November 24 was a beautiful monday and we were six friends that were out kayaking this cold day. We started at the parking lot at Yttre Bodane in Dalsland and took a five hours trip on the Lake Vänern. Besides me it was Fredrik, Christer, Björn, Hasse and Göran.
The thermometer showed -6°C and it was a nice frost. Fredrik was already in place as he had stayed the night in his tent at the parking lot.
We took our kayaks out to the wooden jetty and put them in the water. All dressed up warm in our drysuits, gloves and hats. But the sun didn't manage to warm us any but paddling against the wind was a bit hard so it got us all pretty warm.
Soon it was coffee time but we didn't sit very long on the cold stones. We had a nice pace among the many islands and tried some passages that were covered in ice, but it was to thick to brake in places. 2-3 centimeters thick, maybe.
On the north end of Rotön we stopped for lunch but the sun was on the way down all to soon so we kept that stop a bit short as well. A very nice paddling towards the sunset on the way back and the wind was decreasing to almost calm weather.
I have had many posts from Yttre Bodane, my favorite place, and this was one of the more memorable trips. A really great day with good friends.
I will later update the post with a video, one that is a bit longer than the ones I usually make Updated now!. And even on this cold day I did my roll. To see it, watch the video!
Morning at the parking lot at Yttre Bodane. Christer is walking past Fredrik's tent
One of many foot-bridges at Yttre Bodane
The small jetty, special built for kayaks and canoes.
Björn, Christer & Fredrik
Hasse
Coffee break. An important part of the trip
Some passages were not possible to pass due to ice. This one was OK.
Low water level as shown on this beautiful rock. See the icicles?
Today it was only a short trip on the Lake Vänern for three hours. I waited until about 11 AM for the temperature to rise a bit. The air temperature was about -1°C and in the water 5°C.
A few boats are still in the water at Sunnanå marina but most of them are out of the water now. I saw one guy with his boat out fishing, a tough dude :) But the real tough ones are out kayaking!
And my customary roll was done at the end of the trip. It's getting cold to do that now.
The photos show what nice blue colors it was today and don't miss the movie at the end of the post.
Today we had the first snow flakes in my part of Sweden. A bit late in the season but I don't mind :)
Hopefully there will be some kayaking in the weekend and I will write a bit about my experience with winter paddling and what gear I use. First out will be how I protect my hands from cold water and icy winds.
February 2015
I have during many years mostly used pogies made of nylon and with a "silver" lining. I have tried with mitts and gloves made of neoprene as well.
Before it has not been a big problem as I was hardly ever freezing my hands. But as I have lost a lot of weight and have less body fat my hands are almost always cold. To be able to continue kayaking all trough the winter I have to do some experimenting and testing.
Neoprene gloves
Here are some of my gear for protecting my hands.
Kanuk nylon Pogies
NRS neoprene mitts
From the top:
Neoprene gloves. Works when it is not to cold. These are rather thin and a bit to tight. I sometimes use them when hiking in wet weather also. Price: 300 SEK or US$ 35.
Neoprene mitts from NRS. Warmer then the gloves but very awkward to use. It is easy to put on the first, but to put on the second one is very hard, especially sitting in a kayak. To put them on before entering the kayak it's impossible to fasten the spray hood. And to use a camera? Forget it! Never use them. Price: 450 SEK or US$ 50.
Then it's my well used pogies from Kanuk. Easy to fasten on the paddle shaft, very easy to enter the hand into and normally warm enough. I think the reflecting silver lining is helping to keep some warmth. Price: 300S EK or US$ 35.
Next ones are the blue gloves from GUIDE made of latex. I have not used them yet but together with pogies I think the will work out well. It is possible to have some fleece gloves as a lining inside them if its very cold. This is a cheap alternative that I have used on ships in the Baltic during winter with good result. Price: 60 SEK or US$ 7.
And last the neoprene pogies from Paddler that I use mostly nowadys. Very easy to enter and warmer than the ones made of nylon. Also easy to fasten with snap buttons rather than with velcro that the Kanuk ones use. How that will work when the water is freezing I have to test this winter. Price: 420 SEK or US$ 48.
GUIDE latex gloves
My experiences with pogies are that they work best with a short sleeve and that the material is stiff enough to keep them open when the hands are out of the pogies. I have seen some with a draw-string and do not recommend that type.
The best thing with pogies is that your hands are gripping the paddle with no material between the skin and the paddle shaft that can make you lose the feeling of the paddle or cause the grip to slip.
I have not tested the Snap Dragon Hyper Hands that are supposed to be very warm and are recommended in forums and reviews.
Paddler neoprene pogies
Paddling often makes me warm and unless it's windy my hands stays somewhat warm as well. But it's when going ashore for a break I freeze the most. Then the very warm mitts made of wool felt from Edvardson that helps me keep warm.
Testing my Paddler neoprene pogies for the first time. Warm and works well when rolling.
I have been busy with work and other training besides kayaking lately. But I have been out a few times anyway.
First it was close to home with a trip from Sunnanå to Köpmannebro and back with a friend. A very nice day with calm weather most of the day. We saw a few sea eagles, a raven and some seabirds. That is always nice.
Then on the 11th I was out with two friends on a more windy, but sunny, day from Donslund (Rackeby) north of Lidköping. We went straight outside the islands to surf some nice sea for a bit before going inside to have a lee for some lunch and not to have to paddle against to much wind on the way back.
Look at the video at the end of the post from that day.
And I have a new camera! My old GoPro was not working very well and I sent it in to the shop (Dustin) for repairs or replacement. Even if it was two years old they replaced my old Hero 3 with a Hero 4 Silver. That is an amazing camera! Better battery time than my old one and and a touch screen on the backside. Unfortunately the batteries for the old camera didn't fit so I had to buy some extra. I will now make some more videos when I'm out kayaking or hiking.
Nice sunny November day. Sunnanå in the background
November 24 was a beautiful monday and we were six friends that were out kayaking this cold day. We started at the parking lot at Yttre Bodane in Dalsland and took a five hours trip on the Lake Vänern. Besides me it was Fredrik, Christer, Björn, Hasse and Göran.
