Over the last two weekends I was coaching at the Door County Sea Kayak Symposium (DCSKS) in Rowleys Bay, Wisconsin and the Great Lakes Sea Kayak Symposium (GLSKS) in Grand Marais, Michigan.
When we were paddling out from the beach for a class at DCSKS I did a little maneuver with linked strokes that I guess I often do to turn, especially when I am paddling close along cliffs and/or rock gardening. One of the students made a comment how it was a cool maneuver (thanks, Mike) and he wanted to emulate it.
Basically it works like this. I have some speed and start with a stern rudder (pry) and then slice the blade forward with a neutral angle into a bow rudder position to continue with a stronger/faster turn.
Mike's interest in the maneuver got me thinking more about it. When I teach the bow rudder, I emphasize how you need to initiate the turn with a sweep stroke on the opposite side. It occurred to me later that what I was doing was initiating the turn by using a stern rudder on the same side instead. If you don't initiate the turn in some manner the bow rudder isn't nearly as effective.
By initiating the bow rudder with a stern rudder I don't need the same amount of space as I would need if I used a forward sweep stroke to initiate the turn and this makes the bow rudder stroke pretty effective and keeps the paddle close to the kayak.
Then at GLSKS during our rock gardening class I present this and some other linked strokes that I have naturally developed and use quite a bit in tight places. With my better understanding of the stroke, I was able to present it as a useful stroke to the students. I saw the other instructor as well as the students try out this combination in some tight locations with good results.
Something to try when you are out playing around in your kayak.
Monday, July 22, 2019
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Some delayed posts on risk assessment and paddling in ice.
These are posts copied from Facebook where I talked about the risk assessments and planning on going out paddling among the icebergs on Lake Superior in April and May. All of these trips wound up being solo trips, on Lake Superior, with cold water and ice. Probably not the best choices, but worth it and I do my best to keep it safe!
April 28:
I eventually got out for a paddle today. We looked at Sand Point. It looked good on Thursday with a bunch of icebergs spaced out and no real wind to worry about.
Friday and Saturday we had gales with NW winds. That smashed all the ice against the Pictured Rocks cliffs and moved it towards Sand Point. Today there was ice all along the Pictured Rocks cliffs and Sand Point and the ice was moving towards Sand Point so there was no launching there.
We looked at Powell's Point (the ferry landing). Not too bad there, but going along the west side of Grand Island was going to get us into wind that was above the forecast and NO real ice to see there.
April 28:
I eventually got out for a paddle today. We looked at Sand Point. It looked good on Thursday with a bunch of icebergs spaced out and no real wind to worry about.
Friday and Saturday we had gales with NW winds. That smashed all the ice against the Pictured Rocks cliffs and moved it towards Sand Point. Today there was ice all along the Pictured Rocks cliffs and Sand Point and the ice was moving towards Sand Point so there was no launching there.
We looked at Powell's Point (the ferry landing). Not too bad there, but going along the west side of Grand Island was going to get us into wind that was above the forecast and NO real ice to see there.
We
looked at Scott Falls and the wind there was significantly above the
forecast. The other two paddlers bailed because the weather wasn't
cooperating with the forecast or their personal limits.
I headed back to Powell's Point and paddled over to the East Channel of Munising Bay. I knew I was going to see heavy drifting ice, but I also knew I could escape back the way I came from.
Paddling in the ice bergs is like an obstacle course. You get to practice all your different turning strokes and making some tight turns, sometimes with the ice closing the gap as you approach. Sometimes closing the gap as you pass.
April 30:
Yeah, you are tired of seeing ice from a kayak. Sorry! This is what I get to paddle in this time of year and I actually find it cool. For the rest of the year I won't be able to paddle with the icebergs...they are disappearing pretty fast.
Today I started from Sand Point. It didn't look like I would be able to get very far. All I could see towards Pictured Rocks was ice and towards Grand Island was sparser ice, but Munising Bay was mostly open. Sunday it was almost completely open, but ice had been drifting south back into and west across the bay.
I scoped out my launch and everything looked good so I got my kayak off the car and put it on the beach. Somewhere between those two the current started moving ice along the shore. It made me wonder if this was the place to launch or not. But I know that this current won't go around the corner so I can most likely land at the picnic area of Sand Point if I can't get back to the tip. Also, this area is mostly clear of ice because it is so shallow out a ways that the ice can't get here. Worst case, I land where I paddled from the other day (the Ferry Landing).
