EX P LO RI NG SOČA VA LLEY ’S
EMERALD WATERS Goriška, Slovenia
As Colorado’s trees began to shed their summer skins and the first frosty mornings settled in over the state, I waved goodbye to a wonderful river season in the Rocky Mountains and boarded a plane for Slovenia. The River Soča is one of Europe’s most beautiful - it’s emerald waters a bucket list playground for most paddlers. I had packrafted in Slovenia the previous two years and its jagged peaks, playful rivers, and cool
Written by Zach Patterson Images by Annika Seidl and Zach Patterson
weather kept calling me back. My girlfriend, Sarah, and I went to meet former pro-slalom kayaker, Annika - who owns and operates a renowned whitewater packrafting and kayaking school based in the Soča Valley. Not only does her school help beginner whitewater paddlers navigate rushing waters safely, but it also inspires professional rafters to seek out farther flung adventures - like
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