Currents
MY THBUS T E R
LET ME COUNT THE WAYS. PHOTO: COLIN FIELD
HOW DO I MOCK THEE?
SEVEN DEADLY SINS CLIFF JACOBSON ON THE MOST COMMON MISTAKES OF WILDERNESS CANOEISTS
After paddling North America’s lakes and rivers for more than 60 years, author and adventurer Cliff Jacobson has unfortunately seen it all. In his own words, America’s renowned canoeing authority shares seven of the most common—and dangerous—mistakes he sees on the water.
1. NOT SCOUTING Round the bend of your local river, you might see the dancing horsetails of a rapid you’ve paddled a dozen times before. Don’t be tempted to dismiss scouting and plunge confidently ahead. I’ve done this myself, only to see a sapling blocking the way. We capsized and wrapped the canoe. View the route you’re paddling with fresh, clear eyes, each and every time.
2. UNSECURED CANOE Spend enough time tripping and you’ll be sure to spot an unlucky paddler’s previously beached canoe drift by. In wind or current, and especially in remote areas, a runaway boat is a serious problem. Always secure your canoe overnight and during breaks by tying off the bowline to a tree or other immovable object. If you stop briefly where a tie-up is difficult, string out your bow and stern lines along the ground. If the canoe drifts away while you’re watching, you can make a dash to grab a line.
3. RUSHING Stop when you must and run when you can. If you’re being beaten by a headwind, put ashore to wait it out. Too much focus on keeping to a schedule can lead to bad decision making, exhausting the group—or worse. Paddlers can often make up lost time by paddling longer on nice days, or by paddling in the quiet hours of dawn and dusk.
4. UNZIPPED PFD Drowning deaths where PFDs are worn properly account for between only
This article first appeared in the 2016 Paddling Buyer’s Guide. 22 PADDLING MAGAZINE
two and 13 percent of incidents, according to the Red Cross Society. In the event of of capsizing, swamping or collision with another boat, wearing a PFD properly is the best assurance of returning home.
5. OVERLOADING Whether its enthusiastic weekend warriors stacking beer, guitar cases and duffel bags high above the gunwales, cottagers stuffing in too many passengers or experienced paddlers taking home an awkwardly sized trophy, overloading leads to instability and is one of the most common causes of serious river accidents. I’ve had the unfortunate experience of having a found caribou rack caught in a low hanging sapling above a class II rapid. Escape meant cutting the cord that held the rack—and hoping a tine wouldn’t spear me as it rolled out.
6. INCOMPETENT BACK FERRY Anyone who plans to travel on a wilderness river with a loaded canoe should learn to back ferry effectively. A back ferry allows for moving from one side of the river to the other, and slows the canoe, buying time to evaluate the next obstacle and position the canoe. Boat control is a problem for many paddlers when learning this maneuver, so practice this technique before you need to execute it.
7. LOOSE ITEMS Loose items must be minimized and secured. Not only does this make portages much more efficient, if your canoe capsizes the cleanup is much quicker. Your friends will thank you.
Cliff Jacobson is one of North America’s most respected outdoors writers and wilderness guides. He’s a regular contributor to Canoeroots.
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