Always good to get this when it's around 0 degrees outside. Jimbo has a nice little article about setting up a campsite.  Mr. Pine Knot gets a shout out.  The story of the couple capsizing on Lac La Croix is a good read. Man I hope I never have to experience that.

Yeah, me too.  It's my greatest fear except being in a tornado in the BW.  I wish the author spoke more about being cold.  I don't think she even mentioned it.  It must have been very warm.

Living 800 miles South of the BWCA/Quetico does not give me a feel for seasonal lake temps.  That's why I previously asked.   I would have guessed a 2 hour event in a body of water like Lac La Croix would surly have caused some level of hypothermia?  The article read as though they just got to shore, shed wet clothes and went on.

So, in an average sized lake and average weather temps, in the Quetico, what season or range of dates can a person survive a 2 hour or so immersion?

This may have some bearing on when I  schedule solo trips.

Regards,

MB

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I don't think there is answer for this question because there are so MANY variables involved not just time and water temp.

  How FIT a person is plays a big role. Does your PDF/clothing provide some level of core insulation?

Is the sun shining and or the wind blowing? I'm assuming they capsized in windy conditions?

This link has some good info. I wouldn't worry about
water temps when you plan your solo trips MB, just
PADDLE according to the conditions you find.

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When I first started making trips North, all of them were in the early spring.  Hypothermia never occurred to me as a problem.   Now with more solo travel on my horizon I find myself looking at areas with smaller lakes.  But there are not many without having to first travel some much bigger lakes to get to them.

ST, I understand that physical condition and many other variables all play into the decisions, but I cannot roll back the hands of time.  Fitness can also be limited by things completely out of your control.  Then it becomes a game of knowing your own limitations.  Your advice is always sound.

IC, I am already following much of what you suggest.  I have been hugging banks for years and trying to stay aware of where I am and how condition are changing.  But needing to cross open bodies of water is also a fact of life on any trip.   Thank You for your advice as well. 

I just need to quit wringing my hands and whining and find a way to spend more time on the water.

Regards,

MossBack

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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.

TomT wrote on Mar 6^th, 2019 at 3:36pm:


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.

TomT wrote on Mar 6^th, 2019 at 7:50pm:


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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  Sometimes Ice Out fools you. 
Scroll down to May 14th first day of trip.


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