Re: [Paddlewise] Billed for a Rescue

    Now that I have been able to read the full article I can better comment.
    What worries me about the pay for rescue is who decides what is reckless 
or reasonable? I have been called a damn idiot more than once in my river 
and sea kayaking days for some of the trips I have taken. I only found out 
recently that some in one of my former parishes considered me "crazy" for 
some of the trips I took risking leaving my wife a widow and my son 
fatherless.
    Do we really want to be in a position where some offical who has never 
been in a canoe on a calm lake fines us because we were late getting back 
because we decided to play it safe and hold up on an island because of the 
wind?  Do you want to pay out the nose because your dear sweet Aunt Melba 
paniced and called the police because she thought when you said you were 
coming back friday you  meant this friday not next friday? (My mom almost 
did this once while I was paddling in Florida)
    As a member of SAR we recently did a body search along the shore for a 
couple who had power boated up the Stikine River in a boat that was 
overloaded. Bad judgment but I would have hated to add to the grief of the 
family by charging the family for our efforts.
    I will gladly search for an "idiot" if it means someone did not hesitate 
to call in time for help. Up here in Alaksa we are in the  midst of a big 
cold snap and if a family member hesitates to call SAR it may mean the 
difference between life and death. With the difficult financial situation a 
lot of people are in some might hesitate to call SAR if they knew it might 
cost them $$.
    By the way I strongly recommend the folks on Paddlewise to get involved 
with your local Search and Rescue unit. You already have a vat amount of 
outdoor skills, i.e. map and compass navigation, GPS usage, wilderness savvy 
that is so important to SAR operations. Plus you already have a lot of the 
gear and clothing necessary for a SAR operation. Plus if the search is for a 
sea kayaker you will have the expertise of tides, currents and wind to lead 
the SAR team to the "most probable area to search".

stay found
Bob 
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