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Overview

Intro to Packrafting Weekend | Camp, Party, Paddle! (2 dates)
La Grande, OR 97850, USA
Duration: 3 days
Go Wild: American Adventures image
Go Wild: American Adventures
$1,335
Deposit: $500

About your trip

This is a trip designed for those who want to learn about packrafting, build paddling skills, and have a wild good time at camp!


Each day takes you from our gorgeously outfitted camp to a new location for lessons on and off the water focused on packrafting. Learn the basics of how to pick out a boat and size it appropriately to your body, how to pack for an overnight paddling trip, practice a wide variety of paddling strokes and techniques, start learning how to read rivers and water, tie knots, and practice basic safety principles on water. 


After fun on the water return to camp for gourmet meals, cocktail hour, and a host of optional group activities from fly fishing, to foraging, to stargazing, and more

Highlights

⤷ Practice paddling techniques, loading & outfitting boats, and reading rivers on flat & moving water

⤷ Explore 2-3 different stretches of the Grande Ronde River, an alpine lake, and a stretch of the Minam River

⤷ No Boat? No problem. All inclusive. Bring your own gear or use ours!

⤷ After each day on the water, return to an outfitted camp for gourmet meals, cold beverages, and rad activities.

⤷ In addition to packrafting come to fly fish, forage for mushrooms, & win fun camp competitions.

⤷ At the end of the weekend, test your new found skills with a "hike in -- packraft out" experience and head back to camp to raise a glass with new friends and classmates.

⤷ Post-course, purchase a packraft from our partner retailer at a highly
discounted rate!

What's included

Accommodation

Tent Camping at our rad camp location!

Guides / Instructors

local, professional, certified, naturalist packraft guides / instructors

Camp Chef

professional camp chef & bartender

Gourmet Meals

From Day 1-3 all meals, beverages & cocktail package

Packrafting & Camp Gear

packrafts & accessories, adult PFDs, tents, group gear, kitchen, etc. (excluding dry suits, & kids PFDs if applicable- contact us for recommendations)---we'll send you a packing list upon booking

Camp games & Activities

we are professional wilderness fun facilitators

Transportation

from camp to daily paddling locations

Photographs

professional photographer & download link to photos

Pre-trip Drinks

meet & greet evening before w/ first beverage hosted by Go Wild

Go Wild Camp Mug

complimentary camp mug with hand crafted leather work by Go Wild

What's not included

Transportation to EO

transportation to and from Eastern Oregon-- contact us if you need this arranged

Pre / Post Lodging

lodging before / after your trip -- contact us for local discounts and recommendations

Op 2- Camp & Paddle Gear

Save at checkout if your bring your own camp & paddle gear

Dry Suit

(we can help arrange rentals)

Kid size PFDs

(we can help arrange rentals)

Water bottle

Hiking & River Shoes

closed toed river shoes such as an old pair or sneakers

Guide Gratuity

not required, but appreciated (typically 10-20% trip cost)

Pre-Depature

Pre-Depature image

Meet & Greet

If you've arrive a day early, join us in the evening! Meet your guides at our favorite local eatery for a round of drinks on us. Talk shop, get excited, and ask any last minute questions. 

Day 1

Day 1 image

Packrafting Basics & Flat Water Session

Depending on your preference, in the morning meet your guides at camp or enjoy complimentary pickup from your hotel. After "checking in" to camp and selecting your tent, it's time to head to the lake! 


At the lake, it's all about the basics! Go over safety basics and familiarize yourself with the boats: entry, exit, movement, and paddling strokes. This lesson will take place 50% on land and 50% in the water. Who's ready to get wet!?


Our lake also presents the perfect opportunity for a fly fishing lesson. Learn the basics of knot tying, casting, and how fish behave. Dine on a gourmet lunch and optional fish fry before heading to our camp for the evening.  Put your feet up and relax to gourmet service.  

Day 2

Day 2 image

Moving Water | Lower & Upper Grande Ronde

After a hearty breakfast, head to our first of two stretches of river for the day: a lower section of the Grande Ronde that flows through agricultural land and a magnificent canyon. This is the perfect chance to practice the skills we talked about yesterday on moving water. 

- entering & launching boats into moving water

- paddling techniques

- reading rivers

- downstream movement

- wet exit & entry (in water)

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After lunch, we'll head to a second stretch of river with slightly faster water to continue practicing and to learn a few new tricks.

Day 3

Day 3 image

The Final Test | Hike in - Paddle Out

Today, we're truly going packrafting! Pack your backpacking bag for a big day of hiking and floating. 


After breakfast we head to the Minam River to float quicker water and an opportunity to test out your new skills as you pack in your packraft for the completely self-supported experience. This is the culmination of everything we've learned so far. 


We'll practice:

- packing a backpack for a packrafting adventure

- loading and unloading boats

- launching into moving water

- downstream movement- paddling techniques

- ferrying and catching eddies

- exiting water

- portaging

- and more!


After water fun, it's back to camp for a final blow out party complete with live music, awesome camp grub and the opportunity to purchase a raft at a highly discounted rate to take home! Your are welcome to head home that evening or camp one more night. 

Location

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1. La Grande, OR 97850, USA

La Grande, OR 97850, USA

About your organizer

We are your Eastern Oregon adventure experts. At Go Wild, we create tailor-made gourmet wilderness experiences for families, corporate groups, and private parties. These backcountry trips are all-inclusive, designed specifically for your group, and always wildly fun. Our attention to logistics, knowledgeable local guides, and shared thirst for adventure guarantee an authentic Oregon experience worth sharing with the world.

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