Philip Torrens wrote: > > Hi Doug, > > Thanks for all the personal Deep Trouble stories. I appreciate your > willingness to let us all benefit from your hard-won experience. [snip] > Leaving aside hard skills such as bracing and rolling, I would say that the > three most important things I've learned about outer West Coast paddling > over the years would be: > > 1. Listen to the weather radio, watch your barometer, look at the clouds, > trust your gut. It is far, far better to be ashore wishing with mild > frustration that you were at sea, than to be at sea in the wrong conditions, > wishing desperately you were ashore. > > 2. Carry plenty of spare food so that you can sit out weather, and cultivate > a mental attitude that will allow you to do so. Recognise that human > timetables availeth nothing in relation to nature's. Don't let the fact that > you "must" be back at work on Monday become an all-too-literal deadline. We > were a day late getting back, and the world did not end. > > 3. On many parts of the West Coast, the notion of being in the "lee of the > land" is a dangerous delusion. Rocks and reefs may extend miles from shore. > When large swells are running (much of the time on the West Coast) you will > not be able to thread among them as a kayak can in calmer water. As a > result, you will have to paddle far off shore, in the thick of the wind, > whether or not it is coming from "landward". Great story, Doug -- I'm beginning to understand why you frequently paddle solo <g>. And many thanks to Philip for the three pieces of advice. -- 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 Sep 03 1999 - 22:44:23 PDT
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