Re: [Paddlewise] ice on flatwater

Steve wrote ...
> 	In no time at all I find myself sitting in the local McD's wolfing a
> McGrease burger and contemplating mortality. Suppose I'd have gone
> swimming? The water wasn't particularly warm or anything. I was wearing my
> PFD, but was dressed for the 50F air temperature (jeans, sweatshirt, gortex
> shell jacket) with all of my warmer stuff (and two-way radio) in my dry-bag
> tied in the canoe. Where I grounded was only about 200ft from dirt, but
> that was 200ft of ice. Nearest approach to shore via water more like
> 1000ft. Crawl across 200ft of 1/2 inch thick ice, even if I could manage to
> drag my fat butt up onto it? Not likely! Swim 1000ft in ~40F water? Attempt
> to empty and re-board an unfamiliar boat already noted to be somewhat
> tippy? Hmmmm! Best I can figure,someone watches out for the fools in this

I don't have superior skill, or a lot of experience.  I don't trust
my ability to avoid trouble.  I don't even trust my luck (what little
I might have).  So whenever I go out on the water on anything other
than boats big enough to have their own life-rafts, I always make sure
I am prepared to take a swim, whether I am planning on swimming or
not.  I guess what I trust is taking reasonable precautions against
what might be a worst-case scenario.

So, how do you avoid having to use superior skill?
Use good judgement.  How do you get good judgement?
Learn from experience.  How do you get experience?
>From having poor judgement!

I'll beat myself up for making mistakes, but as long
as I never make the SAME mistake TWICE, I figure I have
still managed to learn something.

neal_at_bellhow.com
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