Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaks and River Entrances and Bars - the condensed version

From: <Rcgibbert_at_aol.com>
Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2007 11:53:58 EDT
In a message dated 9/6/2007 7:57:05 PM Pacific Daylight Time,  
crjungers_at_gmail.com writes:

This  condensed version should serve as a basis for discussion. Paddlewise  is
lucky to have a large contingent of expert paddlers experienced in  crossing
river bars. Kruger, Gibbert, et. al. will certainly point out any  follies
I've inadvertently written.


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
 
There are no follies here, just concise information as usual Craig. For  some 
reason, my post on the subject has not yet appeared. Probably because the  
amount of links I attached to it. 
 
The biggest thing you need to understand about coastal paddling and river  
bars in particular is that you need to get really big on your world view. Let's  
go to the beach and paddle! Ok, great. The rains have been heavy, the tide is 
 springs, might get windy and you've not looked at the chart in a long time. 
You  have done the area successfully in the past and you will stay in a 
Holiday Inn  Express. Don't be that paddler. Be the paddler that measures every 
little piece  of data and puts it up to a big chart in his or her head and says 
don't paddle  today, or paddle today.
 
Not all river bars are influenced by man, believe it or not. The ones not  
influenced by man's structures and gimmicks can get really wild. The shoaling  
changes with the storms and you might want to set aside a good piece of time to 
 watch the paths in the current and breakers before you paddle. Actually, 
that  advise is salient for any river bar. I was able once to eddy out behind a  
sandbar that, though I could have floated over it, the foam pile was so weak 
it  could do nothing to me. Natural bars can also effect you in places that you 
 would think you are free from its effects. Nuh uh. Any decent size stream 
will  carry a load of sediment and over time produce the kind of bottom you wish 
you  weren't floating over at the time you chose.
 
In a word, choose the time, know the nav, have good company and you'll be  
just fine.
 
Cheers,
 
Rob G
 
 



************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at 
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
***************************************************************************
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 Fri Sep 07 2007 - 08:54:28 PDT

This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:31:26 PDT