Well it sure gets quiet around here this time of year. Devil’s Lake State Park is pretty devoid of visitors this time of year. The hunters have much of the park to themselves, the lake is still open so the ice fishermen can’t get out yet, and for most it’s just too cold to hike. Even here at the website only about 200 people a day stop by. Quite a change from the over 2000 that come each day during the peak summer season.

Well, all this quiet time means we get a chance to take our kayaks out for a quiet paddle. A snowstorm just makes it all that much more fun! We unloaded our boats on the north shore and paddled out to explore the lake through the falling snow. The lake is really quite beautiful during heavy snows. Other than a bald eagle that swooped out over the kayaks we pretty much had the lake to ourselves. Pretty much, because there are a few other crazy folks who come to the park in a snowstorm. We passed one man fishing alone on the south shore, and a father and son hiking the tumbled rocks trail as well.

It’s worth noting that kayakers are not as insane as you may think. We have all sorts of specialized gear made for this time of year so that even if we go for a swim we have time to get back in the kayak or swim to shore without freezing. The Inuit of Greenland learned to paddle in the cold long before we did and left us some good examples to follow. In fact the best way to stay warm and dry if you tip over in your kayak is to simply roll back up!

Oh, and I should mention that going in the water this time of year without the proper training and gear is not a good idea. I can just hear the rangers saying, “Don’t give them any ideas!!”