Re: [Paddlewise] A Southern California Tragedy

In a message dated 3/15/2007 2:07:23 PM Pacific Daylight Time,  
nick_at_guillemot-kayaks.com writes:

I had a  discussion once with a friend of mine who is known to take  
some  risks on the water. I asked him if it would be OK if he died  
while  kayaking. He said, "No, I would feel horribly let down. I would  
feel  that the place I love has turned against me."

So, how would you  feel?






Having just returned from a 9 day bushwack across the Talamanca range in  
Costa Rica, the idea of dying *doing something I love* or *living life to the  
fullest* was a thought to me for the past several months both in the planning  
and the doing. I went anyway, but I got scared a few times, like when I  
stepped just over the Fer de Lance. A Tico biologist, a few hours ahead of the  us 
on the trail had his pant leg struck by a Bushmaster. These incidents were at  
minimum 3 days from the nearest indian village. Our guide carried  anti-venin, 
but that is at best a 50-50 deal, complications setting in  could send you 
down the trail for good. Toast.
 
I wouldn't feel very good about lying on a ridge top, after the guide,  
raised since birth in the area, went on a high speed run down to the nearest  
radio, putting himself at risk. Could a helo even locate us through the layers  of 
canopy? I would have cursed myself as stupid for the thought of going there,  
but I went anyway and was extremely careful. Not careful enough as one of 
*them*  got a little to close to me. On a more mundane level, I slid, fell, 
tripped  enough times on the journey to have qualified for a broken leg or ankle. A  
very uncomfortable rescue situation to say the least. And, more folks putting 
 themselves at risk, all for me.
 
Dying on the water? I take as many precautions as I possibly can and it  
could still happen. I take that thought on the water-or wherever I go-whenever I  
go. I'm pretty sure I'll never die of boredom, however, I like the other ways  
even less, so maybe I'll just start buying kayak or base jumping videos, a 
can  of Pringles and a case of Guiness and really start living.
 
Cheers,
 
Rob G



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