As of this week, I am
officially released from the grip of school.
Summer is officially here, and if you’re anything like me, your soul
craves nothing more than river mud- and sand-crusted feet, a timeless journey down
a coursing river, and tangling with the resolute will of a river
smallmouth. So, in honor of National
Safe Boating Week and everything that summer is, I’ve put together a short list
of tips—a refresher—for keeping your float trips safe and enjoyable.
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| The iconic Massanutten Mountain from Low Water Bridge on the Shenandoah River. Photo by Matt Reilly. |
Check the Weather, Plan for the Worst
Three years ago I was
floating a short piece of the upper South Fork Rivanna River with my brother
after work. It was a last minute
plan. We were just going to be out for a
few hours. The skies were bluebird. We didn’t even glance at the forecast.
In this case, what we
didn’t know bit us—hard. We had paddled
about a mile upstream and were just about to stop and begin to fish on our float
back when an audible roar started to grow in the air. I rounded a bend in the river to see--like
black and white—dark, roiling storm clouds pushing back quickly on a bright sky
that had previously seemed unconquerable.
As fast as we could paddle back wasn’t fast enough. The storm overtook us in a matter of minutes,
bringing branches tumbling haphazardly into the water along our path. We made it back to the truck unscathed,
albeit soaked, frightened, and humbled. Read about that encounter HERE.
The moral of the
story? Check the weather—always. Summer is characterized by late-afternoon low
pressure systems caused by warming air over land. Know that, and plan and pack accordingly.
Limit Alcohol Consumption
A study conducted in
four southeastern states concluded that alcohol is a contributing factor in
about 51 percent of motorboat fatalities in those states. If your summertime boating activities involve
operating a motorboat, understand that it requires dexterity, awareness of
boating traffic, and the ability to make and execute quick decisions.
Alcohol also increases
the danger of drowning by decreasing one’s ability to swim by reducing their ability
to hold one’s breath and by disorientation.
Moreover, alcohol
should not be utilized as a source of hydration, as its consumption can lead to
dehydration. Alcohol limits the body’s
production of an anti-diuretic hormone, which reduces the body’s ability to
absorb water. Putting your body in this
situation while on the water, in the sun, is not a healthy choice, and can lead
to minor dehydration or a more serious illness.
Know Your Course and River Conditions
It’s easy to
underestimate the amount of time required for a particular float. I have listened to many a story from people
who fallaciously equated the length of the paralleling road to the length of
their intended float, or otherwise bit off more than they could chew in a day
and ended up on the river much after dark, to ever consciously make that
mistake.
If you plan to tackle a
new stretch of river, do your research.
Know its length in terms of river miles.
On average, eight to 10 miles makes for about four to six hours of
relaxed floating. If you plan to fish, cut
that time in half. Current speed should
also be taken into consideration. An
eight-mile float on a fast-paced river will go by much faster than on a slow,
meandering river.
Similarly, it pays to
do research on the water type present along the stretch you intend to
float. For instance, the Shenandoah
River is a river of many ledges and a few rapids, namely Compton’s Rapids,
while the Rivanna River has little in the way of sharp ledges in its lower
reaches. Know these character traits so
that you can be on the lookout for them and know how to handle such obstacles
when they are encountered.
Lastly, but perhaps
most importantly, always check
streamflow levels before floating a river.
The US Geological Survey maintains a detailed, real-time set of tables
fed by river gauges across the country that serve as an invaluable resource for
river-goers and fishermen alike. Utilize
that resource to avoid the stretches of slow, flat water where you might have
to drag your craft during low water; the tight rapids that will be more
dangerous during high water events; and to know when to stay home when the
water is at flood stage or a remarkable low.
Keep these tips in mind
while planning and enjoying your times on the water this summer. Nothing puts a hamper on a great day on the
water with friends like an accident, and most can be easily avoided with
forethought.
See you on the water!
