Thank you, Doug for providing this detailed account. I have paddled with Mike and Paul. Mike on long Lake Michigan trips (not nearly as long as the one desxcribed in the article) and Paul as a co-instructor at the WMCKA symposium. Both are true professionals in their demeanor and committment to the sport of kayaking. And terrific paddlers in ability. Lake Michigan does not feel like a lake when the winds are northerly. A northeast wind hitting Chicago can bring dramastic waves. (dramatic + drastic) My first kayak race on the lake had 13 foot waves as reported by the Coast guard, who chased us all out of the race at the midway point. It was an amazing experience. I got seasick from the non-stop going up and down for two hours. And I've played in bigger ones when I was lifeguard at North Avenue Beach. Lake waves are choppier and closer together than ocean waves. It's unusual to get more than a five or ten second surf, even in good waves. Chicago has sea walls along many of the beaches which are just below the surface. Waves rebound off these things and can be felt a half mile and more offshore. So paddling in rough conditions on the lake is not particularly easier than similar conditions in the sea. Jim Tibensky *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Tue Apr 10 2007 - 05:50:23 PDT
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