RE: [Paddlewise] Safety Gear Dependence

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Peter, et. al.,

As a veteran of both WW and Bigwater Kayaking I can heartily agree with your
position ...and  would add a bit from personal experience to it.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY
---------------------------
I completely agree with your position of having a mental fix on being
'self-reliant', as opposed to expecting help to be available. This, in other
frames is called, Personal Responsibility.  Consider the consquences,
prepare, make your choices, and then deal with the outcomes .. Without
expectation of outside help or assistance.  IF it comes, fine. But DO NOT
expect it or ACT LIKE IT.

You are correct. If when we venture afield, we planned and executed with the
understanding that the 'rescue party' is --> YOU .. and YOU ALONE .. then
our choices will be greatly influenced on just how 'risky' WE want to be
with OURSELVES.

I haven't yet 'pulled out' or 'passed up' a potentially risky venture that
I've lived to regret.  The key factor here - at least for me - is that I'd
rather live to paddle another day, than to experience a ONCE IN A LIFETIME
hair-raising thrill.  I have too many DECEASED friends who didn't head that
kind of advice.

Honesty with yourself - concerning your own abilities - when you see that
YOU are the only source of help and assistance, is vital to survival in any
confrontation with nature; kayaking, canoeing, climbing, hiking .. you name
the outdoor activity and the possbile delamination of the best of plans, no
matter how safe and well planned.

Nature rules. And rules with finality.

Now .. I personally carry 3-mile Walkie Talkies + xtra batteries on long
outtings.  I use them when I fly-fish in bellyboats in large bodies of water
as well.  I don't use them to seek help, but to keep in contact with my
companions.  I carry flares and emergency kits to suit the conditions
expected and some unexpected. I stow the emergency materials in the hatches
of the kayak and carry only the basic essentials in my life jacket.  It is
highly unlikely that I will become totally seperated from the boat .. but in
the event that it should happen -(big waterfalls do exist in many areas
where I paddle on rivers-and I do NOT intend to stay with a boat that
heading OVER the edge!!)- I have enough basics in my life jacket to make it
out of just about any place in North America; barring the extreme north. And
I don't paddle there - at least not yet .. "8^)

Which BTW .. on another thread -about shoes vs. sandles- I wear Teva Shoes.
For the very reason stated above. I don't carry shoes on or in my life
jacket .. but IF I need to 'walk out' of a place .. I HAVE SHOES on. And I
carry two pair of socks for that very reason-in the areas that could demand
it). I wouldn't want to walk 50 or 100 miles in sandles; not through pine
forest and thick underbrush. And fortunately in most of North America,
between the 30th and 50th parallel, walks of over 50 miles are rather rare.

One other thing .. although I do a lot of Solo activity, I try to travel
difficult and massive expanses with companionship.  If the travel is Solo
for sure, then I file a complete route plan and leave it with repsonsible
people who either need to know (such as Gov't officials, dockmasters,
harbormasters and the like) or who can be counted on to notify authorities
if I don't show up (or contact them) in a timely manner.

The basics of survial are steeped in the liberal use of common sense
judgement.  Those who fail to do this either don't make it .. or learn the
value of it - the HARD WAY.

les


> -----Original Message-----
> [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of Peter Staehling
> Subject: [Paddlewise] Safety Gear Dependence
>
>
> 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.  Self reliance
> first and reliance on your fellow trip members second
> should be the emphasis.
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