Shows
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)🎧Episode #15! Gender Differences in Learning, Teaching & Packraft Course Creation with Jule Harle & Sarah HistandHey! This is Lizzy Scully, host of The Packrafting Life podcast. Welcome to episode #15.
In this fascinating episode we look at scientific reasons behind the differences between how men and women learn, teach and how and why courses designed specifically for women or non-binary folks can be really beneficial, safe spaces for those folks to learn.
This absolutely was my favorite discussion/interview of the year. I learned so much from Sarah Histand, owner of Mind and Mountain, and Jule Harle, owner of Alaska Packraft School, that I will be incorporating into my own packraft i...
2025-12-141h 12
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)The Making of Be WaterWise: A Chat w/ Deane Parker about the APA's Series of 10 Safety VideosIn this ten-minute pod short, Four Corners Guides owner Lizzy Scully & filmmaker Deane Parker discuss the American Packrafting Association's new Be WaterWise series of 10 safety videos, recently launched through the APA Website & YouTube channel. Deane worked with the APA, the Packrafting Assoc. of New Zealand and numerous experts in the industry to develop these 10 short videos highlighting common hazards, practical mitigation strategies, and essential skills for paddlers of all levels. One of the main goals of these videos is to generate conversation. The APA would love to hear about your safety experiences, learnings and answer any questions you have...
2025-10-1111 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)🎧Episode #14: The Wonders, Dangers & Realities of La Venta River + New Guide Service Packraft Mexico - a chat w/ Rod AlfonzoIn this episode, Lizzy interviews Rodrigo Alfonzo a Level 3 American Canoe Association Packraft Instructor and Level 4 Swiftwater certified, discussing his journey into packrafting and the significance of La Venta River, including its wonders, dangers and realities. They emphasize community involvement, safety and/or ACA training for local guides and communities, and the importance of preserving natural resources while promoting both Mexican and foreign tourism in Chiapas. Rodrigo shares future plans for his cooperative guide service, Packraft Mexico, training local guides and organizing events to enhance the packrafting experience in Mexico. You can also find Rod on @losabuelitoschiapas on Instagram.
2025-08-3151 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Happy Pride Month! Let's Talk Being Queer in the Packrafting & Greater Outdoor Community w/ LGBTQ+ Outdoors Founder Justin Yoder & Ambassador Justin BickleyIn celebration of Pride Month, I dedicate this episode of The Packrafting Life to queer folks. ~Lizzy Scully, CEO Four Corners Guides
And according to AI (but with some edits )... In this episode, host Lizzy Scully dives deep into the intersection of queer identity and the great outdoors. Joined by guests Justin Yoder, founder of LGBTQ+ Outdoors, and Justin Bickley, an ambassador & packrafter, the discussion explores how packrafting serves as a unique, meditative, and engaging way to connect queer folks with nature.
Beyond just exploring the serene beauty of rivers, the conversation highlights the vital r...
2025-05-281h 10
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Episode #12 Leveling Up in Packrafting: When, How, What to Look Out For, with Dan ThurberIntroduction
In Episode 12 of The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting), Lizzy talks with Dan Thurber, primarily about leveling up in packrafting, but also about his paddling life and various other fun things. Dan was one of Lizzy’s first mentors in packrafting, teaching her much in various courses and also on a 14-day trip on the Grand Canyon. She continues to look to him for advice and guidance.
A Class V expedition paddler, Dan has solo paddled the Grand Canyon, and he has travelled around the world on kayaking and packrafting adventures. He’s been...
2025-03-211h 21
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Packraft Design: The Process of Creating High-Performance Inflatable Boats, with Design Engineer Dustin PartridgeAt the end of 2024 we snagged an interview with Alpacka Raft Design Engineer Dustin Partridge before he left for three months of packrafting in Patagonia, Chile. We're super stoked on Episode #11, the first full episode of 2025. Dustin is Alpacka Raft founder/owner Sheri Tingey’s right hand man, and a long-time employee at Alpacka. He came on board as the 15th or 16th employee and worked his way from flooring boats to learning how to build every piece and part of a packraft. And when it became apparently that both his pattern making and computer-aided design skills would make th...
