Re: [Paddlewise] Arrogance reigns

Rich Kulawiec wrote:
> 
> On Thu, Mar 23, 2000 at 02:46:34PM -0500, Joe Pylka wrote:
> >         My concern is that, as has happened in other places,  the antics of
> > the uninformed paddlers will impinge on the responsible activities of the
> > knowledgeable paddler.  Especially when those access decisions will have
> > been made by non-paddlers. 
> 
> And I can feel it starting to happen here.  In the aftermath of
> last week's mishap, I've fielded several comments/questions a day
> from my neighbors and others here in Chadd's Ford. [snip]
> 
> Apparently the conclusion that has been drawn is that anyone venturing
> onto the river during conditions other than midsummer (~300 CFS, 80
> degrees) is crazy.  I'm wondering how long it will be until I get
> done with one of my workouts and meet the authorities du jour at
> the takeout.

And here, also.  Some may recall I posted a description of an "incident" on my
home waters:  the two sea kayakers who got lost on an easy day trip and
abandoned their kayak, and then attempted to "walk" across a swamp-island, to
be plucked from their plight by the CG helo as night fell a day later.

When I launched last week from the marina closest to their mishap, the
harbormaster quized my paddling partner about our preparedness.  The
conversation went something like this: 

HM:  How 'bout those sea kayakers who got rescued!  Do you have a cell phone?  

PP:  No, we have a VHF.  

HM:  Oh, that's good -- I monitor 16, 9, and 13.  

PP:  Yeah, we monitor those, also.  

PP:  Oh, **you sound really prepared for sea kayakers.**

I was not there with George when this went down, or the part emphasized would
have sent me through the roof.

Unfortunately, we will be identified in the minds of the public with folks who
screw up.  There was last summer an op-ed piece in the local newspaper
describing sea kayaking as "dangerous," in the same vein as rock climbing! 
Several paddlers wrote rebuttals in the form of "Letters to the Editor," but of
course they did not have the visibility of the original guest editorial.

What really gripes me is that on local waters, noncommercial power boaters
screw up regularly, with roughly an incident a week requiring CG assistance
during the summer months.  But this is regarded as "normal."

There ain't no justice!

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************