RE: [Paddlewise] Ice Swimming

I have not tried submerging at 3 degrees F., but I have come close.  Last
spring I went for a swim in Lake Superior in my gortex dry suit after I had
been paddling for a couple of hours.  Like you, I was interested in seeing
if the insulation I had on was sufficient and to try swimming in cold water
with a dry suit.  My insulation was patagonia stretch polypropylene with 200
weight fleece pants and sweater in addition.  My feet were insulated with
fleece socks and gortex socks.  I pulled the latex gasket over the top of
the gortex sock to get a smooth relatively water tight seal.  The air
temperature was in the 50's F.  The water temperature was in the upper 30's
F.  My insulation was too much for paddling, I quickly became uncomfortable
in the dry suit.  I found I could cool down quickly by immersing my hands in
the lake.  When I stopped paddling I went for a short swim. I found that the
insulation that had been too much when I was paddling was not enough when I
was swimming.  The moisture in my insulation appeared to help transfer my
body heat to the cold lake water.  Also the cold water on my hands greatly
reduced my dexterity. The dry suit and PFD interferred with my ability to
swim.  I came to much the same conclusion as Chuck, it was an interesting
experiment, and I would not want to put myself in a position where I may
have to swim any substantial distance to safety in cold water.


Dana Dickson


Date: Tue, 5 Jan 1999 08:14:36 -0500 
From: "Sisler, Clyde" <Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com>
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] New Year's Paddle

And a conclusion: Icing reduces one's safety margin
considerably. Paddling in such cold weather is an interesting
experiment, but I don't recommend it for extended trips.


- -----------------

Interesting comments.  Have you (or anyone else) ever had the nerve to walk
into the water and submerge yourself in your drysuit before or after a
paddle in that kind of weather?

I feel I have to do that before my first cold paddle because a) I want to
know in general what it's really like in a controlled situation and b) to
ensure I have enough insulation.

<snip>
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