[Paddlewise] Icebreaker kayaks

From: Jim Meldrum <meldrum_at_yourfuture.ab.ca>
Date: Thu, 22 May 2003 09:01:53 -0600
Kayak icebreaking is a unique phenomenon for those of us in northern
latitudes, I am sure.  

I was wondering if anybody else out there goes out in their kayaks to ram
floating ice sheets?  Sounds silly, but this time of year there are large
sheets of ice on our lake.  They are held together very loosely and
comprised of large vertical columnar ice crystals.  When the kayak rams the
ice sheet - the columnar ice crystals slowly peel away and sound very much
like a chandelier or wind chime. 

Our club makes this an annual special event that is looked forward by all.
Is there anybody else doing this?
Anybody have preferred kayaks for this?  I like my West River 180, because
it splits the ice sheet nicely and maintains stability well if hung up or
high centered.

Taking out the icebreaker kayak tonight if the wind is right.
:-)
Jim Meldrum
Lesser Slave Lake Sea Kayak Club
Slave Lake, Alberta, Canada

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Received on Thu May 22 2003 - 07:46:44 PDT

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