Stay warm this winter 

by Elmore Holmes 
January, 2005 

     Most readers of this column are probably already aware of hypothermia (abnormally low body temperature). But since we're in the dead of winter here in the northern hemisphere, it can't hurt to ask ourselves whether we're doing all we can to avoid this silent killer.
     When I go out paddling in cold weather, I ask myself several questions: How far from shore will I be? How far away is the nearest heat source, such as my car or a public building? Will I have someone with me who can help in case of a mishap?

     I do a lot of paddling on our mighty Mississippi River. In terms of technical difficulty, it's near the bottom of the scale--the grand majority of the river seems little more than a big slow-moving lake. But there are plenty of places where an unexpected capsize is possible, and don't forget that capsizes are always unexpected. And the Mississippi's water is very cold in the wintertime, so even if it's a "mild" winter day, with Fahrenheit temperatures in the 60s or higher, a long swim can lower a person's core temperature quickly. In this respect, the Mississippi is quite dangerous because it's so BIG.
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     Dressing for a winter session on the Mississippi can be a bit of a dilemma, as you want to be prepared for that "unexpected" swim but you also want to be comfortable for the intended activity of paddling your boat. When I choose clothing, I generally err on the side of being a little too warm in the boat so that I will be adequately protected if I swim. Even on a sub-freezing day, modern thermal fabrics will make you surprisingly toasty, but the nice thing about them is that they are lightweight and allow good freedom of movement.
     When paddling the Mississippi or any other large body of water in the wintertime, it's important to have a self-rescue plan. Different types of boats require different self-rescue techniques. Usually I paddle my surf ski, a sit-on-top craft that I can climb back onto after a flip. The boat is tippy, however, and I try to practice the recovery technique several times during the summer so that the skill will be there when I need it. If I'm paddling a "rollable" boat, such as a standard touring kayak, I rely upon my ability to do an Eskimo roll, but this, too, is a skill one should practice in the summertime.
     A few types of boats, such as sprint and marathon racing kayaks, are not set up for the Eskimo roll because they lack knee-bracing systems. For anyone who paddles such a boat, or anyone who cannot do an Eskimo roll, a bilge pump is a good piece of equipment to have on board, but once again, I urge warm-weather practice to master its use. No matter what type of boat you're paddling, you really ought to have one or more friends along. Even if you're an absolute whiz at self-rescue, a companion can always hold your paddle and give extra support as you regain control of your craft. If you do paddle alone, I strongly urge you to stay within fifty yards or so of the shore in cold weather.
     Paddling a smaller river or creek puts one in less danger of a long swim, but there are still a couple of factors to consider in this environment.
     The lowest-risk situation is "park and play"--parking your car right next to a good play hole or slalom course. If you go for a swim, you can simply crawl out of the river, run to your car, crank up the heat, and wriggle out of your wet clothes and into some dry ones (trust me--I've had to do this several times). The same method works if there's a public building nearby, something that's more and more common with the increasing number of urban "river parks."
     If you're setting out on a lenghty wilderness river run, you need to do a little more planning. Adequate clothing becomes a factor just as on an open body of water. Taking along a dry set of clothes inside a dry bag is an excellent idea, as is having some fire-building materials. If the run is so long that it takes a full day to complete it, you might even consider packing a small backpacker's tent and sleeping bag in case something happens that prevents you from reaching the takeout before dark (and don't forget that darkness comes earlier in the winter!).
     Once again, it's really advisable to have others with you. One of the symptoms of hypothermia is a reduction of motor skills, and a companion who can help you change clothes and build a fire after a cold swim is a potential life-saver.

     Having said all that, I hope I haven't scared anybody away from paddling in the wintertime. Some of the most beautiful, exhilirating paddling experiences I've ever had took place in the chill of winter. We simply have to respect the dispassionate power of nature and prepare ourselves for the unexpected whenever we play outdoors.
 
 

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