I was talking to a friend recently in a new church I just started to attend. I hadn't seen him for awhile and he mentioned they just had a funeral for a buddy who died in group canoe accident. They went over in a cold, northern BC river in a gnarly section. The unfortunate canoeist died of a heart attack in the water. I know Chuck Sutherland is the cold water shock slock, and plays like a stuck record on this point; but, I think he has a point in these sorts of cases. I've always adhered to the 1-10-1 rule with respect to the colder waters of BC. Within the first minute, a rapid heart rate can occur, with possible fibrillation, and a gasp reflex can cause an unprepared paddler to encounter some supreme difficulties within 60 seconds. I dress accordingly, protect my head and neck, and remain panic-free through training and practice, staying fit, and keeping my head out of the water when I can. My out-of-production SeaSeat requires steady breathing to inflate, which also calms down breathing responses. Within the first ten minutes, significant dexterity loss can be experienced, so most of my self-rescue procedures are pre-emptive of going over that time frame. I also dress for immersion most often, and carry spare head-wear and gloves, and know my swim-distance restrictions and heat loss prevention strategies, and wear buoyancy aids. The next hour in the water, if you remain in the water, is the time frame many will succumb to swimming failure, drowning, or advancing hypothermia where the end prospects are not pleasant. I carry communication equipment and my least desirable, but ultimate back-up plans include time allowances for outside rescue incorporated into the hypothermia time frames. With my weight down to a sinewy 160 and a smaller surface-frame area of my 5 foot, 6 inches or so, I certainly will be extremely cognizant of my increase susceptibility to cold shock, swimming failure, and ultimately surviving long enough in the water to actually die from hypothermia (as opposed to drowning). Extra prudence should alleviate calling in rescue authorities, one would hope - and expect - from a responsible paddler. Do paddlers who mature in years through our sport give more, or less thought to cold water immersion risks? I see more and more advanced paddlers out there dressing less and less for immersion, relying on skill, dressing more for comfort and air temps. Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 11/2/07, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: > > > Do paddlers who mature in years through our sport give more, or less > thought > to cold water immersion risks? I see more and more advanced paddlers out > there dressing less and less for immersion, relying on skill, dressing > more > for comfort and air temps. In my case, at least, I'm sure I give it more thought now than when I was younger. A lot more thought. In fact, I can't remember thinking much about immersion while sea kayaking when I started doing it 30 years ago. I don't remember capsizing unintentionally either; which may explain the attitude. White water kayaking had me in at least a water-ski wetsuit and, more recently, in a drytop because everyone tips over on a river. But I would routinely paddle a sea kayak in old jeans and a wool shirt. Clothing technology has come a long way in the past 30 years; or even the last 10. Drysuits are available new for $500 (or less) now but when I began to kayak they were only for divers and they were very expensive. And too bulky to be useful in a kayak anyway. So if it's easier to find comfortable and inexpensive immersion clothing why are so few people my age going out there dressed properly? I'll be honest. I had to have someone tell me I was an idiot. Really. And then actually give me some pieces of appropriate paddling clothing. You see, for many people who began doing this 30 years ago the concept of paddle float rescues, drysuits, polypro clothing, and rescue practice just doesn't rise above the noise level. And a lot of paddlers my age began paddling in Folbots and Kleppers in the 1960s and 1970s but gave it up for one reason or another until they recently got bitten by the bug again. So now they're out there in newer kayaks but with older attitudes. They already think they know how to paddle so why go through a class? And anyway, what does polypro look like and why isn't wool just as good? I had an advantage because when I returned to sea kayaking from white water kayaking I started paddling with a relative newcomer to paddling sports who was (and is) obsessed with doing it right. And once I realized that I should pay attention, I learned a lot too. Especially when it dawned on me that the beach from the middle of Puget Sound was a helluva lot farther away than the shoreline from the middle of the the Deschutes river. Plus the water was just as cold and tasted terrible and there wasn't going to be a calm pool at the end of the white water. Dave Kruger had an interesting tale about paddling with some old cronies on Willapa Bay that, I think, illustrated some of the same attitude. It's hard to teach someone anything when they think they already know everything. