Mine uses 5/8" nylon straps with side release buckles attached to 1/2" miniature grommets in the pad's RF welded rim. To the degree possible, these incidents were used to inform the content of The Packraft Handbook. The Wind River Range runs along the Continental Divide and boasts some high elevations. The article does not discuss prior experience but mentions that they had life jackets and insufficient insulation layers given the water temperature. The geography of the lake system provides 30 km of wind fetch before the crossing point. I tried to synthesize a decision matrix, if interested, you can find it on the Alpacka Raft blog (https://www.alpackaraft.com/rafting/should-it-stay-or-should-it-go/). The team had helmets, but not drysuits. Hi Jay, yeah, a $50 PFD and $600 drysuit might have saved three of these lives. South Bay Board Co. - SUP Paddleboard Paddles - 4 Piece & 2 Piece Kayak/Paddle Board Paddle Options. Heres the takeaway lesson for me (if Im correct that he was on Class II/III water): Incidents rarely occur due to one obvious mistake. Following deep valleys, across 3 major lakes and wild west-coastlines, the soaring . He camped on the northern shore of the Thingvallavatn lake the evening before he went missing. With at risk kids we took 6-9 days but you could do it faster. What Ive learned is that you can be reasonably comfortable in a drysuit even in warmer weather wear lightest layers or shorts under it.