Advanced Packraft Paddling Course, perspective by Waldo Aguayo Riquelme

Read the full blog post & see photos: fourcornersgui...
This past May, we hosted our first Advanced Packraft Paddling & Expedition Course with lead guides Dan Thurber, Steve “Doom” Fassbinder, and Ben Phillips. Eight people participated in the course on the Animas and Dolores rivers. Waldo Aguayo Riquelme, owner of the Chilean packraft guide service, Scouting Rios, was one of those participants. Waldo also lived at Scullbinder Ranch for a month, where he worked his butt off and impressed us immensely. We have invited him back to work at the Ranch and to instruct some Spanish-speaking courses next year (to be announced this fall). ~ Lizzy & Doom
Story by Waldo Aguayo Riquelme. Photos by Jeremiah Watt and Doom.
One ordinary November morning in Puerto Río Tranquilo, Chile, I was drinking my standard several cups of maté at home. While checking my cell phone, I found a post on Instagram about an advanced whitewater packrafting course. The amazing photo and a great description of the course outlined just what I had been looking for! Within a minute I sent an email…
My name is Waldo Aguayo, I’m 27 years old and I’m from the south of Chile. Five years ago I met the packraft and since then I did not stop. I studied adventure tourism, and I have some outdoor certifications, among them a whitewater rescue course with Rescue3. I am currently starting my venture in Patagonia, called “Scouting Rios.” Where I am offering classes, tours and logistics with packraft. Yesterday I saw your post on Instagram, about the course and it was what I was looking forward to. Now I would like to know more information and solve some questions.
Lizzy Scully, CEO of Four Corners Guide responded immediately.
So in February, after a lot of help, fundraising events, brands supporting me, friends, family, personal work, plus a proposal of “work for a trade” at Scullbinder Ranch, all my hopes were reactivated. This Chilean packrafter managed to get a spot on the course. Tickets to the United States!
It was my first time out of the country. In every big airport I thought I was going to get lost. But at the beginning of May I arrived in Durango.
The first day in the States was a lot of fun, I met Kent Ford, a historic kayaker from the area. I took a bike ride on the Animas River trail. Then Lizzy arrived, and we paddled the Animas with new friends. Exhausted after a long day of traveling, we went straight to the ranch that evening and I fell asleep in the Scullbinder Ranch cabin on the Mancos River.
The next day I met Saddle and Doom. Saddle is one of the fastest and funniest dogs I have ever met, and a big fan of bike rides. Doom is the lead guide of Four Corners Guides. Together with Lizzy they started this amazing project of guide service and Scullbinder Ranch as a base camp for their tours and courses. Located about 30 minutes from Mancos, it feels remote, has no signal and little human trail. It felt like home.
Working at the Ranch with Jaron Segay (their contracted employee for the summer), Doom and Lizzy energized me. I felt motivated for the course to begin. I would enjoy five days of packrafting!

[@SJSCHOCH]

Dang that was a side surf and a half... Schweet! I got a few runs on the San Miguel and Dolores a week or so ago, and I am not regretting not bouncing over the hill to get a town run in on the Animas.

[@AbMtnGuy]

How does this paddle go with a bike on the foredeck? Swims, portage, fatal?

[@fourcornersguidespackrafting]

Hi Guy, I'm not sure what you mean about how the "paddle" goes with a bike on the foredeck? Do you mean how does the boat work with a bike on front? Packrafts can hold bikes up front very easily when they're positioned correctly and lashed down tightly with something like a Titan Strap (wide, burly ski strap). Check out our series on bikerafting, how to put a bike on a boat for more info.

[@fourcornersguidespackrafting]

And you can use them in whitewater IF you are an experienced whitewater boater. However, it is much more difficult to navigate a packraft with a bike on front, so plan to paddle at least a few grades lower than you would if you were just going packrafting.