Paddling Speed?

[cgaphiker]

Thanks for all of the responses. Making take-outs or campsites was what I was thinking about. Thanks again.

[ppine]

Chadtower,

The posts relates to speed calculations to make destinations on longer trips. Estimating speed is very useful to determine decisions, like is there is enough daylight to make a crossing? How many days until the takeout at this flow?

An anchor is a great idea. I usually carry an empty mesh bag in a canoe. It can be filled with some rocks to use as an anchor when necessary.

[briansnat]

I just use my GPS. It tells me actual speed, average moving speed, time moving, time stopped and overall average speed including stopped time.

[ChadTower]

The thing about those plans based on expected travel time is that they can change in an instant. If it starts to rain unexpectedly, you can be boned. If the wind picks up against you, you can be boned. If someone does something stupid, you can be boned. If the fish start biting like crazy or if you run into something amazing and worth the delay, you can be boned. If you run into a flash flood debris pileup with no obvious portage path, you can be boned.

If I learned one thing from my grandfather it's that you always account for an extra 25% or more on expected travel time. Just make it part of the plan. If you make good time and arrive early, great, you have some extra hours for fishing. Trying to plan things too tightly rarely works when nature has control of all of the variables.

The travel itself is often the best part of a paddling trip.

[wvbreamfisherman]

I agree, ChadTower. The journey is the main part of the experience I look for. I always try to have a backup plan in mind, which I continually adjust as I go along.

If the wind rises in my face (as it always seems to, particularly when I need to make time), or the stream is clogged up, or the fish are biting , or if a nap attack sneaks up on me after lunch, I try to allow slack or have an alternative (be prepared to spend a night someplace other than where I intended, for example).

[briansnat]

Originally Posted by wvbreamfisherman

I agree, ChadTower. The journey is the main part of the experience I look for. I always try to have a backup plan in mind, which I continually adjust as I go along.

If the wind rises in my face (as it always seems to, particularly when I need to make time), or the stream is clogged up, or the fish are biting , or if a nap attack sneaks up on me after lunch, I try to allow slack or have an alternative (be prepared to spend a night someplace other than where I intended, for example).

A backup plan is key. I set my goal, then come up with a likely worst case fallback and consider several options in between as well. I do this for paddling and backpacking.

I usually plan my trips, whether paddling or backpacking, so that the last day is a short one. No more than 2-3 hours of hiking or paddling. I also break camp and hit the water or trail earlier than usual. That way it is very unlikely that I will have to spend an unplanned night if things don't go as expected.

Another nice feature of my GPS is that it estimates how long it will take me to reach my destination at my current speed. Of course that is a straight line estimate, so it is only a guide, but a helpful one.