RSS
Home
Paddling alone
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Solo paddling can be very peaceful.
After sprinting to the put-in faster than Wile E. Coyote on rocket skates, you arrive to find a parking lot full of cars with kayak racks but no people. The group left without you. What do you do?
Going it alone is scary for some people. If you’re too scared, think about how confident you are in your skills. This might give you enough of a boost to push you over the edge and into the water. If not, cut your losses and find another adventure; or meet the group up/downriver if you know of another put-in. Paddling alone in fear is a recipie for disaster so don’t put yourself in that position.
Also consider if you have all the safety equipment you could possibly need. This is not the time to experiment with skirt- or PFD-free paddling. You never know when you may need your whistle, pump or paddle float, even in calm water. Your safety considerations also include the weather forecast and tides, which you surely checked before leaving the house. Quickly run through self-rescue drills in your head (you have gone to self-rescue practice, right?). Visualizing success in your head first goes a long way towards making it real.
Furthermore, do you know where the group is going? It’s easy to find them if you know it’s up or downriver. On Ninigret Pond it would be considerably harder unless you know the planned route or lunch spot. Knowing the nature and location of all hazards is another one, e.g. what did the trip description say about rapids? Surprises are not always welcome.
Having pondered this and being confident in your potential for safety, you may choose to go on and try to catch that unruly mob that’s already having fun out there somewhere. Calling a cell phone of someone in the group will let them know you’re coming and give them a chance to warn you of any dangers.
Start out by taking a deep breath and making a conscious decision to take your time getting ready. Rushing will only increase your chances of forgetting something you’ll wish you had. Next, paddle calmly. Take plenty of time to notice any hazard that might be lurking under the water, waiting for a hull to have for lunch. This is the fun part, where you get to enjoy the beauty of the setting in peace and quiet. You might see more wildlife than the loud group did.
Upon encountering any hazards, stop immediately. Hang on to a branch or something while you look around. Scout carefully to fully understand everything that’s going on. Plan your route (and plan B) and rehearse it in your head. Execute the plan as zen-like as possible. If in doubt, turn around.
In the worst-case scenario of getting dumped out, those self-rescue drills will come in handy. At least your friends will eventually be passing by again and can help you. Maybe you can even walk to the lunch spot or take-out. Hopefully your boat will be intact downstream. You’ll definitely be buying several rounds of brewed hops or several ice cream cones (or both, depending on the crowd you run with) after that.
More About:
water sport ·
paddling ·
outside ·
conservation ·
leave no trace ·
environment ·
green ·
exercise ·
workout ·
health ·
safety ·
canoe ·
kayak ·
river ·
paddle ·
lunch ·
food
Related Articles:
Add a Comment
Visiting the Charlestown Breachway we watched a man and woman in a double sit-on-top kayak that sported foot power. They came out from the pond into …
The Hope Diamond of Rhode Island's jewels, Ninigret Pond is a paddle that will leave you begging for more. Our group started at the Kayak Center's …
