Re: [Paddlewise] Ice Swimming

Dickson, Dana A. wrote:

> 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>
> ***************************************************************************
> PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
> Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
> Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
> ***************************************************************************

  Having spent many hours underwater in a dry suit while scuba diving, I know it
gets cold.  The suit that I used was vulcanized rubber with a thick insulation
suit underneath.  Experience showed that the more air that was inside the suit,
the warmer I was.  Water compresses any insulation reducing it's ability to keep
you warm.  Many times I would have to float with my feet higher than my head
just to get the air around my feet to warm them up.  I also found that a good
fitting wet suit worked just as well as my dry suit will under water, the dry
suit was better during the entry and exit from the shore. Just food for thought.



Steve LaDue

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************