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Cheated by Time Somehow, time moves faster when I paddle in the winter than in the summer. Maybe this is an indication that paddling is more fun in the winter! Maybe it is the solitude or the wonderful spectacle of ice, its colors and sounds. Whatever the reason, I get the most thrill and satisfaction out of sea kayaking in the winter. With adequate preparation, the right equipment and the proper skills, you might also discover that the snowy months of the year are the best for paddling.  Winter paddling can be contemplative, even a little magic. Dazzling as it is, however, this is a hostile environment. There is no such thing as safe ice. Thin or not, it can always be treacherous. Each winter in Quebec, there are casualties when people break through ice. The formation and transformation of ice is a constant evolution, every moment a wonder. But equipment and procedure are essential to paddling safely in the winter. The beauty of the setting must not take precedence over pragmatism and awareness of danger.I’ll leave you with my main piece of advice on paddling in the winter: Don’t do it unless you are totally confident about it. It’s better to be prepared and safe so that you have plenty of winter paddling experiences ahead of you. Nicolas Bertrand is a schoolteacher from Montreal, Quebec, Canada. He has paddled most of the Gulf of St. Lawrence’s north coast, and he started winter kayaking in 1999. For more information about Nicolas, visit his web site: www.wazop.net/nicolas Resources Ice Conditions Canadian Ice Service (http://ice-glaces.ec.gc.ca/) The Canadian Ice Service is a complete source of information on ice in Canada. Although not designed specifically for sea kayakers, it is an essential reference for current conditions. National Ice Center (www.natice.noaa.gov) The National Ice Center provides current conditions for the United States. Additional Information The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources website has some helpful information on ice safety and the fabrication of ice claws (www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/ice/claws.html) Wrangell-St. Elias Park & Preserve “An Account of a Kayak Trip Gone Wrong,” National Park Service, May 16, 1999 (www.nps.gov/wrst/kayaksafety.htm) |
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