Cold Weather Paddling
Introduction to Cold Weather Paddling
Winter weather brings cold weather and water which has the potential to kill you. Weather, water temperature, physical conditioning and personal preparation all play a part in your survival.
EditCold Weather Injuries
Of primary concern is the potential for cold shock and hypothermia after an immersion incident.
Cold shock is a dangerous condition that can result when a person is suddenly immersed in cold water. The sudden exposure to cold water invokes an involuntary gasp for air, increases heart rate, blood pressure, and causes disorientation. The result of this condition can cause a potential drowning incident or a possible heart attack.
Hypothermia is the lowering of the body temperature at a rate faster than the body can produce heat. Causes of hypothermia may be general exposure or the sudden wetting of the body by falling into the water.
EditHow can you be prepared?
At a minimum:
* Practice and become proficient at assisted and self rescue techniques
* Paddle with a reliable paddling partner
* Always wear a PFD
* Post a paddle plan with a reliable person who will look for you if you fail to return
* Bring a sound device (whistle) and a flashlight to attract attention
* Bring a rope to assist in rescue or retrieval of boat
* Wear proper and bring extra clothing.
EditClothing
What is standard garb for winter paddling? Well, it’s a bit of a personal preference.
But absolutely do NOT wear cotton clothing to paddle, especially now when the water is cold! Cotton tends to soak up water, hold it against your skin making you very cold. Wet cotton fabric can also weigh you down when in the water making rescue that much more difficult and when tired maybe even impossible.
I personally wear... Absolutely no cotton! I wear a Hydroskin NRS farmer john wet suit, non-cotton synthetic shirt, a dry top, neoprene socks, water shoes/boots, and a non-cotton hat (wool or synthetics). I also pile on other non-cotton layering (wool or synthetics) as appropriate dependent on the weather.
A wet suit is an inexpensive piece of kit, and acts as an insulator trapping heat and what water has seeped in retaining body heat. Great for a short dip in shallow water with normally quick recovery (aka stand up and climb out of the stream). I carry extra clothes and a towel to dry off in a dry bag on my winter paddles.
I personally feel the wet suit setup is good for all the paddling I do in the Pine Barrens and little streams during the winter.
That said, I definitely wouldn't rely on it to conduct a winter paddle in a large river, lake, bay or on the ocean. It just wouldn't be adequate for those conditions.
For those extreme conditions I would recommend a dry suit. They are a bit steep in price, a hassle to maintain the gaskets, but if you go in the water where quick self rescue is not possible or probable, then they can be a life saver.
They run over $1000.00 when new, but with a bit of internet searching I know that you can find probably find a decent setup at a reasonable price.
EditStudy
This article is my personal take on cold weather paddling. There are many books and websites out there that discuss cold weather paddling and if you plan to partake, then I recommend reading up on what others have to say.
Here is a good article from Padding.net:
http://www.paddling.net/guidelines/showArticle.html?95You can also get some great information here:
http://delmarvakayak.home.comcast.net/paddling_safety.htm EditConclusion
Wintertime is a beautiful time of year to paddle. As long as you prepare yourself and follow precautions you can limit your chances of becoming a victim to cold weather.