RE: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayaking Literature?

	I read your note on Don Starkell's book.    I have read both don's book and Victoria Jason's edition of the same trip.   I think your note was quite eloquently put together.    I would not be quite so conservative.   It is people like Don Starkell that give other kayakers bad publicity.

Karen Stevens
Victoria B.C.
-----Original Message-----
From:	HTERVORT_at_aol.com [SMTP:HTERVORT_at_aol.com]
Sent:	Wednesday, April 07, 1999 9:36 AM
To:	Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com; paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subject:	Re: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayaking Literature?

In a message dated 4/7/99 5:37:09 AM Pacific Daylight Time, 
Clyde.Sisler_at_wang.com writes about Don Starkell's book _Paddling to the 
Arctic_:

<< Whatever drives the man, you still have to admire him for his single
 mindedness. >>

Sorry, but no I don't.  Blind single-mindedness without concern for basic 
decency, safety and the sanctity of life I never admire.  Too many people die 
or are killed in the name of unworthy goals set by egomaniacs.  

That is a gentleman from whom we could learn much about how *not* to manage a 
group paddle.  When Don and Victoria were traveling together the contrast was 
tremendous.  Don didn't enjoy any of it and was a (self-admittedly) 
miserable, driven human being.  Victoria did just as many miles, took much 
more responsibility for camp chores and the like, and had to put up with Don, 
but she still saw the glory in the land, the water and the people around her, 
deriving much more than hollow macho bragging-rights for the accomplishment 
of a goal.  Victoria returned and did the big miles and heroic deeds solo and 
was both safer and happier without Don.  Don returned and endangered people 
who put their lives on the line to save him from himself.

The best part of _Paddling to the Arctic_ was when the local told Don he was 
sorry Don had survived his first brush with death because it would encourage 
other idiots to go up north, littering their shores with dead bodies (very 
loosely paraphrased).  This from a first-nations gentleman who new the area 
and cared, as all up there seem to, for the welfare of all people in their 
midst.

Off soap box,
Harold 
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