Some people feel I do a diservice to novice lurkers. While I have taken those comments under advisement, I generally don't want to withold possibly useful information from more advanced paddlers, though some may view my postings as drivel - which it may well be at times. However, as a public service to our newbies out there, Al Wilson of Wavelenght doesn't mind me posting one of my articles here on PW that I did for his magazine last year. It was written for a Pacific Northwest audience. Please note it is copyrighted by myself, Doug Lloyd (c). Jackie may wish to web it, if deemed usable. (Long post warning) The Off-Season Ethos by Doug Lloyd It is widely accepted that winter paddling has a number of problems and inherent dangers, so most of us avail ourselves of the warmer, calmer, summer months. During the peripheral shoulder-seasons, paddling activity also undergoes a certain curtailment. I hope to encourage paddlers toward an ethos that enhances their enjoyment of sea kayaking by reconsidering the so-called ³off-season². The emphasis is on safe, sensible, and specific ways to do this. For those of us who are all-season, all-weather paddlers, we already know that the end of summer marks the beginning of a time of year with distinguishing opportunity - the end of the season is the reason. Starting in the fall, prevailing afternoon winds die down. This leaves the surface of the sea in a relatively benign state, easily allowing for an extension of the paddling season -- as long as advancing frontal system winds are avoided. With the arrival of the wet season, falling rain accumulations flow freely over bare-boned, shoreline bluffs. Paddling close by, it is easy to fall under a unique fascination that provides a diversion from lifeıs little problems. When the sun does poke through, brilliant shafts of light set rocky ramparts ablaze in sun-kissed splendour. On days of heavily overcast sky, our struggling spirits benefit from the quiet stillness in the muffled, damp air. In the absence of summer haze, scintillating backdrops of distant shores and mountains occur during the late season, helping us to revitalize our vision of life. As the blustery months blow by, competent paddlers will be found bouncing gleefully on corrugated sea-surfaces, simply having fun. And on rare, really frosty days, ice may form down isolated inlets where we are reminded of kayakingıs true arctic heritage. By the same token, that same coldness and wetness, that same quietness and easy remoteness, and that same tempestuousness can reduce your margin of safety considerably. Colder air temperatures increase the risk of both land-based and immersion hypothermia; visibility reduction and rapid loss of daylight can compound navigational issues; decreased marine traffic means less help is immediately at hand; and sea-state values can rapidly escalate when winds are sudden and where dangerous cross-seas develop from backing low pressure systems. No wonder there is such a warm-weather plethora of paddlers who head to points south, to paddle along balmy shores. But for the majority of paddlers who stay north, how do you safely pursue the cooler-weather option? First, you need to develop good fundamental skills, appropriate knowledge, manifold experience, and most of all, mature judgement. A fully ³seasoned² sea kayaker is not an individual who successfully completes their first summer period of probational paddling and then protracts their season too soon. The number of novice accidents during the month of November, attests to that. The need for proper training cannot be overlooked. Depending on route and winds encountered, winter paddling will require a fair degree of finesse with the paddle. This includes a reasonable repertoire of recovery strokes and other foundation skills. Introductory courses or suitable guidance will get you started, summer paddling will get you ³warmed-up², and further winter training at suitable locations will help you gain proficiency. If you already have a number of years experience, note that even experts tend not go out alone in winter. They keep their trips shorter and pick suitable destinations that include sheltered areas and shorter crossings. LOCAL CONDITIONS ARE VARIABLE Fortunately, the relative protection of inland waters available in the Pacific Northwest gives a diverse range of possibilities for the cooler climate crowd. The entire Puget Sound area, parts of the Gulf Islands, and some of the Sunshine Coast, offer localities with conditional shelter depending on wind direction and expected duration. The shores of Southern Vancouver Island and in and around Vancouver also have their favourable routes. However, all the areas mentioned, especially Georgia Strait as a whole, are also prone to fickle winds that can defy exact prediction by official forecasters. Other areas along the west coast of North America also offer potential for good winter paddling but in all cases, local knowledge is a vital safety factor. A number of the areas mentioned are prone to the development of nasty, mature seas, due to the long fetch available during sustained winter winds. Predominate northwesterly winds give way to southeasterlies in the winter, thereby creating conditions often different from summer paddling. Some of these areas are highly susceptible