Last year, my friend Jeff Creamer introduced me to #skirafting. What is this? Exactly as it sounds: combining backcountry skiing/mountaineering with packrafting, all in the same trip, in order to connect mountains and rivers.
I did two skirafting trips last year, and although the heavy packs over half my bodyweight are difficult for me, I loved it and got hooked!
So what's next...??
Jeff and I have been scheming up our next adventure since the fall. We've pored over maps, satellite images, weather and climate patterns, gear, dates, locations, drawn routes and more routes, had 12073 zoom calls, some tenuous moments surrounding my shoulder surgery, and finally we nailed down a plan and committed.
👉🏼 In two weeks, Jeff and I are heading to Alaska to meet up with my friend Jule Harle and her friend Dylan Van Rozeboom for a 10 day skirafting mission.
Fun fact about Jule: she taught me to packraft back in 2017 before my first Alaska multisport trip -- that one was bikerafting! So I'm stoked to do a trip with her.
Our team will begin by paddling a river, then ascending a glacier up onto the massive Harding Icefield. We'll cross the icefield heading west, and if we're lucky we'll get to climb and ski a couple nunataks along the way. We'll descend off another glacier, and paddle another river and into Kachemak bay towards Homer.
I'm keeping our exact route under wraps for now, but I'll share it when the trip is over (details are always subject to change based on conditions!).
I'm beyond stoked to be spending time in an incredible place, moving through these huge landscapes, on skis, foot, and by packraft.
I'm nervous as hell to be carrying a 70lb pack while navigating crevasses and Alaskan weather. 😅
I'm incredibly grateful to the supporters of this project, who are contributing product, finances, or both to help Jeff and me make the trip north, outfit the team with the lightest and best gear, and create all the media you're going to be seeing in the next month!! 😀