FAQ
What is the West South Central area?
The US Census Bureau defines West South Central as TX, LA, OK, AR. It’s a good fit.
What’s the best boat?
It doesn’t matter too much. I’ve used a 9 foot Old Town Otter, a 14 foot Perception kayak bought off Amazon, and a 17 foot Pygmy wood kit kayak.
Boat speed, how fast can you go, mph?
Open flatwater can be 4 to 5 mph in some boats, but in swamps and brush or going upstream the pace can be 1 or 2 mph. Sit there, wait, look, 0 mph.
Paddle all year round?
Yes, but late summer is hot. Winter is good with a farmer john wetsuit. Spring and Fall are best.
What are some dangers of paddling in remote locations?
Many. By far the most dangerous thing, in my experience, is that you fall down, you trip. Another one is getting too far out on a lake and capsizing. There are lots of worries. For example, mosquitoes can cover you so crazy fast in some places that you can hardly think. And pigs, I worry about pigs a bit. Also, getting lost is very frightening. And getting something in your eye isn’t good. I don’t like lightning. Losing the boat would be bad. The list is long.
What about alligators?
Probably nothing will happen.
What about snakes?
Probably nothing will happen.
Will the car be safe at the put-in?
Hope so. Won’t know till we get back.
What about an emergency kit?
Benadryl maybe, Advil, extra pair of glasses, water purification tablets, repair tape, a few things like that. In winter maybe a sealed set of dry clothes.
Isn’t it scary or unsettling to be alone, outside, in a remote area?
The feeling about this will vary from person to person. I grew up in a very rural mountainous area and spent a lot of time running around in the woods as a kid. Folks I’ve encountered on trips have been 99.9% friendly.
How to find places to paddle?
A few websites in the links, but 90% by looking at google satellite maps.
Maps, routes, directions?
Print out satellite maps and laminate at the FedEx office. The phone has map apps and can set location pins if you’re in cell tower range. A compass is very useful. Redundancy is important in the event that one method fails. Knowing the NSEW structure of an area is good in case you have to walk out.
How to check river flow rate, lake levels?
The USGS National Water Dashboard. Lake levels using google search.
Are there portages or obstacles on these routes?
Sometimes.
Non-native aquatic invasives?
Take all due post-trip care as required. These things were introduced decades ago and are everywhere, human control is helping but there’s no going back. Most ecosystems are now uneasy hybrids of native and non-native species. Worldwide.
Wear a life jacket?
Yes.
Are permits needed?
For State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) and National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), usually yes. The details vary from state to state.
Are launch sites open year-round?
Depends, some NWRs have seasonal restrictions. And you want to avoid the first few days of hunting season in the fall, particularly for waterfowl.
Why do you do this are you nuts?
Perhaps. I went to the Caddo swamp to paddle and really liked it. Then Steinhagen next. And I got hold of Herndon’s Canoeing Louisiana book. And so on from there.
How were the photographs taken?
With an old model iphone SE. Then level the horizon later in Photoshop.