Re: [Paddlewise] SPOT anxiety

> My wife and I have had several talks on this i.e. what to do when. Also I 
> am
> a member of the local SAR unit and I have talked with our Captain about 
> what to do when. Hopefully I have all the bases covered.
> Also if I see I am going to be delayed I can contact a fishing boat to 
> relay a message to my wife.
> enjoy the sea
> Bob

Bob,
I'm envious of you - as usual. I'll make it up there one day.

Hey, if you do get into a spot of trouble, what kind of response times are 
you looking at anyway? Doesn't matter if the CG are contacted directly or by 
a third party, you are probably on your own for a while. And does it 
significantly matter if you can't get help if you do get in trouble and want 
help? I mean, isn't that part of the deal - being self reliant and not 
necessarily having full expectations for help-at-hand, eventually? Aren't we 
all prepared enough to the point of reasonableness already - and prepared to 
still go on our trips even without these devices - save for a float plan 
left with a reliable contact? It gas been done that way for years.

Yes, the ability to summon help in a timely fashion is characteristically, a 
worthwhile goal, but nothing is guaranteed. Except death and taxes. And 
being able to use one's taxes via the authorities launching an expensive 
search to hopefully prevent a paddler's death, while part of the deal and 
expectation in our society currently, does mean false alarm thresholds of 
frustration will probably mount if SPOT false alarms continue unabatted.

The SPOT device is a promising alternative (see the review in SK Mag's 
latest August issue) to PLB's with GPS, but only time will tell the ultimate 
value and usefullness in extremis where there exists a public mindset 
demanding that every answer - every solution - be avaliable, at the push of 
a button. The answer is still in somewhere in the push - and pull - of the 
paddle. Never less in the colds waters of Alaska.

May the winds be at your back Bob.

Doug Lloyd 
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