Welcome back to the Bikepack Adventures Podcast, where we dive deep into the stories behind the pedals, exploring the grit, gear, and glory of bikepacking and human-powered adventure.

I’m your host, Chris Panasky, and today’s guest is someone who has quietly reshaped how we think about moving through wild places, not just on two wheels, but across water as well. Thor Tingey is the founder of Alpacka Raft, a company that has helped pioneer modern packrafting as we know it today. What started as a personal solution to accessing remote terrain has grown into a global movement, blending biking, hiking, and paddling into a seamless, self-supported style of exploration. From Alaska’s rugged backcountry to expedition routes around the world, Thor’s work has opened up entirely new ways to experience landscapes, where rivers are no longer barriers, but invitations.

In this episode, we talk about the origins of Alpacka Raft, the philosophy behind packrafting, gear design, and how integrating water into your adventures fundamentally changes the way you move through the world. So whether you’re a die-hard bikepacker or just curious about adding a paddle to your setup, this one might just expand your definition of adventure.

And today, we’re going to explore what happens when you stop seeing rivers as obstacles and start seeing them as part of the route.

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