As The World Turns

Well, here in the temperate zone we have gone from

 to

For many, it is the end of the paddling season; and, for them, I am saddened. Cold water paddling allows us to get outdoors and enjoy our short, often dark, days of winter. To be sure, the risks of hypothermia as a result of a dunking and delayed rescue do increase the risks of being out on the big lake. One needs, in my judgment, to weigh those risks against the pleasure involved. After all, isn't it the pleasure of the sport that takes us out there in warm weather?

 I'm not suggesting one has to camp on an ice flow. I am suggesting that there is stuff out there in winter that is worth seeing.

 A one-time modest investment in a dry suit, some fleece underneath and the heat we generate by paddling actually results in a toasty warm feeling while enjoying scenery such as this.

                                                                 And this.

If you are one of the folks who is thinking about putting your kayak into winter storage, I ask you to just do this once. Borrow a dry suit and whatever appropriate clothing you need for winter paddling (don't forget hats and gloves). Next (this is most important), hook up with skilled paddlers used to paddling in winter and doing rescues in all conditions. Finally, pick a relatively calm day when the temperature is at or just above the freezing point...and go paddling. See what you have been missing and reconsider that storage idea.

Paddle safe...
DS