Lake Nipigon should be one of the premier kayaking destinations in North America. It’s remote, it’s wilderness, and it’s studded with 100s of islands to explore. It has big open water crossings, black sand beaches, towering palisades, and it can get rough and challenging. In 2008, Tim Russell and I took a week long trip to the lake. The following notes are from the research that we did (mainly Tim’s work). Originally, this research appeared on a wiki. It’s still there, but this will be a more permanent location.

About Lake Nipigon

From Wikipedia:

Lake Nipigon (French : lac Nipigon) is the largest lake entirely within the boundaries of the Canadian province of Ontario and is sometimes described as the sixth Great Lake. Lying 260 metres (853 ft) above sea level, the lake drains into the Nipigon River and thence into Nipigon Bay of Lake Superior. The lake and river are the largest tributaries of Lake Superior. It lies about 120 kilometres (75 mi) northeast of the city of Thunder Bay, Ontario.

Lake Nipigon has a total area (including islands within the lake) of 4,848 square kilometres (1,872 sq mi) — compared to 3,150 square kilometres (1,216 sq mi) for Lake of the Woods. The largest islands are Caribou Island, Geikie Island, Katatota Island, Kelvin Island, Logan Island, Murchison Island, Murray Island, and Shakespeare Island. Maximum depth is 165 metres (540 ft).

The lake is noted for its towering cliffs and unusual green-black sand beaches composed of the fine particles of a dark green mineral known as pyroxene. The lake basin provides an important habitat for woodland caribou.

Map

View Larger Map

Crown Land Camping Permits

• Crown Land Camping Permits are required for non-residents of Ontario. They run $10/night/person. Pick them up anywhere fishing licenses are sold. At the Pigeon River Border Crossing you can pick them up at the visitor center.

General Links

• Planning Discusion: A great thread with lots of info that we should steal for our planning.
• Dog Sledding on Nip: Interesting winter perspective.
• Signature Site Info: Lots and Lots of info.
• http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?t=27566&highlight=lake+nipigon
• http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?t=16363&highlight=lake+nipigon
• http://www.myccr.com/SectionForums/viewtopic.php?t=3158&highlight=lake+nipigon
• http://128.255.228.51/LakeNipigon/Day_0.htm Details of a trip done by the Minneapolis SKOAC a few years ago

Geology

A summary of the geological diversity of the lake is at at: (the link above from parks ontario is much more detailed)

• [http://www.greatlakeswiki.org/index.php/Geology_of_Lake_Nipigon]

History

A nice historical summary is at the Great Lakes Wiki:

• [http://www.greatlakeswiki.org/index.php/History_of_Lake_Nipigon]

A detailed version of the early vists by Father Allouez in the 17th century

• http://www.umanitoba.ca/colleges/st_pauls/ccha/Back%20Issues/CCHA1956/Nelligan.pdf

Flora and Fauna

• Black Bears: We’ll need some hanging systems depending on number of people.
• American White pelican (3 of 5 nesting colonies in Ontario are here)
• Woodland Caribou on north shoreline
• SKOAC reports more birds wildlife in Gully Bay near Snake islands an Pike Bay islands than in other parts they visited.

From wikipedia:

The French Jesuit Claude Allouez celebrated the first mass beside the Nipigon River May 29, 1667. He visited the village of the Nipissing Indians who had fled there during the Iroquois onslaught of 1649-50. In the Jesuit Relations the lake is called lac Alimibeg, and was subsequently known as Alemipigon or Alepigon. In the 19th century it was frequently spelled as Lake Nepigon.

In 1683 Daniel Greysolon, Sieur du Lhut established a fur trading post on Lake Nipigon named Fort Tourette after his brother, Claude Greysolon, Sieur de la Tourette. The Alexis Hubert Jaillot map of 1685 (Partie de la Nouvelle-France) suggests that this fort was somewhere in Ombabika Bay at the northeast end of the lake where the Ombabika river and Little Jackfish river (Kabasakkandagaming) empty. (A copy of this map may be viewed at Brock University Map Library) The post remained active to the end of the French regime as part of the pays d’en haut.

On 17 April 1744, the Count de Maurepas, Minister of the Marine, informed the Canadian officials that Jean de La Porte was to be given the “fur ferme” (i.e. the profits) of Lac Alemipigon from that year forward as a reward for his services in New France.

