Staying safe on the river: Our paddler’s guide to what you should and should not do
Rivers are unpredictable, making them far more exciting and 10 times as dangerous as a lake.
For a canoe or kayak paddler, one crucial fact is essential to remember: The river you saw last time will be different this time.
Banks erode. Trees fall down and block the way. Beavers build dams. Docks get carried off by floods. Waters rise and create new rapids. Waters fall and expose new rocks.
By my count, I’ve wrecked my canoe twice and my kayak three times.
Once on the Eno, the boat overturned in fast water and I floated a half-mile downstream on my back. Another time, on the Yadkin, I got dragged underwater and came up sputtering without my glasses.
So if you follow me into this paddling hobby, here are a few rules to follow, no matter what:
Before You Go
1. Always check the water level. Rivers in central North Carolina rise and fall dramatically, getting both too high and too low.
The bible for small boats is “Paddling Eastern North Carolina” by Paul Ferguson, now in its third edition. Ferguson tells you, among other crucial details, the minimum amount of water each river section needs, along with the USGS gauge you can search online for real-time information.
2. Don’t paddle alone. For one thing, most rivers in North Carolina move too fast to paddle upstream, so you’ll need a second car at the end for a shuttle. But more importantly, too much can go wrong to go it alone. Two heads and two cell phones beat one of each.
3. Leave a detailed float plan. Tell your important non-paddling person where you put in and where you took out. This includes the county, nearest city and if possible a map. See Ferguson for all these things.
On the water
1. Always wear a life jacket. No exceptions. The Neuse River can be ankle deep in places, then you paddle around a corner into a deep hole. Fish live here. You’re a guest.
2. Scout your take-out spot. When you paddle with two people, you’ll drive first to the spot where you get out of the water. Be sure to check it out. Make sure there’s a safe place to exit. Make sure the water isn’t running too high or too fast. Make sure you’ll recognize the spot from your boat three hours from now.
3. Heaviest person rides in the back. If you’re in a two-person canoe, the biggest takes the rear seat and steers.
4. Wind is bad. I’ve paddled through whitecaps when the wind was only blowing 15 mph. Consider it beforehand.
5. Lightning is worse. Watch for thunderstorms in the forecast. I’ve felt the jolt when lightning hits the water even seemingly far away, and it’s like getting punched hard in the face.
6. Obstacles are everywhere. Rocks, concrete and rebar from old dams, branches known as “strainers.” Watch for them. Avoid them.
7. Feet up. If you accidentally become a swimmer, don’t put your foot down and risk it getting caught. Float on your back with your legs to the sky. Get to land and collect the debris later.
8. Do not grab stationary objects while moving. If you attempt to stop a fast-moving boat by grabbing onto a nearby rock, you will tip the boat. Have done this twice.
9. Do not litter. You will see the truth behind all those warnings on storm drains. Everyone’s carelessly discarded Styrofoam cup will go bobbing past you in the water. My paddle mate Mark and I try to collect one piece of floating trash each trip. We call it “webelo-ing” after the mid-level scouts.
This story was originally published April 12, 2023 at 6:00 AM.