The Packrafting Life (aka A Beginner’s Guide to Packrafting)

Packrafting Throw Bag Showdown: Best Lightweight Rescue Ropes, with 4CRS Owner Tony Miely

Host Lizzy Scully and guest Tony Miely test and review lightweight throw bags for packrafting and kayaking, examining deployment, rope type, mouth openness, waist‑pack options, weight, and re‑stowing ease. They compare models from ultralight to guide‑grade, discuss pros and cons and price points, and recommend which bags work best for different paddling situations (guiding versus personal). For more information and specs on these bags, please visit the Four Corner Guides Podcast web page [https://fourcornersguides.com/2026/04/23/packrafting-throw-ropes/]. This episode sponsored by the American Packrafting Association [https://www.packraft.org/pages/join].

🎧Episode #17: Packrafting Scotland - Callum Lewis, The Wild, Wacky, River-Loving Owner of Scotland's Packraft Guide Service

Callum Lewis started Packrafting Scotland just a couple years ago with friend Jack, to fill a growing niche and because every day on the river is a great day. In episode #17 we chat about how, when and why he started his new guide service. We explore the various rivers on which they guide, along with big adventures Callum plans to do on the rivers and lochs of Scotland. And we laugh a lot about Scottish slang, Scottish weather (you can have four seasons in one day... sounds like Colorado) and all the great things about Scotland (there are a lot). Find Packrafting Scotland online at https://www.packraftingscotland.co.uk/contact [https://www.packraftingscotland.co.uk/contact]or on Instagram @packraftscotland. More info: https://fourcornersguides.com/a-beginners-guide-to-packrafting-podcast/

🎧Episode #16: Packraft Maine's Alejandro Strong on NE Bikerafting Routes & The Growth of East Coast Packrafting

In episode #16 of The Packrafting Life, Lizzy Scully chats with Packraft Maine's Alejandro Strong about his love of bikerafting, the new route he is establishing across his adopted state, the growth of the sport on the East Coast, the plethora of opportunities to packraft within a few hours of where he lives, and the origins of his guide service. They also discuss Alejandro's efforts to get more folks of color and queer folk into the outdoors through packrafting, and his desire to get advanced education to those folks who excel.  You can find Alejandro on Instagram @packraftmaine [https://www.instagram.com/packraftmaine/] or online @ packraftme.com [https://www.packraftme.com/].

🎧Episode #15! Gender Differences in Learning, Teaching & Packraft Course Creation with Jule Harle & Sarah Histand

Hey! 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 instruction in 2026. I know this episode was geared toward women and understanding gender differences in learning, teaching, and course creation. But I feel and hope it will resonate with my male listeners as well. Whether you’re an instructor or a brother, father, husband, friend of a woman, you’ll definitely learn something about how you can help create safer spaces for those females and non-binary folks you love, to learn and thrive in the outdoors. Find Sarah on Instagram @sarahmhistand [https://www.instagram.com/sarahmhistand/] and visit her website MindandMountain.co [https://www.mindandmountain.co/]. Find Jule on Instagram @AlaskaPackraft [https://www.instagram.com/alaskapackraft/] and visit her website AlaskaPackraft.com [https://alaskapackraft.com/]. Jule & Lizzy are joining forces August 3-7 for a Women's Week of Packrafting. If you'd like to register, please click here [https://alaskapackraft.com/series/week-of-rivers-class-iii/]! And please let Jule know you found out about the course through the podcast. Thanks! CLICK HERE TO ENTER THE AMERICAN PACKRAFTING ASSOCIATION GIVEAWAY!! [https://go.eventgroovefundraising.com/apa2025/Raffle/Details] FINALLY!!! CLICK HERE [https://americanpackraftingassociation.app.neoncrm.com/forms/new-apa-member] to join the American Packrafting Association for $10 all this month. AND get the chance to win one of three Buddy Boy Adventure Waste Kits [https://www.thebuddyboy.com/] to make your waste management on river trips much easier. Also win a copy of The Bikeraft Guide [https://kokopelli.com/products/the-bikeraft-guide?srsltid=AfmBOooU9TOwyCxLpKYB3g2ozOaVU9OqSJglS68ZcrWw_Ar9gatXBDvS]. And the #1 randomly chosen winner will also get a Sockdolager Equipment bow bag [https://sockdolagerequipment.com/products/bow-bag] with a Four Corners Guide's logo.  Register via this link! [https://americanpackraftingassociation.app.neoncrm.com/forms/new-apa-member] Stay tuned because I've got two more shorts in the works, including a conversation about bikerafting and packrafting in the Northeast with Alejandro Strong, owner of Packraft Maine, along with a conversation with guide Felipe Meneses about packrafting in Ecuador.

The Making of Be WaterWise: A Chat w/ Deane Parker about the APA's Series of 10 Safety Videos

In this ten-minute pod short, Four Corners Guides [https://fourcornersguides.com/] owner Lizzy Scully & filmmaker Deane Parker [https://www.youtube.com/@DeaneParkerAdventureChannel] discuss the American Packrafting Association's new Be WaterWise series of 10 safety videos, recently launched through the APA Website [https://www.packraft.org/pages/education/water-wise-safety-videos] & YouTube channel [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQpOsHOyzzw&list=PLwpVrVWYeKENlGzn8W0Bh1lRwgglxMeHN]. 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. Join the conversation on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQpOsHOyzzw&list=PLwpVrVWYeKENlGzn8W0Bh1lRwgglxMeHN], the APA Forum [https://www.packraft.org/pages/community-forum]or Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/americanpackraftingassociation/].