The ice is out on Devil’s Lake! Well, it’s nearly out. Saturday, April 6th began with a thick fog over the ice shelf which still covered about a third of the lake on the south end. By the end of a busy and warm day at the park, it was time for our annual “Ice Out Paddle”, something my wife and I try to do every year. We loaded up our slightly dusty kayaks, gathered our gear, and before long we were back out on the water to begin another paddling season! This year I captured a few minutes of video so that you can come along!
Of course, it’s important to keep in mind, that the water, while open, is now just above freezing temperatures and really dangerous if you are not prepared. While we did see a couple of dudes wading out into the water in shorts, they didn’t stay very long. Hyperthermia can set in, in just a couple minutes this time of year. When we go paddling, now through about mid-June we wear drysuits which keep paddlers bodies warm and dry even when immersed in water. As of writing this, I’ve read 2 news reports of paddlers dying on the water this year including a 4-year-old girl. We can’t stress enough, life jackets and wetsuits or drysuits are a must when paddling in cold water.
Click here to learn more about cold water safety at Devil’s Lake.
For nearly 2 decades the Skillet Creek blog has focused on 3 main goals; To inspire you to visit and explore the Devil’s Lake region, to help you get the most your visit by sharing tips, events, and other helpful information. Lastly to advocate for our environment & wildlife and talk about how we can keep our natural areas amazing now and into the future! That last goal can sometimes cause controversy, but it’s the only way we can accomplish the first two. – Derrick Mayoleth, Owner.
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