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Craig Jungers wrote: > On 11/2/07, Doug Lloyd <douglloyd_at_shaw.ca> wrote: >> >> Do paddlers who mature in years through our sport give more, or less >> thought to cold water immersion risks? I see more and more advanced >> paddlers out there dressing less and less for immersion, relying on >> skill, dressing more for comfort and air temps. > Dave Kruger had an interesting tale about paddling with some old cronies > on Willapa Bay that, I think, illustrated some of the same attitude. > It's hard to teach someone anything when they think they already know > everything. That incident (from May, 2006; reprinted below my sig)is a classic example of what you and Doug are concerned about, except that my cronies are pretty much the antithesis of "advanced paddlers" (except in age, of course). Very difficult to get them to chage their ways. One fished as a salmon troller for several years, and developed his attitude that way. Different mind set. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR -- > These guys are old. Older than I am anyway, by a few years, and they > both came to paddling at very mature ages. One is a neophyte, the > other, a veteran of trolling for salmon, years ago, off the coast of > Oregon, running river bars daily, and now and then launching off the > beach at Cape Kiwanda. Dory fishing in halcyon times ... the glory days > of plentiful Chinook and coho. > > They like to camp for several days each spring in Willapa Bay, on the > west coast of Long Island, and spend their time telling lies, eating, > hiking the trails, and sensing the arrival of growth, renewal, and > newness. > > I sometimes join them for a night or two, pushing my boat around the > south end of the island the four miles to camp, a route which is > somewhat exposed to southerlies and front arrivals, but usually a > mellow, easy shot. Returning to the Refuge ramp is the same, in reverse. > > Most of the time. > > This spring, they had planned to hole up for four nights. They are > slower on the water than I am, so I elected to come out for their third > night, expecting to return alone on day four, leaving them to enjoy the > last night and come home on day five. > > Didn't happen. > > Cadging some of their coffee and bogarting the aroma of their breakfast > ham and hash, I snuffle down my granola and yogurt, hitting the VHF for > the weather. Oof. Huge cold front coming, but not until the next day. > Today's forecast: a small front with mild wind and storm, but not bad. > Tomorrow: all hell breaks loose: gales on the bay; heavy seas against > the incoming tide on the exit route; rain, heavy at times. > > I strike my tent, grateful I will escape the nastiness, and they discuss > whether to wait out the storm in camp and delay exiting for a day or > two. Eventually they elect to leave early, family obligations pushing > them forward, and join me in the pack-up ritual, made leisurely by a dry > bay, not wet enough for us to leave until noon. > > Their boats are heavily loaded, with bulky deck loads aft, as we shove > off into ten knots of head wind paralleling shore, a half knot of > current at our backs. Fifteen minutes later, I elect to grab as much > lee as I can, and edge towards shore, shouting they should follow. They > persist in a straight line course, and soon I am paddling slowly half > the time, and paddling in place the rest, waiting for them to catch up. > > The wind rises some, generating small whitecaps. George is a little > faster and follows my lead near shore, so he and I are together, > watching Larry flail with his home made paddle, short of blade area, and > short of cadence and effort. I realize it will demand at least two > hours to cover the remaining mile and a half to our turn point, and dig > in, grumbling "this always happens when I paddle with these guys!" > > When I next turn around to look back, George is headed out from shore, > away from our track, going across the wind, and drifting rapidly > backward. What??? He's hearing-impaired, so I turn downwind and catch > him. He shouts he can't turn up wind, even with his rudder full over > while sweeping on the downwind side, so I get down wind of him, and bump > his nose back upwind. He regains course, as I curse leaving my tow rig > in the truck. > > This happens twice more, with George having to turn the "wrong" way and > use his strong side to regain the heading. Larry continues to work > away, out in the wind, despite shouts from me to "come in near shore for > some lee." > > After three hours we reach a sheltered beach, 200 yards short of our > exposed turn point, and I share my food bag, suck down water, and > discuss how to get around the point: hug the shore