Re: [Paddlewise] Head exposure to cold water

Chuck said (snip):
> Many years ago, one of our paddlers, upon nearing the take out
> after a day of cold water paddling, said "I think I'll try my roll". Over
> he goes; nothing happens for a while. Then he pops out and stands
> up by the boat quite stunned by the cold, with no idea what
> happened. (no head protection for the rolling)

Chuck, I reported an incident of mine in SeaKayaker magazine a few years ago 
(many now) about a capsize I had off Trial Island during a spring gale in an 
area of heavy overfalls and colliding currents. My roll wasn't flawless back 
then (it was mechanically, but not 100% mentally). I had difficulty in the 
current trying to roll back up after leaning the wrong way in the mixed 
waters/high winds. I wet exited with the plan to re-enter and roll once 
washed out of the maelstrom. I was tethered.

I broke a paddle at the first re-entry attempt, then on my second attempt I 
couldn't for the life of me get my head below water for another re-enter and 
roll. I'd just start to black out. It was very frustrating - almost 
incredulous. Geesh, you only need a few seconds to do one. I was in a light 
Farmer John and summer paddling jacket (duh), no head gear. John Dowd used 
to make fun of us narrow kayak advocates out there alone on our 100th roll, 
perhaps having to try re-enter and roll pool tricks in real life conditions. 
He had a point, I learned that day. The water would have been a maximum of 
12 degrees Celsius, given the flood currents being pushed up from deep in 
the Strait.

I've never forgotten that lesson (not the one about solo storm paddling). 
The need for some type of head insulation can be paramount. While this may 
be a vintage post, I did want to mention I've done the renter and roll lots 
of times in cold water since without a wetsuit balaclava, or whatever you 
want to call them (helmet liner, etc). These successful re-enter and rolls 
were mostly during practice, or at the very least, while I was in a cozy 
state just prior to the wet-exit and immediate re-entry and roll. I've had 
this "head cold shock" phenomenon on a number of times since then too, often 
just rolling unexpectedly in clod water without head insulation (usually on 
hot day, cold water). If a roll can present a problem occasionally, a 
re-enter and roll certainly needs to be back-ed up (in my opinion). At Trial 
Island, the length in the water was a bit different though. I carry a spare 
wet suit material head liner in my PFD pocket ever since then, and have a 
second one in my daylocker hatch and/or worn for cold, rough water paddling. 
I have a full diver's deep water version too that I use in winter for night 
storm paddling.

I've been reading through my old back issues of Sea Kayaker magazine this 
week (getting tired of CSI re-runs) and I saw a piece written by a lady 
advocating Deception Pass as a good playground for paddlers as there is a 
tendency to capsize suddenly, with the resulting consequences being a good 
test of technique, gear, and keeping your crap together. That, and your post 
got me fired up tonight. Better sign off.

Doug Lloyd 
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