[Paddlewise] safety

Glad to read all the good discussion regarding immersion gear, safety
equipment and skill building.  My wife and I have only been involved in sea
kayaking for four years and in retrospect we feel lucky to have survived the
first year, especially a couple of guided trips.  I never thought the rain
boot, dress for air temps rather than immersion was a good idea but when
paddling in Alaska this was the advice we got over and over again from the
locals as well as from a guide operating out of  REI in Anchorage!


As to accident reports, one can not, nor in my opinion, should not, mandate
such reading, but other than training and skill building, reading the American
Alpine reports probably help keep me alive in 20 years of technical rock
climbing and mountaineering.  Since getting very serious about kayaking,
sources such as  "Deep Trouble" and PaddleWise are must reading for me. The
down side is incidents like the recent report from Homer AK.,  a senseless,
apparently easily avoided death.  How does one train for wilderness judgment?
One can not control the sea, only become a skilled sailor / paddler and
develop a healthy respect.  


Derek's book in forward states "A man who is not afraid of the sea will soon
be drowned, for he will be going out on a day he shouldn't.  But we do be
afraid of the sea, and we do only be drowned now and again."  John Millington
Synge


Good hunting!  Lew



***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************