to the influence of tide and tide-against-wind conflicts, especially places like the San Juan Islands. Again, knowledge is key, and the know-how to apply that knowledge can only come through experience gained over time. Most new paddlers do their winter paddling close to home. They find safety in local harbours, lagoons, and sheltered bays, finding newer venues as time goes by. Paddlers ready to venture further afield must have knowledge of tide, current, and weather factors that are critical during the winter months. These things are important year-round, but closer attention must be made to the need for accuracy with tides and the additional current hazards produced. Low pressure systems and high winds can also change predicted tide heights. The availability of up-to-the-minute weather information is important. You should know what is going on throughout the various marine forecasting areas, and take the time to learn the different lighthouse locations and names, so that you can formulate a mental picture of what is occurring at various points nearby while listening to the continuous broadcasts. Area wide arctic outflow winds, which are usually predicted in advance, should be avoided. Especially dangerous are any outflow winds along coastal inlets and sounds. On the bright side, another characteristic of our Pacific Region is the prevalence of moderate temperatures throughout much of the winter (sometimes unseasonably so when the Jet Stream runs far to the north for extended periods or during an El Niño year). Anyone who has sat on a beach, on a sunny late November or February afternoon, wearing only a T-shirt, knows how nice it can get. Microclimates also exist within certain rain-shadow environs, where lucky paddlers enjoy clear skies, while only a few miles away, some unlucky dudes get drenched. CLOTHING Those new to winter-time paddling quickly realize how warm you can be. Ensconced in the security of the kayakıs cockpit, generating body heat as calories are expended, you lean back with a recumbent smugness and wave to passing boaters who are often freezing their buns off. Add a sunny day, and it can get downright cosy in your paddling jacket -- as long as you stay dry. Good gear and modern synthetics that dry easily have undoubtedly been the reasons for the increasing popularity of year-round paddling. A base layer of polypropylene is the first line of defence. Mid-weight layers are the norm, as heavy-weight underwear feels a bit too warm while paddling, though prudent paddlers often carry it in their dry bags for a back-up change of clothing. Try to avoid tight fitting layers with heavy seams: chaffing can easily occur under a paddling jacket and PFD. Thick fibrepile may work great for white-water river-runners, but may add too much insulation while paddling at sea. A fleece vest gives core insulation, without creating unwanted bulk around and under the arms. Regardless, err on the side of warmth if there is any doubt, especially if conditions are likely to deteriorate. At lunch stops, damp paddlers will often replace a base layer with a dry one, which helps bring skin temperatures back up a degree or two. Cold water/cooler weather requires careful consideration of proper immersion apparel. A quality paddling jacket is worth the investment. Dry-suit style pants work better than plain rain pants, but a full dry-suit gives a better level of protection - and warmth can be varied depending upon the underlayers. Drysuits with latex seals are best protected by neoprene overcuffs. Seals do wear out and can tear, as can the suitıs waterproof material. On the other hand, many paddlers find out, after spending the money, that the full neck seal of a drysuit or drysuit top is just too warm for our coastal climates. At a minimum, a 3mm, full farmer john wetsuit is recommended. They will age and lose insulation value if you subject them to years of butt-numbing mileage, but generally they give many, many years of satisfactory service. Custom fitted wetsuits are very expensive, but may be necessary if standard sizes just donıt fit. You can also wear thin polypro under a wetsuit if your metabolism runs on the colder side. Itıs also not a bad idea to carry good rain pants or heavy wool type pants to wear over a wetsuit, especially while standing around on the beach. Cool winds will cause evaporative heat loss from the wet outer-layers of a wetsuit. Of course, new paddling attire shows up all the time. The latest products use something called ³fuzzy rubber², but may require some thought with respect to immersion protection. Some type of hat is essential. It must provide warmth, rain protection, and not flop about in a breeze. You may also wish for the incorporation of ear protection. This may require carrying two different hats. A wetsuit balaclava is an excellent item for back-up head protection, given the high degree of heat loss through our heads. And to avoid losing your hat, an under-chin strap or clip tether is essential. Warm footwear will assist comfort levels. Wetsuit booties are warmest (best without zippers). Gum boots are the most convenient (but dangerous if you wind up in the water). SealSkinz socks are popular now, as they form a waterproof primary layer. Really cold winter paddling requires footwear that is a few sizes bigger, so