After the Treaty of Paris (1763), the area passed into the hands of the British, and the Hudson’s Bay Company expanded its trading area to include the Lake. Although it was considered to be within British North America, it was not until 1850 that the watershed draining into Lake Superior was ceded formally by the Ojibwe Indians to the Province of Canada (see Robinson Treaty, 1850, also known as the Robinson Superior Treaty). A four square mile reservation was set aside on Gull River near Lake Nipigon on both sides of the river for the Chief Mishe-muckqua. In 1871 Lake Nipigon was included in the new Thunder Bay District, Ontario.

The Township of Nipigon was incorporated in 1908. The Municipality of Greenstone (pop 5662) was incorporated in 2001 and includes Orient Bay, MacDiarmid, Beardmore, Nakina, Longlac, Caramat, Jellicoe and Geraldton.

In 1943 Canada and the United States agreed to the Ogoki diversion which diverts water into Lake Superior that would normally flow into James Bay and thence into Hudson Bay. The diversion connects the upper portion of the Ogoki River to Lake Nipigon. This water was diverted to support three hydroelectric plants on the Nipigon River. The diversion is governed by the International Lake Superior Board of Control which was established in 1914 by the International Joint Commission.

Lake Nipigon Provincial Park is located on the east side of Lake Nipigon. In 1999 the park boundary was amended to reduce the park area from 14.58 to 9.18 square kilometres (3,603 to 2,268 acres). The area was deregulated and transferred to the Government of Canada for a reserve for the Sand Point First Nation.

* Douglas, R., ed. Nipigon to Winnipeg : a canoe voyage through Western Ontario by Edward Umfreville in 1784, with extracts from the writings of other early travellers through the region. Ottawa : Commercial Printing, 1929.

Viking grave

According to Hjalmar R. Holand a viking grave was found near Beardmore at Lake Nipigon.

Planning

Canadian Coast Guard requires safety equipment for Canoes and Kayaks.

Canoes, Kayaks, Rowboats and Rowing Shells – (under 6M in Length)

1. One Canadian-approved personal floatation device or lifejacket of appropriate size for each person on board.
2. One buoyant heaving line of not less than 15 m in length.
3. One manual propelling device OR an anchor with not less than 15 m of cable, rope or chain in any combination.
4. One bailer or one manual water pimp fitted with or accompanied by sufficient hose to enable a person using the pump to pump water from the bilge of the vessel over the side of the vessel.
5. A sound signaling device or a sound signaling appliance.
6. Navigation lights that meet the applicable standards set out in the Collision Regulations if the pleasure craft is operated after sunset and sunrise or in periods of restricted visibility.

From Canadian Vessel Training

Local Towns

• Beardmore
• Lake Nipigon

Interesting Features

• Light Houses
  • The Virgins Light (Located on Lighthouse Island just North of Big Virgin Island) 49 deg 29’02″.20 , 88 deg 13’13″.00 W
  • South Point Ombabika Light (on the south end of Ombabika Island at the mouth of Ombabika Bay) 50 deg 07’15″.00 N, 88 deg 15’00″.00 W
  • Observation Monument (located on Smoothrock Point at the north end of Humboldt Bay)49 deg 59’17″.80 N, 88 deg 13’45″.00 W
  • McKeller Island Light (approximate position) 49 deg 58’01″.84 N, 88 deg 15’12″.72 W
  • Russell Island Light (at the south entrance to Humboldt Bay)49 deg 54’01″.78 N, 88 deg 12’18″.92 W
• Rivers
  • The Mouth of the Onaman River is located approximately at 49 deg 58’11″.81 N and 88 deg 0’09″.46 W
• Geology
  • Black Sand Beaches reported particularly good near Champlain Point (source – Wilderness Adventures)
  • Sheer Clifts – 550 ft – reportedly at inner Barn Island (source Wilderness Adventures)
  • Ojibwa’s sacred Undercliff Mtn – on paddle from Ehco point to Jackfish island (source Wilderness Adventures)
  • Grand Cap channel/St Paul Island SKOAC report presents as particular spectacular

• Settlements
  • Omabablike River was once part ot the fur trading route between hudson bay and superior – speculation that there might be remains or ruins (source is in the whaler thread)
  • Dog island known of being an oupost for the old fur trade (5531753 16 367690) (source SKOAC)
  • Cregies Harbor – two wharfs UMT 5492921 16 404213) two warfs and a hidden small fishing camp(source SKOAC)
  • McKinonnom islands – ice fishing hut (5500338 16 378702) (source SKOAC)

