Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaker's guilt (was:Jet Ski Ban Proposal - Indiana Dunes NationalLa

Do you paddle much in  wilderness areas?  You write : "I think it is kind of
hypocritical to talk about banning jet skis from
wilderness areas... because most kayakers transport their craft on top of
their automobiles, which are also "noisy, polluting, high horsepower,
internal combustion thrill machines" of a different sort.

I don't drive, and I don't have a drivers license either. My choice. It
suites" my" needs. However , most Americans have a need for an automobile.
It's tough to justify a "need" for a jet ski.

By definition if you can drive there it probably isn't Wilderness. A lot of
Paddlewisers post interesting trip reports on their paddling experiences on
the Louisiana/TX Gulf Coast, the NYC harbor, the Chesapeake Bay, Columbia
River and Puget Sound.  These places aren't wilderness. But they do offer an
opportunity for relative quiet.   I think that "this" area,  this  tiny
piece of silence, contemplation, and solitude is what the anti-jetskiers are
taking about.  A refuge from the omnipresent noise, which must  be
protected. I wouldn't go to a NASCAR  event  seeking  silence and solitude.
I would , however like a tiny piece of the universe set aside for me and
similar souls, who think that there is still a place for silence in our
modern  world.

Rich Dempsey
ridem_at_msn.com

See our canoe tripping website
http://communities.msn.com/RichWendysAwayFromHomePage


----- Original Message -----
From: <kevin_at_yourplanetearth.org>
To: Robert J. Matter <rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET>
Cc: <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net>
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2000 4:16 PM
Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Kayaker's guilt (was:Jet Ski Ban Proposal -
Indiana Dunes NationalLa


> Well said, Robert!
>
>  Jet skis (and snowmobiles) are disproportionately destructive compared to
most
> other forms of outdoor recreation, and their use should be regulated.
> Unfortunately, most kayaks do have a lot more in common with jet skis than
you
> suggest, because most kayakers transport their craft on top of their
> automobiles, which are also "noisy, polluting, high horsepower, internal
> combustion thrill machines" of a different sort. And though autos are much
> cleaner burning than jet skis, there are heck of a lot more of them. Given
this
> info, I think it is kind of hypocritical to talk about banning jet skis
from
> wilderness areas, even I fully support it. I personally feel a lot of
guilt
> from driving all the time to go kayaking, and I wonder if any others on
this
> list feel the same way?
>
> Kevin




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