Re: [Paddlewise] The Dark Side of Extreme Adventure

From: Doug Lloyd <dalloyd_at_telus.net>
Date: Thu, 11 Dec 2003 23:20:11 -0800
Nick posted (snip):
>>The mere fact that you have done something before and pulled through
unscathed does not mean that you will pull through the next time. We are
quick to criticize someone who doesn't wear a PFD when they say they have
never needed one. We should also lend a critical eye to those who go
paddling when it is blowing 40 knots or make long open-water crossings.
Which is more dangerous, paddling on a calm day without a PFD or surfing
20ft waves in full gear?<<

All kidding aside, who decides which is more dangerous? And is it just a
solo paddler out in nasty conditions that are comparatively unsafe, with the
team of paddlers out experiencing the same conditions being the safe ones?
Is a paddler transiting past the Zuytdorp Cliffs along Western Australia at
night (out of necessity due to the long exposure time required) unsafe,
especially given weather conditions can change unpredictably before
completion of the section even though that isn't technically an open water
crossing? Should we lend only our one critical eye, keeping the other one
that we use to wink at our own transgressions? Just wandering.

Doug Lloyd
Victoria BC
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Received on Thu Dec 11 2003 - 23:20:27 PST

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