Possible Camp Sites

• Gull Bay at Nazoteka Point (source Wilderness Adventures)
• West bay (source Wilderness Adventures) (SKOAC notes site at 5528160 16 358831) and a tiny cove with good protection and raspberries at 5506604 16 420834)
• Jackfish island (source Wilderness Adventures) east side – sandy beach and good grassy area (553XXXX 16 370886) (source SKOAC)
• Beadmore Parkdoes not take reservations (source SKOAC)
• Eight Mile Island 2hrs from Beadmore with sandy beach UTM 5491733 16 415564 (source SKOAC)
• Colters harbor in the Asseff Islands man made camp site with plywood tables (UTM 5499765 16 401787) (source SKOAC)
• Beach on way from Asseff to Kings head (5504192 16 398077) (source SKOAC)
• Luck Island toward Paupuskeese Mountain (5501964 16 393685) and (5500899 16 384167) (source SKOAC)
• Ursel islands large sandy spit, tables for cooking and swimming beach (5500660 16 382428) (source SKOAC)
• Lamont Island & Little Caribout islands – no landing sites
• Caribou Island harbor at the north side of the eastern spit of entrance (5503290 16 367112) flat grassy area sutable for several tents (source SKOAC)
• Lynx Islands – long narrow beach area (5509242 16 361662) (source SKOAC)
• Dog Island – no beach but protected area to land a kayak, noted for birds and old fur trade camp (5531753 16 367690) (source SKOAC)
• Inner Barn island campsite at (5541480 16 363144) not suitable for landing try instead up the Wabinosh River (5546095 16 360229) (source SKOAC)
• Geike Island – camp in a liitle bay NE corner (5544446 16 383456) long narrow beach (source SKOAC)
• Vennor Island – has a camp sites reminestent of Georgian Bay (5547571 16 392823) and (5547601 16 393237) (source SKOAC)
• North Bay Point – lovely long beach (5556848 16 402309) (source SKOAC)
• Ombabika Bay- shletered cove with nice sandy beach (5546858 16 413822) (source SKOAC)
• Ombabika Bay along South Peninsula – few landing places one for a break (5541307 16 413277) and one for landing (5539725 16 413475) (source SKOAC)
• Magnet island – few opportunites naroow beach with spring is at (5537697 16 413288) (source SKOAC)
• Iron Range Bluff to Russell Island narrow beach 95530953 16 418459) (source SKOAC)
• Russell island towrd Livingstone Point – small Georgian bay type Island with gentle slopes (5528657 16 415370) (source SKOAC)
• Bean bay islands (5527343 16 420805) lunch spot (source SKOAC)
• Mungo Point (5515820 16 417863) nice camp site (source SKOAC)
• Mosquito Creek Cove – (5514516 16 478738) (source SKOAC)
• High Hill Harbour: 36.365N/07.437W
• Campsite near Assef Island in Colter’s Harbor: 38.637N/21.662W
• Luck Island: 40.727N/26.610W
• The Virgins: 28.832N/13.652W
• Bonner Lake: 26.208N/16.351W
• The Cove: 36.540N/22.372W
• Gross Cap Channel: 38.744N/36.579W
• Burnt Point: 39.057N/44.368W
• Two Mountain Harbour: 34.214N/44.514W
• Base of Grand Bay:30.835N/52.274W
• Chief Bay: 32.417N/WEST 89 degrees 01.001
• Black Sturgeon Bay Campsite 30.474N/58.503W

Possible Launch Take-Out Sites

• Gull Bay (source Wilderness Adventures)
• Macdairmid on SE shore (source classically whaler discussion thread)
• Popular Point, high hill harbour, Orient Bay, Pijitawabik Bay and South bay access loacations are promoted by the provice Ecologiacal land use Strategy; Humboldt Bay and Ombabika bay are not being promoted.
• Beadmore – boat ramp 49.605913, -88.122904

Maps

• Chart #6050 “Plans in Lake Nipigon” $20 USD from West Marine (1-800-262-8464). (Tim is ordering one thru the local dealer in Seabrook)
• Lake Nip Signature Site Map from Chaltrek (807-577-8848). (Tim and Bryan own this map.)
• Topographical map set to provide bearings (available from Wabakimi (1-807-767-2022).
• Canadian Topo Maps – have tyvek.
• Mapsource Topographical Maps of Canada

More

Interesting accounts of early travels through the area- Nipigon to Winnipeg: A canoe voyage through Western Ontario by Edward Umfreville 1929 Reprinted on line at [http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~wjmartin/nipigon.htm]

