This past August, APA Ambassador and owner of Optimum Adventures Adam Jones spent a day tabling at the Snow Lake Trailhead in Washington, near where he lives. This trailhead is one of the most visited alpine hikes in the state and an emerging hotspot for packrafting.

Working alongside volunteers from the Snoqualmie Ranger District and Conservation Northwest, Adam introduced hikers to packrafting and shared the APA’s mission to Learn, Protect, and Connect, helping people experience water more safely, responsibly, and sustainably.

His setup included APA flyers, safety handouts, membership info, and two packrafts, one inflated and one packed down, to show how accessible alpine lake packrafting can be.

Throughout the day, Adam shared tips on cold water safety, PFD use, proper gear cleaning, and Leave No Trace principles, especially important in fragile alpine environments. Every interaction was a chance to educate passersby on the APA mission: connecting people to the packrafting community, empowering them to paddle safely, and protecting the fragile places we all explore. Through these conversations, Adam helped turn hikers into informed paddlers and supporters of our shared outdoor spaces.
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This event also highlights the newly launched 2025 APA Ambassador Program! Currently, there are 5 ambassadors, each serving as a community leader and event host, bringing more opportunities to connect packrafters throughout the year beyond just the annual RoundUp. We hope to double this number in the next year, and you may see an ambassador at a paddling event near you soon!

Adam had a blast collaborating with land managers and nonprofit partners and connecting with the outdoor community where they are: on the trail.

Interested in helping grow the packrafting community in your area? Reach out to Adam at northwest@packraft.org or learn more about becoming an APA Ambassador.