Re: [Paddlewise] SPOT anxiety

Bob Carter wrote:

> I plan to use my SPOT in the following fashion. I plan to each evening 
> transmit an " I am OK message" My wife and son will hopefully receive 
> the emails. They both know the problems with the SPOT system and realize 
> that "no news is not necessarily bad news". I want to use it for this 
> trip because weather may change my route and return time. I have Plan A, 
> Plan B and Plan C not to mention a willingness to create Plan D if 
> necessary. Hopefully SPOT will let Gladys and Martin know if my route 
> changes.

Rev,

The expectation that a minder will receive information from a paddler out 
somewhere puts them in a special bind.  Here is how I know that.  You might 
think about how your wife and son will operate if something like this happens:

I've been the guardian of a couple of different paddlers, on different 
multiday outings, who told me, in essence: "... call the Coast Guard if we 
do not get in touch with you by the evening of Day X ... because that means 
we are lost or delayed."

In one case, a solo paddler did not call on the agreed-upon night.  So, I 
scurried about, nailing down the number to call in Canada, and alerted the 
appropriate CCG SAR center on Vancouver Island.  Basically, they said, "we 
will check to see if her vehicle is at the takeout in the morning; if it is 
there, then we will take more particulars from you at that time to initiate 
a search."

The woman had a cell with her that was known to work, __sketchily__, at the 
takeout location.  My evening progressed nervously.  At midnight I sent her 
cell a voicemail asking her to check in.  She did not check in that night. 
  I did not get much sleep.  Very early the next morning, she called me on 
the cell and said she was OK, and in a city about 80 miles (normally about 
3 hours of driving) from the takeout, in her van, and could not call the 
previous evening because she got lost on logging roads on Vancouver Island 
(easy to do, especially for her [grin]).  She did not call as soon as she 
got to a place where her cell worked because she "... did not want to wake 
me up." (Me:  !!!%$#^&)  I called the SAR center and let them know she was 
OK, and ranted and raved in the living room for about 10 minutes; only a 
little paint on the walls got blistered..

I had never had to deal with this before; I was very surprised how 
disturbing it was.  I felt pretty darn powerless down here, unable to go do 
something for my buddy, overnight, because with the cold water she was on, 
if she were swamped, in trouble, the "wait until morning" approach was 
probably going to be too late.  Mind, it is a very reasonable policy for 
any SAR group to take, in a situation like that.

I wish I had had a stronger heart-to-heart with her before I took on the 
responsibility, and had impressed on her the importance of checking in as 
soon as she could.  She was oblivious to my mental state.

If I take that responsibility on again, I will definitely nail down a 
couple alternate methods of contacting me, and make darn sure the 
paddler(s) know I want to be contacted ASAP!

In your case, you can probably do that (or already have) for your wife and 
son.  Plus, you have a stellar track record as a solo paddler, as well as a 
big friend upstairs.

Enjoy the trip.

-- 
Dave Kruger
Astoria, OR
***************************************************************************
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/
***************************************************************************