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

At 12:52 PM -0800 11/4/99, Dave Kruger wrote:
[SNIP]
>
>So, Patrick, how about a short precis of the personal experience with paddlers
>from the coasts, so we can judge your "knowledge base?"
>

I don't mean to imply that coastal paddlers are any less/more 
prepared than those on the great lakes. My "knowledge base" consists 
of reading various scenarios here on Paddlewise involving outfitters 
and beginning paddlers. I think that given the chance, people here 
would get themselves in just as much trouble here as on the coasts. 
It's just that they aren't given that chance as often as in other 
places. For example, my paddling partner did some early spring 
paddling (March I think) up in Alaska last year. The outfitters 
didn't ask him if he had sufficient knowledge or gear to undertake a 
multi-day solo trip in such conditions (he did), they just rented him 
the boat. I can't imagine that happening at any of the outfitters 
around here. That isn't to say that it doesn't, but I haven't seen 
it. Whether this is even the outfitters responsibility is another 
issue altogether.  I also mentioned that we simply don't have the 
numbers that you see in the W and NW. Kayaking is getting more and 
more popular here, but nowhere near as popular as in someplace like 
Seattle.

Of course, people can always go out and buy or borrow a boat and get 
themselves into plenty of trouble without the aid of an outfitter.

>Sigh.  This is the sort of broad generalization which, if it were leveled at a
>given ethnic or racial group, we would respond loudly with the cry ...
"Racism!"

Yes, but we're talking about paddling, not race. I think it is 
perfectly fine to use broad generalizations and even dreaded 
stereotypes to initiate discussion about something.

-Patrick
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