John Washburn 2010 New Year's Day

I bought my first boat, an "experienced" little whitewater kayak, right in the middle of a balmy August. It was great, the weather was perfect, and I spent the better part of a week out on the water every afternoon. August faded into September, the sun started setting earlier and earlier, and as soon as the fall winds started to blow, my boat ­ and me with it - was out of the water for the winter. Little did I know that I was missing the best part. The serious paddling season doesn't wait for the weather; it comes down from the mountains with the spring thaw and floods the rivers with icy-cold water. By the time the 90-degree days come along, most paddlers are packing up and heading for home, ready to wait for the next batch of serious water come winter.

I soon discovered that, if I wanted to really enjoy the best paddling conditions, I'd needed to be ready to hit the water anytime, regardless of the weather. Needed to be ready for the "snow on the ground," "icicles in the beard" days that keep most folks inside. And to do that, I needed to learn how to dress for the cold.

There are three rules to remember when dressing for cold weather:

1. No cotton. It soaks up water and holds it against your skin, leaving it worthless as an insulator and heavy as a layer. A worthless, worthless fabric in the water.
2. Layers help trap heat and fend off water. Remember "wick, warmth, and weather" as you arrange your layers ­ light wicking fabrics first, then warm insulating sweaters or fleeces, and finally an waterproof outer layer to protect you from the elements.
3. No cotton; seriously.

Wetsuit or drysuit?

The Farmer John, or overall-type, wetsuit is a paddling classic. Timeless as a hand-me-down tuxedo, it's been used all over the world, in every conceivable situation, and is generally effective at keeping its owner warm and happy. The wetsuit is supreme in its simplicity, bottling in the body heat while still leaving room to layer jackets and other insulation on top. They're a fairly inexpensive piece of equipment, effective, and don't restrict your movement in the boat. The wetsuit acts as an evaporation barrier, allowing a thin layer of water to seep in between your skin and the neoprene and trapping it there. That water retains your body heat and, since cold water can't circulate into its place, adds to the natural insulation properties of the neoprene to keep you warm. That's all well and good in moderate weather, when the water temperature may be around 50 degrees, but what happens when there's snow on the ground? When the water goes beyond being just uncomfortable and becomes downright dangerous? Those lightweight, 2-3mm neoprene suits just aren't going to cut it; you'll need more insulation.

That's where the drysuit comes in. These Gore-Tex wonders do more than just keep the heat in; they also keep the water out. Manufacturers like to show off their products by sending paddlers out onto the water in tuxedos and bringing them back bone dry, but the reality is that a drysuit allows you the flexibility to wear whatever insulation you need and stay dry in the process. That means that a well layered drysuit will generally keep you warmer than a similar wetsuit. So why doesn't everyone wear one? For one thing, they're expensive. They can run nearly $1,000 new, and the hassle of regular maintenance to keep the rubber gaskets from cracking is too much for some people. If you're an expedition paddler that needs to handle serious winter conditions, get a drysuit, no question; but for most of us, a good Farmer John wetsuit will do just fine.

Feet

Like most paddlers these days, I like to wear a pair of wet suit booties on my feet whenever I go out on the water. They stay on my feet, give me a good bit of traction in case I swim, and are generally an all-around good idea. As a side benefit, they do a great job of keeping the feet warm by trapping a thin layer of water and holding it against your skin, just like a wetsuit. With the water staying in place, your natural body heat does the rest. They're not perfect for winter paddling, and they can get a little cold in the boat, but they do the job better than anything else I've tried.

Hands

Wet hands are an inevitable part of paddling, and regular knit gloves just can't handle those kinds of waterlogged conditions. There are two options for cold hands: pogies ­ neoprene mitts that wrap over your fingers and around the paddle shaft, leaving you skin-on-plastic contact with the paddle (popular with whitewater types because of the extra contact and better touch control); and full neoprene wetsuit gloves that offer more warmth but less "feel." It's really up to you which tradeoff you prefer, but pogies have proven a popular option for many paddlers over the years, and are generally warmer than they look.

