I am a new kayaker and member to BWA. Looking to find some one to paddle with. I have a 11 year old daughter who also is interested. Have done the lower Pigeon and lower Elk Horn a couple of times. Live here in Fayette CO. Southeast side. Let me know if anyone is interested.

Ben

There will be plenty of opportunities for paddling with the group. Especially in the spring with the clinic. It's a great way to meet people. If you don't currently have a roll and cold water gear you'd have to be very careful of a swim these days...while the air temp may seem warm enough the combined air/water temps may lead to hypothermia. I'd recommend coming to the roll sessions which start November 13th (See the separate post on these sessions)..that way you'd be ready next spring for bigger water.

I'd be a bit more adamant about it. If you are doing winter kayaking, absolutely get the cold-water gear. I have been paddling with a farmer John wet suit, dry top, skull cap, and poggies for several winter seasons, and have had a few swims in ice-cold water. That equipment has kept me alive. Even so, if you swim in the very first rapid (as I did twice trying to surf Church wave on the Elkhorn in winter), the rest of the paddle can be mildly uncomfortable even with the aforementioned gear. I wish I could use a dry suit instead, but I can't stand the agony of climbing into one.

Even if you have a roll, it is possible you will have to swim at some point. I think even our best paddlers have swum (since the alternative is to avoid pushing the envelop till things warm up again - and that's boring). And, in my case I find it is more likely that I will swim in the cold water. Why that is raises another point of awareness. When the cold water hits there is a strong impulse to gasp. That is a drowning hazard, and that is another reason to wear warm gear.

Chris S

Chris Schardl

I have a farmer John, no dry top but a splash top. I was told in store if you swim you will be wet anyway, I know I will swim, and want to be smart and alive. I do appreciate the advise, and glad for all the wisdom I can gleem for those more experianced. Thanks

Benfarris Wrote:
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> I have a farmer John, no dry top but a splash top.
> I was told in store if you swim you will be wet
> anyway

True. And to be honest, until I got a new dry top this spring, mine had become a "wet top". It absorbed water rather than repelling it.

Chris S.

Chris Schardl

Ben,

Myself and a few others I typically paddle with are all pretty new to the sport but plan to keep paddling the remainder of the fall and all winter long as well. You would be more than welcome to join us when we go but be forewarned we typically go early on the weekends. May try and go this weekend on the Elkhorn if the H20 holds up enough (over 500 cfs).

Shoot me your number and I'll give you a call next time we go. My number is 859-285-0845.

Lyle

Lyle, I think we'll be out of luck. I predict it will drop below 500 by Thursday, and below 250 before Saturday. I'll generally paddle the Elkhorn at 250 cfs or above.

Chris S

Chris Schardl

Chris,

Your probably right. I've been praying for rain this week but so far the forecast doesn't seem to be changing at all and thus it looks to be sunny, cold and 0 rain all week. If this holds true the poor Khorn will be down to small trickle and unrunnable.

I've never run the Khorn below 500. How is it at 250-400?


Lyle

Hi Ben,
Welcome! Re: boating, we have folks at pretty much all levels going out all the time to local streams and further away. If there's water, someone's going to be there! Most of us usually boat the Elkhorn above Knight's Bridge. It's a solid step above the lower Elkhorn, but with the exception of the dam portage, hazards are minimal.

My daughter is 11 too. She started on the lower Elkhorn at age 8 and is now pretty solid in Class III. There has been talk from time to time in the past 9 mos to do a family trip / wkend. Nothing has materialized yet though ... maybe when it warms up next year.

Re: gear. A farmer john and drytop will serve you well. You can supplement with thin fleece underneath that has been treated with hydrophobic fleece treatment (like Nikwax Polar Guard) but you'll have to wash in Tech Wash or similar otherwise will have to retreat after every wash. I highly rec: investing in a quality 3 layer top such as the Kokotat Rogue or Immersion Research X-Jacket, Comp LX or Competition (Semi dry). Thick booties, neoprene head cover and pogies will help too.

Will be posting information re: rolls sessions early next week. A rock solid roll is your first defense against the cold.

Wes

If you haven't already, get someone to check out your fit in the boat and other gear, mainly helmet. I went through winter roll sessions, the clinic, and one trip down the gorge section of the Elkhorn before someone mentioned I needed hip pads in my boat. They made a big difference.

A group did the Elkhorn early this year when it was around 400 cfs, which was my second trip. It was a little bony, but 400-500 is a good level for a first trip. Think my first trip was 800-900, flipped twice - swam once, rolled once. The rapids weren't bad, but picked a tough place to try to catch an eddy then peel out of it - flipped both times.

Don