The first annual PACKRAFT MEETUP 2025 autumn gathering took place in mid-October at the legendary Sluneční zátoka (Sunny Bay) on the Sázava River, where Jaroslav Foglar set the story of Hochů od Bobří řeky (The Boys from Beaver River) and where he camped with his troop every summer between the world wars.

Over the course of two days, around fifteen packrafters gathered on the banks of the Sázava River. On Friday, they listened to Bosák's captivating story about his adventures on the Franklin River. On Saturday, there was traditionally little water at Stvořidla, so some of the group set off in beautiful autumn weather downstream along the Sázava River, passing beef with rosehip sauce served at the weir in Ledeč, all the way to Chřenovice. The other part of the group, tired from the long paddling season, set out on a no less beautiful hike around Stvořidla and Rodrig rock.

Saturday evening featured delicious smoked meat and a preview screening of the packrafting film RIVERS OUT THERE, about a nearly twenty-day journey through Swedish Lapland along the Kaitumälven and Vistasälven rivers.

However, the most important point of the whole gathering was the pleasant confirmation of the fact that packrafters are a fiery nation. We sat around a fire of unprecedented size, listening to the sounds of guitars and harmonicas, under a sky full of stars, just as Rikitan once sang the Song Without Words here. And we had a wonderful time, which means only one thing. The event will certainly be repeated next fall.

 

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