|
A few other pages of similar interests
Camping
Survival trips
Canyoneering
Caving
Rock Climbing
Kayaking
| Kayaking is not reserved just for Eskimos but they are to be
credited with developing open water kayaking techniques hundreds of years
before lawyers, doctors, and construction workers took up the sport.
The art of Kayaking is a combination of rhythm. balance and endurance.
With out any one of these three you will just be making a spectacle of yourself.
Luckily most Kayaking is done in remote areas where there is not
likely to be any one around to laugh at you or help for that matter. Lesson are
available and anyone wanting to tackle white water should seriously
consider being coached by a reputable service that will normally provide
you with the equipment. This way you don't have to make the investment
until you are sure that this is for you.
Think of a Kayak as the bicycle of the water. You wouldn't think of
walking hundreds of miles but you might consider cycling it. Same thing
with a kayak. Open water Kayaking has fairly large following and some
people do the entire coastline while others actually cross big water
to get to some distant location. The later has actually become a competitive
sport. But whitewater is still king.
See below for a makeshift training module.
Kayak the Rio Grande in between the mountains of the Big
Bend National Park bibe. 118 mile in the park and an additional 127
miles beyond it's borders. Equipment rentals and guide service is available.
Many places to put in and take out.
|
|
|
Practice at home
You can practice at home in the sanctuary of your backyard or garage
until you are ready to get wet (oh yeah you will). From a salvage yard
obtain a 8 foot piece of 10 to 16 inch pvc pipe. Take it home and
screw a flat spot for your butt to sit on about 1/3 of the way from the
end. Or if it is a 16" piece , use a jig saw and cut yourself an
opening in it. Get a 7 foot long wooden closet pole from your local limber yard and
screw a piece of plywood 12 " by 6 " on each end. You now have a
trainer.
The object is to sit on the flat spot and place your legs in front of
you on the pipe. You may cross them to keep them from sliding off or add a
second flat spot for them. If would be best if you stretched first as your
legs are not normally stretched out in front the way they will be. Once you
have gotten to where you can sit on the pipe using your paddle/pole to
balance you, then add some motion to the paddles. Holding the pole with
your hands about 12" either side of center you begin rotating one
hand away from you upward and slightly towards the centerline of your
craft while the other hand starts in that position and pulls down, towards
you and out. Work on that until you can do this for an hour. You will
still need to learn how to upright your self in the water but it need to
be done in the water and with an instructor. Of course if you have a pool
and a real Kayak then you are way ahead of the game.
We have an intense tutorial in our Survival
trips section on "How
to Make A Fire" it is worthwhile
reading as it may save your life and if nothing else it is fun trying
to emulate what is taught in this section. |
The more you get to do a sport the more you will enjoy it.
We have found that being prepared to leave at a moment notice will increase the
number of time that you will actually get out and do it. Ultimately the best way
to be prepared is to have all the necessary gear already stored in a "gear
trailer". This is a trailer dedicated to this purpose. READ
ON.
Be cautious when in the wilds as Ticks
and Chiggers can pose a serious problem.
See all
the Activities we currently feature and see what is yet to come.
Being physically fit will make your experiences safer and more enjoyable. We
are developing a page devoted to encouraging people to do just this. See the
Physical
fitness page.
This page is under construction 
We are adding content everyday so check
back often.
Please become a contributor.
See contributors
 ![[Top button]](../../images/Buttons-bullets/go_top_btn.gif)
Go to top
| 
