Re: [Paddlewise] Risk Homeowhatsis

Doug Lloyd wrote:

[monster snip]
> What are _my_ greatest allies for survivability, if that is the name of the
> game? Not rating systems, that's for sure. Try, in order, common sense,
> constant paddler's  awareness, knowledge/understanding of your skill level,
> knowledge/understanding of your environment, the ability to think
> three-dimensionally/proactively, *complete* self-reliance,
> preparation/training, good gear and back-up gear, to name a few.

Good list.  Worth noting is that "ability to think three-dimensionally ..." is
a difficult skill for some folks, and while the ability can be improved, a few
never reach a high level.  Example:  a former colleague, though well-motivated
to develop the ability to "read" topographical maps, **never** could do it,
despite repeated, intensive attempts.

[snip]
> Another big one - protocol[:] the recent incident near South Portland,
> Maine, with the bellbouy clinging kayaker: Alone, no back-up gear, shor
> kayak, outflow current/inflow winds (I assume), to my way of thinking, is
> out of tune with acceptable, normal paddling protocol.

Isn't "protocol" just risk homeostasis in different clothing?  Seems to me the
"protocol" we agree is the norm for surf kayaking (for example) is just the
kit of tools and skills which reduces the risk to some "herd-acceptable" level
-- the level which almost every kayak surfer feels is OK (excluding Tsunami
Ranger-types).

And, when we decide somebody was woefully unprepared, aren't we often just
projecting our own level of "acceptable risk" onto their behavior?

I used to have a group of friends whose comfort zone climbing was outlandishly
different from mine:  I would not ice climb couloirs which had lots of
stonefall.  Nor would I "free climb" without the protection of a rope on
high-angle rock.  They did, and felt comfortable with their "acceptable
risk."  Ahhhmmm ... sure wish I could ask them about that, but most of them
are dead now ... victims of their "acceptable level of risk."

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
not accepting much risk these days
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