that extra thick socks can be worn. This is more important for land-based considerations. Hand protection, in the form of nylon shell pogies often give way to neoprene ones when the mercury plummets -- the shorter neoprene ones being the easiest to pull on. Soaking wet hands can be difficult to rewarm, once allowed to get numbed. The newer paddle-specific gloves being sold help, but often are not supple enough to paddle with for extended periods (warm, preferably water-sport gloves should always be carried ³close-at-hand² for rescue emergencies that require working hands). Paddling gloves need some kind of protective treatment to avoid paddle shaft abrasion, but must not slip, yet still allow rotation with feathered paddles. TRIP PLANNING When planning trips, be sure to make allowances for unexpected delays. Always let a responsible party know your plans. The ocean environment is much more unforgiving in the winter. After capsize in the summer, competent paddlers can usually make shore, dry out, and carry on. During colder seasons, it may be difficult to start a fire, rewarm, or find help. There are very few folks out on the water at this time of year so self-sufficiency is the watchword, and the advice to always paddle with a partner takes on even more meaning. Even on a short trip, consider taking all the essentials: first aid kit, a complete change of dry clothing, one or two flashlights, extra food and water, fire starting kit, some method of rewarming internally (stove/tea/soup), a small tarp, etc. Donıt forget Coast Guard minimum requirements, including distress signal devices, and try arriving at your take out point well before sunset. When paddling, take plenty of rest stops and keep well fuelled with carbohydrates. Try to avoid over-exertion. You will get cold sitting on the beach at breaks, but body temperature quickly rises upon paddling again. Drink liquids, as dehydration is a year round concern, but try to avoid diuretic beverages (otherwise youıll be freezing your buns off for another reason). Donıt let others in your group push you into conditions beyond your capabilities or comfort levels. Unexpected winds do come up, and more than a few paddlers have run into serious survival situations because someone ran out of patience. Know what each member has for gear within the group and what their skills are before leaving the beach. The discussion of contingency plans should be a consultive endeavour, and done at before launching. A VHF radio or cell phone is a worthwhile investment, regardless of the time of year. As most winter paddling is not too remote, direct line of communication and range receptivity is usually not a problem. With these two communication tools, you can access up-to-date weather info, call for help, or let loved ones or your contact party know of delays. Excellent waterproof protection is available for these devices, allowing them to be used while kayaking. Complex navigation and night paddling arenıt highly recommended during the off-season, but you should still carry a compass and know how to use it, and a light ‹ the days are shorter. Small charts are available for many prime kayaking areas. They fit on your deck nicely, giving information that may help you avoid marine hazards. You may also want to perform the supreme test of preparedness by practising self- and assisted rescues in actual cold, rough water. This can be done under controlled conditions with highly experienced paddlers at hand or with the accompaniment of a chase boat. Part of the reason time is taken to plan and exercise good judgement in choosing your winter routes is to avoid potential risk and inconvenience. Marine hazards only impose themselves when you are ignorant of them and fail to plan ahead or adjust. When things go wrong or donıt work out, more damage occurs to our fragile wilderness. Unnecessary fires are made, litter is left about because you are just too cold and nervous to care any more, and you land on off-limit islands or shores you had wanted to avoid, due to poor decision-making skills. Tides are at their highest during the day in winter, and there may be no legal area of beach even left to land on (real emergencies are okay). You should also respect marine wildlife, keeping your distance from warm blooded mammals trying to conserve energy for survival. Winters and the shoulder seasons are tangibly warmer on the coast than inland, so take advantage of our geographic privilege. If you are a dedicated calm water paddler, numerous days present themselves, right through the first of fall to the last of spring. There is no reason to pack your kayak away for the winter. Year round paddling can be a reality -- a safe and fun one. Sea kayaking is an activity that requires participants to manage problems in an intelligent manner. Out of season paddling just presents different problems which require interesting solutions. And you know what? Trips that might be a bit mundane ³in season² take on a whole new dimension in the winter! Doug works full time as a Medical Adjudicator for the Ministry of Health and is a part time woodworking instructor. He still finds time to paddle to his favorite destination, Nootka Island. BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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