The wind is blowing spray into your face. Doesn’t sound too bad, except you are in the stern and your partner in the bow is scowling. If this is your significant other, you are in big trouble. Whitecaps are breaking over his/her lap and running down her rain suit. It’s not going be a good day. A look at the wind forecast could have saved your day.

The most obvious reason to check the wind is to make it back to camp dry. Many people are unaware that crossing a large, windy lake is often much more dangerous than running evil-looking rapids. A good rule is never to go more than 300 yards from shore if you can possibly avoid it. This distance not only allows you a fighting chance of swimming to shore in case of an upset, but also allows you to quickly go to shore if weather conditions change for the worse. A large lake can go from a glassy calm to a crazed froth in 20 minutes.

Getting to know the wind is a must when you contemplate pond or lake canoeing. What may look like a mild breeze in the cove when leaving may turn into a gale wind later in the morning or afternoon. Knowing how to read the wind and clouds makes a day of paddling much more enjoyable.

Ponds and lakes are generally set in a valley, whether a few acres or many miles. These valleys have a prevailing wind as well as swirling and cross winds. These are caused by the formation of the valley and the terrain around it. First you need to know the prevailing wind. This can be determined by checking the local weather. Knowing where the wind is expected to come from is a must for anyone taking a canoe trip.

The next step is to get a map of the surrounding area. The best maps to use are topographical maps, as these show the terrain features and how they may affect the wind. Look for ridges and gaps leading into the valley in which the pond or lake is located. When you put the wind direction and surrounding terrain features together you can make a pretty good guess as to how the wind is going to affect the water on that day.

Let us say the prevailing wind is out of the North. If there is a ridge on this side of the pond it will tend to lift the wind over this part of the pond. The wind will drop back down on the pond farther toward the southern end, causing waves to build up between there and the other side of the pond. But where there is a ridge there is almost always a cut or valley. This is where the winds that catch you by surprise will come from. A gust out of a cut can turn the water into a frothing mess leaving you surprised and wet. If there is a ridge on the other end it will back up some of the wind causing rougher water.

If on the other hand the ridge is on the other end of the pond and you have a valley at the end you start from the reverse will happen. The wind will flow straight down the pond until it hits the ridge. There it will flow up and over the lay of the land. This leads to high waves and possibly white caps.

Clouds will also affect the wind. At this point let’s assume we all know light wispy clouds mean a fairly nice day, whereas dark heavy clouds mean bad weather is on the way. Clouds have an effect on the wind also. Light clouds will let the wind stay high in the atmosphere affecting the waters surface less. Dark, heavy clouds, on the other hand, are denser and will keep the wind low creating more turbulence on the water’s surface. A look at the sky can give you an idea of what kind of winds to expect. Even a brisk wind will skip over the surface of the pond if it is a cloudless day, though a 5-10 MPH wind will whip up a pond if the clouds are keeping it on the surface.

Unless you wake up to a windy day the first few hours of the day are the best to canoe. Get out on the water and enjoy yourself with some leisurely paddling and sightseeing. This is the best time to head over to the other side of the pond if that is your destination. By mid to late morning the wind will invariably pick up, so you want to be where the wind will be at your back or quartering from your back when heading back to camp. This will make the trip smoother and a lot more enjoyable.

Wind waves are built by three factors: wind strength, time blowing, and distance blowing over open water (fetch). You can't affect the first two, but paddlers seek to minimize fetch. If the waves get too high lower your center of gravity in the canoe. All in the canoe can drop to their knees and continue paddling. If you're still concerned, you can always sit on the bottom and slowly paddle to a nearby shore.

You can also use natural wind breaks to your advantage. Most obvious is a lee shore or the lee of an island. Even up to two miles away, waves will be less ferocious. You might need to adjust your route a bit, but it will be worth it

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The best way to keep from getting wet is to hug the shoreline. You want to keep a hundred feet or so from the shore to avoid hidden dangers. Large rocks and dead trees will hide just below the surface near shore and the wind could push you into these areas if you are too close. Also if you capsize and are close to shore you can get on top of your canoe and push it to shore. Remember to keep your life jacket on and watch the wind for an enjoyable day on the water.