Actually rather sketch winter paddle

[deepmud]

I have been down and back up the Knik a few times last winter but I wanted to share the trip with a new paddling buddy(kayaker and new to that as well as to Alaska).As a kayak it's actually tougher to get across sandbars upstream than on sup sup the trip needed to be doswnstream only. Turns out my newbie kayaker was barely able to overcome the current even without a sandbar screwingup thr stroke. I really should have done this run once as a one-way at least once before bringing anyone else. It turned out just fine tho. No pics at the sketchy part . Too much serious paddling.

[deepmud]

Pics as we coasted along with the current.  It was about -20 in the area.

[deepmud]

The sand bars are too soupy walk on but too thick to paddle through.  The kayak would just stick while I was able to kneel and push with one foot. Or sometimes walk while leaning on the Bark.

[deepmud]

So no images of the sketchy part.  It was a fast current at the bridge where we left the car. Nothing looked good as I coasted in so I turned back up stream. There was an opening just behind the bridge support, a notch in the ice and I paddled up while hopping back a step to raise the nose just as it needed to slide up one the ice shelf. After 6 or 7ft were up I stepped off onto the ice.

[deepmud]

The Relive video shows the route including the back track upstream. This was the first time I felt I had bitten off more than I could chew. A guide cannot depend on the guided for assistance.  A companion for a new route needs to be of equal experience. And a sup has some advantages over a kayak. I can just step off onto the ice. This is a huge advantage. Edit: the water at the end gets a boost in volume from a different river mixing in, the Matanuska. And at the same time it is forced to a narrow channel.  The current goes from a lazy 3mph to a brisk 4 to 4.5mph right under the highway.

https://www.relive.cc/view/vdvmdmDnNxq

[supthecreek]

Pretty cool Mud!
I love those misty winter paddles... magical 

[808sup]

Wow! What a beautiful collection of memories. Thanks for sharing your experience with nature that most of us will never have in person. It looks so peaceful and surreal. My immediate thoughts of falling in and either drowning or freezing to death are making me want to build a fire and buy a fur coat.🥶😁

[burchas]

Pretty and wild or pretty wild rather. Either way, another one for the books Not surprised the sandbar was no challenge for deepmud

[PonoBill]

Beautiful, but you are one crazy fahkah.

[surfcowboy]

Those are some crazy images, man. Beautiful but yeah I can't imagine braving that.

We all think waves are sketchy but that little flatwater paddle could kill you faster than Jaws. Thanks for sharing those. And yeah, your partner has to be up to level for sure. I have a couple of them that I know won't wig out when things get a little dicey. Worth their weight in gold.

[TallDude]

Those are some extreme conditions. You seem pretty comfortable for the most part. That is an amazingly beautiful place to paddle. Harsh beauty. Thanks for sharing..