for some lee, and > then sprint around the point. They nod, indicate they are warm but a > little tired, and bail water from cockpits ... the consequence of leaky > sprayskirts. After twenty minutes of rest, I shove them off, pause to > stuff gear, and look up, to see Larry headed out away from shore, and > George dutifully following, into the brunt of the wind! Arrgh. > Following them, I make the air blue around me. Aaaagh! There goes > George again, arcing downwind, his tail-heavy yak leecocking, until > he completes the circle the wrong way and falls in line behind me. I > sigh with relief, and slow-paddle toward the point, now and then > glimpsing back at Larry. > > In twenty minutes George and I have squeezed past the point, through > some mild clapotis, and George turns with the wind, around the corner, > headed home with a tailwind assist. I wait, bouncing in the chop. And > wait. And wait. And curse that absent tow rope. > > Another twenty minutes and Larry finally clears the point. We both use > the tail wind and following seas to push us home, gradually gaining more > lee. In another half an hour we cover the remaining mile and hit the > ramp, George extracting gear. > > I go get my truck, and bring it back, unpacking and extracting as the > rain picks up ... to see Larry bailing at least two gallons from his > cockpit ... and then another gallon from his rear compartment. I ask > him, "What's this?" (Actually, it was more like "WTF?!") > > "Oh, the rear hatch leaks a bit." > > "Yeah, it did the last time I paddled with you in heavy seas ... five > years ago." > > "Well, I haven't gotten around to fixing it." > > Silence. > > [Note: I like these guys. They are friends of mine. We have good > times in camp. I've done half a dozen easy flatwater cruises with them, > and enjoyed those ventures. I've cajoled them about packing gear, > practicing rescues, and paddling smart. But, I'm not getting anywhere. > Some day, I think I'm going to read about them in the paper, and I hope > it will be of a successful rescue ... and not a body extraction. I > think this is the last time I will go anywhere near them on the water. > Stick a fork in me -- I'm done.] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). 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On 11/3/07, Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote: ....snip... > Cadging some of their coffee and bogarting the aroma of their breakfast > > ham and hash, I snuffle down my granola and yogurt, hitting the VHF for > > the weather. Oof. Huge cold front coming, but not until the next day. > > Today's forecast: a small front with mild wind and storm, but not bad. > > Tomorrow: all hell breaks loose: gales on the bay; heavy seas against > > the incoming tide on the exit route; rain, heavy at times. > > ...snip... I started subscribing to Paddlewise for one reason: to read more Dave Kruger stories. Dave has slowed his writing down lately so many of you out there lurking may not have had an opportunity to read what I believe to be the absolute best tales of kayaking available. No one I know can capture the nuances of a kayak camp or a nasty paddle or the affable interplay between long-time paddling friends better than Dave Kruger. Read this one and then go look for more; they're out there on the 'net still. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Craig Jungers wrote: > I started subscribing to Paddlewise for one reason: to read more Dave > Kruger stories. [snip] Read this one and then go look for more; they're > out there on the 'net still. Jesus. I am embarrassed, but not humble. The urge to write is very ephemeral for me. It comes and goes ... mostly goes these days. When I was working at a stressful job, I wrote more. I think the writing was therapy for work angst. Now, I am a happy retired guy, so I do not have the same degree of angst. I suppose I should find a way to become less happy so I'd be inspired to write, but something seems wrong with that picture. Wes Boyd, a really big guy in a small town in the Midwest, got a bunch of us started by promising to put our stuff up on his site, which went away. I think you can find some of it, sans photos, here: http://www.kayaktrips.net/sea-kayak/cat_paddle_tales.html I'm there, and so is the Rev. Carter. I hope others are lead to write more. I really enjoy reading their stuff. Thanks to the Rev., in particular, for his inspiration over the past decade. Keep the faith, and use that wing paddle, if you have one! [Mandatory paddling content; for Craig, too.] -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
