Re: [Paddlewise] Conquering Kayakers

I think that you will find the "Why?" question is as complicated as the people
that set out on these adventures.  The truth is they themselves may not even
know exactly why they were compelled to take on these challenges.  When you used
the word conquer and brought up the male gender you really opened a can of
worms.

I can't speak for all people who have done difficult expeditions or big
crossings, but it has been my experience that when faced with a difficult and
dangerous challenge on the water most would approach the task with caution and
humility.  Perhaps a bit of chest thumping and bragging around the campfire may
follow a successful adventure (Hey lets be honest bragging rights are part of
the fun!), but when you are dealing with natural forces that are far more
powerful that you are, it is a profoundly humbling experience.  On a big
crossing when you are out of sight of land for a day you feel very small indeed
in your little boat, and any image of the all powerful conquering hero comes not
from the participants idea of himself but from the projection of those who read
about it later.  I don't know of anyone who has done this sort of thing and
thought of it as a conquest.

As for gender I think more men have done these sorts of things in the past
because there were more men paddling at the advanced to extreme level.  When I
started sea kayaking on the Great Lakes about 15 years ago there were very few
women paddlers and most were not paddling at the expert level.  That has changed
and now that there are more expert women paddlers I think you will see more
women taking on these types of challenges.

As for the whole gender issue I think society is quick to judge men who do these
sorts of things as macho adolescents who are showing off, while letting women
get away with saying that they did the same thing for "personal growth" or as a
" spiritual quest ".  One perhaps not very noble reason to go on a challenging
expedition is to sell boats or books and advertise your celebrity in the sport.
I had a nice back yard paddle on the Missippi last Saturday and saw deer, bald
eagles etc. but I don't think I could get 500 people packed into an auditorium
to hear me talk about it.  Now if I round Cape Horn in my kayak that is another
story altogether.

I think for most people a primary motivation is to challenge themselves and test
their personal limits of skill and endurance.  Even if you know in your mind
that you can make a big crossing, you will not really know it in your heart
until you have completed one.  It is a bit like breaking a board with your bare
hands in karate class.  What a silly thing to do with all those nice capentry
tools in the garage, but after you do it you feel a sense of accomplishment and
own your new skills with a bit more confidence.  I know for certain that if I am
ever attacked by a 12 x 1 pine board in a dark alley that I have the skills to
cope!  My friends and family have suffered greatly hearing me talk about my
crossings.  Like I said bragging rights are part of the fun.  However if I had
to take a vow of secrecy and swear never to tell anyone that I had made these
crossings, I would have done them anyway.  However boring or unpleasent the
actual expedition turns out to be, facing a great personal challenge and being
sucessful (ie alive and well) is an extraordianry experience that you carry with
you for rest of your life

If you look at people who have done extraordinary things in the arts, politics,
athletics, and science I think that you will find that most were driven by their
own personal demons and feelings of insecurity.  For all you fellow
conquistadors please don't flame me for this comment I am one of the crazys
too!  An artist friend with extensive knowledge of psychology once commented to
that if many of the great artists were born in modern times they would have been
treated for mental illness.  With modern medications they would never have
produced such revolutionary new art.  I say as long as they are not a danger to
themselves and others we should celibrate these adventurers even if they do seem
to be a little "out there!".

jrussell wrote:

> I'm the original conquering kayakers poster. I think this thread has been
> interesting, but I think I biased the original discussion by even using the
> word 'conquering.'   Folks have reacted to that a bit.  What I've read so
> far indicates that people don't tend to do these kinds of paddles in an
> attempt to conquer, that when they're done they don't feel like they've
> conquered. I've read that people set goals -- like projects? -- and set out
> to meet them. Someone talked about the need people have for exploring the
> "frontier."  I've  also read that the long paddles may turn people inward,
> perhaps in a spiritual way.   What is still missing here is the why, the
> nuance of the extreme adventure, or of the large crossing. Every time I
> paddle I experience some of the things that people have suggested (some
> days it's an accomplishment to get the book on the car, to the water, into
> the water, and attach my spray skirt!).  Even going down a 4 mile stretch
> of an unknown river is an "explore" (I believe it was Christopher Robin who
> talked about going on explores with  Winnie the Pooh and Tigger too), a
> destination, and filled with wonder, beauty and the sense of self in
> relation to the natural world.  So still, I'm curious about the need for
> the larger circumnavigation/crossing...I should try it, I know.
>
> I think Jon Krakauer talked about some of this in his book "Into the Wild"
> -- the need certain people have to explore, climb great heights, find a
> part of themselves in those activities (himself included). I haven't read
> Dave Kruger's suggestion of Jim Wickwire's memoir "Addicted to Danger" but
> I think it must shed light here too.
>
> -Jody
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