I was able to go around the ice which was stuck on the sand bar off Sand Point and then it was pretty clear until I got to Miner's Beach where there is still lots of ice on the beach. Lots of intermittent waterfalls flowing down from the cliffs too.
The ice was drifting along the cliffs. Since Miner's Castle sticks out from the main line of the cliffs, it shot the stream of ice towards Grand Island. As I was paddling along I could see ice all across the horizon. As I got closer I realized it was a narrow stream of ice.
May 3:
I was hoping to paddle along the Pictured Rocks cliffs today from Miner's Beach. I chickened out...
It looked safe(ish); it was calm but there was 50 yards of drifting ice which was somewhat packed together. I can make a path through that ice easy enough. The question is what happens during the couple hours that I am paddling along the cliffs? The forecast is for 6-8 kt winds from the NE. Lately the afternoon breezes have been stronger than the forecast (except when we had the gale warning). If they are more N than NE, then the wind will pack the ice into the bay tighter than it already is. These are probably tall chunks of ice so they are heavy. The nearest alternate landing would be 5 miles (by kayak) away in Munising.
I headed back to Powell's Point and paddled over to the East Channel of Munising Bay. I knew I was going to see heavy drifting ice, but I also knew I could escape back the way I came from.
Paddling in the ice bergs is like an obstacle course. You get to practice all your different turning strokes and making some tight turns, sometimes with the ice closing the gap as you approach. Sometimes closing the gap as you pass.
Fresh skim ice that I had to paddle through for 1/2 miles to open water.
This was the place to turn around. The ice was drifting towards me and getting too dense for comfort.
April 30:
Yeah, you are tired of seeing ice from a kayak. Sorry! This is what I get to paddle in this time of year and I actually find it cool. For the rest of the year I won't be able to paddle with the icebergs...they are disappearing pretty fast.
Today I started from Sand Point. It didn't look like I would be able to get very far. All I could see towards Pictured Rocks was ice and towards Grand Island was sparser ice, but Munising Bay was mostly open. Sunday it was almost completely open, but ice had been drifting south back into and west across the bay.
I scoped out my launch and everything looked good so I got my kayak off the car and put it on the beach. Somewhere between those two the current started moving ice along the shore. It made me wonder if this was the place to launch or not. But I know that this current won't go around the corner so I can most likely land at the picnic area of Sand Point if I can't get back to the tip. Also, this area is mostly clear of ice because it is so shallow out a ways that the ice can't get here. Worst case, I land where I paddled from the other day (the Ferry Landing).
I was able to go around the ice which was stuck on the sand bar off Sand Point and then it was pretty clear until I got to Miner's Beach where there is still lots of ice on the beach. Lots of intermittent waterfalls flowing down from the cliffs too.
The ice was drifting along the cliffs. Since Miner's Castle sticks out from the main line of the cliffs, it shot the stream of ice towards Grand Island. As I was paddling along I could see ice all across the horizon. As I got closer I realized it was a narrow stream of ice.
Icebergs continue quite a ways under the surface.
All this loose ice had me a bit worried. It turned out to mostly be stuck on a sandbar, so I became less worried.
Some reasons for paddling this time of year.
Miners Castle was kicking out a stream of drifting ice about 20 ft thick which continued to Grand Island. That made an interesting obstacle course.
Ice along Miners Beach was quite tall. Some bergs standing 15-20 ft above the water.
May 3:
I was hoping to paddle along the Pictured Rocks cliffs today from Miner's Beach. I chickened out...
It looked safe(ish); it was calm but there was 50 yards of drifting ice which was somewhat packed together. I can make a path through that ice easy enough. The question is what happens during the couple hours that I am paddling along the cliffs? The forecast is for 6-8 kt winds from the NE. Lately the afternoon breezes have been stronger than the forecast (except when we had the gale warning). If they are more N than NE, then the wind will pack the ice into the bay tighter than it already is. These are probably tall chunks of ice so they are heavy. The nearest alternate landing would be 5 miles (by kayak) away in Munising.
I had paddled here from Sand Point on Tuesday and the Miner's River had
pushed an opening in the ice pack. Today there was only an opening
near shore and no open path to the lake.
May 4:
Today I was able to launch from Miner's Beach. The wind was from the south and all the loose ice was out on the horizon drifting on the open lake. It was also 30 degrees warmer than yesterday (bonus!). The wind reversed itself during my paddle, but the loose ice was too far away to be effected.
