RE: [Paddlewise] The Gotta Get Home Syndrome; Was: how dangerous [] kayaking?

>>
The weather didn't subside at all, then later that morning we noticed two
tour groups getting their gear together. We were amazed that the guides were
going to take their clients out.     With nothing else to do we wandered
over to talk to them and ask if they were really serious about going out.
They replied (and they were from two separate tour companies), "Keep quiet
we don't want to scare the guests." We were both totally appalled at their
response and just left it at that and walked away. I could mention the names
of the tour companies but I won't on an open forum!
>>

A couple of summers ago, my wife and I paddled out to Stockton Island in the
Apostle Islands for an annual rendezvous. As we arrived late in the
afternoon in a strong following wind and one to one-and-a-half-foot waves,
we encountered a group of teenage girls in tandem kayaks who were just
leaving the island. From their paddling style, I could tell that they were
novices. Only one or two adults were with them, and thinking they were just
out for a short paddle, I said to one of them, "Nice day!" He looked rather
glumly at me, and did not reply. When we landed, I found out that the group
had broken camp and was on its way either to another island or to the
mainland. I don't know whether it was a commercial trip or a private group
in rented kayaks, but I was amazed they had set out in such conditions with
an inexperienced group so late in the day, apparently just to keep to a
schedule. I couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for the adult, however;
he probably hadn't wanted to leave so late.

Then, a couple of weekends ago at a Minnesota Canoe Association show at a
local mall, I was staffing the Inland Sea Kayakers table when a man stopped
to chat about sea kayaking. He told me about a guided trip he and his wife
had made in the San Juans, and described with awe the currents and waves
they had encountered. Since he did not appear to be an otherwise experienced
kayaker, I asked how much training they were given before they put in.
"About half an hour," he said, and in reply to further questions said none
of it was rescue training; the guide just told the group to follow him and
stay close. 

Chuck Holst




***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************