Katmai
Park
7-Day Bear Viewing
Adventure Having appeared in magazines and films around the
world, Katmai's brown bears are renowned Alaskan icons. The world's largest
run of sockeye salmon up the Naknek River creates an ideal feast for brown
bears - attracting more than 2,000 of the bruins to the lands of Katmai
National Park and Preserve. This is one of the world's premier brown bear
viewing trips.
Alaska Paddling Tip Hypothermia
Backcountry Safaris Supplies Drysuits We supply drysuits for your safety and comfort on all our rafting and kayaking adventures. Most outfitters have you paddling in rain gear. Drysuits will protect you from hypothermia in Alaska's cold water. Your comfort and safety is high on our list. Another advantage to dry suits is that if the weather turns wet, they add warmth and a comfort level you would not think possible in Alaska's environment.
What is Hypothermia? Hypothermia is subnormal temperature within the central body. When a person is immersed in cold water, the skin and nearby tissues cool very fast. However, it may take 10 to 15 minutes. before the temperature of the heart and brain starts to drop. When the core temperature drops below 90° F serious complications begin to develop. Death may occur at about 80° F; however, a person may drown at a higher temperature due to loss of consciousness or inability to use the arms and legs.
Paddling Tip Dress for water temperature not the air temperture. A safe paddler is always prepare for an unexpected dunking. Wearing drysuit you can increase your surviival time and the time it takes Hypothermia to set in to almost indefinitely should you take an unexpected swim. Water temperature in Alaska can be near freezing even in the summer months.
Some folks find wearing drysuit uncomfortable on a hot day and choose not to wear one at great risk. If you're being safe and wearing a dry suit on a hot day as you should be, you can increase your comfort level by dunking you hands, arms into the water, or evening going for a short fun swim to cool down.
Wearing a drysuites can increase these times to almost indefinitely.
Water Temperature
Time until exhaustion or unconsciousness
Expected time of survival in the water
32° F (0° C)
Under 15 minutes
Under 15–45 minutes
32.5 – 40° F (0 – 44° C)
Common Temperature Found in Alaska
15–30 minutes
1–3 hours
40 – 50° F (4 – 10° C)
30–60 minutes
2–40 hours
50 – 60° F (10 – 16° C)
1–2 hours
1–6 hours
60 – 70° F (16 – 21° C)
2–7 hours
30–90 minutes
70–80° F (21 – 27° C)
3–12 hours
3 hours – indefinitely
What Happens In Cold Water?
Many of the fatal boating accidents accrue do to cold water immersion, Hypothermia. What happens to the body when suddenly plunged into cold water?
The first hazards to contend with are panic and shock. The initial shock can place severe strain on the body, producing instant cardiac arrest.
Your breath will be driven from you on first impact with the water. Should your face be in the water during that first involuntary gasp for breath, it may well be water rather than air. Total disorientation may occur after cold water immersion. Persons have reported "thrashing helplessly in the water" for thirty seconds or more until they were able to get their bearings.
Immersion in cold water can quickly numb the extremities to the point of uselessness. Cold hands cannot fasten the straps of a lifejacket, grasp a thrown rescue line, or hold onto an over-turned boat. Within minutes, severe pain clouds rational thought. And, finally, hypothermia (exposure) sets in, and without rescue and proper first aid treatment, unconsciousness and death.
Normal body temperature of course, is 98.6. Shivering and the sensation of cold can begin when the body temperature lowers to approximately 96.5. Amnesia can begin to set in at approximately 94, unconsciousness at 86 and death at approximately 79 degrees.
Alaska Adventure Travel Specialist Backcountry Safaris P.O. Box 231121 • Anchorage, Alaska USA 99523 1-907-222-1632 or toll-free 1-877-812-2159
