> -----Original Message----- > From: Sisler, Clyde [mailto:Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com] > Sent: Tuesday, January 05, 1999 4:15 AM > 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. Hi Clyde, I was out paddling last Saturday in fairly cool conditions - the air temperature was 33F and the water temperature was a brisk 38F. I was wearing a GoreTex drysuit with midweight Capilene top and bottoms and then 200 weight fleece pants and a lightweight old wool long-john top. I had a pair of neoprene booties on my feet and a lightweight pair of "leather" palmed, neoprene backed gloves on my fingers. Before embarking on a 3 hour paddle I waded out about waist deep into the water to "burp" the drysuit. The water in the booties was a mite chilly, but soon warmed up once I began paddling. At the end of the paddle, when I was all warmed up (HOT!) I decided to practice some paddle float re-entries and some re-entries and rolls. (Unfortunately forgetting about the camera that I had stuffed into the front of my PFD!) The cold shock of the water on my unprotected head was quite unpleasant, but not incapacitating and I was "comfortable" and functional for about 15 minutes of active playing around in the water. Discovery of the camera (I'll find out just how waterproof a Pentax WR-90 actually is) ended the water time. I've debated getting a neoprene hood, but I over-heat quite easily and wonder if I would really wear it while paddling (and am not sure whether my glasses would interfere or get bent). I don't think that I would have been comfortable for that long if I had simply been floating in the water (ie. injured, lost kayak etc) - the high level of activity had to help keep me warm. By all means give cold weather paddling a try - it can be great fun. My first winter forays were always in group conditions and usually just "surfing" sessions where a dump into the water meant at worst a 200 yard swim to shore. I swam a lot. :-) Be safe and have fun. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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