> -----Original Message----- > From: Shawn W. Baker [mailto:baker_at_montana.com] > snip > > There are always risks present; even risks of problems that > could hurt a > good paddler. I consider myself to be a fairly proficient > paddler, but > what if I injured my shoulder and couldn't roll or paddle very well? > What if I was solo at the time? This situation could make > even an easy > trip risky. Maybe Dr. Inverbon is right about ARPEE's! ;) 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. There's no magic formula - it all comes down to a combination of luck, your ability (willingness) to learn from others, your ability to learn from your own mistakes, ingenuity, that most uncommon of characteristics - common sense, and in my particular case - whether or not my guardian angel was being attentive at the critical moment (so far she's batting 1000!). 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, but I consider it as important as my PFD, whistle, or knife. I'll pass on the ARPEE, I really like paddling alone. Risk - I wouldn't want a life without it - but I also try to manage it. "Gnothi seuton." Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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/ *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.4.0 : Thu Aug 21 2025 - 16:33:05 PDT