---- > I'm there, and so is the Rev. Carter. I hope others are lead to write > more. I really enjoy reading their stuff. Thanks to the Rev., in > particular, for his inspiration over the past decade. Thanks Dave, I write to come to a deeper understanding of what I experience out there on the sea. At times it is hard to find the words to express what "the moment" was about so I keep trying. Still I can only write when inspired and thankfully writers like you and others help along that way. enjoy the sea Bob *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>> I go get my truck, and bring it back, unpacking and extracting as the >> rain picks up ... to see Larry bailing at least two gallons from his >> cockpit ... and then another gallon from his rear compartment. I ask >> him, "What's this?" (Actually, it was more like "WTF?!") >> "Oh, the rear hatch leaks a bit." >> "Yeah, it did the last time I paddled with you in heavy seas ... five >> years ago." >> "Well, I haven't gotten around to fixing it." >> Silence. >> [Note: I like these guys. They are friends of mine. We have good >> times in camp. I've done half a dozen easy flatwater cruises with >> them, >> and enjoyed those ventures. I've cajoled them about packing gear, >> practicing rescues, and paddling smart. But, I'm not getting >> anywhere. >> Some day, I think I'm going to read about them in the paper, and I >> hope >> it will be of a successful rescue ... and not a body extraction. I >> think this is the last time I will go anywhere near them on the >> water. >> Stick a fork in me -- I'm done.] Deja vu. Its the silence thing that I identify with most and that echoes frustratingly through my mind. Countless times I have done the silence thing. Only the names and locations are different. If the Southeast coast of the US where we paddle wasnt so much more benign than the PNW I think we would already have had deaths in my club. Every time I stick myself with a fork I find myself hooking up with the same people to paddle. A handful of these paddlers are amazing athletes but most are simply friendly people looking to try something different. Its better than paddling alone but I have learned to bring extra clothes and a tow rope for the fat 60 yr old who has never done an athletic thing in his/her life who shows up in a rec boat without airbags or bulkheads to day paddle a portion of the South Carolina coast. Some of the guys trade up and learn to low brace a little but (sigh) it can be a bit heavy on the mind at times. We really run a cooking club with an eating problem. I have to remember that and have learned not to be a nanny. It simply never works. Silence... Jim et al *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I remember this story when it came out. Good reading. We've been lucky down here in So.Cal. with our club CKF. We never seem to have a problem getting people to follow safety rules. Of course the club is not growing in leaps and bounds either. The other day we ran into a large group of kayakers all spread out on the harbor and out to sea. They were part of a internet Meet and Paddle group and you could tell there were all sorts of skill levels and adherence to safety gear. I'm afraid that's probably the norm compared to our more organized club. I'm probably the weak link with my leaky boat and my 6 year old nylon spray skirt that I just realized has giant holes in it. As for the human race taking over every nook 'n cranny, I can see it coming. I sympathize with you wilderness paddlers, but I don't see a solution. Just got to see my two month old grandson for the first time the other day and I'm not ready to say there's no room for him or his future siblings and cousins! If it's any consolation to you, I paddle in a very populated area and I'm always amazed at how beautiful it still is. Mark www.sandmarks.net -----Original Message----- On Behalf Of Robert Livingston Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Loss of Kayaking Areas on Vancouver Island. BC, Canada This poor planet Earth. Up against this ever multiplying population of humans. The seams are popping everywhere - global warming or whatever. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On 11/3/07, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > > I'm probably the weak link with my leaky boat and > my 6 year old nylon spray skirt that I just realized has giant holes in > it. When I bought my first sea kayak (second hand) after spending years on white water it came with a nylon spray skirt and some sort of paddle. When we bought my wife's sea kayak (also second hand) it came with a better nylon spray skirt and a much better bent-shaft paddle. I paddled a lot with those nylon spray skirts but was never happy. They didn't fit well around the cockpit, they made noise when I rotated, but worst of all those stupid suspenders kept sliding off my shoulders making me feel like a 13-yr-old girl with her first bra. This season I resurrected my favorite white water (neoprene) spray skit (with no bra straps, thank you very much) and never looked back. My god it's nice to have a spray skirt I can count on again. Try one before you go buy another nylon thingie. After all, your paddling resembles white water kayaking more than most. You might find a w/w spray skirt will work better for you. And give a w/w paddle a try too. They make them pretty strong for obvious reasons. I'd be willing to bet you can't break my old Werner 90-degree feather paddle. If it looks like white water, piles onto you like white water and sounds like white water it might be time to try white water gear. Except for the kayak, of course. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
