Taking a Kayak Trip

April-May 2003

This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Elle Andra-Warner

One of the best parts of a kayak tour is the camaraderie that develops. Elle Andra-Warner photo

Looking back, I can clearly recall standing on the northeast shore of Vancouver Island, about to get into a Seaward double kayak to paddle across the moving waters of British Columbia's Johnstone Strait, and wondering in mild panic, "What am I doing here?"

I had never kayaked before other than a quick introductory kayaking lesson two weeks before the tour. What brought me there was a six-day Johnstone Strait/Inside Passage wilderness sea kayak tour I had booked during one of my baby boomer "I can do anything" moments. Apprehensively, I slid into the kayak and started paddling - it was the start of a journey that became one of the best adventures in my life.

For other beginner kayakers considering such a tour, here are some tips that can help make that first sea kayaking tour a great experience.

CHOOSING A TOUR COMPANY

Most first-time kayakers will have a positive experience if the tour company and guides are sensitive and competent to deal with their needs, so it's best to do some research.Find out everything you can about the tour company and the tour - the level of difficulty of the trip, its duration (time and distance) and typical participants (age, gender, paddling experience, occupation, etc.).

• Does the tour company welcome first time kayakers?

• What are the qualifications andexperience of the guides, their philosophy about leading trips and their approach to first-time kayakers?

• The guide to participant ratio?

• The type of kayaks and other equipment to be used?

• Expected weather conditions.

• List of what to bring.

• Proposed menu.

• Payment and refund policy.

• Insurance coverage.

• Check the references.

Most well-established companies should have literature covering most of this.

Learning to safely enter your kayak in shallow water with an instructor. Elle Andra-Warner photo

Consider a tour company that is all-inclusive: guides, kayaks and paddling gear, accommodation (resort-based or, if camping, they bring the tents, sleeping bags, etc.), food, and preparation of meals. (At the end of each kayaking day, our group relaxed on beached logs and sipped wine from plastic cups while the guides cooked our gourmet meals!)

Once you've gathered all your information, review it with someone who is an experienced paddler to see if it meets your needs.

GETTING READY FOR THE TOUR

So you've booked the tour, you have your tour dates - now how should you prepare for the tour?

Drop into an outdoor store that specializes in sea kayaks and let them help you get familiar with kayaks, accessories, clothing requirements, etc. Ask if they would help you interpret the materials the tour company has sent. Most stores will be interested in helping you have a positive experience so when you decide to really get into the sport, you'll be back to see them.

Getting into shape for the tour doesn't necessarily involve intensive training - you don't need to be a super athlete to paddle (the majority of first-time kayakers seem to be in their 40s and up). Sea kayaking is easy on the body and not difficult to learn. But some basic training will make it a more comfortable experience: resistance exercises to increase your strength, stretching exercises to increase your range of motion, and walking to build up your endurance and general fitness.

SHOULD YOU TAKE A COURSE?

Tour companies do provide instructions to novice kayakers both before and during the tour, but I would highly recommend first-time kayakers take at least one introductory kayak session beforehand. I took an hour's lesson with Thunder Bay's Wildwaters Outfitters' at their Hazelwood Lake base and it was well worth the money and the time. I learned how to get in and out of a kayak without capsizing (the challenge was trying to do it gracefully and without falling into the water), to hold a paddle correctly, to do the basic strokes (forward, sweep, reverse sweep, draw), and to rotate my upper body with each paddle stroke. I practised paddling and using a rudder to turn, to back up and to keep on course.

The lesson helped me to develop a sense of control over the kayak and to feel comfortable in the water (sitting so low in the water was a very different kind of sensation compared to being in a boat or canoe where you are above the water).

Part of my lesson was talking about (not practising) how to roll out of the kayak if capsized, and I was surprised to learn it wasnot necessary to master it to enjoy a kayak tour. Should you capsize, gravity will help you come out of the boat (after you unsnap the kayak skirt) and your life jacket will help you float to the top. And in a tour group, the guides are always in close proximity and specially trained to handle capsizing situations. However, experienced guides do recommend that novices undertake at least one actual 'wet exit' and re-entry practice to help them become more relaxed in their boats and, in retrospect, that might have helped me relax more.

FIND YOUR COMFORT ZONE

Be sure to share your concerns or apprehensions with your guides - that way they can help make kayaking a more positive experience for you.

For example, I was quite relaxed when we were kayaking close to shore, but became tense during open water crossings. The guides were sensitive to my fears and came up with a solution. They positioned my kayak in the middle of the tour group, where I could see kayaks in front and alongside me. The guides also suggested that I focus on where we were heading, not where we were or had been. It worked - once we established my comfort zones, the journey was much more enjoyable for me (and the group!).

One of my greatest stress relievers whenever I started feeling nervous was chewing gum. An experienced paddler had given me the tip beforehand, so I had a good stock of gum with me!

RELAX AND HAVE A GOOD TIME

The goal of any sea kayaking tour - whether you are a first-time kayaker or an experienced paddler - is to have a good time and a great adventure. So relax and enjoy exploring the beauty of nature from a viewpoint only possible from a kayak.

© Elle Andra-Warner is a freelance writer/ photographer living in High Level, Alberta.