Progymnasmata
Canoeing in Winter
by , 01-14-2011 at 11:18 AM (8131 Views)
There are few who attempt it. There are even fewer who actually enjoy it. But those latter are a lucky, lucky few. Canoeing in winter. The other day I finally got to go. . . .
The Conditions Have to Be Right
It's obvious, but to canoe in winter, you need to have an open stretch of water. This basic requirement is often the biggest obstacle to winter canoeing here in the north. Winters are harsh, cold, and long.
Luckily, we had a brief thaw that that opened a small section of the river below the Mad Hatter Dam (my invented name). Ice still projected into the main current from each bank, but the main channel was open, and that's all you need.
The freeze was back on (high temp was 20 (f)) but this is hardly an obstacle for the well-prepared. The conditions were right.
On Being Well-prepared
Preparing for a winter paddle is essential. To make our trip down river we brought or wore the following items:
- a six-pack of 16oz Miller High Life in plastic bottles. (Plastic bottles come with screw-on tops, which helps prevent tragic spillage).
- several cigars of middlin' quality
- fishin' rod and tackle
- warm clothing
- cell phone with a dead battery*(see note below)
- canoe paddles
*Please be aware that the dead battery on your cell phone is an essential component of successful winter canoeing. "Why?" you ask. It's so that the intrepid canoeists can enjoy the serenity of isolation (so vital to enjoying the river in winter) and still be able to answer the spouse's question of "Did you remember your cell phone?" with an honest "Yes".
The Trip
My brother and I made all the proper preparations, as noted in the list above. Then we tied the canoe to the top of the care made for the put-in at Mad Hatter Dam.
We loaded the canoe on the iced-over river bank. Then we each took our seats in the canoe while it was still on the sheet of ice on the bank. Using our paddles to push us along the ice, we flopped into the main channel. I felt like a river otter at play, sliding off the ice like that.
We had to paddle quickly to maneuver around some rocks as the water below the dam is fast moving. But the current slowed after a time and we opened our Millers and lit our fat cigars and fished and talked and smoked and drank.
The woods are quiet in winter. There are few birds who stay over -- some crows, ravens, chickadees and nuthatches are still active. But in winter they are often still and quiet, more busy about finding the next bit of food than about singing songs of love.
We saw many small (bowling ball) to mid-sized (four foot long) chunks of ice float by us. Sometimes these chunks would collide with the ice still protruding out from the banks and make a wonderful clink-SHUSHH-grrlunk! sound. But more often, we'd hear the constant trickle of water under the ice. Such sounds made the big river sound like mountain rill.
The steam of our breath merged with the smoke from our cheap cigars. And all around us, the smell of clean snow and pine pitch gave accent to the air.
Thank God the phone never rang! How could it?Sometimes one has to prepare the way for fate to work properly. The trip down the river was slow and tranquil. . . . and crazy and cold. We wore layers of clothes on our legs and torses and ski gloves on our hands. Our jacket collars were white with the residue of our frosted breath.
. . . . .
The Return
The trip back to the put-in at Mad Hatter Dam was a brutal but honest struggle as we paddled back up stream, through calm and fast water alike. No smokin'. No drinkin'. No fishin' -- just paddle. Paddle to stay warm. Paddle to get home.
That's the greatest joy of canoeing in winter. Sometimes we have to set out just to thrill at coming home.
EDIT: An Image
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