QuietJourney Forums - Winter BWJ

Jun 20^th, 2026 at 10:54am (UTC)

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Winter BWJ (Read 7447 times)

solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8110 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #10 - Mar 6^th, 2019 at 1:45pm	Quote Print Post
	Quote: I just need to quit wringing my hands and whining and find a way to spend more time on the water. This is when that Double Paddle shines IF you can get comfortable with it? When I have to cross a large stretch of open water in the Spring, I want to get across as fast as I can. I stop for a minute and drink a cup of water and eat a handful of trail mix heavy on the dried FRUIT. Dark chocolate would do it too. I hit the open water at the fastest pace I know I can maintain for say a good 15 minutes. You can cover a lot of water in 15-20 minutes at a good clip. This is where that muscle endurance paddlers want to have come's in. Nothing is MORE scary than to be caught in open water, the wind is picking up and you're out of gas.


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TomT Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1052 Location: Chicago Burbs Joined: Aug 26^th, 2007	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #11 - Mar 6^th, 2019 at 3:36pm	Quote Print Post
	I agree ST. I can manage waves much better with a double blade. I usually get on the water 6-7 times before a trip and paddle for 1 & half - 2 hours working on endurance with the double blade. Gotta work those specific muscles before you go or day 2 and 3 will be painful.


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8110 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #12 - Mar 6^th, 2019 at 5:08pm	Quote Print Post
	TomT wrote on Mar 6^th, 2019 at 3:36pm: I agree ST. I can manage waves much better with a double blade. I usually get on the water 6-7 times before a trip and paddle for 1 & half - 2 hours working on endurance with the double blade. Gotta work those specific muscles before you go or day 2 and 3 will be painful. People who are lucky enough to be able to spend all season on the water can do just as well with their single paddle solo as I do with my double. But for the ones that only get a trip maybe 2 a year and don't paddle the rest of the year, that double IF you can handle it is a blessing. You see more and more solo paddlers bring them along and even some tandem paddlers. Not for everybody, nothing is but if you're open-minded it's worth a look. I would buy a cheap one like my Mohawk paddle rather than an expensive one that you end up selling because it's NOT for you.


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TomT Inukshuk Offline Posts: 1052 Location: Chicago Burbs Joined: Aug 26^th, 2007	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #13 - Mar 6^th, 2019 at 7:50pm	Quote Print Post
	I’ve settled on a double and a carbon bent shaft for solo trips. I use the single for fishing or creeks/rivers. The double is great on travel days. Someday I’ll get a carbon double. I now use a bending branches “slice” paddle that’s plastic and fiberglass I believe.


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8110 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #14 - Mar 6^th, 2019 at 8:32pm	Quote Print Post
	TomT wrote on Mar 6^th, 2019 at 7:50pm: I’ve settled on a double and a carbon bent shaft for solo trips. I use the single for fishing or creeks/rivers. The double is great on travel days. Someday I’ll get a carbon double. I now use a bending branches “slice” paddle that’s plastic and fiberglass I believe. I like the idea of a lightweight carbon paddle for a single. But since I use my bulletproof Mohawk double for a walking stick when I'm carrying that 21 day food pack, I don't think a carbon double is in my future anytime soon. I'll just have to keep hitting the weights so that Mohawk " 4 x 4" feels like a "sports car".


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hoaf Inukshuk Offline Posts: 10 Location: 55604 Joined: Jan 19^th, 2014	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #15 - Mar 11^th, 2019 at 2:41am	Quote Print Post
	solotripper wrote on Mar 6^th, 2019 at 1:45pm: When I have to cross a large stretch of open water in the Spring, I want to get across as fast as I can. +1 I always feel a slight sense of "dread" when I encounter a large expanse of open water to cross in the early spring, and I really hoof it until I'm back in close proximity to shore. On every trip, wind is my greatest fear by far. Recently listened to the WTIP podcast about a couple and their dog that capsized on Nym late fall last year and every time I hear about something like that it causes me to pause and re-think my choice of paddling times. Typically I'm on the water within a day or three of ice-out.


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solotripper Inukshuk Offline Posts: 8110 Location: clarkston MI Joined: Mar 14^th, 2005	Re: Winter BWJ Reply #16 - Mar 11^th, 2019 at 3:14am	Quote Print Post
	Quote: Typically I'm on the water within a day or three of ice-out. Sometimes Ice Out fools you. Scroll down to May 14th first day of trip. (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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