Introduction

Kayaking is an outdoor sport. As such, we need to be aware of various risks that are common on river trips. As always, it is a good idea to check out the weather report before the trip. Are they calling for severe thunderstorms and/or flooding. If so, that gauge reading you grabbed off of American Whitewater may change a great deal while you are on the river. Many paddlers have had to walk off rivers when the level rose abruptly and unexpectedly.

Besides the typical water related hazards, we may also encounter snakes, bugs, lightning, slippery rocks, etc. All of the hazards are quite manageable but you need to be aware of them to avoid problems.

Thunderstorms

Speaking of thunderstorms, FEMA has a pretty good description of the dangers and how to protect yourself: Thunderstorm Precautions. When boating, it is a wise precaution to get off the river and let the storm pass (it usually doesn't take too long). If you have something that resembles a shelter like a solid overhang, take advantage of that feature.

Flooding

Floods can be serious business as well. Water is powerful and should always be respected. Floods can be dangerous as they often uproot trees, weave their way through trees and bushes above the normal river banks, and often create dangerous pour over holes. Why bother with big streams that are in severe flood stage? You can often catch smaller streams (creeks) that are not in flood stage that are a great deal more fun.

Snakes

The most common poisonous snake in our region of the country is the Copperhead Snake. Here is a great article on this snake: Copperhead Snake. Cottonmouth or Water Moccasin Snake isn't as common as Copperheads but we have those as well: Cottonmouth Snake.

Poison Ivy

Poison Ivy is a common site on some rivers, especially at the takeout of the Shenandoah Staircase. Here is a great site to help you identify this pesky plant: Poison Ivy. If you come in contact with this plant, wash immediately and preferably with soap.

Hypothermia & Hyperthermia

I describe hypothermia and hyperthermia in a separate document: Hypothermia. The best precaution is drink plenty of fluids and dress appropriately.

Daylight

Running out of daylight can lead to serious complications. A few years ago several expert boaters put on late for a run down Moores Run into Otter Creek in West Virginia. They had several challenges along the way including boat pins, one walking out (smart move), getting separated, a bad facial injury, and getting stuck in the woods overnight in Winter weather without proper gear. They cost the local fire company a great deal of resources and soured local relationships pretty severely. Please learn from their mistakes (and they had plenty).

Wind

Excessive wind on large bodies of water like the Bay or large lakes can be dangerous as well. It is typically more an annoyance while running whitewater.

Ice

Ice is serious business. In general, stay off rivers that have a lot of ice on them. Ice can break off debris and form a really nasty and difficult to escape strainer.

Bees

Bees and Yellow jackets can be especially bad news for persons that are allergic to them. If you are allergic please let your trip leader know of your condition and by all means, carry your medicines in a dry bag. The same goes for any special medical issues like diabetes for example.