Head

If there was a fourth universal rule for cold weather paddling, it would be to always wear a hat. Whitewater types, something thin that will fit under your helmet; the rest of us, and warm, synthetic ski cap will do.

Tim Sprinkle is a freelance writer from Charlottesville, VA. His work has appeared in a number of national publications including Sea Kayaker and Paddler. 

Editors Note: www.paddling.net is an excellent resource for paddlers, whether it's researching boats, staying safe, or finding other paddlers to communicate with.  Be sure to check it out sometime.

Photo by Michelle Haacke (Albert Lea Tribune)

LAKE MILLS, Iowa - Enjoy the fantastic fall colors with a lazy river canoe ride down the Winnebago Water Trail.

"Now is a great time to be on the river. Colors are changing, waterfowl and
other non-game bird life will be migrating soon," said Robert Schwartz, board director of Winnebago County Conservation. "The water levels are very good for this time of year as well."
 
The water trail spans 27 miles of the Winnebago River, from Dahle Park in Lake Mills to Pammel Park in Forest City, Iowa. It was officially dedicated in June after four access points were added for canoes, and volunteers spent over a year cleaning the waters along the trailway. The Iowa Department of Natural Resources has also designated the Winnebago Water Trail an official state river water trail system.

"This is a new adventure for us," said Marilyn Hoffman, executive director of the Lake Mills Chamber Development Corporation. "We're excited to bring the opportunity to tourists."

The first canoe access point is tucked away in Dahle Park, located along Winnebago County Road A16, just north of Lake Mills. The park also offers camping with electricity, a shelter house for picnics and benches along the river's head for those who wish to relax and enjoy the ambiance.

From there, the water trail runs south with a second access point about four miles downstream in the Lande River Conservation Area. The third access point is about another 14 miles south at the Ambrosen Recreation area near Leland.
The trail ends about another 10 miles downstream, at Pammel Park, where the fourth canoe access site was installed.

Schwartz estimated that the entire canoe trip takes a "strong" eight hours. He also said that the river trail goes under a number of overpasses that can also be used as access points along the route.

He said people can expect to see a variety of wildlife on their journey down the water trail, including deer, river otters, turkey, bald eagles, kingfishers, great blue heron, owls, sharp-shinned hawks, red-tailed hawks, Canada geese and a variety of ducks, just to name a few.

Schwartz said the trail has been received well, and he took calls from locals and community visitors about the trail all summer long.  "We have received only positive comments from those that use the trail. Many have never canoed or kayaked, or it had been years since they last canoed," said Schwartz.

According to Schwartz, Winnebago County Conservation was awarded a $4,000 grant from the Winnebago County Community Foundation to complete the project, along with other grants and donations, which was used to purchase materials to construct the canoe access points and to purchase signage along the trail.

He said that synthetic recycled plastic material was used to build steps allowing access from the river banks into the river. He said a geoweb material was used to control erosion and contain rock used to form the steps.

Schwartz said that volunteers with Stream Keepers continue to maintain the length of the water trail.

Brian Lange at Lake Red Rock

Back in the last century when I bought my first kayak, I assumed that come October my paddling days were done until Springtime.  Then at the Canoesport Expo I heard a lecture by Gerry Roland entitled "Winter Paddling".  It changed my entire perspective on the sport.  I submit that cold weather paddling is as fun OR MORE FUN than fair weather paddling.  There is far less traffic, sound carries further, and, because the leaves are gone, the vistas are more sweeping. 

CONSIDER these recent Central Iowa cold water trips: 

• In late November a contingent of the Red Rock Armada paddled a moonless Moon Light Paddle.  Yes, the cold waters and leafless trees were a harbinger of winter, but, by all reports the scene was a beautiful sight to behold.  See Diane Lowry's picture of Brian Lange approaching the cave section of the Red Rock shoreline.  This year's draw down of the lake has opened up never before seen shore line, and makes the cliffs even more majestic!

