West Coast Paddlers is a website and forum devoted to paddling in British Columbia that I've been reading for the past 8 or 9 months. One of its virtues is the inclusion of photographs - sometimes extraordinary photographs - of various paddle trips undertaken by its members. The two trips I'm linking to are not actually posted on WCP but, rather, were postings that contain links to two paddles in 2008 by Cyberhun2000 back and forth across Queen Charlotte Strait at the northern end of Vancouver Island. The reason I'm linking to cyberhun's solo expedition because his photographs and narration make a perfect primer for anyone who wants to paddle these waters. I don't necessarily recommend that just any paddler can repeat his trip (do a search on Youtube for "Tremble Island" to see that water in a different light) but it does show that a solo paddler in a 14-foot kayak can explore those waters if he's prepared and knowledgeable. Cyberhun has thoughts on weather layovers (if he can hear the wind blowing when he wakes up in the morning he figures he'll be in camp another day), currents, bears, sea lions, paddling in fog, paddling in wind, dressing for immersion, and more. See his original post with his links at http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/community/viewtopic.php?p=36224#36224 I also recommend reading the remarks other experienced paddlers (including Doug Lloyd) posted in response. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA PS: If you've ever wondered what I look like you can see a thumbnail photo of me next to my WCP name: oldsailor *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Why read it??? Just to make me jealous??? I'm tired of seeing all the nice kayaking places so far away! Ken and Barb were out kayaking the San Juans a while back; had me thinking of moving to Bellingham, but it's cold up there! Maybe when they develop a wind powered car I can afford to get up there! It was a nice photo journal though!! Mark -----Original Message----- West Coast Paddlers is a website and forum devoted to paddling in British Columbia that I've been reading for the past 8 or 9 months. One of its virtues is the inclusion of photographs - sometimes extraordinary photographs - of various paddle trips undertaken by its members. The two trips I'm linking to are not actually posted on WCP but, rather, were postings that contain links to two paddles in 2008 by Cyberhun2000 back and forth across Queen Charlotte Strait at the northern end of Vancouver Island. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
On Sun, Sep 28, 2008 at 12:03 PM, Mark Sanders <sandmarks_at_ca.rr.com> wrote: > Why read it??? Just to make me jealous??? I'm tired of seeing all the nice > kayaking places so far away! Ken and Barb were out kayaking the San Juans a > while back; had me thinking of moving to Bellingham, but it's cold up > there! > Maybe when they develop a wind powered car I can afford to get up there! > It was a nice photo journal though!! > > In December and January I'll be reading all about your trips to the Big Ass... er, Arch Rock, to Catalina for breakfast, and rock gardening off Pt. Loma. Meanwhile I'll be seeing solid white water out of my living room window. Until March. Don't whine to me about jealousy. :P The trick is to save for one trip up and back (or, in my case, down and back) a year, to use a car that thrives on small amounts of fuel, and either friends or a tent (or both). Start planning now and Pam and I will paddle with you guys next summer in the San Juans. Pam has a paddle for you, too. One she's pretty sure you can't break. Craig *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Not sure I said anything significant, Craig. Paddling northeast of Hardy comes down to a simple matter of risk assessment abilities. Yes, physical endurance, equipment, skills, time, navigational savvy, type of kayak, etc., are all part of that, but the pqaddler must ask if they, with their key competencies, handle the crossings and the landings and the shoreline dynamics likely to be encounter? You will get a variety of situations whether you like it or not. up there. The key to risk assessment is anticipating worse case scenarios and having a backup plan or egress strategy, and more importantly, thinking those worse case scenarios through to their logical conclusion and then going through the permutations proactively and adjusting your goals and daily journeying. This applies to paddling pretty much anywhere; it's just way more important up there as the consequences can be somewhat severe. Tom represents a fun, laid back style of paddling that is worthy of emulation, but he underscores that with a serious approach to personal responsibility and safety. Good qualities for a solo paddler. Doug Lloyd > See his original post with his links at > http://www.westcoastpaddler.com/community/viewtopic.php?p=36224#36224 > > I also recommend reading the remarks other experienced paddlers (including > Doug Lloyd) posted in response. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
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