For further general safety information, Appendix F: Safety Code of American Whitewater.
What to Do When (Not If) You Do Get Dumped
It happens to all of us, at least once: Whether you see it coming before it occurs or it blindsides you, at some point you and your boat will go separate ways. So, what do you do? First and foremost, stay calm and relax. Seriously. Overreacting makes it worse.
What you do next depends on the current and the environment. If the water is deep and slow and the river wide and straight, you’ll probably want to swim to your boat and collect anything that fell out (as long as it floats). If the stream is shallow and the current relatively gentle, chances are pretty good you’ll be able to just stand up.
But if the current is strong and the river rocky and deep, do not stand up and try to walk. Your foot could get stuck underneath a submerged rock or tree root, but the current from behind will knock you over—and a combination of current and confinement could be deadly. Instead, make your way over to the shore with your feet out in front of you, your back flat and belly up. Try as well to keep upstream of your boat, so that it doesn’t run into you or pin you against an object.
In the event that you and your boat are pinned against an object in a river, such as a fallen tree or a boulder, always lean toward the object against which you are pinned. The bottom of your boat will act as a buttress against the current; you will be stuck but safe. If you lean into the current, it will drag you beneath the surface and under the obstruction, which can be lethal.
It bears repeating: Stay calm. Don’t let a couple seconds of panic cost a lifetime.
Baby, It’s Cold Outside: How to Avoid Hypothermia
Generally, if the outside temperature and the water temperature add up to less than 100, hypothermia is possible. The easiest prevention method, of course, is to stay off the water, but I paddle year-round. In general, when paddling in cold water/weather, it’s wise to keep to the nearby streams that you know already, and save the explorations of more exotic places for warmer conditions.
Keep your cold-weather trips modest in length and time, and try to find another romantic fool who wants to be on the water, so that you’re not paddling alone. Like any cold-weather activity outdoors, you’ll want to dress in layers, and choose clothing made from moisture-resistant materials. It’s always a good idea to pack a change of clothes inside a dry bag stowed inside your boat. When it comes to cold-weather paddling, this is critical. I’ve been dumped a couple times on wintertime trips, and having a new outfit to change into was the best thing since bread got sliced—and it probably saved my life.
Paddles and PFDs
In Wisconsin, you are not legally required to wear a personal flotation device (PFD), but you must have one with you while on the water, whether stowed inside the boat or tied down on top. Especially in rapids or sandbars with sudden drops, wearing a PFD can save your life.
Also, it’s not a bad idea to have a spare paddle with you. Investing in a cheap backup could be the difference between a great day on the river and a terrible one. No one wants to be that person up the creek without a paddle! Many rental outfitters will sell you a basic paddle for next to nothing.
Other Helpful Tips
• Carefully review the map before and during your paddle, being mindful of take-outs and potential portages. Sometimes it’s a good idea to mark a branch on a tree or a bridge by the take-out with a bandana, colorful cloth, or surveyor’s tape to help signal that this is where to pull into. You don’t want to miss your take-out! (Just don’t forget to remove your reminder.)
• Whenever you know you’ll be running a sudden drop or continuous rapids, it’s a good idea to scout the river from dry land first so as to avoid unpleasant surprises while on the water, when it could be too late.
• When on lakes or large rivers, always paddle defensively when motorboats and Jet Skiers are around. Make yourself visible and keep a wide berth of their wake. Always point the front end of your boat (the bow) into the direction of an oncoming wave to avoid capsizing or getting swamped.
• Always bring extra water and plenty of sunscreen, and be sure to include safety equipment, such as a weather radio, first-aid kit, throw rope or rescue line, a bilge pump or sponge, dry bags, snacks, and rain gear. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses, too. Expect the best, but prepare for the worst.
NAVIGABLE PUBLIC WATERWAYS IN WISCONSIN ARE DEFINED, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, as “lakes, rivers, and streams [that] have a bottom (bed) and side (bank), and enough water to float any boat, skiff, or canoe of the shallowest draft on a reoccurring basis.” In addition, “barriers such as wood or plant debris may impede actual navigation but waters are public even when multiple portages are required to get around obstructions.” And, finally, “a waterway does not need to be regularly used for recreational or other general purposes, but is a public waterway based on its capacity to be navigable and public.” For more on this, see tinyurl.com/wiwaterwayandwetlandpermits and tinyurl.com/wipublictrustdoctrine.
Paddlers are not allowed to go beyond the ordinary high-water mark on private land (this is usually the top of a riverbank) but do have reasonable access to shoreline (which will often be private land) “only if it is necessary to exit the body of water to bypass an obstruction.” It’s never unwise to have something in writing, so here’s the actual statuary language you can print out and have ready in case an ornery landowner shakes his cane at you in a “Get off my lawn, you kids!” kind of way: tinyurl.com/wisconsinriparianrights.
On the whole, it’s best for all involved if paddlers are mindful of private landowners and as unobtrusive as possible. Remember: How you conduct yourself on the river impacts other canoeists and kayakers. Like it or not, we’re all paddling ambassadors. The cooperation between landowners and paddlers will ensure river access for future generations.
The guidelines below are derived from the Seven Principles promoted and copyrighted by the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics (lnt.org):
1. Plan ahead and prepare.
2. Travel and camp on durable surfaces to minimize disturbance of natural areas.
3. Dispose of waste properly.
4. Leave what you find (unless it’s trash!).
5. Minimize campfire impacts.
6. Respect wildlife.
7. Be considerate of others.
Respect private property and publicly owned property along the water. For your own safety, the well-being of livestock, and as a courtesy to landowners, always yield to cattle and other critters in the water. When you encounter wire strung along a river, gently thread your way under or through it; do not tamper with it. (Keep in mind that wire almost always comes in pairs, and it’s strung not to injure