It was Memorial Day Weekend, and I was at Headwaters in Redding for the 2024 California River Quest race check-in. Race volunteers/organizers had an equipment checklist to make sure that participants had everything needed to paddle down the Sacramento River up to 100 miles. A Type III personal flotation device was required along with a whistle and a litany of other things.
The river was flowing fast at that time, which was good news for paddlers who wanted to use the current to get ahead of their fellow competitors. Even though the air temperature was hovering around 85 to 105 degrees Fahrenheit that weekend, the water temperature was 50 degrees. We were warned during our mandatory safety meeting a week prior that the water was so cold that it could take less than a minute for cold water shock to occur, losing feeling in your extremities within 10 minutes. It could take 20 to 30 minutes for full hypothermia to set in. If this happened during the race, we were told to ditch our equipment and get ourselves to shore as fast as possible.
A few people have asked me what happens when you fall in water that cold, and honestly, I don’t remember. I’ve always been on a paddleboard, and the water is so shocking that I’m back up on my board within a couple of seconds. However, this is a bit harder for kayakers. Usually, the boat tips over and it can be difficult to get it upright and then pull yourself back into the hull.
The 25-mile race started at 6:45 a.m. and about four miles into the course is the Kutras chute. It is rough and only big enough for one person to go through it. Or one could go around the other side of an island to avoid it, a bend that was longer, wider and presumably safer.
I chose the bend and came upon a kayaker who had fallen in the water, clinging onto his upside-down boat.
“Are you OK?” I said, as I made my way toward him.
“Help!” he yelled. He had a bloody nose and had started to panic.
However, there was no shoreline to get him to. Another kayaker had come to assist and we paddled him into a slick rock outcropping that was the closest thing to land we could find.
“I know hypothermia is setting in, but we’re going to hit rocks so try to use your legs,” I told the struggling racer. We quickly stumbled onto the outcropping, I called the race director from my waterproof phone in my pocket, and we helped wrap an emergency blanket around him. About 10 minutes later, the safety Jet Ski came and picked him up, and I continued the race.
At the 25-mile finish line, the kayaker came up and gave me a big hug. He said he was surprised that cold water shock set in so quickly, and how incapacitated he became within a few minutes.
Perils of cold water shock
Lake Tahoe is just as cold as the Sacramento River, so it’s important to understand how cold water shock happens and know how to prevent it and/or respond.
Cold water shock is an immediate reaction to sudden immersion in cold water, leading to potential drowning, and sudden immersion can lead to loss of muscle control, making it difficult to swim or stay afloat, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Lake Tahoe’s water temperatures can be deceptively cold, even during summer months; involuntary gasping and hyperventilation can occur, increasing the risk of inhaling water; and hypothermia can set in quickly, further impairing physical and mental functions.
“Have the right equipment for the situation you’re in,” says U.S. Coast Guard Public Affairs Officer Lt. Christopher Payne. He added that “a whistle goes a long way.”
Life jackets save lives
It’s important to always wear a life jacket when on or near the water. It can save your life, especially when experiencing cold water shock.
When paddleboarding on Lake Tahoe, be sure to have a leash and an appropriate life jacket for your ability level. While a fanny pack-type life jacket is all that is required to paddleboard on Lake Tahoe, keep in mind that cold water shock can happen so abruptly (or you may be knocked unconscious or facedown) that you may not be able to pull the inflation tab. Children younger than 13 are legally required to wear a life jacket while on the water, but the Coast Guard strongly encourages everyone, regardless of age or physical condition, to do the same.
Be aware of water temperature
Be aware of the water temperature before entering any waterway and acclimatize yourself to the water gradually (I went swimming in cold water pools and Lake Tahoe before paddling the Sacramento River). While the surface temperature near Tahoe’s shoreline in shallow water may feel warm, the temperature in deeper water can be significantly colder.
“Cold water is defined as anything below 70 degrees Fahrenheit, a temperature Lake Tahoe rarely exceeds throughout the year,” says U.S. Coast Guard Executive Petty Officer Justin Smith stationed at Lake Tahoe.
“It’s crucial for all boaters, whether in engine-powered or paddle craft, to be aware of the dangers and prepared if they find themselves in the water. Lake Tahoe averages seven cold water-related fatalities per year, most of which can be prevented by simply wearing a life jacket. Additionally, equipping your life jacket with a whistle and a light can help attract the attention of nearby boaters if you end up in the water,” Smith added.
If you come upon someone who fell in the water and/or is experiencing cold water shock, call 9-1-1 and throw a flotation device to the person in the water (but avoid getting in the water yourself).
Water safety tips
- Children younger than 13 must wear life jackets while on a vessel in Nevada and California, including standup paddleboards, kayaks, personal watercraft and other craft.
- Everyone should wear a life jacket and a SUP leash.
- Drinking and boating is the same crime as drinking and driving.
- Paddling is boating and subject to the same rules and safety guidelines.
- Take a boat education class to learn boat safety. Online boating courses are offered free at boatus.org/nevada or boatus.org/california.
- All boaters in California aged 60 and younger are required to have a California Boater Card available at californiaboatercard.com.
- Pay attention to changing wind and weather conditions.
- Avoid cold water shock and hypothermia — enter water slowly and control your breathing.
- Always wear bright colors, carry bright paddles along with a whistle and flashlight.
- Notify someone of your departure location and time and when you plan to return.
- Stay close to shore when paddling and swimming to avoid boat traffic.
Be safe, have fun and understand the risks of freshwater alpine lakes and rivers to be the survivor rather than the victim. | nltcgaux.org, takecaretahoe.org
Before going out, check the weather, including the wind, on Lake Tahoe. | tahoe.ucdavis.edu/lake-conditions