• Also, in late November, Rick Dietz reports of a paddling trip that even involved camping:  "I was camping this weekend on the Cedar with some friends from Project AWARE. There were nine of us, and after getting a late start and paddling 12 miles in a cold, blowing drizzle to our campsite on Big Island (near Vinton) we had just a hour or so to set

  Prepping canoes & kayaks to tackle the Cedar

  up our tents and get a fire going before dark."  See Keith Garrett's picture of this hardy group prepping their kayaks and canoes to tackle the Cedar.  Odds are they'll be making a similar trip next year! 

• When it is cold, lakes are the exclusive province of paddlers and wildlife.  The skiers are gone and even most of the fishermen have put their boats in storage.  In November VIc Senter and I were paddling the cold waters of Rathbun Lake.  In a secluded area we spotted a cormorant with its leg jammed in a tree stump (see below).  Over the protests of the bird, we released its leg from the trap.  Two hours later we returned to the scene and saw the bird fishing.  Whether it survived with a broken leg we don't know, but we know we gave it a fighting chance.  And we know we probably wouldn't have seen this event in the summer.

Now that we're facing days where the temperature doesn't go above freezing, is it too late to join in the fun?  Not at all.  For example:

• In less than a month, we will be holding our 7th annual New Year's Day Paddle below the Saylorville Dam (see the announcement in this Newsletter).  This event has consistently proven to be a fun and invigorating  outing and, unquestionably, offers a different story for each year.  Featured in the Des Moines Register, this annual event draws paddlers of all levels to begin the new year on a positive note. 

• Deep in the late winter is the Pancake Float near Madrid IA.  What could be more fun than filling up on pancakes and then going out and punching a boat through rivers clogged with ice?  It sounds cold and miserable, but my memories of the last two years of this float focus on the warmth of friendship and laughter!  Stay tuned for more details. 

A word of caution.  With fun comes responsibility.  The simple fact is that there is more risk involved in winter paddling.  Hypothermia is a serious issue, and there are fewer people around to help if something goes wrong.  Winter paddling should be a group activity, and all participants should be sure they have adequate layers of clothes and an emergency bag.  A little more preparation promises a lot more fun in the sun.  Check out the various CIP winter paddles and give it a try! 

Those of you who know Rick know that "moderately-challenging" means that The Boss was throwing cold, stinging waves in their faces!  If you're wondering if a trip like that is really worth it, consider these two pictures from their trip:

  

Paddlers at Iowa Arboretum

Rick Dietz announces: As has been our tradition we'll meet at the Iowa Arboretum at 9:00AM for a breakfast of Dad's Belgian Waffles before setting off to paddle. The cost is $6.00 for all-you-can-stand to eat. Remember that the carbs will help you float, and the sugar will keep you warm! 

The destination may be determined over breakfast, based on conditions that day. Please join us for breakfast but come prepared to paddle only if you have the appropriate gear and skills.  (editor's note: please see article "Dressing for Winter Paddling" for clothing recommendations)

So far the South Skunk is a possible destination, and with a bit of precip Onion Creek might be an option - and I promise you would love it. Greg, Pete & I paddled it last March (after the pancake breakfast) on a cold windy day when everything else in the area was bank-full. It was perfect.

In earlier years we've traveled from the arboretum down to Big Creek, but we can discuss over breakfast - or we can discuss your ideas/preferences in advance.

If you can only attend one of the two annual membership meetings CIP hosts, it should be the annual planning meeting.  The event is where the rubber hits the road, or should I say the paddle hits the water.  Besides good food and great company, the CIP board gives out awards and encourages members to lead trips for the upcoming paddling season.  By attending, you will be first to learn of upcoming trips and opportunities.   This year, CIP will be giving out four $25.00 gift certificates to CanoeSport Outfitters as door prizes.  And who knows what other door prizes may be offered.

As in the past, the annual meeting will take place at our founding member Robin Fortney's home located at 688 Polk Boulevard in  Des Moines.

1:30PM - Arrive
2:15PM - Planning meeting begins

Please bring a dessert or side dish to share with your fellow members.  If you have any questions, please contact John Wenck.