An average kayaker can travel around 3 miles per hour with a maximum speed of around 5 or 6 miles per hour in average conditions, so keep that in mind when you read the river.
There are several portions of a river that can either be useful or a hindrance to paddling upstream. Eddies, for example, can be helpful when you need to take a break from paddling. An eddy is a part of the river where the current has been blocked or slowed down by a rock or obstruction and generally flows in the opposite direction or can be almost still. Another thing to look for is the V shaped flows. There are both upstream and downstream Vs which can add extra challenges to paddling upstream.
A downstream V can mean that water is being funneled past objects, which can mean fast flowing water. The currents at the sides of a river can often be weaker than closer to the center. Paddling upstream need not be as much work as you might think. Moving water paddlers learn to read the water — spotting areas of greater or lesser flow rate, obstructions lurking just below the surface, eddies — and to use these to their advantage.
Those same river reading skills and natural features are just as useful when going upstream, and maybe more so. Taking advantage of the relatively slacker water inside bends, moving from side to side in the stream; hopping the eddies behind small points or obstructions; anticipating, and compensating for, the swifter current that will grab the bow when you round that tight bend.
A short sideslip to the center of the stream will put us in the eddy behind the rock. Here we can sit a moment while contemplating our next move. On the downstream run, we can use all of our tricks to stay in the faster water and dodge the obstructions.
Warning: Most strainers will be located on the outside of turns, where the faster water runs. A strainer that escaped notice, on the way up, may present a hazard on the way down. If in doubt, stay toward the center, go slow and be prepared to stop. Side slips, axles, posts, wedges, accurate forwards including their cross variants are the tools needed to play this game. It allows paddlers to cross current without having to sacrifice too much of their upstream progress.
Although honing in on this skill may seem intimidating, being persistent with your efforts will eventually pay off. If you would like to learn the nuances of ferrying, watch the clip below. This instructor takes you step-by-step through what sort of boating angle you should take, along with tips on how to avoid flipping. After all, paddlers do have the choice of forgoing this option entirely if they choose to do so. Like the answer to most things, the answer is that it depends.
The answer varies from person to person, as everyone has their own individual goals and contrasting experience levels. Paddling Upstream Offers Greater Fitness Benefits — For one, paddling upstream will drastically improve your strength and endurance.
While traveling downstream, it can be tempting to float along and allow the current to do most of the work for you. Instead, you have to work hard to paddle against the natural flow of the water to get to your intended destination.
Not only does paddling upstream force your body to actively engage its stabilizing muscles, but it also forces you to become a better paddler in general. You will strengthen all of the areas in your body that need improvement to handle rougher water terrains. At the end of the day, paddling is a great workout in and of itself. But if you want to kick the exercise up a notch, paddling upstream is the next step up the ladder.
The rental of a kayak or canoe alone already costs a decent sum of money. So why not save the extra money and paddle both upstream and downstream? You came out to the water to paddle anyways. So you might as well get the most bang for your buck! Too Physically Demanding for Inexperienced Paddlers — As far as the negatives go, the most glaring issue is the physical exhaustion that accompanies an upstream paddling strip.
Then, once they have an adequate amount of experience under their belt, they can progress to paddling upstream. This is obviously something we want to avoid. May Reach a Point Where Paddling Upstream is Not Possible — Another thing to consider is that you may reach a section on the river where the current is too strong for you to handle.
Rivers can have highly variable conditions. There may be times where there may be an unexpected amount of fallen debris or an extreme narrowing of the channel, resulting in an acute strengthening of the river current.
Under these circumstances, you may have to forgo paddling upstream completely and seek an alternative option to get to where you need to go.
Paddling upstream is very doable. However, paddlers need to recognize the movement patterns of the waterway to take the most optimal, energy-efficient route. Failing to do so will only result in over-exhaustion. Sources: 1 2. I am the owner of HydroPursuit. I enjoy kicking back and getting out on the water as much as I can in my free time. Nothing sounds better than a relaxing day at the beach with your family. However, before you sink your toes into the sand, you may wonder if your children are too young for the beach.
Sometimes, a trip to the pool is what you need on a hot summer day or during a dull winter afternoon.
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