I did a 3-day nonstop 700km canoe race in the Yukon this summer and I think the temps compared to northern Manitoba are similar. We hit a nasty storm on a lake and got soaked. It wasn't cold out and it was only the afternoon, but we knew to get OFF the lake fast and change into dry clothes. Most people scratch from the race due to hypothermia, underestimating that it can happen, even in summer. Some are seasoned, well-conditioned athletes. The temps at night didn't get below 8C but even some people not used to the northern temps were freezing. It's amazing how fast hypothermia can hit you.Thanks, I was only there for a few days at the end of last week, missed most of the action but was enough time on the ground to have a pretty good understanding of where key things were and what the terrain and climate was like.
To those wondering about chance of survival after getting wet I don’t think that’s a concern. The days are warm and from what I understand the water isn’t too cold this time of year either.
I say if those guys got dry soon after they dumped the boat, they had a chance. But if they stayed wet for any length of time, especially overnight, they would have been in a HEAP of trouble.