Re: [Paddlewise] Get-togethers (was An Apology)

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nick Schade" <schade_at_guillemot-kayaks.com>
> >
> >Right then and there I pledged to myself never to come across that way
for a
> >trip that was being advertised to a large group of people.  Don't get me
> >wrong.  Trips often do need qualifications but an open trip is an open
trip.
> >If people show up who are less than qualified then the leader should be
> >ready to alter the dimensions of the entire trip (where is it written
that
> >every trip must be challenging?) or split the group into two trips with
one
> >within the ability of the weaker arrivals and the other offering a
challenge
> >for the better paddlers.
>
> I understand how their attitude would put you off. But I also
> understand their desire to paddle where they want to and not want to
> compromise just because someone came who is not up to the trip. I
> could see that if this happened a few times they would just stop
> posting notifications about their plans. Maybe they felt it was
> better to let people know about their trip and come across as ornery
> than to keep their plans to themselves thus giving no one had the
> opportunity to join them.

I wish I had saved the exact language used in the announcement that I found
off-putting. It came across as stuck-up not safety-conscious.  It wasn't a
matter of saying that a trip would be demanding but rather that "some of us
are important people who don't want to be wet-nosing any unanointed
paddlers."

Again, I have nothing against setting qualifications for a demanding trip
and sticking by them.  But if you are doing an all-comers weekend, then you
should keep the number of those demanding trips to a minimum and provide
opportunities for lesser-beings.  Of course, you can't take everyone.  If
someone shows for a 30 mile round-Manhattan trip but has little hope of
completing it with the group (say they are in a Walden Naturalist which
would be difficult to get up to any speed), you can't let them come and you
are not going to do a one/eighth circumnavigation to please them.  But if
you announce a weekend under the umbrella of an organization, you should not
assume that everyone in the organization is at one's own elite level.  I
think one can set a trip that is a happy compromise that will press the
lesser-paddlers to reach a bit while not boring the elite ones.  There are a
number of Paddling Trip Dynamics 101 tips that can make a pretty successful
trip of combined-level paddlers.  I think in that setting, both elite and
less-than-elite paddlers can both gain from the experience.

I firmly believe in tailoring open trips to the paddling level that shows
up, to a degree.  Say you have a 15 mile trip planned but it isn't involving
some specific destination critical to the trip's nature.  If people show who
can only do 10 miles, why not adjust to that level?  You can always paddle
the 15 miles or more some other day.  Mixed groups of skilled and
less-skilled paddlers do learn from each other.  Obviously, if the person
shows up clueless without proper gear and can't even get into his boat, then
you can't include him.

ralph diaz






***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************