I could see that being relative but on a much much lower scale. I mean unless you’re constantly dealing with 30 to 40 mph winds and hills that are constantly dipping and rising as opposed to gradual rolling style hills, I couldn’t imagine the wind having as many determining factors as white water rapids though. I think I understand the similarities though. We go white water paddling about once a year in SC near the Ga border and occasionally in NC/TN. I am by no means an expert at that and have never read a book. Only a hobbyist. With that said which paddling book would you recommend both as someone who enjoys white water paddles occasionally and who also wants to better understand how it relates to the wind?
I'm certainly not the 1st hunter to compare wind to water in a stream. There are lots of similarities in the two but they aren't all hard-fast comparisons, only general guidelines of how they compare.
Light winds can sometimes be as much of a challenge to read than the 30-40 mph winds.
"Path of the Paddle" by Bill Mason is excellent. Keep in mind that a paddling book has a lot more in it than just reading the river so it may seem like the book covers things that have no relation to wind.
One thing that is seldom mentioned in these threads is the effect that friction has on wind speed and behavior. Structure, cover seams, even the ground creates friction as the wind contacts it it it does change wind behavior on a micro level. The shoreline of a river creates a similar behavior. In both cases water and wind has a tendency to slow, and corkscrew as it passes along solid objects. It might be almost imperceptible during low, slow volume or more pronounced during fast wind/water.
The concept of wind friction is evident with milkweed when standing on the ground versus being in a tree. Floaters often seem to want to go grounded within a few yards when releasing them from ground level. That's the effect the ground has on air flow...the friction slows the wind and pulls it downward. Release a floater from 15 feet up and it tends to travel much farther...less wind friction higher off the ground.
And advanced whitewater paddling is more than just getting the canoe down the river without flipping. No stream is 100% rapids the entire length. It's extremely complex with a wide range of currents and interactions of those currents. And changes in CFS (like wind speed) can make a huge difference in flow behavior. Sometimes it doesn't take much of a change in flow to substantially effect behavior. Slippery Rock Creek in W PA is an example of how a slight change in CFS can completely change the character of water currents and rapids. The same can happen with wind. It doesn't always take a huge change in wind speed to effect surface wind patterns.
Being able to read eddy lines and micro currents can mean the difference between a well controlled path down the river (playing eddies and other current features) and a hair-raising blunder through the rocks and rapids. The same can be said about hunting wind behavior. It's highly complex and being able to "see" wind eddies, thermals, and how they interact can mean the difference in knowing which stand will work for a given day and which will be a bust on that day. Sometimes the difference between being winded and eating your tag, versus narrowly remaining undetected leading to a hero photo is only a few yards different.
