| The wind is blowing spray into your face. | | | | |
| Doesn’t sound too bad, except you are in the stern | | | | If on the other hand the ridge is on the other |
| and your partner in the bow is scowling. If this is your | | | | end of the pond and you have a valley at the end you |
| significant other, you are in big trouble. Whitecaps are | | | | start from the reverse will happen. The wind will flow |
| breaking over his/her lap and running down her rain suit. | | | | straight down the pond until it hits the ridge. There it will |
| It’s not going be a good day. A look at the wind | | | | flow up and over the lay of the land. This leads to high |
| forecast could have saved your day. | | | | waves and possibly white caps. |
| | | | | |
| The most obvious reason to check the wind is | | | | Clouds will also affect the wind. At this point |
| to make it back to camp dry. Many people are | | | | let’s assume we all know light wispy clouds mean |
| unaware that crossing a large, windy lake is often | | | | a fairly nice day, whereas dark heavy clouds mean |
| much more dangerous than running evil-looking rapids. | | | | bad weather is on the way. Clouds have an effect on |
| A good rule is never to go more than 300 yards from | | | | the wind also. Light clouds will let the wind stay high in |
| shore if you can possibly avoid it. This distance not | | | | the atmosphere affecting the waters surface less. |
| only allows you a fighting chance of swimming to | | | | Dark, heavy clouds, on the other hand, are denser and |
| shore in case of an upset, but also allows you to | | | | will keep the wind low creating more turbulence on the |
| quickly go to shore if weather conditions change for | | | | water’s surface. A look at the sky can give you an |
| the worse. A large lake can go from a glassy calm to | | | | idea of what kind of winds to expect. Even a brisk |
| a crazed froth in 20 minutes. | | | | wind will skip over the surface of the pond if it is a |
| | | | | cloudless day, though a 5-10 MPH wind will whip up a |
| Getting to know the wind is a must when | | | | pond if the clouds are keeping it on the surface. |
| you contemplate pond or lake canoeing. What may | | | | |
| look like a mild breeze in the cove when leaving may | | | | Unless you wake up to a windy day the first |
| turn into a gale wind later in the morning or afternoon. | | | | few hours of the day are the best to canoe. Get out |
| Knowing how to read the wind and clouds makes a | | | | on the water and enjoy yourself with some leisurely |
| day of paddling much more enjoyable. | | | | paddling and sightseeing. This is the best time to head |
| | | | | over to the other side of the pond if that is your |
| Ponds and lakes are generally set in a | | | | destination. By mid to late morning the wind will |
| valley, whether a few acres or many miles. These | | | | invariably pick up, so you want to be where the wind |
| valleys have a prevailing wind as well as swirling and | | | | will be at your back or quartering from your back |
| cross winds. These are caused by the formation of | | | | when heading back to camp. This will make the trip |
| the valley and the terrain around it. First you need to | | | | smoother and a lot more enjoyable. |
| know the prevailing wind. This can be determined by | | | | |
| checking the local weather. Knowing where the wind is | | | | Wind waves are built by three factors: wind |
| expected to come from is a must for anyone taking a | | | | strength, time blowing, and distance blowing over open |
| canoe trip. | | | | water (fetch). You can't affect the first two, but |
| | | | | paddlers seek to minimize fetch. If the waves get too |
| The next step is to get a map of the | | | | high lower your center of gravity in the canoe. All in the |
| surrounding area. The best maps to use are | | | | canoe can drop to their knees and continue paddling. |
| topographical maps, as these show the terrain | | | | If you're still concerned, you can always sit on the |
| features and how they may affect the wind. Look for | | | | bottom and slowly paddle to a nearby shore. |
| ridges and gaps leading into the valley in which the | | | | |
| pond or lake is located. When you put the wind | | | | You can also use natural wind breaks to your |
| direction and surrounding terrain features together you | | | | advantage. Most obvious is a lee shore or the lee of |
| can make a pretty good guess as to how the wind is | | | | an island. Even up to two miles away, waves will be |
| going to affect the water on that day. | | | | less ferocious. You might need to adjust your route a |
| | | | | bit, but it will be worth it |
| Let us say the prevailing wind is out of the | | | | . |
| North. If there is a ridge on this side of the pond it will | | | | The best way to keep from getting wet is |
| tend to lift the wind over this part of the pond. The | | | | to hug the shoreline. You want to keep a hundred feet |
| wind will drop back down on the pond farther toward | | | | or so from the shore to avoid hidden dangers. Large |
| the southern end, causing waves to build up between | | | | rocks and dead trees will hide just below the surface |
| there and the other side of the pond. But where there | | | | near shore and the wind could push you into these |
| is a ridge there is almost always a cut or valley. This is | | | | areas if you are too close. Also if you capsize and are |
| where the winds that catch you by surprise will come | | | | close to shore you can get on top of your canoe and |
| from. A gust out of a cut can turn the water into a | | | | push it to shore. Remember to keep your life jacket on |
| frothing mess leaving you surprised and wet. If there is | | | | and watch the wind for an enjoyable day on the |
| a ridge on the other end it will back up some of the | | | | water. |
| wind causing rougher water. | | | | |