2025-02-081h 08
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Pod Clip - The International Packrafting Film Festival, an interview with Jule HarleFor more information on the film fest, to be a sponsor or to show the film in your town, please email packraftfilmfest@gmail.com or visit their website: https://www.packraftfilmfest.com/
2025-01-0914 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)A Quick, Non-Technical Look at the Alpacka Raft MagePlease note this is a non-technical look at the Mage, where I compare how it *feels* compared to the Wolverine and the Gnarwhal. On January 6th, we’re publishing Episode #11 of, A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, featuring one of Alpacka Raft’s designers, Dustin Partridge. In it, Dustin offers a more technical description of the Mage versus the Valykyrie. You can also find out more technical specs about the boat on launch day on the Alpacka Raft website. I put this quick video and podcast together to answer your questions. And, yes, if you are a Class II to IV bo...
2025-01-0110 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Episode #10: Thor Tingey Talks Hunting & Fly Fishing & How Packrafts Fit Into the MixIn Episode #10 of, A Beginner's Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting, we talk with Alpacka Raft co-owner, Thor Tingey, about the hunt packrafting and packraft fly fishing scene. We start by discussing his background in those two activities and how Alpacka Raft’s hunt and fish boats developed along with changing hunting trends generally, along with Alaskan trends toward minimalism and packrafts as a part of the float fish and hunt market.
Fewer and fewer people are hunting, says Thor. But the reality is the same numbers of animals are being killed because the people who are doing it ar...
2024-12-1250 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Packraft Fly Fishing in Colorado & the Arctic Wildlife Refuge, Plus Tips on Packraft Fly Fishing with guide Thad FerrellIn Episode #9 we dive into packraft fly fishing with guide Thad Ferrell. Thad was an early adopter of packrafts, and a longtime cyclist, rock climber and fly fisherman. He recently packrafted the Kongakut River in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska to fly fish for char. In this episode we talk about how Thad got started with fly fishing and guiding, his multi-sport adventures, his new venture to teach packraft fly fishing on the Dolores and Animas rivers in Colorado in 2025, some tips and trips for packraft fly fishing and, of course, his trip to the Refuge. Stay...
2024-11-051h 00
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Whitewater Bikerafting New Zealand with Deane ParkerIn Episode #8 of, "A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting," Deane Parker talks about how he got into pairing bikes and packrafts on pretty hardcore whitewater from the get-go, in addition to his history kayaking and rafting Class V rapids, his raft guiding business in the 90s, his mountain bike adventures, his filming projects through Deane Parker Adventure Channel, and his family farm. One of the most renown whitewater bikerafters in the world, Deane is also an all-around super nice guy. We always have fun chatting with Deane. And after eight years of working with him on various projects, we...
2024-10-1042 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Seeking Wild Adventures? 1st Descents? Good Beer? Try Packrafting New ZealandEpisode #7, A Beginner's Guide to Packrafting & Bikerafting
Starting today and through fall we’ll be sharing stories, podcasts, videos and photos focusing on international packrafting adventures. We'll explore places we guide or will be guiding, such as La Venta River in Chiapas, Mexico, and Chilean Patagonia. But also some places we are not guiding, such as Tajikistan and beyond.
February 2025, we’re heading over to New Zealand to partner with Huw Miles of Packrafting Queenstown and Deane Parker of Deane Parker Adventure Channel on a specially curated adventure of that country’s finest rivers. So for ep...
2024-08-2948 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Healing Adventure Trauma: Julia Yanker on How Adventurers Can Get Back Into the Activities They LoveFor Episode #6 of A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafing & Bikerafing, we did interview with Julia Yanker, a long-time packrafter, life coach and Somatic Experiencing Practitioner, aka trauma resolution specialist. My primary goal with chatting with Julia was to really find out what can be done for adventurers who experienced trauma that now affects the other adventures they partake in.
