Re: [Paddlewise] scary sight

With all due respect, Pete, there is a reason a lot of the rescues
described in "Deep Trouble" take place in the San Juan Islands.  The
water is never more than 55*F there, even in the summer time.  Several
of the incidents happened to outfitted groups.  Wetsuits are cheap
insurance, especially if it's your liability and professional
livelihood on the line if something goes badly with one of your
clients.

The air is warm, but not hot.  It's a really warm day if it's over
75*F. Help is close by if you can summon it.  Sometimes there's a WA
State ferry or pleasure craft nearby.  Sometimes you may drift for
several hours.  With crossings of up to 6 miles, shore could be as much
as an hour away, neglecting currents.

It's too big a risk to not have immersion protection, especially if
it's someone else's life.

I see nothing wrong with SNEERing at folks who decide not to wear
adequate immersion protection.  It's like sneering at helmetless
motorcycle riders, or parents who don't buckle their kids.  (And for
the record, on club or instructional trips, I bring spare immersion pro
for group members or students who forgot- or don't have enough of-
their own).

Shawn

Peter Staehling wrote:
>Wearing shorts and a tee shirt and carrying some warmer clothes seems 
>prudent to me in conditions where some folks wear wetsuits AND sneer
at 
>those who don't.

>Also, it occurs to me that you *are* a weirdo if you dress for long 
>exposure to submersion when the air is warm, help is close by, and you

> are never more than a few minutes from shore.

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