These books may also be interesting but I have not found a library or online source for them:

• Journey up the Nipigon River: From the diary of Hiram Worcester Slack, summer of 1887 by Hiram Worcester Slack 1975
• Rival canoe boys, or, With pack and paddle on the Nipigon by St. George Rathborne 1902

Weather

• Prevailing winds summer, autumn winter: west to north-west
• Prevailing winds spring: north
• Open water winds velocities during open water season often exceeds 18 miles/hr 30 km/hr
• Mean July temperature: 59 F/15 C
• Average summer duration: June 10 to September 5

Emergency Contacts

Example Trip Plan

Maps

• Nipigon – 052H
• Grand Bay – 052H10
• Shakespeare Island – 052H09

Mileage Covered and Other Stats

• 68 Miles total
• 4 Significant Crossings
  • 5.75 Miles (Grant Point to Cedar Island)
  • 2.75 Miles (Shakespeare Island to Lake Nip Conservation Reserve)
  • 5 Miles (Grand Cape to Paupushase Mountain)
  • 3.5 Mile plus 6 Mile or 7.5 Mile on last day to Bish Bay.
• One island circumnavigations
  • Shakespeare Island

Day-by-Day

Day One: Sunday

• Start: Poplar Lodge Ramp
• End: Grant Point Campsite
• Total Distance: 4.5 miles
• Escape Plan: Mainland, back to put-in, secondary boat ramp
• Crossings: None
• Hazards: Waves, breaking waves,
• Features: 2 mile sand beach
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 2 hours

Day Two: Monday

• End: Eagle Nest Islands
• Total Distance: 14 miles
• Escape Plan: Back to Grant Point, protection of islands. Secondary campsites on Shakespeare Island.
• Crossings: 5.75 mile from Eight Mile Island to Cedar Island
• Hazards: Long crossing. Will attempt in early morning when wind is calmer.
• Features: Many islands
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 5 hours

Day Three: Tuesday

• End: Ursel Islands
• Total Distance: 12 miles
• Escape Plan: Head to shore.
• Crossings: 2.75 mile from Dockrey Islands to mainland.
• Hazards:
• Features: Places to explore around the islands. This day is also sacrificial to wind and storm days.
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 4 hours

Day Four: Wednesday

• End: Luck Island
• Total Distance: 11 miles, plus lots to explore on Shakespeare Island
• Escape Plan: Head to shore.
• Crossings: 5 miles from Grand Cape to Paupusheose Mountain.
• Hazards: Open water, could be very confused water due to channel
• Features: Interesting named mountain. We may have to climb it if it looks to give a good view.
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 4 hours, plus exploration time.

Day Five: Thursday

• End: Asseff Island
• Total Distance: 8 miles
• Escape Plan: Head to protected place along route
• Crossings: None
• Hazards:
• Features: This is a short day allowing us to explore the east coast and island chains of Shakespeare Island. It also gains us a circumnavigation of Shakespeare Island. Could be a cool island lake to check out also.
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 3 hours

Day Six: Friday

• End: Bish Bay
• Total Distance: 13.5 miles
• Escape Plan: Skip crossings and head back to Grant Point via a 6 mile crossing.
• Crossings: 3.5 plus a 6 mile or one 7.5 mile crossing.
• Hazards: Open water crossings.
• Features: Open water, small island, good navigation challenges
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 5 hours

Day Seven: Saturday

• End: Poplar Lodge Boat Ramp
• Total Distance: 5 miles
• Escape Plan: Paddle
• Crossings: None
• Hazards: Shore, Waves
• Features: Last day. Can explore this day or head to beach for surf after paddling.
• History:
• Estimated Time on Water: 3 hours

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Part of the Nessmuking philosophy is being proficient in fire starting in all conditions. Many products attempt to address the need for this skill, but none are as interesting as ChemFire Fire Starting System.

The Reaction

ChemFire uses a combination of potassium permanganate and glycerin. When these two chemicals are combined they react to produce fire. These items were/are often found in military survival kits and in many emergency kits sold in Europe. Back in the day, potassium permanganate was used to treat water and as a disinfectant, but it’s messy and stains skin and clothing purple, and if mixed incorrectly it can lead to death or violent illness.