James Farrelly wrote: > Deja vu. Its the silence thing that I identify with most and that echoes > frustratingly through my mind. Countless times I have done the silence > thing. [snip] > Every time I stick myself with a fork I find myself hooking up with the > same people to paddle. [snip] We really run a cooking club with an > eating problem. I have to remember that and have learned not to be a > nanny. It simply never works. Silence... Love that statement about being a nanny!!! ROTFLMAO! Yup, that's the scene here, also. We seem to spend 90% of our preparation for a major trip on food, and 10% on logistics, with none on paddleskills. The good news is that most of us now wear neoprene, and a couple of the scary events have altered the preparation and behavior of my paddling companions for the better. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Paddlewisers, Occasionally during mid-winter paddles here in Southern California, where the water temp gets down to 55 degrees F. (not so bad), our group will paddle into Cabrillo Beach, where there is an ocean swim club. Many of the kayakers wear wetsuits, and over the years, only a few capsized and none of them spent more than a couple of minutes in the water. Then there are the men and women in the ocean swim club, most of them quite elderly, spending an hour or so swimming in the water and wearing nothing more than a Speedo. Duane Strosaker www.rollordrown.com Dave Kruger <kdruger_at_pacifier.com> wrote: James Farrelly wrote: > Deja vu. Its the silence thing that I identify with most and that echoes > frustratingly through my mind. Countless times I have done the silence > thing. [snip] > Every time I stick myself with a fork I find myself hooking up with the > same people to paddle. [snip] We really run a cooking club with an > eating problem. I have to remember that and have learned not to be a > nanny. It simply never works. Silence... Love that statement about being a nanny!!! ROTFLMAO! Yup, that's the scene here, also. We seem to spend 90% of our preparation for a major trip on food, and 10% on logistics, with none on paddleskills. The good news is that most of us now wear neoprene, and a couple of the scary events have altered the preparation and behavior of my paddling companions for the better. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for the reprint Dave. That was always one of the Paddlewise posts that stuck with me - not an easy occurrence given the volume of bandwidth we go through. I suppose the tale of Len Goodman balances out your story of attitudinal rebuff even for a more experienced paddler. I haven't got my SeaKayaker issue in the mail yet, but look forward to Steve Holtzman's article. I liked some of Craig's thoughts too, as they ring true with my experience and what I observe in my geographical area of operations. BTW, I have great respect for Chuck Sutherland and speak with him by phone on occasion. I've been doing a ton of research early this morning for my Howe Sound article, and was surprised that so much modern research completely corroborates with what Chuck has been shouting from the wavetops for some time now. I'll admit the hypothermia tables can be misleading with respect to functional time in the water, though I have found through dramatic consequences of imprudence, that paddles who are out of shape, even with a good layer of "natural" insulation, suffer more severely and with greater haste when it comes to failure to acclimatize to the cold. Furthermore, a strong survival mentality can offset the short norms associated with average human physiology and the hypothermia graphs. I wouldn't depend on that factor, however. Cold kills. Doesn't get any simpler than that to understand. Doug Lloyd Dave said (snip): >> [Note: I like these guys. They are friends of mine. We have good >> times in camp. I've done half a dozen easy flatwater cruises with them, >> and enjoyed those ventures. I've cajoled them about packing gear, >> practicing rescues, and paddling smart. But, I'm not getting anywhere. >> Some day, I think I'm going to read about them in the paper, and I hope >> it will be of a successful rescue ... and not a body extraction. I >> think this is the last time I will go anywhere near them on the water. >> Stick a fork in me -- I'm done.] *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
