Re: [Paddlewise] FW: Risk - was How and when

Chuck wrote:

>Considering the large number of novice sea kayakers going out in the
>Apostles after only a few hours of instruction, I am amazed that there
>have not been any deaths in the area. Either the sport is not as
>inherently dangerous as we think (at least, not in a non-tidal area such
>as Lake Superior), or the amount of skill and instruction required to
>sharply reduce deaths is much lower than often appears.

I think, and I am really going out on a limb here, that people going 
out for the first time on Lake Superior are better prepared than many 
of those out west. One reason is that we simply don't have the 
numbers they have, and we also don't have the lareg numbers of 
outfitters. On the Minnesota and Wisconsin portions of the lake, 
there are only a few that I know of and I believe they all require 
newbies take an intro course or prove they have experience to perform 
a self rescue. I can't imagine anyone walking into Cascade Kayaks and 
saying "gimme a boat, I'm going out" without getting laughed out of 
the shop. I think people generally have a lot of respect for The Lady.

Of course, I've helped get people off the lake when conditions got 
rough and know plenty of other people whom have done the same. I 
know, we are just better at rescuing people up here! (Let the flames 
begin)

-Patrick
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