RE: [Paddlewise] Winter paddling and ice

> 
> So here's the question for all you more experienced winter paddlers:  
> how hard is this on the hull?  Is it to be avoided?   Is the 
> bark worse than 
> the bite?   
> 

  I've broken my way thru 1" ice with my fibreglass Ascente' without any
noticeable wear. (It was the only way to get to open water and I WANTED to
go for a paddle)  It sounds much worse than it is as the crunches echo
throughout the hull.  Your kayak will simply displace small chunks of ice as
you move over them, but the big ones.....well, remember the Titanic.
  Paddling in icy conditions can be quite dangerous - I once had my paddle
blade get stuck between two floes and had it wrenched from my hands as I
nearly capsized - I don't do stuff like that anymore.  Well, not very often.
I think that the biggest danger comes when paddling amongst the bergie bits
from a glacier - those things can roll at any time and if you happen to be
in the way it can be quite dangerous.
  Your paddle blades can take quite a beating if you end up having to chop
your way through the ice.
  

Dave Seng
Juneau, Alaska
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