The Product

The Ohio based company that manufactures ChemFire packages the potassium permanganate into small pill capsules and provides the glycerin in a small eye dropper. The weight of the kit they sent me for testing was 0.8 ounces for 10 capsules and one dropper bottle. So, it’s pretty light. This package is a unique way of providing the two chemicals and it seems like the capsule helps in producing the reaction.

The Test

To make the reaction work, the capsule is opened and two drops of glycerin are added to the capsule. The capsule is closed and placed under the tinder. A few seconds later the magic begins with instant fire. The reaction produces fire for up to 30 seconds, which with a good dry tinder pile should get your fire started with no problems. I found that sometimes the reaction would only last around 10 seconds.

During my home testing, I found that often excess potassium permanganate would be left over after the reaction finished. And as shown in the following video just emptying the capsule and adding glycerin doesn’t work nearly as well as using a capsule. After testing the capsules on cement at home, I cleaned the pad with a hose and it turned everything purple. My only concern when testing was that I didn’t want to hold on to the capsule too long after the chemicals were mixed.

When lighting a real fire, I first used dry cedar tinder, and it burst into a hot flame very quickly — much more quickly than if I had used just a lighter. With birch bark, this produces a very hot and fast fire, but I didn’t think it was significantly faster than using a match or lighter. In wet weather, which I didn’t get to test the product in, I think this product would produce enough of a flame to start a well tindered fire.

The Conclusion

ChemFire is a fun light product that is easy to use. Starts a fire quickly. I found that I couldn’t be sloppy with my fire building; I still had to gather good dry tinder. For campers with kids or scouts this product would provide entertainment and a science lesson. The weight and size is small, so it’d take up little room. If I were to carry this on trips, it’d be more for fun than as a replacement for a lighter or matches, but it might just come in handy on those wet cold days were I want a fire to warm up, and the tinder is just damp enough to make fire starting a hassle.

This is a product worth trying out.

Product’s Website: ChemFire Fire Starting System

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An easy way to drop weight out of your boat is to switch from a tent to a tarp. Even using a tarp with a bug bivy will save over 2 pounds for the lightest tents and over 4 pounds for average weight tents. Besides saving weight, tarps provide more usable space, less parts to break, they’re easier to pack up, keep your sleeping area drier both in the morning when packing up and during the night with less condensation, and they take up considerably less space in your portage pack or hatches.

With a little practice, tarps are easy and quick to set up, and depending on the setup, they can be roomy, weatherproof, or anything in-between. Tarps offer a variability that tents can’t match. The following examples use a 14-ounce Integral Designs 8′x10′ Sil Tarp, which is one of the best tarps on the market. Each of these examples offer a slightly different pitch allowing the tarp’s features to best take advantage of the conditions.

Pre-Trip setup

Before heading out on any trip with a tarp, there are a few steps that need to be completed. First, is sealing the seam of the tarp. Follow the directions that came with the tarp.

Second is tying guy lines to the tarp. Guy lines are the lines that secure the tarp to the ground, paddles, or trees. Along the perimeter of the tarp, there will be a number of loops of fabric. These are designed to hold guy lines. There are many different thoughts about lengths of the guy lines, but a good all-around setup uses a 10′ piece of line at each of the center ridgeline points (center of the short side), 5′ lines on each of the corner points, and 3.5 on the rest of the loops. These lines can be attached using a simple knot like an overhand on a bight or a bowline.

Kelty Triptease Guyline is a highly reflective cord that weighs only 1 ounce for 50 feet. It holds up well and has a breaking strength of 188 pounds, and it’s tight weave is resistant to tangles, but holds knots tightly. For the price, it’s the best on the market for making tarp guy lines.

Preventing Bug Attacks

Some of these setups work better than others for different types of bug bivies. If you’re expecting bugs, the most versatile bivy is an Outdoor Research Bug Bivy. The Granite Gear Haven Tarp is a great option for two using a standard A-frame tarp pitch.

Increasing Space by Using Lifter lines or Extra Guy Lines

A lifter line is simply a guy line that pulls upward to create headroom under the tarp. It’s easy to add extra guy points to any tarp. Find a small round rock about the size of a quarter. Hold the rock on the inside of the tarp and from the outside pinch the rock, wrap a line around the tarp, so the rock is secured into the tarp and tie a clove hitch to hold the rock. This creates an extra lifter line or guy line.

To use a lifter line, attach the new guy line to a stick or paddle about a foot or two above the height of the new line, then run the extra line out and stake to the ground. This can make any tarp more comfortable and more secure in wind.

Three Tarp setups

These are three tarp setups that provide a good cross-section of features, weatherproofness. Some of these setups have many variations.

