BayerWald 2024 - Was it summer already?

We were prepared for everything: Sleet from the side, snow on the tents, sub-zero temperatures at the start, very high water levels, water levels that were almost too low. After all, we had already experienced all of this in the three previous trips on this extraordinary tour.

But all good things come in fours, right? Because somehow everything was just right on this tour and I was already looking forward to leading this tour again for the first time after the premiere in 2019. Even the rather chilly fog at the start suited it. Because if that had been missing, it would have been a bit too summery.

But this fog, together with the first day's get-together, which was interrupted by rain showers but was nevertheless - or was it? - very cozy first day as a get-together, was the start of three fantastic days on tour. And it was the transition from the rain - which was very good for the water level - to the summer feeling of the weekend.

About the author:

Sebastian, founder and owner of Land Water Adventures, and basically content as long as there is water on the stream, enough chocolate and nice people around him. There is also more about Sebastian here.

The gang on this tour was also a dream: all participants were experienced in white whitewater and expeditions, all familiar faces who ensured lots of hugs when we met again. And so the first day was like a leisurely vacation day on the river with a whitewater feeling. Everyone did what they felt like doing. Willi and I were safety on the water, and everyone paddled to their heart's content in this safe environment. In between, there were conversations on the riverbank, some of us took a short nap in the tent in the tranquillity of the forest and all in all it was a day that could hardly be surpassed in terms of outdoor comfort. At least that's what we thought.

And after the rain and this coziness came the fog. Having escaped this, the first section of the river, which everyone had been waiting for, lay ahead of us in the late morning of the first day of the tour.

Everyone has found their own sweet spot between the fun of the sweeping water and the pure surge or a break in the sun.

And it went smoothly. Because with such an experienced group, advanced riding tactics can be implemented smoothly and we rode the first river kilometers of the tour smoothly, comfortably and yet quickly to the first camp. Once there, we were greeted by an empty meadow in the afternoon sun.
Everyone was out of their paddling gear quicker than you might think and nothing stood in the way of enjoying the late afternoon. Not even the last little rain shower of the tour and everything was dry at the campfire afterwards, and should remain so.

And so it should go on. 13 kilometers of river were ahead of us and once again our experienced participants rocked it. Using the same tactics as the day before, we not only made rapid progress, we also covered the maximum possible distance of the river and were even able to cover the key section several times: If you wanted to. Everyone found their own sweet spot, whether it was the fun of the switchbacks, a pure surge or a break in the sun.

In a post on her Instagram profile, participant Dani from Berlin also described how wonderful it all was @im_freien_zu_hause after the tour:

"[..] there are few things as addictive as packrafting trips. The freedom, the wildness and the opportunity to just be in the moment because the challenges put my mind at ease is priceless. And once again, I was able to be on the road with some truly enchanting people who share this passion and with whom a truly touching bond was formed in just a few days. I am grateful and can safely say that this was not the last time. ”

Thank you Dani! Touching people with what we do, combining passion and challenge with beautiful river landscapes, that's always fun. And so it was only with a heavy heart that Willi and I set off from the deep forests of the Bavarian Forest. Elated by the thought that we already know when we will be here again next year.

And what does our new guide Willi (to his team profile) say about his first time here in the Bavarian Forest?

“The Bavarian Forest greeted us in April with an almost Mediterranean climate, while the last patches of snow at higher altitudes were still reminiscent of the previous winter. The fact that sun cream suddenly became the most important item on the packing list hardly bothered anyone on our tour. As a guide, I really enjoyed accompanying this tour through the Bavarian whitewater in surprisingly fantastic conditions - a perfect start to my first multiday season with LWA!”