January 6, 2001

Still waiting for the New Year's Paddle

Water temp: Solid

I finally rolled out of bed about 9:00. It's been too cold but I've been wanting to get my New Year's trip out of the way. I suspected most everything north of Mason Neck was frozen on the Potomac, so I headed for Leesylvania.

At the entrance the ranger tells me the river is mostly frozen, but I go anyway to take a look for myself. The boat ramps are frozen in solid. I park and walk down to the beach. A good 75 feet of ice out to the first open channel. And channel is a loose term. If the ice were to start breaking up in the blustery wind predicted today, a kayaker could find himself trapped in this ice, or worse. Although the ice along shore is thin, I can see the edges around the channel are over 6 inches thick where the ice has piled up there like a earthen berm.

I decide to head further south to Quantico. The south boat ramp is slick with ice. I suppose it would be possible to launch here, but the 4 foot ice shelf along the shore would make getting in and out a bit tricky. There is only 1 boat trailer in the parking lot.

I decide to head home, but swing by the north Quantico boat ramp to check it out. I've only been to this ramp by water so it takes me a few minutes to find it. This ramp is busy. Trucks and trailers parked all around. Camouflaged boats and people getting in and out of the water. Dogs sniffing at everything.

I could launch here, but with all the hunters out, I think I'll skip paddling today. It's almost noon anyway. But the biggest factor is although the river is open, massive ice floes can be seen going by, and some coming into Quantico creek. The last thing I want to do is get trapped by moving ice. I'll have to wait a week or so for the ice to thin out a bit.

Woody