The ice on Miner's Beach is nothing compared to the ice at Mosquito Beach. Ice at Mosquito had vertical faces over 20 ft tall. I saw several ice faces calve into the lake as I was paddling. One was 40 ft along an ice face 10 ft tall and it broke off about 10 ft from the face. That sent a wave about 1.5 - 2 ft tall. I also saw and heard some rock falls.
The most worrisome ice drifting close along shore.
Pancake ice viewed from the top of the cliffs.
May 4:
Today I was able to launch from Miner's Beach. The wind was from the south and all the loose ice was out on the horizon drifting on the open lake. It was also 30 degrees warmer than yesterday (bonus!). The wind reversed itself during my paddle, but the loose ice was too far away to be effected.
The ice on Miner's Beach is nothing compared to the ice at Mosquito Beach. Ice at Mosquito had vertical faces over 20 ft tall. I saw several ice faces calve into the lake as I was paddling. One was 40 ft along an ice face 10 ft tall and it broke off about 10 ft from the face. That sent a wave about 1.5 - 2 ft tall. I also saw and heard some rock falls.
And what else did I see on the lake? Two inflatable recreational
kayaks. No immersion protection, but they were wearing PFDs. I have
some scars on my hands from seal launching last year from Miner's Beach.
That sand embedded in ice can really cut. I wonder what it might do
to an inflatable kayak.
May 6:
Kayaking is risky. Paddling on Lake Superior is risky. Paddling in cold water is risky. Paddling alone is risky. I do all these at once. Just because I set a bad example and you like my pictures doesn't mean you should follow my example! Make your own HONEST risk assessment!
I make an effort to do it as safely as possible. I look at the weather forecast. Know the wind direction and strength. I guess how this will affect drifting ice. I plan alternate landing options in case my desired landing gets iced in by drifting ice. I have decent skills in a kayak. I can perform about 10 rolls on both sides (only 3ish of those are useful if I get knocked over in waves but the others make those reliable). I dress to spend a bit of time swimming in the lake and hope I don't need to. I only go out in conditions well within my skills due to the above mentioned risk factors. Sometimes I explore several options and decide that it isn't a safe paddling day and the kayak doesn't leave the roof of the car.
Ice at Mosquito Beach.
Ice at Miners Beach.
Interesting ice erosion due to waves.
May 6:
Kayaking is risky. Paddling on Lake Superior is risky. Paddling in cold water is risky. Paddling alone is risky. I do all these at once. Just because I set a bad example and you like my pictures doesn't mean you should follow my example! Make your own HONEST risk assessment!
I make an effort to do it as safely as possible. I look at the weather forecast. Know the wind direction and strength. I guess how this will affect drifting ice. I plan alternate landing options in case my desired landing gets iced in by drifting ice. I have decent skills in a kayak. I can perform about 10 rolls on both sides (only 3ish of those are useful if I get knocked over in waves but the others make those reliable). I dress to spend a bit of time swimming in the lake and hope I don't need to. I only go out in conditions well within my skills due to the above mentioned risk factors. Sometimes I explore several options and decide that it isn't a safe paddling day and the kayak doesn't leave the roof of the car.
Today I was out in 1-3 ft waves and stayed pretty far from the ice due
to the potential of the waves causing the ice faces to calve, and being
under that didn't seem safe. I paddled from Miner's Beach to Chapel
Beach for a 16 mile round trip.
There are impressive ice cliffs at Mosquito and Chapel Beaches. The ice at Miner's Beach is disappearing fast. There are also ice cliffs between Shipwreck Point and Mosquito Beach and between Rainbow Cave and Grand Portal Point.
There are impressive ice cliffs at Mosquito and Chapel Beaches. The ice at Miner's Beach is disappearing fast. There are also ice cliffs between Shipwreck Point and Mosquito Beach and between Rainbow Cave and Grand Portal Point.
Icebergs at Chapel Beach. Note how they try to hide Chapel Rock. Also see the line of sand in the ice from drifting sand.
Grand Portal Point.
Icebergs at Mosquito Beach.
This was once a waterfall which froze. The bottom remains and it caught a piece of rock that fell from the cliff.
Some waves were seen that day as well as ice. Staying clear of the ice when the waves are eating it away from the bottom seems prudent.
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