Winter Paddling

By Paul Ferguson

Paul is the author of the guidebook
Paddling Eastern North Carolina  (www.PocosinPress.com)

 

Many winter days in North Carolina have highs in the 50s, light wind, and bright sunshine. Paddling during cool and cold months offers new vistas after leaves have fallen. Low temperatures eliminate biting insects, and snakes are inactive.

A dunking in cold water is shocking and can be life threatening. Our bodies lose heat rapidly when immersed in water, which conducts body heat away up to twenty-six times faster than air of the same temperature. A person in 50º water can survive only up to several hours. Hypothermia results when the body temperature drops. Symptoms include uncontrollable shivering, slurred speech, memory lapses, stumbling, and exhaustion. When out of water, wet clothes and wind continue to rob heat. Preventing further head loss and rewarming is necessary for recovery. Extreme hypothermia results in death. 

Many people hang up their paddles in winter, but if properly equipped, canoeing and kayaking can still be enjoyed and risk minimized. Some paddlers take spare clothes in a waterproof pack. If they get wet, they go to land to change into dry clothes. It is uncomfortable and chilling to take time to change clothes, but what happens after another accident? How many sets of dry clothing are needed? There are other options such as wearing layers under waterproof shells, wetsuits, and drysuits.  

Avoid clothes that are highly absorbent and slow drying. Cotton is poor, wool is better, but many synthetic materials absorb little water and are fast drying. Polyester or polypropylene clothing is popular because it is effective in moving moisture away from skin and into outer layers of clothing, where it can evaporate. It is fabricated into both thin materials and fleece-like piles. Dress in layers to allow for adjusting to variable weather.  

Waterproof shells are important as an outer layer to add protection from the cooling effect of wind and evaporation. Breathable shells allow water vapor to escape but keep wind and water out. Gore-Tex was the first synthetic, breathable, waterproof material, but now there are many brands. A non-breathable outer layer will cause clothing to become clammy.  

A neoprene wetsuit offers good protection from cold water, especially when combined with outer layers to add warmth. Wetsuits are great for water sports where much time is spend in contact with water, like diving and surfing. Many paddlers consider wetsuits less comfortable than other alternatives.  

A drysuit is a waterproof outer covering using then, latex gaskets at the neck, wrists, and ankles to keep water from entering the suit even when underwater. Drysuits are made in on or two-piece styles. The two-piece style has a top and bottom, fitting together at the waist. The suit material is fairly thin, so layers of clothing are worn under the drysuit for warmth. The best drysuits are made of breathable material and are expensive.  

For hands and feet, try neoprene gloves and booties. For head, a balaclava (ski mask) is easy to carry. It can be worn as a cap or as a full covering for head and neck.  

Shop your local outfitters or the Web to get equipped. Check weather forecasts and plan a winter outing on one of our streams. Your cold water protection will also be useful during late fall and early spring, when water is often cold.  

See you on the river this winter.

 

*****

Read Paul's other paddling adventures, River Access, What's Your Favorite River? , "Paddling with Swift Snakes." ; Canoe Camping.