Clyde Sisler wrote: > >> <<What is necessary and when is it just window dressing?>> This is a game you can play endlessly. The idea is to work out what the likely emergency scenarios are and bring the gear you would need to help extract yourself from the scenario -- self rescue gear and/or alerting apparatus: flares, signal mirror, VHF, etc. Being the forgetful type, I just keep my "maximum" emergency kit in my E-bag and take it when I go. Many times I have stuff I almost surely would not need in order to extract myself. The other game to work on is stepping yourself through a given problem and making sure you have the stuff. Best is to simulate the emergency and make sure you have your equipment and techniques both working. Self rescue is such a critical skill it ought to be a first priority. Basic stuff to alert someone else you have a problem is next. If you paddle cold water, immersion hypothermia is also critical. In more exotic locations, you might have to bring on more technology to cope with emergencies. EPIRB, etc. None of it, however, supplants good paddling sense. Nobody drowns on the beach. Really, the first focus should be on developing good judgement. Equipment should be a second (last?) result. -- Dave Kruger Astoria, OR *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************Received on Fri Jun 11 1999 - 22:19:03 PDT
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