> Do paddlers who mature in years through our sport give more, or less > thought to cold water immersion risks? I see more and more advanced > paddlers out there dressing less and less for immersion, relying on skill, > dressing more for comfort and air temps. > > Doug Lloyd Occasionally I catch myself in a "Darwin moment". A couple of years ago I took off paddling intending to stick along the shore line. However the weather turned out better than expected and I decided to cross over to the McDonald islands a four mile open crossing. I was wearing a coupe layers of Polypro, a paddle jacket and my PFD. The tempertures were in the mid 60's, the wind light and I would guess the water tempertures _at_ mid 50's. Half way across I heard this voice in my head say "idiot you're naked,!" The more I thought about it the voice was right, in these conditions if I had flipped hypothermia would have taken me real quick. I weigh _at_ 145 and my thin frame has no body fat for insulation. I let myself be lulled into this situation by relying too much on my experience and expertise. Part of the problem is that with the exception of practicing surf landings, I have never flipped at sea. I paddled white water for years before sea kayaking and spent a lot of quality upside down time then but as far as my sea kayaking trip I have managed to stay up right. This has lulled me at times into complaciancy. My ephipany while heading out to the Mc Donalds caused me to re engage my brain and displine myself to be better prepared. Now I always wear hydroskins or a dry suit depending on the worst case senario of the weather and conditions. Still it is always a temptation to dress for the air temperatures especially when the air finally begins to warm up in the late spring. So if you ever come up to Alaska and see some little guy out there paddling naked, just yell out "Bob, get your clothes on you idiot!" dance the waves, seize the day! Bob *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Doug Lloyd asked: Do paddlers who mature in years through our sport give more, or less thought to cold water immersion risks? I never gave much thought to cold water risks in a sea kayak and don't now. I am 59 years old and have been kayaking a lot since 1966. When I was a slalom racer I would paddle whitewater all year long, which in the Midwest means on cold rivers with ice-covered banks. I never wore a drysuit and never swam in cold water. I got pretty cautious when it was cold, and was lucky besides. Like Rev. Bob, I have never been knocked over in a sea kayak except when surfing. I have not missed a roll since 1991 (there it goes - my next attempt will be a swim, I'm sure), and I work on my skills a lot. So, on the safety continuum I am at the first step - avoiding problems by prevention through skill building. At the second step, self protection, I have my reliable roll. At second step part two, the failed roll, I am good at re-entry within 30 seconds. All that to say - I don't expect, can't even imagine, being in the drink. I'm cowardly, so I'm not out in conditions that are beyond my ability. In cold weather and on cold water on expeditions I wear wetsuit stuff. I don't trust my drysuit because a hole in it is catastrophic. In really cold weather and on expeditions alone, which I do on the Mississippi River in the winter, I wear a Mustang floater suit. Nice to have on shore, too. On my three Greenland trips I have worn polypro under paddle jacket and paddle pants. Weather there is good in the summer and I can swim in cold water long enough to self-rescue. Hope the answer wasn't too long. 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/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 11/5/2007 5:34:15 AM Pacific Standard Time, jimtibensky_at_fastmail.fm writes: Do paddlers who mature in years through our sport give more, or less thought to cold water immersion risks? >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Sea kayaking in cold water (below 60 degrees) I usually wear a drysuit or some kind of neoprene pants and drytop combo. It's a long way to shore, baby. Larger and skilled groups I still tend to wear a drysuit, but have been known to just wear a drytop and shorts, or a shorty splash top and neoprene pants or shorts. The mantra I've considered most appropriate is to dress for the conditions and my skill level and companionship. In whitewater I usually wear a drysuit in my local rivers, especially in colder weather, but when I venture where it is hot I tend to wear a drytop and neoprene pants. When it is really hot I wear shorts and a drytop, but if I'm concerned about swimming longer distances I'll add an NRS hydroskin vest under the drytop. Some pool drop, warmer rivers I'll probably only use a Hydroskin top with long sleeves or a shorty splash top with the vest and shorts. In surfing cold Pacific Northwest breaks I'll wear a drysuit, but if it is warm in the summer I'll wear a drytop and neoprene shorts unless conditions are big. Cheers, Rob G ************************************** See what's new at http://www.aol.com *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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