RE: [Paddlewise] Risk - (Safety Factor)

From: Shawn W. Baker <baker_at_montana.com>
Date: Thu, 04 Nov 1999 15:43:02 -0700
David Seng wrote:
>  Good questions, Shawn.  Playing the "What If" game can be a good exercise.
> Of course, one could also "what if" themself right back into the false
> safety of the easy chair and a heart attack from worrying about the dangers
> of life.  <

I do the "What If" exercise a lot.  It has only slowed down my paddling
plans twice.  Once, it turned a solo 3-day trip into a overnight trip
with a partner due to my reluctance to paddle an unfamiliar area solo
and my partner's work schedule.  The other time was when I was in the
middle of a huge lake, and I decided not to do a lengthy crossing, due
to the fact that in my haste to get on the water, I forgot some key
safety equipment.  In retrospect, I regret backing down neither time.

> One safety idea that I rarely see mentioned on this list, but that I use
> religiously, EACH & EVERY time I go out solo, is to file a float plan with a
> friend (along with the understanding that I don't want anyone to risk their
> life or safety in any way to rescue me (or recover my body) if I disappear).
> Maybe a float plan is such a basic idea that it is beneath mention, 

Actually, I'd say it's a great idea.  One that I have been a bit
negligent in, but one that I need to start doing religiously.  I had a
discussion with my wife this summer regarding not risking anyone's
safety to recover my body.  I think she'd have a hard time carrying out
my wishes, but I got her to realize that the body of a dead person is
nowhere near as valuable as another's life.

Shawn
-- 
Shawn W. Baker          0                                    46°53'N
© 1999            ____©/______                              114°06'W
~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^\  ,/      /~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^~^
baker_at_montana.com    0        http://www.missoulaconcrete.com/shawn/
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Received on Thu Nov 04 1999 - 14:45:09 PST

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