Re: [Paddlewise] When in Rome do as the Romans do?

Hal Levine wrote:
> 
> Here in New England us Romans usually wear some type of thermal
> protection (wet suit, farmer john, fuzzy rubber, dry suit or dry top,
> neo booties etc.) when going out on the open ocean or large bays when
> the water temp is less than 60 F.
> 
> I had the wonderful opportunity to paddle in the Pacific NW (San Juan
> Island and Glacier Bay) last week and the only protection anyone
> (individuals or outfitters) wore were knee high rubber boots.  The water
> was in the low 40s in the San Juans and less in Glacier Bay.  I was a
> good Roman and went out but was not at all comfy.  What's the deal?
> 
> Additionally, the outfitter from Friday Harbor instructed the newbies to
> put the spray skirt  over the pfd.  I know it was near a full moon but I
> was very surprised. In a week of traveling around in Southern Alaska and
> Washington I never saw a wet suit or dry top.
> 
> Is is a right ocean right brain; left ocean left brain thing?
> 
>     Hal
>     Wilton, NH
> 

Some years ago, I had a visit to New York City from a prominent kayaker
from the Northwest (I want to keep things vague).  It was in February. 
He had his wife and 5 year old child along.  Of course, I offered the
Statue of Liberty trip but first even before he came to NYC I asked if
he were bringing cold water gear and I re-asked when he got here.

I guess I didn't make my question specific enough.  I learned on the day
of the trip that his idea of cold water gear at the time (since changed
with the times) was long underwear and goretex rain jacket and pants
(his family was similarly equipped).  I decided to go anyway.  We were
launching in the relatively calm waters behind the Statue and never
likely to be more than a few hundred feet from land.  I, of course, wore
a dry suit with proper insulation underneath.  I kept rehearsing in my
mind what I would do if any of them went over (jump out of my boat to
put them in my dry one, etc.)  It was quite a nervous trip as our boats
broke through a thin layer of ice at the put-in but it all went well. 
None of them were even wearing PFDs except the boy.

Why did I do it?  You sometimes do things even when you really do know
better.  I don't lapse much, but sometimes I do.  The guy is an icon and
10 times the paddler I am and very agile and real outdoorsy and not
likely to run into trouble nor panic.  The conditions were glass calm,
the water as glassy smooth as the ice at the put-in.  I weighed the
risks and considered them quite low and had at least some strategies for
getting them out of the cold water in seconds if need be and no doubt he
was extremely capable of helping himself and kin.  But I was certainly
nervous and awfully glad to be back at the put-in.

At the time, I dismissed the cold water approach of my friend as a
quirky Northwest thing and I believe that in large part Northwest
paddlers simply did not take cold-water seriously.  I know that around
the time an article on hypothermia written by an Eastern Moulton Avery
of the Washington DC area that appeared in Sea Kayaker caused quite a
stir and seemed revolutionary judging by letters to the editor.

I am surprised however to see that some paddlers out that way have not
changed.  My friend and his family I know are dry-suited these days and
PFDed as well.

ralph diaz

-- 
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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."
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