On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:06:44 -0800, Melissa
wrote:

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Hi Bob P,

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:16:16 GMT, you wrote:

But what if the water temp is 75F and the air is 25F? ;-)

In that case, the biggest hazard is 6-foot visibility due to the
fog...

Though not necessarily because of that type of extreme temperature
difference between water and air, I do at times find myself in that
type of visibility due to fog. It's much more reassuring in waters I
know very well though, and it definitely has its own particular
charms. A compass and the ability to navigate is always a good
thing.

I love being engulfed in fog (again, especially if it's in a
situation where I feel confident of my navigational capability in the
area), as being sensitive to sounds becomes ever more of an issue.
On my local waters, foggy paddling also provides some nice wildlife
surprises that can "pop up out of nowhere"...like whales, seals, and
the occasional sea lion, harbor porpoise, or even a shark.

Just a couple of years ago I ran into that sort of difference, but in
reverse. The air temp in Maine was in the upper 80s, while the water temp
was still in the low 40s, in June, the water hadn't warmed up, it was a
fairly cold spring up there. I didn't even get my kayak out of the van.
It would have topped 130 on the "add the temps together" scale, however.

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do

It isn't at all unusual for the Nantahala in NC to be foggy. The water comes
from the bottom of Nantahala Lake and is pretty cool year round. On really
hot days a thick fog can form right over the water. The first time I ever
ran it, visibility was about ten feet, as thick as I've ever seen it. I was
a definite newbie to whitewater; I can still remember how hard my heart was
beating and how dry my mouth was approaching the roar that was Quarry Rapid.
I didn't see it until I was there, let the wave turn me sideways, and I took
a swim.
I've paddled the Nanty so many times now I've lost count. I always look
forward to Quarry now, but it was absolutely terrifying that first time in
the fog.
Some examples of Nanty fog:
http://webpages.charter.net/cegen/


TB


"Galen Hekhuis" wrote in message
...
On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 15:06:44 -0800, Melissa
wrote:

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Hash: SHA1

Hi Bob P,

On Fri, 21 Jan 2005 21:16:16 GMT, you wrote:

But what if the water temp is 75F and the air is 25F? ;-)

In that case, the biggest hazard is 6-foot visibility due to the
fog...

Though not necessarily because of that type of extreme temperature
difference between water and air, I do at times find myself in that
type of visibility due to fog. It's much more reassuring in waters I
know very well though, and it definitely has its own particular
charms. A compass and the ability to navigate is always a good
thing.

I love being engulfed in fog (again, especially if it's in a
situation where I feel confident of my navigational capability in the
area), as being sensitive to sounds becomes ever more of an issue.
On my local waters, foggy paddling also provides some nice wildlife
surprises that can "pop up out of nowhere"...like whales, seals, and
the occasional sea lion, harbor porpoise, or even a shark.

Just a couple of years ago I ran into that sort of difference, but in
reverse. The air temp in Maine was in the upper 80s, while the water temp
was still in the low 40s, in June, the water hadn't warmed up, it was a
fairly cold spring up there. I didn't even get my kayak out of the van.
It would have topped 130 on the "add the temps together" scale, however.

Galen Hekhuis NpD, JFR, GWA
Guns don't kill people, religions do

"TB" wrote in message
...
It isn't at all unusual for the Nantahala in NC to be foggy. The water
comes
from the bottom of Nantahala Lake and is pretty cool year round. On really
hot days a thick fog can form right over the water. The first time I ever
ran it, visibility was about ten feet, as thick as I've ever seen it. I
was
a definite newbie to whitewater; I can still remember how hard my heart
was
beating and how dry my mouth was approaching the roar that was Quarry
Rapid.
I didn't see it until I was there, let the wave turn me sideways, and I
took
a swim.
I've paddled the Nanty so many times now I've lost count. I always look
forward to Quarry now, but it was absolutely terrifying that first time in
the fog.
Some examples of Nanty fog:
http://webpages.charter.net/cegen/


A typical summer Grand Canyon run has air temps in the 110s, and wateroften
below 40. That's a 150 degree total, but the yakkers all dress for
immersion. Even in a raft, you might be sweltering so badly that your head
is reeling, but you still can't bring yourself to hop in, even for a second.

--riverman

TB wrote:
It isn't at all unusual for the Nantahala in NC to be foggy. The
water comes from the bottom of Nantahala Lake and is pretty cool year
round. On really hot days a thick fog can form right over the water.

I've beem on the Nantahala when the fog layer was hanging about 2 feet
above the water. Sit straight up and you can't see a thing; bend over
and it's crystal clear. Very disconcerting experience.

--
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA

TB wrote:

It isn't at all unusual for the Nantahala in NC to be foggy. The water comes
from the bottom of Nantahala Lake and is pretty cool year round. On really
hot days a thick fog can form right over the water. The first time I ever
ran it, visibility was about ten feet, as thick as I've ever seen it.

I know! I HATE that! I've run the Nanty namy times, and occasionally, at least
once I remember, it was so foggy I could not see most eddies until it was too
late to set up to catch them! And eddies and eddy practice is superb on the
Nanty, but only when you can see 'em and catch 'em, yano? ;-)

John Kuthe...

John Kuthe wrote:
I know! I HATE that! I've run the Nanty namy times, and occasionally, at least
once I remember, it was so foggy I could not see most eddies until it was too
late to set up to catch them! And eddies and eddy practice is superb on the
Nanty, but only when you can see 'em and catch 'em, yano? ;-)

The Force, John, use the Force! Don't look for the eddies, listen for them.

--
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA

Steve Cramer wrote:

John Kuthe wrote:
I know! I HATE that! I've run the Nanty namy times, and occasionally, at least
once I remember, it was so foggy I could not see most eddies until it was too
late to set up to catch them! And eddies and eddy practice is superb on the
Nanty, but only when you can see 'em and catch 'em, yano? ;-)

The Force, John, use the Force! Don't look for the eddies, listen for them.

--
Steve Cramer
Athens, GA

I'm far too visually dependent!! ;-) Besides, many eddied sound just like a ROCK,
yano? Hee hee!

John Kuthe...