Inflatable Kayak Blog

We went up into the Smokey Mountains for a long weekend this past weekend. We had a variety of plans, which included some paddling on one of the days we were there. There are many mountain streams that run through the area, however, they don’t lend themselves to kayaking because of low water levels and large rocks. We asked some locals to suggest a good place to put the kayak in for a paddle and they suggested Douglas Lake.

The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) constructed Douglas Lake in 1943. By damming up the French Broad River for the purpose of flood control and hydroelectric power generation, they also created a very impressive recreational lake with over 550 miles of shoreline and a surface area greater than 30,000 acres at its fullest. The lake was about 40 minutes from where we were staying in Gatlinburg but it was easy to find. There is a campground and beach area at Douglas Dam where we launched our Sea Eagle 330 inflatable kayak. We inflated the boat and carried it to the water where we took off from an old boat launch. It was a busy place with lots of swimmers and boaters in the area. We did our usual paddle long the shore line and managed to see a heron fly over head right after we got going. There was a marina to the right so we paddled down as far as that and then paddled back the other direction past the beach area. We didn’t stay out too long because we weren’t used to all the boats and jet skies zipping by. But it was a terrific day to be outside and the view of the Great Smokey Mountains in the distance made for quite a nice adventure.

The system of “water ratings” or “whitewater ratings” was designed so boaters and more appropriately, paddlers would know the difficulty of certain lakes, rivers and rapids. Here are some detailed descriptions of the whitewater rating system. Matching the ratings with the manufacturers recommendations for your hard shell, inflatable or folding kayak will ensure enjoyable paddling adventures.

Class A – Waters are calm and still, which is the case for most lakes and rivers.

Class I – These rapids are small and have slightly fast moving water. There are hardly any dangerous spots and those that are dangerous are easily spotted and avoidable. The risk to swimmers is small and can be corrected by self-rescue. In other words there is nothing to worry about in a Class I rapid.

Class II – With some basic training the obstacles in this class are easily maneuvered around or avoided. The swifter currents of water, channels, and rapids are easily noticed with some forward scouting. Swimmers will probably not get hurt in these rapids. It rarely occurs that someone may need outside assistance for rescue.

Class III – Accomplished whitewater skills and/or training are needed for these rapids. Constant changing rapids, harsh currents, large obstacle, and tight channels are prevalent. Larger rapids and currents can be seen but avoided. Risk to swimmers is still minimal and can be rescued by group or individually.

Class IV – These large and predictable currents require very strong boating skills. Some large waves, holes, and currents may be unavoidable. Quick thinking and fast skills are a must. Depending on water conditions the risk to swimmers can be high.

Class V – Expert only. These rapids put the boater into extreme danger. Large holes, rocks, waves, and currents are violent and all have an added danger. Rapids are longer and much more intense. Swimming is dangerous and not recommended.

Class VI – These rapids are unpredictable and may never have been run before. The only paddling here should be attempted by professionals under perfect conditions.

Early November and it is a beautiful fall afternoon. We won’t get many more nice days like this to get out in the kayak around this area so we took advantage of the beautiful sunshine and warm temperatures and put the kayak in at Buffalo Trace Park. I got a short leg workout as I did all the pumping with the kayak foot pump to inflate the kayak as we hurried to get it in the water before it got too dark. The lake was calm as glass and the reflection of the fall colors was spectacular! I had a hard time paddling, not because I was tired out from pumping, but because I was busy taking so many pictures. We barely had time to paddle around the small lake as the sun was sinking very low in the sky. I took a few more pictures and we packed up and headed home in darkness. What a great way to spend one of the last paddles of the year!

Just thought I’d summarize our paddling adventures in Michigan from a couple weeks ago. We’ve been back home for a week but very busy getting caught up. This is my first chance to blog.

We had been writing about our paddles in the Keewenaw area and looking forward to more when we headed into Michigan’s lower peninsula. The picture shows how rough Lake Superior looked when we stopped near Harvey outside of Marquette on our trip downstate. That kind of nasty weather managed to change our plans for the rest of the trip. Daytime temperatures stayed below 50 and it rained most of time, but the worst part was the wind. It was nearly constant with some strong gusts and sure didn’t make us want to go outside to do much of anything. Even if we did want to brave the elements, inflatable kayaks are not the best performers under such extremely windy conditions so we just left it rolled up in the back of the van. The two days that were OK we’re days that we celebrated a mini family reunion and the last day of the trip when we were on the road on our long trip back home. It did turn out to be nice trip overall and we did see a few spots that we’re looking forward to paddling in when we return next year.

We’ve been visiting family in the Keewenaw area in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. On Sunday evening after dinner, we decided to head out for a quick paddle. It was a little chilly, but the water was very calm and there was very little wind. A couple of family members and friends watched us pump up our Sea Eagle kayak. It was the first time they’d seen it, although they had heard about it since we first purchased it. They were surprised how easily and quickly it was ready to paddle and that it was such a lightweight inflatable kayak.

As we paddled along the shore, we noticed how the sun was lighting a stand of trees. The trees reflected in the water making it a perfect photo op of the beautiful fall colors. We stopped and my wife took some pictures while I steadied the kayak. We paddled a little farther out and back and finished our trip as the sun set over Portage Lake. Great way to top off the day!