Re: [Paddlewise] Saturation Point

-----Original Message-----
From: R. Walker <rww_at_mailbox.neosoft.com>


Tom said:
>> >1. Different levels of development.  Users spread themselves over a
>> >continum of how much isolation they seak.  Those that want more are
>> >often willing to
>>
I said:
>> Should read: "must now" or "desperate enough" rather than "often willing"
>
>The problem is that yall are all trying to see the same, well advertized,
spots.
>This cave, that rock formation, that historic landmark.
>The ocean is a vast domain, and impossibly wild in every respect.
>Yes there are, and always will be, crowds around "Old Faithful" like
features,
>but why do you want to go there more than once?

The ocean may be nearly limitless but if you've seen one acre of its surface
over a period of time you've pretty much seen it all. The problem is the
interesting but more limited coastline (but mainly the even more limited
areas of coast where camping is possible and legal).
Like several who have commented, I have no trouble seeing and paddling with
others, even in large numbers ON DAY TRIPS. I'm not antisocial, I like
people.
Maybe we can raft up in giant flotillas on the limitless ocean to camp.
Waterworld like (I imagine, because like hoards of others I didn't see the
movie).
>
>> A little late for that around here. It used to be you could launch a
kayak
>> from near all four ferry terminals in the San Juans and the locals viewed
>> you as an interesting curiousity. Friday Harbor is the only access left
>> and I'm sure there are groups of  locals trying to get it closed to
>> launching kayaks too just like they did with the other three. The public
>> beach you have every right to land on they have treated as their private
>> beaches for years. They are not likely to welcome your intrusion however
>> friendly you are. Say can I use your toilet my bladder is about to burst?
>> > >3. Pratice low impact camping.  Leave no trace of fires, leave no
>> trash, >clean up your tent site, etc. >Leave places looking less visited
>> than when you arrived.
>
>This is a little Northwest specific, wouldn't you say.  In Texas for
instance,
>all beaches are public, and if a storm erodes the beach up to some
>landowners house, they loose the house to the state.  Some beaches are
>more difficult to access, but they are all public, but at least half of the
>coast has easy drive on access, if you know how to drive on soft sand.

Most beaches are public here to, but just to the high tide line. Those
looking for a little privacy to void themselves end up tresspassing. Maybe
the solution is for kayakers  to get over their inhibitions and and just do
it on the beach (or in their kayaks as you suggest). Somehow I don't think
the upland landowners will be happy watching us on the beach being careful
not to tresspass on their uplands either.
If all beaches are public in Texas can you camp on any of them you wish?
Will you be run down by 4WD vehicles? You could camp just about anywhere
someone else wasn't actively using in southern Baja until just recently. It
WAS great.
>
>Also, why would you bother a property owner by asking him to make his
>homes restroom a public facility?   Just bring a bag or bottle to relieve
>yourself, or for the more flexibly inclined, put some distance between you
>and others and pee over the side.

I was pointing out that most don't ask and would probably not get permission
if they did. The landowners just don't want us on what they have long
considered there property even though it legally isn't. There have been
incidents of paddlers being threateded by an irate landowner with a shotgun
while standing legally on public property. My point was that being "friendly
with the natives" wasn't going to help much in this kind of situation.
>
<SNIP>
>> Sanitized, ranger infested, ex-WILDerness is not particularly what I want
>> to visit.
>
>I like to think of such places, like I do the National Park system.  They
are
>essentially open air zoos for the masses.   I guage this by the reaction of

>supposed wild animals.   What should a wild animal do when it sees a
>200lb predator closing in on it?   Fight or flight.   What do they do in
>National Parks?   Ogle and beg, just like in the zoo.   What do they do in
>Gila Wilderness area?   Run like h*** to get out of Dodge.   1.Zoo.
>2.Wilderness.   Simple.   Any place you see a 50 lb seal gaze at you like
>the food distributor, you know you aren't in wilderness, no matter what the
>rocks look like.   Any place that they scatter from once they get a good
>look at you, is wilderness.

We are of like mind on this.
>
>> My advise to kayakers in areas that haven't suffered the above fates yet
>> is to SHUT UP about the joys of  kayaking or even actively discourage
>> participation by others. Whatever you do don't advertise your favorite
>> places and if you do take a special friend swear them to secrecy. Treat
>> kayaking like you should treat a tiny mountain lake with great fishing
for
>> huge trout (that you would like to see stay that way). SHUT UP ABOUT IT!
>
>While this might be true of a small mountain lake, it can hardly be true of
>the ocean.

If kayaking gets as popular in Texas as it is around Seattle, or if your
glowing description (below) entices a lot of us to retire to Texas you may
see things differently soon. One problem with my advice is that people don't
recognize the danger until it is too late. If you turn only two people on to
kayaking and each of them only gets two more started the population of
kayakers increases exponentially. And it is not self-limiting like
backpacking, I call it the old backpackers sport precisely because it is so
easy. The water floats all your weight and there are no hills to carry it
up. What a panacea for aching knees and shoulders. We are not likely to give
it up (unless our liscence is revoked).

>
>Maybe yall should shift your focus away from the Pacific Northwest.
>Maybe Texas?   Unlimited access, year round paddling, excellent fishing,
>more birds than you could possibly imagine......

Sounds great, here we all come. Can we use your bathroom?
Matt Broze
 http://www.marinerkayaks.com



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