Re: [Paddlewise] Saturation Point

Bayside Bob does not seem convinced, just yet, that there is a kayaking 
"explosion."  As a small business owner in the industry I would like to 
reassure him, "It's happening, Bob."
I also agree with Woody, there are a lot of kayaks with bottom sides that 
never get wet.  I am an agreeable guy today, Matt wrote that the boom right 
now is in the plastic recreational kayaks.  This is an industry fact.
 I think that these are the people that the good Reverend referred to as the 
"first milers," people who paddle within a mile or so of the launch site.  
They are the masses.  They are also the group which will take the pursuit 
less "seriously," initially at least.  And IMHO create the most impact.  I do 
not intend to offend this group, these are my professional observations.
 As part of the recreational segment, they do not seek training and are not 
necessarily in need of it.  These boats are designed to be extremely user 
friendly.  As near shore (ramp or launch site) paddlers, they have the 
greatest interaction with powerboaters.  Often less than amiable exchanges 
take place, especially after a long day of powerboating and the consumption 
of alcohol which quite often accompanies it. 
 On the Dave K subject of human waste disposal, "PACK IT IN, PACK IT OUT," 
seems to me to be the ONLY solution.  The problem is voluntary compliance and 
enforcement.  How about this, anyone who litters (feces or other trash) is 
made to pick up litter (feces or other trash).  People need to be educated as 
to the proper and expected behaviors and then held accountable.  This would 
be easy in a watertrail situation as people could be educated prior to 
securing a permit and provided with a sanitary disposal site at the end of 
the trip.
 On the subject of permitting.  No block permits.  I resent it tremendously 
when I can't get three permits for an overnight trip because a large 
outfitter blocked out twenty spots six months earlier on the speculation that 
he could sell the positions.  These are public lands, I was under the 
impression that equal access was guaranteed under the law.
 I believe that the most difficult issue in this discussion is carrying 
capacities.  How much traffic can a natural area tolerate without suffering 
significant degradation (physical, visual, spiritual, commercial).  IMHO the 
impacts of man on a natural area may not be immediately recognizable.  Ex. if 
you frighten roosting birds in a rookery, you may have a significant decline 
in hatchlings or the adults may not return to the site next season.  The 
extent of the impact may not be seen for years.
 EDUCATION.  Education needs to be more than proper strokes and strobe 
lights.  It needs to be Environmental Ethic taught at the elementary school 
level.  And it does not need to be confused with or connected to religion.  
That my friends is the ONLY way that we can ensure "paddling" areas for 
future generations.
  LET IT RIP ALL YOU WHO BELIEVE WE SHOULD ALL ACCEPT OUR INEVITABLE FATE BY 
EITHER
    GROWING UP or DEALING WITH IT or GETTING A LIFE or FURTHER IGNORING IT
 Thanx,
   Bruce
 Whole Earth Outfitters
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