interpretive skills to demonstrate an understanding and respect for the natural environment
Discuss the history, facts and potential solutions to pertinent environmental and social issues affecting the wilderness in the expedition area
Reflect upon and discuss the conveyance of wilderness conservation ethics into personal life and build a capacity for commitment and stewardship to wild places
Develop comprehensive understanding of Leave No Trace© ethics and apply them during the expedition

Backcountry camping and navigation skills

Use safe backcountry kitchen practices to cook nutritious meals on a camp stove or fire
Demonstrate an ability to select an appropriate campsite and set up a shelter while minimizing the impact on the ecosystem
Understand and demonstrate how to stay healthy, warm, and comfortable in the backcountry
Understand and demonstrate techniques for camping and traveling in bear habitat
Use various navigation and route-finding tools and methods for on and off trail travel
Travel efficiently in the alpine environment using map and compass skills

Technical Skills

Packrafting

Inflating, deflating, packing and securing equipment in an inflatable packraft
Reading water and understanding hydraulics in swift moving water
Swift water rescue skills
Packraft control and paddling skills in swift moving water and rapids

Fly Fishing

Basic understanding of Entomology in respect to fishing
Catch and release principles and ethics
Fishing techniques; casting, knots, reel control
Basic river and mountain lake ecology

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Wilderness Packraft
+ Fly Fishing

ADVENTURE