by Candace Walker

Created on: June 18, 2008   Last Updated: September 30, 2008

Whenever one is in the outdoors, safety should always be top-of-mind. This is even more true in the case of camping and kayakking when "off the grid". Wilderness camping combines some of the most enjoyable aspects of camping in the wild, with the pleasures of kayakking at your own pace to pristine destinations. With the wind at your back, the sun reflecting off the waves, and no mediation between you and nature, wildnerness kayakking can be a truly inspiring experience. Kayakking allows you to get to marine-accessible areas, which are often jewels of natural beauty - untouched and untrammelled.

Some common-sense safety precautions, however, include:
- planning your trip: make sure you know how to read a nautical map, a compass and tide charts. A GPS is useful instead of a compass, but its efficacy depends on satellite reception, which can be difficult to obtain during cloudy conditions or if you happen to be in a valley or canyon. It also needs batteries, replacements of which are easy to forget while camping on a multi-day trip. Where are you going? How far away is it? How many hours do you plan to paddle a day? What is the topography like? Where can you put to shore? Where do you plan to camp?

These factors will determine how much ground you will cover each day; depending on your ability and physique, a reasonable paddling speed for an average paddler would be around 5-10 km/h. Most people will be able to paddle for about 4 hours at a stretch (with the odd land break), but that assumes some paddling knowledge and ability to paddle effectively over longer distances. Take an introductory sea kayakking course to ensure that you know your strokes or to brush up on your skills. Map out your trip based on tide charts so you aren't paddling against the incoming tide and using the outgoing tide to your advantage. Nothing beats moving with the current - then you're really flying! You will be using your compass to navigate while on the water, so make sure you know how to use one before you get into your boat.

- notify friends and family: once you have plotted out your route and the length of your trip, make sure your friends and family have the same information. Leave them a copy of your nautical map and route details so they know approximately where you would be each day that you will be paddling.

- practice "Leave No Trace" camping: leave nothing but footprints. Dig toilet pits, no less than 100 yards away from any water sources, and pack out everything that you've brought

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