PADDLING STAGES
The paddling stages lead over the most impressing parts of Lake Ladoga with its incredible vistas. There are extended skerries with bare grey granite rock shores and dozens of lovely islands of different size beyond which lies the vast, horizonless expanse of the great Lake. It is the most beautiful and fascinating section of the race, and therefore the paddling stage will be the most extended of all.
Islands and skerries protect the majority of the route from winds of most directions, but you should be aware of that some bays have a width of more than 2 km and some parts of the route lay on the open coast of Lake Ladoga, where even a weak breeze may create a good sized wave.
You should consider that many extended parts of the coast, up to half a kilometer of length, are sheer abrupt cliffs and it may be impossible to get on land in case of an overturn. This can be extremely dangerous if the water temperature is 6 °C and lower.
In summer, daytime breezes on Lake Ladoga can create a wave up to 1 m high. But from sunset until 10 a.m. the waters of the lake are usually calm. In the unlikely case of an incessant storm, the paddling stages may be cancelled partially or completely. In June, average water temperature in the open waters of Lake Ladoga is 6°C. Nevertheless, in bays and in shallow waters the temperature can get up to 18-20°С. Kayaks will not be provided by the organizers.
Islands and skerries protect the majority of the route from winds of most directions, but you should be aware of that some bays have a width of more than 2 km and some parts of the route lay on the open coast of Lake Ladoga, where even a weak breeze may create a good sized wave.
You should consider that many extended parts of the coast, up to half a kilometer of length, are sheer abrupt cliffs and it may be impossible to get on land in case of an overturn. This can be extremely dangerous if the water temperature is 6 °C and lower.
In summer, daytime breezes on Lake Ladoga can create a wave up to 1 m high. But from sunset until 10 a.m. the waters of the lake are usually calm. In the unlikely case of an incessant storm, the paddling stages may be cancelled partially or completely. In June, average water temperature in the open waters of Lake Ladoga is 6°C. Nevertheless, in bays and in shallow waters the temperature can get up to 18-20°С. Kayaks will not be provided by the organizers.
