Re: [Paddlewise] "Woman who died with 'bear guru' was duped"

"Michael Daly" <mikedaly_at_magma.ca> wrote:

>When dealing with Starkell, the necessary survival instinct is 
>minimal common sense.  Jason certainly showed some grit when she was 
>on her own.

Back in the early nineties, a work colleague and I were at an outdoor rec. show, doing rolls, assisted rescues and such-like demos in a large portable tank to entertain the crowds. In between shows, we worked our companybs booth. Our neighbour was Don Starkell, who was there selling copies of bPaddle to the Amazonb and promoting his then upcoming Arctic kayak trip. In the course of conversation, it came out that Don couldnbt roll, and didnbt know how to do any self-rescue. My buddy and I offered to take him out gratis and teach him at least a paddle float rescue. He declined, explaining he wouldnbt need such skills, since he "didnbt plan to capsize."
(Does anyone ever plan to capsize, except in rescue practise?)

Funny thing is, Ibve heard Don interviewed on radio, even after his various largely self-inflicted misadventures, and if you donbt know anything about kayaking and the details of his trips, you get the impression of a merely charmingly eccentric and brave man. Ibm all for eccentricity b itbs the eccentrics who challenge social strictures and create more latitude for all of us. But therebs a difference between risking your own life and persuading others who are putting their trust in you to risk theirs. 

Paddling in the Artic a few years later, we also met Victoria Jason, who was kayaking on her own by that point. She was one together paddler b covering more miles per day than we were, cheerful, personable, and wise in judgement.    


Philip
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