Re: [Paddlewise] FW: When in Rome - I'd wea

On Sat, 14 Aug 1999, Dave Kruger wrote:

> Steve Cramer wrote:
> > 
> > My experience has been quite
> > the opposite; that people go out with too little or inappropriate gear and
> > get into trouble. I have never encountered anyone who said "I've got the
> > latest from Lotus; I'm invincible"
> 
> Winters must not be subscribed at the moment or he would have responded to
> this.  John's point is more subtle than your example.  He references some
> literature/research on his Web site to support the view that each of us has a
> certain acceptable level of "perceived risk."  Acquiring an additional piece
> of safety gear (a VHF, for example) means that we then *perceive* ourselves to
> be a little safer in the kinds of paddling we used to do, and up the ante a
> notch or so, to reach the level of "perceived risk" we had before.
> 
> I agree with you, Steve, that uninformed newbies typically are massively
> underprepared gearwise and skillwise, and that the quality/quantity of gear
> has little connection with their need for rescue.  Winters' point deals with
> *informed* paddlers.  I guess that's us, more or less.
> 
Perhaps there is a point here. Until I put my PFD on, I don't get on the
water, so apparently my PFD changes my "perceived risk." And I'm not
willing to paddle cold water in my cotton underware. I'm just having
trouble seeing where this observation gets us. Is not the same thing true
for skills? My perceived risk for Class IV is now moderate; when I started
paddling WW I wouldn't venture beyond Class II.

Of course, recent years have seen deaths of very competent paddlers on
Class VI and V water that was clearly within their skill range, so we need
to bear in mind that sh*t happens, and sometimes all the skill and gear
and friends you've got won't be enough.

Steve Cramer                     
Test Scoring & Reporting Services      Sometimes you never can 
University of Georgia                    always tell what you 
Athens, GA 30602-5593                      least expect the most.


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