Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Clothing
See the
Hiking
section, above, for details on jackets and headwear that
should be worn.
A disposable “
space blanket
” is also a popular, yet light-weight, pack
item. Good
paddling gloves
are also important.
Most experienced paddlers bring a small waterproof river bag with a few
essentials even on a modest day trip. Wind, rain, rough water or equip-
ment problems and other hazards can easily conspire to force you to
spend a night in the open.
For those paddling freshwater in early or late season, or on the ocean
even in high summer, consider wearing a
wet suit
or a dry suit. An unex-
pected dunking when the water temperatures are down is the first step in
what can easily become a life-threatening situation.
Resource Protection
One of the great joys of paddling is being able to see wildlife close
up. However, even good-intentioned visitors can disturb nesting
aquatic birds or birds of prey. Keep a respectful distance from ea-
gle, osprey, or loon nests and ledges and rocks used as nesting
and resting sites by birds, seals, and other sea life. Don't feed the
birds; they will fast see humans as a source of food, which can
dull their most important survival instinct - fear of people.
Camping
On freshwater lakes, ponds and rivers, camping is allowed only at desig-
nated sites. Usually a fire permit is required. You can pick one up at any
forest warden's headquarters on the way to your put-in. In periods of
high fire danger all campfires are banned.
If you plan to gather shell fish for a meal, be
sure you check before leaving for warnings
concerning
red tide
, a toxic algae bloom
which can poison humans. After heavy rains,
state officials often close mud flats to clam-
ming to allow any pollution that may have
washed down from the land to dissipate.
Some islands along the coast are open to camping and have designated
sites. Others are privately owned and permission must be secured before
going ashore.
