A Packraft Runs Through It...

Here on the lonely banks of the Potomac River at the cresting dawn of the blossoming spring weather, I find myself the navigator upon, the perhaps hastily-named, U.S.S. Iceberg's maiden voyage. Weighing roughly 52+ tonnes less than its fallen sister-ship, the Titanic, this 4lbs pack kayak will have its durability and steadfastness measured against the toughest of natural waterworks...

 

...the Congaree swamps, the Rio Grande, Alaskan fjords, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, Clark and Crater Lake, and the countless water ways of Voyageurs among others. But first, it had to brave the sea trials provided by the District's mighty Potomac River.

Casting off on this inaugural fare, the U.S.S. Iceberg, aptly named due to its color, shape, and predestined trip through the Alaskan fjords, departed from the Potomac's banks in the early afternoon hours headed in a Northerly direction. 

Its destination?...3.5 nautical miles N-NW.

Having only taken 5 minutes to inflate, the Iceberg was in the water withing 10 minutes of parking the Kodiak. Aside from the paddles, the only cargo on board was a 183 lbs manly man, a 1/8 lbs beard, and an empty backpack that would later stow the oar and water craft itself.

Battling opposing currents, endless gusts of wind, and gnarly wake generated by emergency response boats traveling at impossible speeds, the Iceberg withheld such hardships handsomly and brought its passenger and cargo safely to its destination. Upon arrival, the LZ was sandy and open, providing an ideal spot to deflate and pack up the kayak. Having quickly stowed away the transport that had gotten me this far, ahead of me was a complex network of trail systems that would afford me the opportunity to giddyishly explore wooded portions of Northern Virginia that I otherwise simply drive by on a daily basis. At the conclusion of a several mile exploratory hike through the "wilds" of Arlington and its sister cities, sunlight was getting scarce and my return to the Kodiak became a heightened priority.

Front Seat View from the Pack Raft's Maiden Voyage

The day was adventurous and a continuous surprise. My confidence in the Iceberg's exploratory fortitude, and the user's ever-honing ability to guide it, was firmly established. Being someone who has learned to respectfully fear the water, this test run planted new confidence in the watery obstacles that lay ahead!