PeterO wrote: >but I find a lasting sense of facing up to absolute truth when >kayaking >responsibly near my perceived limits - as Richard Feynman >said - "Nature >cannot be fooled". Gabriel L Romeu wrote: >The pomo may argue that these are relative limits just because they >are >your limits (not universal) and that you perceive them. it is >also a >judgement defining 'responsibly', a variable term for each >individual and >each situation (this list attests to this). G'Day, Gee thanks Gabriel, I didn't expect a reply on this one! It could be argued that the absolute truth in this case isn't in one's personal limits or judgement - its in the clear perception of the power of nature, declaring "there is a bound for everyone within which it is possible to play". This might be described with calculus and chaos theory - but why bother - when paddling near ones limits (or being dumped) that truth becomes beautifully clear. As much of the best as I can possibly wish:~) PeterO *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
dkruger_at_pacifier.com writes: << Finally, there is evidence of a unique psychology associated with folks who **must** test themselves repeatedly -- they are driven in ways the rest of us can never understand. >> To me, it seems that this is the key to the "conquering" of mountains, rivers, marathons (and some other, less physical things) much more than how much of a given hormone one has. Sometimes it's founded in one's sense of one's own identity. Sometimes it's based on a deep-lying need to prove to oneself that one *can* do this or that - a sense of insecurity, in a very real way. Less often, it's hormone poisoning. An oversupply of testosterone sometimes leads to unhelpful behaviors, but they're not usually of a type which requires the long-term planning and commitment which "conquering" implies. - Bill Hansen *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
I agree with Bill Hanson that it is often more for a sense of self. Not to say that there aren't a lot of macho conquerer types around. I sometimes attempt something just for the sense of achieving a personal goal. I'll think that wouldn't it be nice to be able to paddle all the way around a certain lake, or say maybe I'll try to make it all the way to a cetain bay and back. If I make it, I don't feel that I've conquered the lake, just that I have set a tough goal and managed to achieve it. If anything gets conquered, it is me beating my own weaknesses, or previous achievements. John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 08:27 PM 11/13/99 -0600, jrussell wrote: >Hi All, >I recently pondered aloud to a group of sea kayakers that I had noticed a >personality "type" that is driven and eager to accomplish a certain kind of >outdoor "feat" such as circumnavigate a large lake, or be the first to >paddle solo across a wide expanse, paddle 600 miles alone in a short number >of days, or conquer some other outdoors challenge. I wondered about this >because while I love to kayak (and bike and ski and snowshoe), I don't >really have a need or desire to do this sort of thing. I'm happy just to >paddle and while I would love to say circumnavigate Lake Superior, it isn't >something I feel I need to do -- it doesn't have more appeal than other >trips I can go on. So part of my curiosity is -- what is this about? What >makes people want to paddle to conquer? (I realize it's not just paddling, >of course.) Actually, I think it's a frontiers thing. For most of history, there's been a frontier -- room for exploration, something unknown across the far horizion. People felt economically drawn to the frontier as it provided new opportunities, but there's a romantic draw to it, too. The frontiers are gone, now, and there's no place yet to explore that hasn't been nosed out by satellite photos and trail guides. So, people make their own frontiers . . . higher, faster, farther. >The second part of my outloud musing was that it seems to me >that, more often than not, these folks are men. So I wondered (and this got >me into a bit of hot water since I'm female) whether there was some gender >thing going on here (and *I* wasn't the one to use the word testosterone!). I suspect you're right. It does tend to be a guy thing. Remember, it wasn't Becky Thatcher that wanted to "light out for the territories," it was Huck. Some things really don't change much, no matter how much we think they have. -- Wes *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Richard you wrote: >About those conquering kayakers. My sense of satisfaction kicks in when >I accompany swimmers travelling some amazing open water course. Consider >this. <Big Snip> Rich, et al: I'm working on another "kayaker died" story. The fellow was an open, cold water swimmer from the San Juan Island area. Tough guy. He set off in his kayak with little rescue gear and little ability to re-enter his kayak. Incident happened a couple of years ago. Looks like wind came up, and interacted with tide off Parker Reef (not a nice place on a bad day, with 5 foot standing waves observed by Coast Guard at time). Not sure how "macho" the fellow was, or if that is the correct term. He certainly liked to conquer things. He didn't conquer death though. As far as "conquering kayakers" are concerned in general, Dave Kruger had some good things to say a few days ago, dispelling some notions. I interviewed Paul Caffyn a few years back (for a now out of print publication). Paul is a guy who loves to conquer Islands and whole Continents. He is the meekest man I have ever met - not a macho bone in his body and hardly any muscles *on* his body, either. Nice guy. Three-dimensional thinker. Considers the notion of "battling the sea" as the antithesis of sea kayaking. BTW, he had cancer a few years ago (gastric, or something). He's getting back into kayaking, having had to "conquer" a major setback in life, and "circumnavigate" around awful health issues you can't imagine. Like Chris Duff always maintains, do it now, you may not be able tomorrow. Anyway, Paul will always be my hero (he has a ruddered Nordkapp, too!). As for me, my wife would like me to "conquer" the dishes tonight! BC'in Ya Doug Lloyd *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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