interesting article…
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9269
Packrafts expand Grand Canyon itineraries
Lightweight inflatable boats open up new loops to land-water trips but cause controversy.
By Turner Resor, Jackson Hole, Wyo. November 21, 2012
Technological innovations have the power to change the way we view the world and interact with our surroundings. For Jackson Hole residents Tom Turiano and Mik Shain, packraft improvements have enhanced their ability to access the Western wilderness and have engendered a conversation among visitors and officials at Grand Canyon National Park concerning the appropriate place for packrafts in the park.
Earlier this month, Turiano and Shain, along with Chris Erickson and Brad Meiklejohn, founding president of the American Packrafting Association, completed a six-day technical canyoneering and packrafting loop in the Shivwits Plateau region of Grand Canyon National Park.
At a glance, the trip was an adventure into a remote corner of one of the world’s seven natural wonders, a journey from rim to river and back again. From Nov. 4 to 9, beginning at a peninsular extension of the canyon’s north rim called Twin Point, the four canyoneers descended the narrows and valleys of Surprise Canyon, eventually reaching the Colorado River. Once at the river, the climbers inflated their rafts and floated 12 miles downstream to Burnt Canyon. From there they ascended through a slot and side canyon, returning to Twin Point and their car.
The trip renewed an ongoing dialogue between National Park Service rangers and avant-garde explorers who hope to demonstrate the feasibility of using packrafts to explore side canyons in Grand Canyon National Park.
Packrafts are small inflatable watercraft that can weigh as little as 1.5 pounds. They fit easily into a backpack and are beginning to revolutionize the scope of wilderness adventure. As the group demonstrated, packrafts are an ideal vehicle for trips that mix extensive land and water travel.
“There is amazing potential for the Grand Canyon as a place for packrafting,” Turiano said.
Using the Colorado River as a passageway, the group was able to traverse a loop, an option seldom available within the Grand Canyon.
“With packrafts,” Turiano said, “the river becomes a travel corridor. It becomes a trail.”
More, a lot more: http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9269
RAM
Yes, but off of your efforts, these folks seem intent on setting the record straight…Kudos all.
From: Editor/Jackson Hole News&Guide editor@jhnewsandguide.com> Date: Wed, Nov 21, 2012 at 1:30 PM Subject: Re: Packrafts article ERRORS To: Jenny West jenny@americancanyoneers.org>
Miller,
I talked to Turner, just to make sure she was correct. We got that straightened out, with a quick web search I did.
I have corrected the on line version and noted the correction at the bottom.
We need a correction in the weekly next week.
Thanks,
Angus M. Thuermer Jr. Editor Jackson Hole News&Guide POB 7445 Jackson, WY 83001 editor@jhnewsandguide.com
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Jenny” wrote:
> Another funny thing is, I failed to put the “s” on organization (below), thus I made an error in my request for correction on their error(s). How human we all are, afterall. > Jenny
Jenny
Another funny thing is, I failed to put the “s” on organization (below), thus I made an error in my request for correction on their error(s). How human we all are, afterall. Jenny
TomJones
Funny thing is, they spelled Rich’s name correctly lower down…
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “RAM” wrote:
some corrections send to the newspaper
To whom it may concern,
There are two critical errors in this article.
Please note and consider correction in the passage copied below.
“We found ourselves doing more and more slot canyons where you got down to the river and you were stuck,” said Rich Rudo, an American Canyoneering Association board member and Grand Canyon canyoneering pioneer. “Packrafting became immediately evident as a way of getting around the obstacle of the river.” > 1) Rich Rudo is misspelled. The correct spelling is: Rich Rudow > 2) Rich is on the BOD of American Canyoneers NOT the organization you suggested. There is a broad distinction between these two organization. See American Canyoneers website here: > http://www.americancanyoneers.org/
> Sincerely, > Jenny West
RAM
some corrections send to the newspaper
To whom it may concern,
There are two critical errors in this article.
Please note and consider correction in the passage copied below.
“We found ourselves doing more and more slot canyons where you got down to the river and you were stuck,” said Rich Rudo, an American Canyoneering Association board member and Grand Canyon canyoneering pioneer. “Packrafting became immediately evident as a way of getting around the obstacle of the river.” 1) Rich Rudo is misspelled. The correct spelling is: Rich Rudow 2) Rich is on the BOD of American Canyoneers NOT the organization you suggested. There is a broad distinction between these two organization. See American Canyoneers website here: http://www.americancanyoneers.org/
Sincerely, Jenny West
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones” wrote:
interesting article…
http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9269
> Packrafts expand Grand Canyon itineraries
Lightweight inflatable boats open up new loops to land-water trips but cause controversy.
By Turner Resor, Jackson Hole, Wyo. > November 21, 2012
Technological innovations have the power to change the way we view the world and interact with our surroundings. For Jackson Hole residents Tom Turiano and Mik Shain, packraft improvements have enhanced their ability to access the Western wilderness and have engendered a conversation among visitors and officials at Grand Canyon National Park concerning the appropriate place for packrafts in the park.
Earlier this month, Turiano and Shain, along with Chris Erickson and Brad Meiklejohn, founding president of the American Packrafting Association, completed a six-day technical canyoneering and packrafting loop in the Shivwits Plateau region of Grand Canyon National Park.
At a glance, the trip was an adventure into a remote corner of one of the world’s seven natural wonders, a journey from rim to river and back again. From Nov. 4 to 9, beginning at a peninsular extension of the canyon’s north rim called Twin Point, the four canyoneers descended the narrows and valleys of Surprise Canyon, eventually reaching the Colorado River. Once at the river, the climbers inflated their rafts and floated 12 miles downstream to Burnt Canyon. From there they ascended through a slot and side canyon, returning to Twin Point and their car.
The trip renewed an ongoing dialogue between National Park Service rangers and avant-garde explorers who hope to demonstrate the feasibility of using packrafts to explore side canyons in Grand Canyon National Park.
Packrafts are small inflatable watercraft that can weigh as little as 1.5 pounds. They fit easily into a backpack and are beginning to revolutionize the scope of wilderness adventure. As the group demonstrated, packrafts are an ideal vehicle for trips that mix extensive land and water travel.
“There is amazing potential for the Grand Canyon as a place for packrafting,” Turiano said.
Using the Colorado River as a passageway, the group was able to traverse a loop, an option seldom available within the Grand Canyon.
“With packrafts,” Turiano said, “the river becomes a travel corridor. It becomes a trail.”
More, a lot more: http://www.jhnewsandguide.com/article.php?art_id=9269