Matt (Admin)

Fantastic! I was inspired by other people, so I hope my journey inspires others too!

Haha, that is wonderful! Thanks 😀

Dear Matt,
I’m deeply impressed by your trip – what an adventure! And your documentation is awesome, and very useful too. I admire the (huge amount) of work you’ve invested to make your dream become a reality, and to show us how beautiful it is out there in the nature. I really hope that some more people will be inspired to leave their comfort zone, and to go out and to see this by themselves. Life can be so beautiful. All the best to all of you, and kind regards
Ruedi from Oeko-Travel Org and Biber-Boote in Switzerland

Amazing! Loved it!
I was confused as to why that woman told you you couldn’t enter the lake via the river. If you stayed either on the river or below flood line of the river banks you have full right to do so (Canadian Navigable Act).

I have a similar tent (zpacks) – 3 person version though (2 dogs and a wife requires more space). Might get the 2 person as we sometimes travel separately.

I have a gossamer gear backpack instead of the zpacks backpack which is super comfy and only a tiny bit heavier.

I think I’ll work out some smaller loops to hike/paddle or bike/paddle out of your bigger adventure.

Matt are you still living on the island or are you in Smithers like your business says? Love the island. I’ve tried to get to Smithers 3 times and failed (long story) but one day – good backcountry skiing and mtn biking there! Always looking for new places to play.

Thanx again for sharing your adventure!

Matt how did you like paddling the Nimkish River? I lived in Port McNeil for a year (many many moons ago) and it was one of my earlier rivers I explored. The upper part was easy but there was one tiny tiny canyon that had an interesting needle drop but at flood level was actually was nasty. The lower part as it comes into Woss has a cool waterfall to drop at lower water and during flood a weird wave. I know you didn’t paddle the lower part as you described you got out before hand but did you do the tiny canyon? How was the run down to where you got out? Also how did you enter the Nimkish – we used another feeder creek as I recall. I’m asking because you had gear with you in a pack raft so I’m curious to how you found the run.

OK I goofed. I looked on google maps and have things upside down. I’ve paddled two sections of the Nimkish – the part below Woss via Woss River into Nimkish (that was the easy section). The part above and into Woss we entered via Davie River which, combined with the waterfalls made for a more advanced paddle.

So did you paddled the part after Woss? You finish at Nimkish lake but I use to climb up a ridiculously steep bank way up to a bridge on the fsr to avoid the flat paddle of the lake.

I’m intrigue though with the upper Nimkish now. Likely would be fine with a bike on a packraft for the most part to do all of the Nimkish river (skipping the falls for certain). I’ll have to read back on your trip and see what else I could add to make an interesting bike raft trip loop.

Sorry for getting my info mixed up.

Nice and inspiring! It also make mi curious about what kind of cameragear you use on your trips? I would also be interested to know what kins of riggs other pacraftbuilders use for mounting cameras when you are not shooting with a drone. Would it be a thing to have in mind before starting to assemble a diy-pacraft?

I didn’t change anything, I just weighed it without the seat.

Yes, unless something else goes wrong the new fabric should be here sometime in December.

Every year I pack in to a an alpine lake for some fishing. Its about ten miles in. Im in my 50’s now and concerned about weight in my pack (the knees and back arent what they used to be). I really love the skeena but am wondering if the ultralight is a better option for an aging packer. Youve paddled in both, so which raft would you take for some high altitude fishing?

Hey Matt, I’m really excited to make a DIYpackraft. Any idea update to when fabric will come in?

I couldn’t post in the introduce yourself section for some reason so I’ll just comment here.
I assume there is a bit of a backlog of orders. So I signed up for email notification in the hopes I can scoop up acouple Skeenas when material arrives.

I hope your expedition was everything, and more, that you hoped and dreamed it would be!

Good idea – I will try to figure out how to set up a mailing list, and once I do I’ll write a post inviting people to sign up. Cheers!