By Nick Pritchard
When planning a trip the weather is obviously a critical factor in the success of your trip. When considering the weather I like to break it down into 3 steps. Each of these steps are more detailed than the last, so that when I am on the last step I have a pretty good picture of what the weather will be like.
The first step when planning out a trip is determining the general time that you would like to go on your adventure. Will it be in the spring, the fall, or will you go down south for a nice winter paddle? When thinking of the general time of year consider the weather that we associate with those times (ex. spring rains, hot summers, etc.) and determine if that is what you want to encounter on your trip. This first step will also help you determine what the water levels will be like. You can typically expect higher water with spring rains.
The second step is to select a month within that general time of year. When I am at this second step I like to check the historical averages for the area that I'm visiting. This information can help you get a feel for how much rain is typical during that month and what the average highs/lows are for that time. Don't forget to consider how bad the bugs will be during a given month either!
The third step is to select the actual days that you want to go on your adventure. This is step may seem like it does not hold much consequence but particularly in spring and fall, a couple weeks can mean a big difference between water levels, temperature, and precipitation. Look over the historical averages and talk with the local land management agencies in order to find the best time for you to go.
By carefully choosing the best time for you to go on your adventure you will greatly increase the chances that your trip is successful. As with all parts of pre-trip planning you do not want to rush through it and throw it together at the last minute.
As always feel free to ask us if you have any questions!
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