Help me a wild man, canoe style.
May 28, 2010 12:00 PM Subscribe
I would like to plan my own canoe trips, especially in whitewater. I've gone on a few trips with my old college, but never been the leader. How can I get started in planning fun, safe trips? How would you suggest gaining more experience? And is it a bad idea to go solo?
I'd like to do some long-range trips involving camping, sometimes solo and sometimes with others. I've run class II and III rapids on prior trips, and loved the challenge, but I didn't always come through upright. That never scared me when I was in a group, but makes me think maybe I should find a way to learn from others. One major obstacle, though, is a lack of whitewater features within day trip driving range, so I know few people with much experience.
Also, I don't currently own a canoe, so I was curious as to whether buying or renting would make more sense at this point.
Thanks for any tips you may have.
I'd like to do some long-range trips involving camping, sometimes solo and sometimes with others. I've run class II and III rapids on prior trips, and loved the challenge, but I didn't always come through upright. That never scared me when I was in a group, but makes me think maybe I should find a way to learn from others. One major obstacle, though, is a lack of whitewater features within day trip driving range, so I know few people with much experience.
Also, I don't currently own a canoe, so I was curious as to whether buying or renting would make more sense at this point.
Thanks for any tips you may have.
not experienced with whitewater although i've taken a dozen guided raft trips over the years. i also have a flatwater kayak that i occasionally take out on solo trips through the swamps. having said that, i do NOT think solo trips in treacherous situations are a very smart thing to do. there's been more than one time that i've been out by myself & heard gator splashes (they can actually jump, and they DO) or gator mating calls (sounds like a cross between a dog & an agitated bullfrog if i remember correctly). not exactly life threatening, but sufficient that i made a mental note to 1) never go out by myself and 2) if i ignore 1, make sure i've told someone in advance where i'm going and what time i expect to return. you know ... so they can call someone to retrieve the body.
this self-advice that i choose to ignore on occasion is also informed by a whitewater trip i did some years ago. the raft came through a particularly plucky rapid, and we noticed a clump of people over to the right on the rocks. we found out later that a kayaker had come through, flipped his boat in the rapid, got caught in an eddy, and the boat wedged into the rocks. for whatever reason, the paddler didn't jettison the boat, and he drown.
i have no way of knowing if that kayaker was solo or in a group. but shit happens. it's good to have friends.
posted by msconduct at 12:48 PM on May 28, 2010
this self-advice that i choose to ignore on occasion is also informed by a whitewater trip i did some years ago. the raft came through a particularly plucky rapid, and we noticed a clump of people over to the right on the rocks. we found out later that a kayaker had come through, flipped his boat in the rapid, got caught in an eddy, and the boat wedged into the rocks. for whatever reason, the paddler didn't jettison the boat, and he drown.
i have no way of knowing if that kayaker was solo or in a group. but shit happens. it's good to have friends.
posted by msconduct at 12:48 PM on May 28, 2010
and 2nding pappy to find a paddling club & try out a boat before you buy it. paddling is a GREAT sport and you might find yourself spending quite a bit of time in that thing. get something you're comfortable with because you'll probably have it for years.
posted by msconduct at 12:50 PM on May 28, 2010
posted by msconduct at 12:50 PM on May 28, 2010
I had the bug for a while and had a canoe, the float bags etc. In the end I determined that the canoe is just the wrong tool for the job - dunks were frequent followed by float bags blowing out and me chasing a big canoe filled with water down the river. Sometimes fun, sometimes not. I would most certainly not be comfortable doing that with camping stuff.
I transitioned to flatwater rivers and never looked back - the canoe is just brilliant there - stable, huge capacity, fast etc.
just my .02
posted by H. Roark at 2:30 PM on May 28, 2010
I transitioned to flatwater rivers and never looked back - the canoe is just brilliant there - stable, huge capacity, fast etc.
just my .02
posted by H. Roark at 2:30 PM on May 28, 2010
Sorry I don't have time to flesh out my thoughts here, but ...
Have a good time. Paddling is a ton of fun.
posted by Alt F4 at 4:34 PM on May 28, 2010
- absolutely have a paddling buddy for whitewater, especially if it's overnight
- nthing joining a paddling club
- until you're more capable, I'd recommend driving to a campsite that's near a river, doing a few daytrip paddling excursions, sleeping at the campsite, and then driving home. I'd warn against paddling into and out of your campsite.
Have a good time. Paddling is a ton of fun.
posted by Alt F4 at 4:34 PM on May 28, 2010
I've done some pretty serious solo + whitewater canoe tripping including some in pretty remote locales. I would definitely recommend solo trips (with adequate preparation). Adequate preparation really just means having some (ultimately) pretty basic skills but primarily knowing your limits, and understanding the risks.
If you're interested in whitewater fun, I wouldn't recommend trying to combine it with a solo trip. You'll run into it on good long trips, but whitewater looks alot more like a barrier to be overcome than a playground when you're on your own. Extra scouting, looking for bailout points and considering your self-rescue options are really, really important. Do you know how to build a z-drag if you need to? It's one of those things you learn in a classroom and then (usually) rarely use, but it may be your only option in some pin scenarios if you don't have help. Even then, you might still be walking out. Anyhow, my point is that finding a way to carefully line a nasty section will usually be alot more appealing than a hairy (/ fun) run.
good luck!
posted by aquafiend at 5:38 PM on May 28, 2010
If you're interested in whitewater fun, I wouldn't recommend trying to combine it with a solo trip. You'll run into it on good long trips, but whitewater looks alot more like a barrier to be overcome than a playground when you're on your own. Extra scouting, looking for bailout points and considering your self-rescue options are really, really important. Do you know how to build a z-drag if you need to? It's one of those things you learn in a classroom and then (usually) rarely use, but it may be your only option in some pin scenarios if you don't have help. Even then, you might still be walking out. Anyhow, my point is that finding a way to carefully line a nasty section will usually be alot more appealing than a hairy (/ fun) run.
good luck!
posted by aquafiend at 5:38 PM on May 28, 2010
Former whitewater raft guide and whitewater kayak instructor here. You should never paddle by yourself. Really.
Next... if you really want to see if you love it, you might try a class with a reputable outfitter. Paddling clubs can be great for meeting people, but their classes can be the blind leading the blind. When I started working at a large outdoor recreation outfitter, I took a one week kayaking class and learned so much more than I had ever learned over several months of paddling with friends.
So, I say, if you can afford it, take a class. They'll set you up with great equipment, and you'll learn if you do love it.
If you can't afford it, then, yeah, a paddling club is the way to go. Have fun!
posted by bluedaisy at 8:56 PM on May 28, 2010
Next... if you really want to see if you love it, you might try a class with a reputable outfitter. Paddling clubs can be great for meeting people, but their classes can be the blind leading the blind. When I started working at a large outdoor recreation outfitter, I took a one week kayaking class and learned so much more than I had ever learned over several months of paddling with friends.
So, I say, if you can afford it, take a class. They'll set you up with great equipment, and you'll learn if you do love it.
If you can't afford it, then, yeah, a paddling club is the way to go. Have fun!
posted by bluedaisy at 8:56 PM on May 28, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
As for going solo, since you have some experience, short paddles on nearby flatwater on your own would probably be fine (wear that PFD though), but I'd strongly caution you to paddle with others when on moving water.
Since canoes come in a variety of styles depending on the type of water you'll paddle, see if there are some outfitters nearby that offer rentals or boat demo days before you go out and buy one. Also, you can often find a good deal on used boats. Good luck.
posted by pappy at 12:31 PM on May 28, 2010