When I got up today for my morning run here in Sacramento, I could definitely feel the chill of fall in the air. The local weather on my iPod Touch says the low this morning was 49. It's enough to give you that "brrrrr" feeling when you think about jumping in your kayak and getting in the river.
But the cooler months can actually be some of the better times to paddle in many parts of the country, if only for the fact that there's usually more water in the rivers during those times. That's often true in the Southeast, for instance, where I've paddled when it's been less than 30 degrees outside, well below freezing. On one particularly chilly trip down Broad Run in Virginia, icicles actually formed on my beard, and I had to break the ice off my spray skirt to get it on and off my kayak. Ahh, the enthusiasm of my youth in my kayak.
Now, I live in California for many reasons, one of which is that things here typically don't freeze while I paddle. But while I'm not recommending that you jump on a swollen creek when it's freezing cold outside, you can often get on less-paddled stretches of river in the fall and winter, and enjoy it, if you prepare for it. The key is to outfit yourself with the right gear, and stay warm. Remember, hypothermia is a serious issue anytime you paddle, particularly when it's cold outside, and you want to be safe. But perhaps more importantly, paddling's just not as much fun if you're freezing cold while you're doing it.
Surprising as it may seem, though, it's not hard to keep warm in your kayak -- the Eskimos must have known a thing or two when they came up with the kayak's basic design, because the small space inside your boat lends itself to heating up, especially if you're paddling hard. Add a few other pieces of warm and fuzzy goodness to the mix, and you'll be toasty, and having a good time even when it's cold outside.
Here are a few pieces of gear to make sure you have in your kit to keep you warm while enjoying the water even in the cooler months.
Dry suit. While this is often viewed as a luxury among many beginning paddlers, you'll notice that most experienced kayakers have this essential piece of gear in their bag. Not only does a good dry suit keep you warm -- and surprisingly dry -- while paddling, it keeps you safer, too. That's because it can give you extra floatation if you swim (the air that gets trapped inside can often make you feel and look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, to boot), while keeping you much warmer than a wet suit.
That said, if you can't afford a dry suit -- good ones start around $400, with really nice ones going for $1,000 or more -- a wet suit is the next best, warm option. "Fuzzy rubber," which is basically neoprene with a fleece lining inside of it, is great, too.
I think Kokatat makes the best dry suits on the planet, but you'll pay for them. Palm has come out with some nice products in recent years as well. Whatever you buy, I recommend paying extra for the "relief" zipper -- it let's you pee without taking the whole darn thing off. I like to wear a layer of polypropylene underneath my dry suit, and if it's really cold out, another layer of fleece.
Skull cap and booties. Yes, just like your mom always told you, keep your head and feet warm, and the rest of your body will be toasty, too. NRS makes some nice, affordable skull caps that will fit under your helmet and keep you warm in the coldest conditions. I then like to wear a nice pair of hiking socks, made of synthetic material -- NOT cotton -- inside my river shoes. If your feet tend to get really cold, you can put in a couple of the toe-warming packets you'll find in the hunting and fishing sections of most sporting goods stores.
Pogies. These genius little inventions help to keep your hands warm, while letting you have skin-on-shaft contact with your paddle. They fit over your paddle shaft, and let you slip your hand inside so you can hold the paddle directly. For a lot of paddlers, myself included, that's critical, because it helps you feel what the water's doing at the end of your paddle blade. Lots of gear manufacturers make them -- I've got a pair from Mountain Surf on my paddle right now -- though there are many different designs. I like big, wide cuffs that make it easy to get your hands in and out, and nice thick neoprene to go over the paddle shaft itself.
