In a message dated 1/23/02 7:36:22 PM !!!First Boot!!!, patrick_at_patrickmaun.com writes: << about how prepared they were for immersion and if the really were experience as the article stated (stating they were experienced having paddled 9 miles in the past). >> The issue of "experience" is one even kayakers differ on. I get looks like i'm out of my mind to paddle 15 to 18 miles a day. When I say I paddle in Dec. and Jan. in the DC area the looks start to become ones of pity. This is from OTHER paddlers, much less nonpaddlers. Paddling 9 miles sound like a lot for some. I think it is hardly worth getting the boat out for unless I've got good company to compensate. That is an issue of distance only. What most of us talk about is not distance but variety of conditions we are familiar with and prepared to cope with. That is hard for outsiders to have any real concept of. Were they experienced? Obviously, not well enough. I feel so sad for them and the family of the girl who died. We think we know what we are doing until something or someone hits us over the head hard enough to convince us of the fact that we lack important information. We, in CPA, get a hard time from some paddlers for our emphasis on safety but if one life is spared some level of suffering, it is worth all the "safety nazi" talk in the world. Joan *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************Received on Thu Jan 24 2002 - 06:16:24 PST
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