PADDLER 66
PADDLER 66
WHAT ARE YOUR OPTIONS ?
One possibility is to disembark onto the log , pull or lift your canoe over and reenter . Hazards might include the log being slippery or hard to balance . Maybe it ’ s got poison ivy growing on it . Another option would be the teeter-totter method . To see-saw over a log , one gets upstream ( assuming you are approaching from that direction ) at a few canoe lengths from the intended crossing spot . The canoe is aligned so that it will approach the intended crossing spot at a right angle or close to it . The paddler then ‘ hops ’ behind the seat , positioning themselves as close to the stern as possible . The bow is now high in the air . ( Beware that the canoe will be very tippy from this position .) The paddler then paddles forward , riding the bow up and over the log as far as possible .
To succeed , the canoe must be approximately halfway over the log before it grounds out . The paddler then climbs back over the seat ( and possibly over the front thwart until the canoe ‘ teeter-totters ’ forward . Finally , they take a couple of forward strokes , dragging the canoe free of the log before returning to the usual paddling station . A word of WARNING ! Not all canoes can take the stress of being teeter-tottered . I have known paddlers to crack the bottoms of their canoes while doing such a manoeuvre . Nonetheless , it ’ s a quick way over a common obstacle if you are confident in your skills and your boat .
Zig-zagging through a maze of downed tree limbs is the most common scenario . To succeed in a tight maze , one needs to be proficient in using wedges , cross wedges , axles , cross axles , side slips , draws , etcetera . More than sweeps , reverse sweeps and J strokes are likely required . One generally doesn ’ t get much time to ponder the next move . The necessary manoeuvres need to be instinctual , and one must always look one step ahead . A safe paddler will evaluate such a maze before entering it . Deciding , halfway through , that you ’ ve bitten off more than you can chew is a bad place to be .
Paddling downstream , with the current pushing you along , is , by far , the most common scenario . Paddling upstream adds additional challenges but significantly reduces risks . If one approaches a strainer or other
obstruction from the downstream side and doesn ’ t like what they see , there is no risk of being pushed into it . Because of this ‘ built-in ’ safety factor , exploring from the downstream side is my preferred method when scouting an unfamiliar stream . When I ’ ve had enough of the game , I can backtrack , now knowing what challenges lie ahead .
Tree Dimensional paddling is an opportunity to test and develop your skills each time you go out . It ’ s expecting and planning for the unexpected . It is about learning how to deal safely with challenges that may arise whenever paddling narrow , twisty streams . It ’ s not for everyone , but is it for you ?
Credit to Bruce Kemp for his insight , suggestions and edits .
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