Re: [Paddlewise] mud

BRADFORD R. CRAIN wrote:
> 
>      This message is for all paddlers, but especially dedicated to
> Clyde Sisler, with whom I can now identify.
>      A bunch of us spent Memorial Weekend camped in the rain along
> the banks of Willapa Bay in S.W. Washington, U.S.A. Our first day
> out, we decided to launch from Bay City ramp, and explore the Niawiakum
> River. It was a beautiful paddle up the river, as the tide gently
> ebbed, and an eagle screeched at me from a lofty perch. The rest of
> the group ate lunch and turned back, but I was enjoying the paddling
> so much that I just had to go as far as the tidal estuary would
> allow. So I paddled up a steadily more narrow and shallow tidal
> stream, until progress could be made no more. Turning back, the down
> river trip was equally entrancing, but the water level had dropped
> significantly. I began to wonder if I could make it across the bay
> and back to the ramp.
>      Approaching the river's mouth, I could see no other paddlers. In
> fact, I mostly saw mud flats. Dang. Panic. Worry. Etc. I could see
> across the bay to where the ramp sat, but had no clue as to how to
> get there. I tried paddling a small channel that was now showing, but
> it petered out. I was still several hundred yards from the ramp.
> Maybe I should have brought a chart. Anyway, I decided to hump across
> the flats, and drag the boat. Boy, was that ever a big mistake.

>      Willapa Bay mud is real gooey, sucking mud.[snip]
>      I suppose it took an hour or more to cross that mud flat.[snip]

>      So I finally staggered to the water's edge, fell into the muddy
> kayak, and paddled up the boat channel to the ramp. [snip]

>      What lessons did I learn and relearn? [snip] It's hard to see
> when you're standing 3 feet tall in a mud flat. Be aware of your
> surroundings. Go home before the tide drops. 

I know the mud flat which almost swallowed Bradford, and I have some
intimate knowledge of Willapa Bay mud.  Bradford's mud flat is actually
one of the less gooey ones on the Bay. A friend happened to step onto a
really gooey one (distant from his boat) and quickly realized walking
would only entrap him, so he flopped face down on the stuff and "swam"
and __wriggled__ to safety.  Good thing he did, too, because if he had
remained vertical, the rising tide (many hours later) would have risen
so fast he would have drowned.  Problem is that the 15 - 20 pounds of
buoyant force remaining in the typical PFD is too wimpy to extract you
after your 150 - 200 pounds of body weight has sunk your feet deeply
into the goo.

A chart will help __a little__ on mudflats like Bradford's, but
sometimes the minor channels left at low tide are such small features
their current position is 'way different from what got charted a few
decades ago.  That's the case on Bradford's flat.  Most times it's
better to stay in the main channel (the ebb has to get out somewhere)
and take "the long way around," as Bradford discovered.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
(back from "inland" Texas -- how do those people live down there?)
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