Winter paddling on the Shiawassee River.
Every year in the Midwest we hear stories of people either going through the ice while fishing or losing their lives due to hypothermia in paddling accidents. There’s no doubt that getting out of the house and into nature is vital if you want to avoid the winter blues, or what’s known as the “shacky-wackies” in my native Canada.
In a recent newsletter from the American Canoe Association, contributor Mike Aronoff, an multi-level instructor in both kayak and canoe disciplines, outlined a few tips for would-be winter paddlers.
He recommends wearing a dry suit, or at least 3 m wetsuit. Personally, I always count on going for a swim (summer or winter), even though I think I’m too good for that. Aronoff adds, “cold water shock, hypothermia, are considered to be a risk if a person is exposed to water of 60 degrees or less and if air isn’t 70 plus, warming up is unlikely.” He also suggests layering for cold weather paddling with synthetics or wool as a base layer, then insulation, heavier fleece or wool topped off with a dry suit. Thick wool socks, gloves and a neoprene helmet liner also keep the warmth in, and the cold weather out. If you don’t do whitewater and have no need for a helmet, remember to still keep your head covered. I’m always amazed at how much warmer my body stays if I just put a hat on my head, especially when I’m in my sleeping bag.
In my own survey of retailers, I’ve found that dry-suits can cost anywhere from $400-$1000. But if you’re really serious about paddling in winter weather, the investment is probably worth it. The question would ultimately be – How much do you value your life? Neoprene suits on the other hand range in price from $100-$500. I’ve whitewater rafted in the Pyrenees Mountains using neoprene and other than the initial shock, they tend to warm up nicely in seconds. It’s your exposed areas that really take the brunt of the cold, like you face and upper neck. But either is a good choice and could be used not only for winter paddling, but for late fall or early spring as well.
Winter is a great time of year. Paddling, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing or just getting out for a walk in the woods when the snow is not too deep will expose you to an entirely different world. Animals, birds, plant and tree structures will stand out in ways they simply can’t when summer foliage covers them.
So there’s no excuse for the “shacky-wackies” this winter. Get out there, but remember, be safe and keep warm!
Accipiters are slender forest hawks with rounded wings and long tails which give them excellent flight maneuverability, such as the Cooper’s Hawk. If you’re trying to determine whether a hawk is a Cooper’s Hawk, or it’s close cousin, the Red-Tailed Hawk, consider size (Cooper is slightly smaller), color of the tail and perhaps most importantly, location. Cooper’s Hawks tend to located in wooded areas, whereas Red-Tailed Hawk prefer to be in the open.
Buteos are larger hawks with broad wings and short tails that allow them to soar over the landscape searching out prey below. A great example would be the Red-Tailed Hawk. I can remember the days when sighting a Red-Tailed Hawk was rare. Today, they can be seen in trees or on fence posts along nearly any roadway. DDT of course had an incredible impact on all birds, particularly raptors by softening the eggs so that they broke open and the embryo died before maturation.
Eagle are very large soaring hawks with exceptionally keen eyesight (whence the nickname “eagle-eye”) and powerful wings. Bald Eagles are perhaps the best known. Not far from where I live in Indiana, Bald Eagles can be regularly sited along the Wabash River between Huntington and Wabash. One of the best ways to see them is by canoe, but be sure to make the trip before the end of June or you may be dragging your canoe over gravel bars.
Falcons are raptors with tapered, pointed wings built for speed and agile flight. The peregrine falcon, which has slowly been emerging from the endangered species list) is the world’s fastest animal with dive speeds up to 200 miles per hour. Interestingly, colonies of peregrine falcons have been known to nest among skyscrapers in large cities. They seem to like the height and isolation. Many cities have introduced ordinances prohibiting the removal or disturbance of falcon nests. Otherwise, they build their nests on cliff sides, particularly along the shores of Lake Superior.
A harrier is a hawk that flies low or hovers while hunting in fields and open areas. In North America you’ve not likely to see anything other than a northern harrier. In order to distinguish them from other hawks you will want to look for their yellow talons and the notable “helmet” design of the feathers on the head.
Kites are small, agile birds with tapered wings and graceful flight. Most kites are found in the southern US, except the white-tailed kite which can be found along the Pacific coast. In order to distinguish them from gulls, you will want to pay attention for the curved bill (common among most all raptors) and the marquis-shape horizontal eye opening with its noticeable yellow color.
Osprey are fish hunters and among the most widespread raptors in the world. Amazingly, there is only one species of osprey. One interesting feature of the osprey is its ability to catch two fish at a time. It ability to spot, grab two fish and fly away is quite impressive. Once I saw an Osprey nab a squirrel at a golf course. It wasn’t a pleasant scene as the squirrels shrieked all they way up to the high branch where the Osprey finally tore it apart.
A nocturnal bird of prey, the owl is known for its upright posture and forward facing eyes (perhaps why we view them as symbols of wisdom). Owls obviously have keen night vision, outstanding hearing and nearly silent flight making their dive to capture their prey practically imperceptible.You may recall my reference to 
Shrikes are unique in that they are both songbirds and birds of prey. Some have given them the name “butcher birds” as the impale their prey on thorns or other sharp objects in order to rip it apart with their rather weak talons. They seem a little like the “sirens” of the raptor world.
Vultures are exceptionally large birds with featherless heads that scavenge for their food. Carrion is their preferred food and they’re capable of soaring for hours while they seek out their next meal. Many confuse them with other birds of prey, but the can be best distinguished from others by the “v” shape of their wings when they are soaring. Eagles wings, for example, are relatively level.
