[Paddlewise] Asking for trouble (trip report)

Last saturday my club made a trip on the Kagerplassen in the Netherlands. We
were planning a 15 kilometer trip. Although the weatherforcast was bad (wind
force 5/6, occasional showers, temperature 10C) seven people showed up for
the trip. Five of those were experienced kayakkers in different disciplines,
two were novices.

The weatherforcast turned out to be mostly right, but the wind picked up to
force 7 during the day. We kept an eye on our novices, who turned out to be
well equipped, well trained and generally enjoying the wind and the waves.
So we relaxed, thinking that nothing could go wrong.

Nothing?

During lunch break, one of the more experienced kayakkers (paddling white
water for many years, according to his own statements) complained he was
cold. He was amazed nobody else was. We started investigating why he was
cold.

"Did you bring something warm to drink?" No, he did bring a thermobottle,
but since it was summer he filled it with cold lemonade instead of hot
water.

"Do you have an extra sweater?" No, he didn't, since it was summer, he
didn't think he would need it.

"Did you bring ANY dry clothes?" No, he didn't need to, since he never
capsised.

"Didn't you listen to the weather reports?" Yes, he did, but he couldn't
believe it would be THAT bad.

"Do you have something to put on your head?" No, although the guy was bald
and a medical doctor, it never occurred to him that some head protection
would help.

Someone gave him a cup of coffee, someone else gave him a sweater. He didn't
ask for anything to eat, but nobody recalls seeing him eat anything at all.
He suggested he would leave us and paddle back to the cars on his own, but
of course we rejected his offer: We leave as a group and return as a group.
He was still cold when we left the lunch spot, and still complained about
it, but we thought that a bit of paddling would warm him up.It didn't: After
half an hour of paddling he complained again. At that time I was quite angry
with him: I hate it when people depend on others for even the most basic
equipment. My first thought was: Let him suffer a bit, maybe that will teach
him. Luckily I was not alone with him. Another group member asked some more
questions, and it dawned on us that he was quite slow in his responses, had
some difficulty with his words... The guy was going into hypothermia! On a
small, inland trip in summer!

We changed our plans, paddled to the closest restaurant, arranged a shower
and dry clothes for him (he couldn't arrange anything for himself by then)
and left him there, to be picked up after the trip.

For me this was quite a lesson in how easy a situation can become dangerous,
and also in how stupid people can be. Not all of us can take care of
ourselfs. Some grownups still need someone to yell "Put your coat on!" when
they leave the house.

After the trip, our friend suggested he should be a wetsuit for the next
trip. "No", I replied, you'd better watch the forcasts and give a rain check
when the conditions are over your head. You made allmost every mistake a man
can make, apart from forgetting your kayak and paddle. Take some easy trips
this summer, maybe in fall you'll be ready for the more exposed trips.

Niels.
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