Dates/Times: 9:00 AM Saturday 7th to 2:00 PM Monday 9th October (3 days) Area: Mitta Mitta River area (in north-east VICTORIA) Accommodation: Camping at Jokers Flat beside the Mitta Mitta Participant Suitability: Inclusion in this course is dependent upon suitable prior experience and is at instructor’s discretion. After registering for the course your registration will need to be ‘approved’ by instructors. The course is suited to those who already competently paddle grade 3 rivers and who are aspiring to learn to paddle grade 3+/4 technically, safely & competently. All participants need to be comfortable with swimming grade 3 rapids and must have experience with the use of throwbags (both throwing and catching) as well as self/assisted rescues in grade 3 water. Participants need to have: - Previously completed a Paddle Tasmania Intermediate Course
- Considerable additional time on grade 3 whitewater
- Undertaken a recognised River Rescue / Swiftwater Rescue Course
- Demonstrated a strong ability to catch small mid-stream eddys using technical
strokes
Interested paddlers who have not completed a course previously with Paddle Tasmania Instructors will need to provide a short video or two that demonstrates their ability to catch small mid-stream eddys using technical strokes. It is likely that such paddlers will have had considerable kayaking experience. To ascertain whether you have the skills suitable to undertake this course or to submit your videos, please email both Mark Oates via mark.oates.outdoors@gmail.com and; Dan Hall via danchall@hotmail.com Program Outline: Paddle Tasmania will be conducting a 3-day Advanced Whitewater Packrafting Course in north-east Victoria that immediately follows on from a 2-day Level 2 Whitewater Course. This is designed to allow interested participants to complete a full 5 days of training. The group will base camp at Jokers Flat, beside the Mitta Mitta River. This will enable us to utilise a range of sections on the Mitta Mitta as well as nearby rivers. The course is suited to those who already confidently paddle grade 3 rivers and who are aspiring to learn to paddle grade 3+/4 technically, safely & competently. All participants need to be comfortable with swimming grade 3 rapids and must have experience with the use of throwbags (both throwing and catching) as well as self/assisted rescues in grade 3 water. The focus of this course is on developing technical and safety knowledge specific to packrafts being used on grade 3/3+ whitewater. There will also be considerable emphasis on working as a team to manage challenging river environments safely. Depending on water levels the group MAY have the opportunity to tackle some grade 4 rapids however there will always be the option to walk/portage these.
Some of the various sections of rivers that the group may potentially utilise within the course are the: Mitta Mitta River (Big River Bridge to Bundarra Bridge) Mitta Mitta River (Bundarra Bridge to Hinnomunjie Bridge) Bundarra River Cobrunga River (Smiths Crossing to Anglers Rest) Cobrunga River (Anglers Rest to Mitta Mitta River) Potential Course Content: - Technical paddling, versus the alternative
- Paddling with purpose
- Using water features to your advantage
- Using momentum to your advantage
- Connecting yourself to your boat
- Entering and exiting eddies cleanly and efficiently
- Improving technical strokes & combinations
- Controlling turns in a packraft
- Learning to boof and different boofing techniques
- Working as a team
- Techniques for tackling steep creeks
- Self and assisted rescues within rapids
- Risk management
- Managing groups/others in whitewater
Paddling Equipment Required: All participants should come fully prepared for numerous swimming activities and ideally utilise a drysuit OR a full-length wetsuit*. There is also the possibility that the group may walk into or out of some river venues so decent footwear is required along with a lightweight pack in case you need to carry all of your gear for a river daytrip. *Some participants who bring wetsuits choose to bring two so that they can swap a wet one out for a dry one. Bring:  self-bailing or whitewater decked packraft with thigh straps installed and some form of fixed bow and stern perimeter line  WW PFD (personal floatation device). Rescue rated PFDs are ideal  WW kayak helmet (NOT a climbing or bike helmet)  WW paddle  Drysuit or a full wetsuit (the later with ideally a drytop or a cag/spray jacket)  Appropriate sturdy/warm footwear for both paddling and walking  Throwbag  River knife  Minimum of 1 locking carabiner (& ideally a 2.5 – 4.0 metre sling)  Drybag for carrying essential gear during trips  Lightweight pack in case we need to walk into or out of a river  Personal medications/personal first aid  Thermos or similar (optional) Base Camp Location/Info: Jokers Flat is a medium sized public campground within the Alpine National Park with some info available at: https://www.parks.vic.gov.au/places-to- see/sites/jokers-flat-camping-area whilst a video showing the campground is at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WSd62RsMqc It is accessible to 2WD vehicles but does include a short (100m) slightly rough dirt road down a small hill to access it. It can get busy at times but we should be able to find enough space for our group and it should not be too hard to find us. There is a basic toilet plus a number of official fire places however not much more. Participants need to come fully self-sufficient for the 3 days as the nearest shops are in Omeo, 40 minutes drive away. Participants obviously need to bring all of their own tents, camping, sleeping and cooking gear. Note that there is very limited phone coverage in the area although it can be obtained by driving a short distance from camp. Jokers Flat can be found on Google Maps at the following link: https://goo.gl/maps/ZpFymHxTMNeciYZT6 Participants will need:  Tent  Sleeping bag  Camp mattress  Pillow (optional)  Stove plus cooking pots, utensils, etc  Lots of warm clothes  ALL FOOD for the 3-days duration  Thermos  Wood for campfire
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