I had a terrible climbing accident 6 years ago that increased my levels of anxiety exponentially, no matter the activity I’m doing, but primarily in regards to packrafting. This manifests in an irrational fear of whitewater. For example, I’ve...
2024-07-251h 05
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Podcast #5: Luc Mehl on Close Calls, & How Knowing More About Them Can Enhance Packrafting Safety ++ His Safety Tool KitPLEASE NOTE. WE DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS SHOW ISN'T UPLOADING IN ITS ENTIRETY TO SPOTIFY. PLEASE LISTEN TO IT ON PODBEAN. LINK BELOW.
Luc Mehl on The Risks & Rewards of Leveling Up in Packrafting, What Close Calls Are & How Knowing More About Them Can Make Our Play Safer, Plus His Safety Tool Kit
Today we’re talking with one of the most interesting and accomplished guys in the world of packrafting, Luc Mehl. He’s traveled more than 10,000 miles by packraft, ski, bike and ice skates, often utilizing two or more of those tools on the same adventure. He wrote t...
2024-04-2559 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Expedition Packrafting & More with Jeff Creamer, SSI Instructor & Alpacka Raft Boat TesterToday, for our fourth episode, we’re bringing you an interview with Jeff Creamer, a Swiftwater Safety Institute Instructor and a boat tester and boat maker at Alpacka Raft. Jeff is one of America’s top packrafters, having done numerous remote, challenging expeditions on up to Class V whitewater in the mountains, along with some creative trips pairing boats and skis. We are stoked this year, as Jeff is teaching a Level 4, intermediate/advanced paddling course for Four Corners Guides this spring, May 17-19, 2024. In the first 15 minutes of this episode we learn a bit about Jeff’s previous life a...
2024-03-1346 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)A Chat with Alaska Packraft School's Jule Harle on How Women Learn Differently from Men & MoreIn the third episode of our Podcast, A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting, Four Corners Guides owner Lizzy Scully talks with renowned Packraft Instructor Jule Harle. A long-time kayaker and packrafter and owner of Alaska Packraft School, Jule has been instrumental in legitimizing packrafting as a sport through her work as a guide and her work with others to get the American Canoe Association packrafting curriculum in place to accredit packrafting guides across the country. She volunteers with the Alaska Chapter of the American Packrafting Association, and she was this year’s Golden Paddle winner. Jule is coming to the...
2024-01-1934 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)Whitewater Packrafting Gear: Recommendations From an ExpertIn the second episode of A Beginner's Guide to Packrafting (& Bikerafting), Tony Miely talks whitewater gear for packrafters. While he doesn't review the full spectrum of gear available (that would be a 5-hour video!), he talks about some of the basic gear that people need to get started with whitewater boating. Tony is one of the long-time owners of 4Corners Riversports, the premier boating store in SW Colorado.
2023-12-1023 min
The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)A Chat With Steve ”Doom” Fassbinder About All Sorts of Packrafting ThingsIn this episode, Four Corners Guides Head Guide Steve Fassbinder discusses his packrafting history, how he gained experience & his packrafting kit (boats, PFDs, helmets & drysuits, etc). Doom offers tips for beginners, emphasizing the importance of honesty & communication when paddling with others, plus advice on choosing appropriate rivers & trips based on skill level, the benefits of seeking guidance & training from experienced packrafters & the importance of having fun!
2023-11-2127 min
Overland Archive Podcast32: Eliza Sampey - The Bike Raft GuideEliza Sampey joins us to talk about her bikepack racing accomplishments and the release of an upcoming book and project she's been involved with bringing to life: The Bike Raft Guide. For the uninitiated, bikerafting is a combination of bikepacking and packrafting. That is; riding to a river with a 2-4kg inflatable raft strapped to your bike, then inflating the raft, strapping your bike to the front and paddling down said river. It opens up some incredible opportunities to traverse the natural environment.Eliza is not only an accomplished bikerafter, with many epic expeditions under her belt...
2021-01-121h 10