Dealing with ice and cold temperatures

By Dylan Kirk

Our days have been getting progressively shorter since June 21^st. As our planet follows it's annual course, the Earth's axis positions the Northern Hemisphere away from the Sun's direct rays. As a result our temperatures drop, and our lakes and rivers freeze. A wise paddler once described winter as “this sucks”.

If a river's current flows quickly enough, the water molecules will have too much energy to solidify. The river will not freeze. Several of these rivers exist throughout New York State, and many paddlers brave frigid winter temperatures to stay active.

In mid-March 2013, Ed Wagner and I were out in his JD Pro, paddling past large chunks of ice on the Owasco Outlet. As we came to a sharp corner, I planted a post to bring the boat around. The boat jostled and we went in. I gasped. It was my first time in freezing water. I was afraid, but not at all surprised. Both Ed and I had a hand on the boat and we swam it to shore. The paddle from this point back to the car wasn't very long, but within seconds of getting back in the boat I could feel all the blood in my arms and legs being drawn into my torso. We got in our cars, blasted the heat, changed our wet top layers, and both went home to take hot showers.

While no paddling excursion is without some risk, your chances of becoming hypothermic and/or drowning are dramatically increased during the cold winter months. Hypothermia occurs when the core body temperature falls below 95°. According to the Minnesota Sea Grant, cold water can send the body into hypothermia 25 times more quickly than air alone. In water close to freezing temperatures, the average person can only expect 15 minutes of consciousness. Fortunately, it is rare a distressed paddler would have to spend 15 minutes in the water. Our first priority when swimming in cold water, is to get out of the water. Fortunately, the effects of hypothermia are also delayed when the victim is wearing a PFD, which is law for all paddlers in New York from November 1^st to May 1^st.

While cold and ice go hand in hand, ice presents a whole new host of problems. Even though some rivers are still flowing in the center, the shore may freeze more readily. Taking corners a little wider can help you avoid ice that may have built up on the inside; after all, ice can scar your boat the same way as any rock. Ice also (1 impedes your access to shore (if you need to pull over or if you've flipped) (2 blocks your access site, and (3 can keep you from surfacing in the event you're sucked under. As ice is thinner farther from shore, both climbing out onto ice from the water, and walking out onto ice from the shore may cause the ice to break. If you do find yourself climbing onto thin ice, it is important to keep your belly to the ground and disperse your weight over as much ice as you can.

In my experience, paddling shallow water in winter is a great way to mitigate some of these dangers. This past February I was paddling the Saranac River. The moment I left shore I felt more unstable than usual and had this feeling of dread about flipping. Needless to say I leaned hard to my left around a technical upstream turn and went in. My feet hit the ground before the water had quite hit my chest and it made a huge difference. By keeping my heart out of the water, the blood spreading throughout my body was still somewhat warm. Being able to stand up and breath also reduces ones chance of drowning. 

Hypothermia can occur even if you don't fall in, so it important to dress warm.If you have expensive water proof equipment, great. I cannot speak about the differences between a wet suite and a dry suite as well as other internet article can, because I have never worn either. I can, however, tell you how to stay warm and dry with what you already have. During my time as coach of the Paul Smith's College Marathon Canoe Team, I worked with many young penniless paddlers over the winter. My paddlers were not allowed to wear any cotton on their chest, legs, or feet, but we did determine that cotton gloves and hats are often better than nothing. Plastic grocery bags can placed over your socks and inside your boots to keep your feet someway more dry. Rain gear and nylon sweatpants worn over thermal layers and light jackets add protection from the wind as well.

On a final note, many paddlers have a minimum air temperature for them to hit the water. For me, I won't go out C1 in temperatures under 20°. The ice builds up in and on the sides of my boat, making it much heavier. For a C2 paddle, my minimum is 10°. Regardless of ice buildup, that is the temperature where I need heavy snow pants to not be painfully cold. 

Below is a list of rivers that stay open throughout the winter. Be safe paddling over the next few months.


Susquehanna near Emmons access - Oneonta

Irondequiot Creek - Rochester
Genesee River - Rochester
9-Mile Creek - Camillus
Fish Creek - Saratoga Springs
Susquehanna in Nineveh
Susquehanna Sandy Beach access - Binghampton
Susquehanna at Harold Moore Park - Vestal
Saranac River at Pine St. - Saranac Lake
Owasco Outlet - Auburn