Absaroka Range

The Absaroka Mountains offer some of the best packrafting in the lower 48. This is some of the most remote country south of the boarder. Big rugged landscapes with big critters creates a little Alaska right here in the Greater Yellowstone. There are many possibilities for combining rivers to do traverses and big loops. The season is May through July when melting snow keeps the rivers high. For day outings the North and South Forks of the Buffalo are classics. For longer trips check out Pacific Creek, the Upper Yellowstone (way above Yellowstone Lake), Thoroughfare Creek, the South Fork of the Shoshone, the Wiggins Fork, the Elk Fork, etc., Unfortunately it is illegal to float Rivers in Yellowstone National Park so many of the ranges best runs are currently closed. The rivers range the gamut from Class II wilderness floats (Thoroughfare Creek) to full on class IV/V (South Fork of the Shoshone) adventures. There is lots of wood and a few class VI sections in these rivers so be careful and don’t be too proud to portage.

Tom Turiano and I hiked in to the South Fork of the Shoshone from near Dubois this past summer. To see the pics go to
http://www2.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=167317412/a=25662137_25662137/t_=25662137