Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022 - 52

LESSONS
LEARNED
photo-Chris Calhoun
by Laurel Anders
Boating Director
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission
T
he muddy, rain-swollen river tempted the paddlers
with its fast current and lively rapids. The paddlers had
floated this stretch of river many times during summer
months without incident. Eager to get on the water after a long,
cold winter, their excitement and adrenaline soared as they
pondered the thrill and challenge of a whitewater adventure on
an unusually warm spring day.
The paddlers-a man and woman in their late 20s -
grabbed their gear, shuttled a vehicle to the take-out point, put
on life jackets, and carefully launched their kayaks into the fastmoving
water. As they navigated the first set of rapids and the
40-degree F water splashed their hands and arms, their pulse
quickened, and they let out hoots of excitement. They swiftly
entered the second rapid and noticed standing waves (also
known as haystacks) that were 5 to 6 feet high, dead ahead of
them. Despite their powerful paddle strokes, the kayakers were
unable break out of the strong current which drove them right
into the standing waves, throwing them off balance and rolling
their small boats.
The cold water took their breath away. They shimmied out
of their kayaks as their life jackets quickly carried them to the
water's surface. One paddler was immediately separated from
her kayak by the fast-moving water and fought against the
strong current to swim to shore. The other paddler was able
to grab a line attached to his kayak, but his hands were so cold
that he quickly lost grip. He threw one arm into the cockpit
to secure his boat and used the other arm to back stroke to
shore. By the time he got to shore with his kayak, it was nearly
10 minutes since they had capsized. Both were starting to
recognize the early effects of hypothermia-the skin on their
hands and arms was turning from bright red to blue, and their
shivering had become uncontrollable.
52
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater
They managed to drain the water
out of the kayak and together carried
it along the uneven shoreline to the
take-out point. As they approached
their vehicle, feelings of relief were
quickly replaced by frustration as their
cold fingers fumbled with the keys to
unlock and start it. They successfully
accessed the vehicle and huddled together, waiting impatiently
for the heater to warm their cold and exhausted bodies.
Thanking their lucky stars, they rehashed the day's events and
lessons learned:
* Always wear a life jacket when boating. It saved their
lives in the cold, fast water.
* Dress appropriately for water and weather
conditions. Synthetic fabrics insulate, shed water,
and dry faster than cotton. Wear a wet or dry suit as
conditions warrant.
* Bring a change of clothes in a drybag and keep some
warm layers in the vehicle.
* Check water levels. Boating conditions can change
dramatically with only a few inches difference in
water level.
* Know your skill level. Challenging water conditions
require advanced skills.
* Match the boat and equipment to the types of water
to be paddled. Whitewater paddling requires special
considerations.
* File a float plan with a trusted family member or
friend. Let them know what to do if you don't return
on time.
Learn more about boating safely at fishandboat.com/Boat.
Submit your story of boating lessons learned at
https://pfbc.pa.gov/forms/savelives.htm.
fishandboat.com
http://fishandboat.com/Boat https://pfbc.pa.gov/forms/savelives.htm http://www.fishandboat.com
Pennsylvania Angler & Boater - May/June 2022

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