Very sad news and still no answers to my many questions so far as I've seen. Actually, that's why I came here tonight, to see if the good folks at MyCCR had heard any updates.
I would add to what has already been said that my drysuit is my #1 piece of safety gear - more important than my PFD in my opinion (but that's a moot point since if I'm wearing my drysuit, there's a 100% chance that I'm wearing my pfd too).
I regularly paddle icy water (have paddled November through February so far this winter on the South Saskatchewan River - flatwater) but:
- I dress for immersion.
- I know the river & it's hazards.
- I ensure that the shore ice situation is such that I can get off of the water when I need to.
- I regularly practice self & assisted rescue skills in the winter.
- I generally try to round up a couple of other paddlers so that I am not paddling alone.
- My threshold for other compounding conditions is very low. For instance, if it's -6C and I'm on the water, you can bet that it's calm out.
- I carry technology that if nothing else, will hopefully make my body easier to locate.
- I file a float plan which really just means I tell my wife where I'm going, and when I expect to be off of the water, and follow up by letting her know as soon as I am off of the water.
- I sometimes talk to other paddlers I see in sketchy conditions and extol the virtues of dressing properly and having good rescue skills.*
*I debate this with myself - is it better to live and let live leading by example or to speak up when I think someone isn't up to snuff and likely come across as the self righteous a$$hole? Even my statements above are intended to encourage safe cold-water paddling. Further, just because there isn't ice, doesn't mean it isn't cold-water paddling.
Bryan