First paddle of 2011

[Fronkey]

Great photos and glad you got to make it out there for some paddling.

Fronkey

[MedicineMan]

Listen to me yesterday and understand me now.
Dying of hypothermia is one thing but there is another killer in the cold waters.
SOME people when their temples hit super cold water go into a gag/choking reflex. It's uncontrollable and nearly impossible to predict who these people are.
So the untoward event happens and suddenly this person is going over, they maybe try to brace but are too late-the unprotected head hits the water and the temples get hit with this ice water, their body continues to rotate downward and the reflex kicks in and they are sucking in water and choking on it. Paddlers have been found still in their kayaks dead because of this. They died long before hypothermia would have killed them. Lungs full of water but asphixiation the cause of death.
Conditioning can reduce the chances but most are not willing to lie in a bathtub of ice cold water....so along with the drysuit (personally I love a paddling suit) a hood is also a very smart thing to have on the noggin when the water temps are 40 and below (and 40 is relative to that individual).
Just saying.....

[mbiraman]

Listen to me yesterday and understand me now.
Dying of hypothermia is one thing but there is another killer in the cold waters.
SOME people when their temples hit super cold water go into a gag/choking reflex. It's uncontrollable and nearly impossible to predict who these people are.
So the untoward event happens and suddenly this person is going over, they maybe try to brace but are too late-the unprotected head hits the water and the temples get hit with this ice water, their body continues to rotate downward and the reflex kicks in and they are sucking in water and choking on it. Paddlers have been found still in their kayaks dead because of this. They died long before hypothermia would have killed them. Lungs full of water but asphixiation the cause of death.
Conditioning can reduce the chances but most are not willing to lie in a bathtub of ice cold water....so along with the drysuit (personally I love a paddling suit) a hood is also a very smart thing to have on the noggin when the water temps are 40 and below (and 40 is relative to that individual).
Just saying.....

Absolutely right,,,,i have a hood.

[mbiraman]

Thanks everyone for the responses. Paddling , as most of you know is just another great way to enjoy nature , in fact i've found out this last year that it can sometimes give you that feeling of getting away more than a hike, something about the body of water and a wild or new shoreline experience ,,,,or something. I was a little sad when winter ended as i was just gettin my winter thing together but its hard to cry about spring coming. I look forward to the dirt under my feet and traversing hillsides on deer trails. I hope we all have some great nature time this yr.

bill

[sswens]

Nice Pics and Thanks for the TR!

[jraffini]

What a beautiful place to paddle! Glad you got out there and thanks for sharing your experience!

[creativeKayt]

HOOO DILLY, that looks like a great trip! Glad you got out and thanks for sharing it with us!!

[SwampFoot]

Outstanding pics brother , and Medicine man , great advice! I learned about using a hood while doing hard cold water ports in the MIL. its even worse when it hits your ears...I learned that if I know I am going under to try and get a deep breath and exhale it slowly underwater until my head pops out....anyway , very nice post...loved it!