From: "ssives_at_erols.com" <ssives_at_erols.com> > > Bob, > > You're right, I don't have any real knowledge of paddling on the > "left" coast. I paddle most of the time around Washington, D.C. And I > agree paddling farther out may be safer if these "boomers" are so > dangerous. <snip question on what is a boomer that was answered by another paddler> > I just recalled that I did paddle off the west coast one one > occasion. I was near "Cannary Row" where the seals hang out. I was > very close to the shoreline and didn't recall the water behaving any > differently than the Atlantic (but admittedly that was just one day). Hi Scott, I believe Bob was talking about making general statements on paddling safety when situations vary in all parts of the world. Local knowledge and experience counts for a lot more than general rules applied elsewhere. "Near Cannary Row" is in Monterey Bay which is not really thought of as exposed coastline. It can get rough in the bay, but often is quite easy, protected paddling. It also cannot be used as a general comparison of paddling the west coast and a paddler would be mistaken to assume it is typical of paddling the west coast. As a visitor to any area, I would not assume that one day or even months of paddling that area was typical of that specific area, much less representative of a coastline covering thousands of miles. > So in summary I agree that Alaska may have a different type of coast > with different dangers. But one still shouldn't discount the danger of > paddling far off shore alone on a regular basis. > > - Scott Nor should one discount the possible dangers of paddling near shore. Cheers, Jackie (finally caught up on email?) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Jackie Fenton wrote: > Hi Scott, > > I believe Bob was talking about making general statements on paddling safety > when situations vary in all parts of the world. Local knowledge and > experience counts for a lot more than general rules applied elsewhere. > > "Near Cannary Row" is in Monterey Bay which is not really thought of as > exposed coastline. It can get rough in the bay, but often is quite easy, > protected paddling. It also cannot be used as a general comparison of paddling > the west coast and a paddler would be mistaken to assume it is typical > of paddling the west coast. As a visitor to any area, I would not assume > that one day or even months of paddling that area was typical of that > specific area, much less representative of a coastline covering thousands > of miles. > > > So in summary I agree that Alaska may have a different type of coast > > with different dangers. But one still shouldn't discount the danger of > > paddling far off shore alone on a regular basis. > > > > - Scott > > Nor should one discount the possible dangers of paddling near shore. Boy, I am glad that Jackie posted this. Even benign areas near shore can resemble the North Sea if winds pick up and currents are running counter to them. I have seen paddlers from other areas blanche when paddling the harbor here in such conditions. Even supposedly protected areas like South Bay between Long Island and the barrier Fire Island can get absolutely wild because it is so shallow and winds can kick it up to rapid 6 foot waves with so little interval between them that you feel you are moving on a corrugated roof only with pretty steep pitches and depths between the corrugations. Local knowledge is indispensable for paddling. Seek it out all you can. If you can't get it, be gingerly in your paddling distances and times out on the water especially if any weather transition is a possibility. ralph diaz > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** -- ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024 Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com "Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag." ----------------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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