Re: [Paddlewise] Paddling Group Dynamics

> This is a provocative topic.  The issue of whether to abandon your
> paddling partners, and what sorts of conditions or "arrangements" might
> make such abandonment "ethical" is one which will probably use up a LOT
> of bandwidth.

To me, it seems that if you've agreed at the beginning to go
as a group, then you've already made your choice.  Whether
you like it or not, other people in the group made their
decision with the knowledge that you were to be part of that
group.  Your presence, or the presence of your additional
boat may have altered the decision of someone else in the
group.

If you don't want to paddle with a group, a simple, "Hey,
I'm off, maybe I'll see yall over at campsite X this evening,
have a good one."  And then put a half mile between you
and the group.   This is an honest approach.  No one in the
group will be assuming that you'll be around in case of
trouble, nor will they feel obligated to paddle if the
conditions are beyond their comfort zone.

> Maybe it would be useful to distinguish between two kinds of sea
> kayaking:
> 
> 1. "Hair" boating:  trips or crossings in which the participants are on
> the edge of the possible, have already committed their souls to their
> Maker, and are beyond the dictates of we "normal" paddlers.

"Edge of the possible"  Thats pretty extreme for sea kayaks,
wouldn't you say?  Maybe more useful: "paddling in conditions
that would be likely to capsize an intermediate paddler at
least once a day"...

> I'd kind of like to know just what sorts of people and conditions are
> likely to lead to my abandonment (aside from having eaten ALL the Oreo
> cookies surreptitiously -- snarf! snarf!).

Great thing about sea kayaking, a couple extra bag fulls stuffed
in the hold, no problem.


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