Northern paddlers must know better

[Chip]

It was a little colder yesterday than it normally gets in central Maryland. I looked forward to paddling a local stretch of Patuxent River were muddy banks are normally annoying, because the mud would be frozen. And it was. We only had to worry about slipping on ice at the water's edge. We've had a dry fall, and the river was exceptionally low. Traveling upstream, there were a few areas where the water was moving fast over shallow gravel bars and I had to get out and drag the boat. So, we still managed to transport a bit of mud into the boat. I'd packed a bucket and broom in the truck, and when we were done paddling, I laddled a bucket of water into the boat and used the broom to scrub the mud loose, then flipped the boat over to drain. That's sort of my standard procedure. There was a bit of mud on the outside of the hull too, so I gave that a quick wash too, then left it to drain while I went and changed clothes.

I guess northern paddlers would know this, but the water did not drain off the boat. Rather, the boat was covered inside and out with a layer of ice. I was happy my buddy was there to help me lift the Tripper onto the racks, it had picked up at least ten pounds on it's normal 80-lb frame, and 80 is taxing enough.

But it's not all bad news. No water dripping from the racked boat kept the windshield dry. Normally, after racking the boat it looks like somebody threw a cup of coffee on the windshield.

I doubt this is news to those north of the Mason-Dixon. You could've warned me!

 

[alsg]

A little colder? I live in Maryland (near Gaithersburg) and it was too cold for paddling as far as I'm concerned! What part of the Pax were you paddling/dragging?

 

[dougd]

Chip, It's a given up here in my neck of the woods when we can get out during cold weather. Cold weather and H2O=ice on the boat, inside the boat, on the paddles as we go along. We pick and choose our days. Load up with icy boats and call it good. A warm day will thaw it all out eventually. I worry about clean up come a warmer day. As long as I can get out it is all good. Although with this cold snap, for days now, I don't have to worry. A pair of ice skates will do much better then a canoe right now!!

 

[yellowcanoe]

Sure we know better. Cause we have done that!
We didnt know better before
Warning. Kayak story. You have to get out of the cockpit by pushing yourself up on the rear deck

this doesn

 

[Chip]

I should have known, and it was cold. I just didn't realize the water would freeze that quickly.

alsg, we paddled out of Governors Bridge. The shallow gravel bars are perhaps a quarter mile below the put-in. At the 12/29 level, 4-6" with quick current.

Today I tried to take a late afternoon paddle on the tip-top Severn River. I got over there and the little marina where they let me launch hadn't cleared last night's 1" dusting of snow off their remarkably steep driveway. My driveway is as steep as the planning and zoning people would allow in 1988. This marina must have been grandfathered, because their driveway is much steeper than mine. I wasn't going down in there with my two-wheel drive Taco. But, ah-ha, I brought a cart, I can still get down there with the boat.

Then I noticed the water. There was snow on the water, too. dang. I walked down there and took a closer look and saw the ice was beyond a thin skim. dang it! That's tidal water with a healthy salt content. I wasn't expecting it to be frozen.

I love winter paddling. It can be so still, I can see well into the naked forests, and it's dang rare to see anybody else out there. Now, I feel deprived. Like something has been taken away from me. I guess if the northerners can put up with frozen water, so can I. But I don't like it.

I better change my attitude! I do love me a pond skate. We don't get to do that much. Where'd I put those skates?

 

[dougd]

I've had years up here in NH when we've hit the water all 12 months other years not. This year froze over quickly with this rasenfrasenguldarn cold front that's moved in. It was so quick that I honestly thought I could get on more paddle in last week but that was a pipe dream. Haven't seen this kind of cold in a long while. I'm not surprised that salt water froze. Next Sat forecast is for a high of 0 degrees! I think if I dropped a kevlar boat it would shatter! Time for you find a beater boat to work on Chip, a good winter project! Spring is coming!