Note: I used trekking poles for demonstration purposes, but paddles and sticks work just as well.

Name: Cornet
Three stakes, one pole, and a very quick setup gets the sleeping space out of the wind and is great for a solo camper. Instead of tucking the extra fabric inside, the fabric can be staked out and the pole pitched higher for more room on calmer nights or in protected areas.

To setup: Stake out the back center point, then stake out the front corner on one side. Wrap the center ridgeline around your paddle with a clove hitch or a simple wrap and stake out the line which will hold the paddle up and provide tension to all the points that have been staked out. Stake out the other front corner and tuck any loose fabric under the tarp to use as a ground cloth.

• Advantages: Very windproof, semi-built-in ground cloth, easy to set up, only three stakes required.
• Disadvantages: Tight for two, must setup into the wind and rain or against a tree to stay rainproof.

Name: A frame
When the trees are spaces at the right distance, this setup goes up quickly. One side can also be lifted for camping near a fire to radiate heat into the living space.

To setup: You can use paddles at each side for this setup or run the ridgelines to trees. For paddles, stake out the corners of one 8′ side of the tarp leaving enough slack in the fabric to allow a paddle to be used to support the ridgeline. Wrap the ridgeline around the paddle and then stake out. Do the same on the other side and once finished come back to the first side to tighten the pitch. Stake out the sides. This setup becomes more weatherproof by lowering the pitch.

• Advantages: Roomy, easy to use with bug tents, variable pitch based on the weather, easy for two to set up, condensation free.
• Disadvantages: Without a special tarp with beaks can get head or foot splash during bad storms, feels very open, harder for one person to set up.

Name: Modified Pyramid
The is the hardest to set up, but one of the best. Originally, I saw this gem of a tarp in the The Advanced Backpacker: A Handbook of Year Round, Long-Distance Hiking. I use this set-up most often when camping.

To setup: Stake out the back short side of the tarp and one corner of the front side. Wrap the ridgeline around a paddle using a clove hitch or simple wrap and stake out. Stake the other front corner, then insert a stick around 130cm high into the center of the tarp. An alternative is to run a line from the tarp’s center guy line out back to a paddle and down to the ground. Then restake out the back to provide even tension, and, finally, stake out the sides.

• Advantages: Solid in storms, roomy for two, easy to raise or lower the height of the door, feels secure and tent-like.
• Disadvantages: Tricky setup (practice at home!), requires a shorter pole or stick in the center, over kill on calm nights.

Recommended Products and Resources

• The Ray-Way Tarp Book: How To Make A Tarp And Net-tent, And Use Them In The Wilds
• Integral Designs 8′x10′ Sil Tarp
• Kelty Triptease Guyline
• Granite Gear Haven Tarp
• Outdoor Research Bug Bivy

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Last month I described how to estimate wave height when in a canoe or kayak, but after listening to some descriptions of the “six” foot waves that some kayakers paddled through, I thought a visual aid would be helpful in understanding the height of waves. I’ve built a little diagram showing a 17′ kayak, and a stick-kayaker in different size waves.

The kayaker is 36″ tall from the baseline of the kayak. The waterline is shown in red. The size of a wave when described in feet is the wave height. The lowest wave in this diagram is two feet. The next two waves are three and four feet. The largest wave in the diagram is a six foot wave.

I wrote in the last article:

In the excellent Sea Kayak: A Manual for Intermediate and Advanced Sea Kayakers, Gordon Brown lists a nice standard rule for sea kayakers and canoeists, “If you have a distant horizon the waves are less than one metere. If your horizon is the crest of the wave immediately in front of you, the waves are over a metere.”

Using this rule, you’ll know that if you can see the horizon, the waves were less than 3″². If you can’t, they were over 3″². To refine the rule further, when under 3″² if you loss sight of just your partner’s boat when they’re in the trough of the wave, then the waves are 1″². If you lose sight of your partner’s shoulders and just their head is visible above the crests of the waves, then the waves are 2″².

Estimating wave height on overhead waves is much harder. To get a reference sit on the floor in the kitchen and look to the top of the refrigerator. Most refrigerators are 6″² tall, so if the wave looks like a refrigerator coming at you, then it’s probably 6″² tall.

Remember when in a kayak, the waves always look bigger than they are.

Other Resources

• Waves and beaches: The dynamics of the ocean surface: This is one of the best subjects on waves. If you can find it, buy it!

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