A RUDE AWAKENING

THIS IS LONGER THAN MOST WANT TO READ BUT PERHAPS WORTH CONSIDERATION. FOR ALL YOU COLD WATER PADDLERS...
by Don R.

This past Sunday morning at 11 am, Brian, Louise and I put in at Treman State Park Marina with north winds picking up as the morning progressed. Winds were light at first with strong gusts that came and went as we worked our way up the lake. Sunny skies and 60 some degrees and quite cold water, around 50F. As we started into the lake we could hear the sweet sounds of Reggae music wafting from Stewart Park and the Ithaca Festival and imagined the smooth moves of Dusk and some babe on the dance floor in the grass...or was the grass in Dusk?

We paddled into increasing head winds to the Ithaca Yacht Club about 3 miles or so on the west side of the lake. Nearing the YC white caps began crashing over our bows but sunshine and paddle jackets kept us warm. After about 15 minutes stopping near the YC docks for water and snacks, we turned south and rode the waves back toward Ithaca. With the waves and winds increasing, we spread out along the west shore riding various directions as the waves took us surfing downwind. Sail boats in sight were taking down their sails as the winds and white caps increased. We surfed along with the waves, bracing as our bows would come completely out of the water on the down slope of the waves and the wave crests broke over the tops of our boats and cockpits and the cold water splashed over our kayaks.

The three of us chatted together for a minute or two and decided to head into the center of the lake so we could slide toward the channel toward the Inlet about 1-2 miles ahead. I suggested we stay closer to each other as we would be taking the white caps on our broad side (I was feeling a little jumpy in these cold waters and waves). Within about 5 minutes of heading across to the lakes' center, I took a larger wave on the broad side and attempted to brace with my paddle, knees inside the thigh braces. Almost immediately a painful muscle spasm in the lower calf caused an abrupt lapse of concentration and within seconds the kayak was rolling with the wave and I was capsized into the 50 degree water.

Louise arrived within a minute or two and pulled along the windward side of my bobbing kayak with me holding onto the side and holding onto my Indiana Jones hat...brrr...and trying to rub the muscle spasm out of my lower leg. Louise (Antarctic kayak guide, thank you!) was calm and steady when Brian rafted up with her upwind from my boat which had filled with water. The capsized kayak was righted but was still half full of cold water. I assumed we'd pull it with me kicking to shore about 1/4 mile away and empty the boat there. With the strong winds and waves, Louise wisely instructed the wounded warrior to me to get into my boat asap and out of the cold water, with the two of them talking me coaching me. She assured me I'd lose way more body heat swimming than getting back in my boat. We'd take care of pumping out afterwards.

After several attempts while legs, hands and other body parts (PG version of shrinkage!) were aching with cold, this soaking paddler lunged onto the wooden kayak like a cold blue whale while holding onto Brian's and Louise's rafting kayaks with the waves pounding against their broad sides and rolling over all three boats. With boots filled with water, PFD soaking wet and all clothing soaked to the bone, I flopped on my stomach onto the stern of the boat as instructed. (It took some cold thinking to remember the stern from the bow at this point but proved that even cold logic worked.) After sliding into the cockpit, corkscrewing into the water in the seat, we continued to raft together while the half-filled kayak bobbed and rolled in the waves. After pumping the cockpit while grasping onto the floating raft and taking turns on the pump, the kayak was more maneuverable with the water down to a manageable level.
With two more miles to go to the end of the lake and our cars, we decided to head with the waves together rather than try to cross the lake into the side bashing of the rollers. After another 30+ minutes of surfing in the waves, and wind at our backs, we headed into a small creek in a swampy, wild, thistle-filled shoreline within sight of the marina. We then carried two boats at a time to head through the shoulder high grass, logs, swamp and thistles to find our cars.

With bruised ego, and very cold feet and fingers, I tied my boat on in the (35 mph?) winds and looked up the lake to see the most turbulent white caps rolling along the length of the lake. Once in the car, heated seats and heater at full blast helped the soggy kayaker heading for home.
Lessons learned: Paddle with smart and strong paddlers especially in wild winds, waves and very cold water! Listen to Louise even when she sounds overly cautious, she knows of what she speaks!
Welcome back to Ithaca! Be careful out there friends!
EDITOR'S NOTE:
For more information about how to be prepared for cold water immersion check out two links in the left side bar below. Cold Water Boot Camp and Atlantic Kayak Tours (you'll find it in the the Experts Index under safety and cold water paddling).
~LA