writes: (much abreviated) "The recent thread about what people carry on their PFD's got me thinking. When I read about what folks carry I have mixed feelings. On one hand I think that all of the gear is a good thing. On the other hand, most of it is a means of getting outside assistance. I have to wonder if it wouldn't be better put more emphasis on taking measures so that you don't need assistance from outside your group. Am I all alone here, or do others share this opinion?" I don't think your alone at all, and I believe most responsible people understand the program. But experience is overestimated, conditions can get out of hand, just plain sh*t happens. And....... there are people out there without a clue.Going out with nothing is just as bad as thinking someone else will be responsible for getting you out of trouble every time. Our taxes pay for the Coast Guards gas for a rescue, or a body retreival, and there's always the question of placing someone else in harms way due to your stupidity. I have no problems with it, if your diligent, and things do happen to the most experienced, but if your in real trouble, help out with a star flare, smoke, or whatever. It's not fair to have a large group of people searching who knows how many square miles of ocean for you with no clue where you might be. Kevin *************************************************************************** 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 Wed Sep 11 2002 - 08:32:40 PDT
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