--- On Mon, 4/13/09, Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> wrote: > From: Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> > Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Ferry Crew Rescues Seattle Kayaker - Update - Sponsons? > To: "Scott Hilliard" <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net> > Cc: "Paddlewise net" <paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net> > Date: Monday, April 13, 2009, 8:08 AM > On Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 4:07 AM, > Scott Hilliard <kiayker_at_sbcglobal.net>wrote: > > > Of course the bottom line here is that if you are not > confident in your > > abilities to handle the conditions then you shouldn't > be out in them. > > > > Then there are those who are confident in their > abilities to handle the > conditions but shouldn't be out in them anyway. :) Ahh, but what is worse - the people who are out without a clue or the people who HAVE a clue but do it anyway? On Friday, I was out kayaking and came across a canoe containing two people. They were wearing blue jeans and winter jackets. They were using their life jackets as seat cushions. The stern paddling/steering technique was that of paddling on one side or the other as required. When last I checked, the water temperatures were only a couple of degrees above the freezing mark. We had snow here only a week ago. What previsions did these people take to account for the cold conditions? Probably none. Their only saving grace was that they were paddling in a relatively calm and narrow channel. That said, I don't know how they got there and a successful swim across the main harbour is unlikely with this clothing and these water temperatures. These people had no business doing what they were doing. If I'd said or done anything, they'd probably look at ME like *I* was the fool. *sigh* I just paddled by and ignored them. Thoughts? Derek *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
One word leaps to mind: Evolution or maybe the Charles Darwin Award (OK, that was more than one word) Brad (who has few clues but goes out anyway) Subject: [Paddlewise] A swift kick for the clueless > --- On Mon, 4/13/09, Craig Jungers <crjungers_at_gmail.com> wrote: >> > Of course the bottom line here is that if you are not >> confident in your >> > abilities to handle the conditions then you shouldn't >> be out in them. >> > >> > Then there are those who are confident in their >> abilities to handle the >> conditions but shouldn't be out in them anyway. :) > > > Ahh, but what is worse - the people who are out without a clue or the > people who HAVE a clue but do it anyway? > > On Friday, I was out kayaking and came across a canoe containing two > people. They were wearing blue jeans and winter jackets. They were using > their life jackets as seat cushions. The stern paddling/steering > technique was that of paddling on one side or the other as required. > > When last I checked, the water temperatures were only a couple of degrees > above the freezing mark. We had snow here only a week ago. What > previsions did these people take to account for the cold conditions? > Probably none. Their only saving grace was that they were paddling in a > relatively calm and narrow channel. That said, I don't know how they got > there and a successful swim across the main harbour is unlikely with this > clothing and these water temperatures. > > These people had no business doing what they were doing. If I'd said or > done anything, they'd probably look at ME like *I* was the fool. *sigh* > I just paddled by and ignored them. Thoughts? > > Derek *************************************************************************** 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 Mon, Apr 13, 2009 at 10:25 AM, <glamourpets_at_yahoo.com> wrote: > > These people had no business doing what they were doing. If I'd said or > done anything, they'd probably look at ME like *I* was the fool. *sigh* I > just paddled by and ignored them. Thoughts? > > Last week my favorite almost-8-year-old, Hailey, came over to visit (along with her best friend, Brianna). No one has ever accused me of acting mature around Hailey so we all migrated down to the dock where the water was frozen solid just a few weeks ago so PFDs all around. At some point Hailey decided to walk the ropes that lead over the water to a tree (which we have used to tie up boats). I predicted she would fall in. And, sure enough, she fell in. Fully dressed. Got scared. Flailed around and yelled, then swam around the dock to the ladder. At this point she decided it wasn't so bad after all and swam around for a while. I should note that I would have jumped in to save her but Hailey can swim much better than I can. So I stayed on the dock and rolled around laughing. This describes what is probably the most common human learning procedure. We try something risky, get the crap scared out of us, work out way out of it, then decide it wasn't so bad after all, and try it again with better results. The non-learning procedure includes not working our way out of it. Is there an answer to this? For some, sure. Unfortunately, short of regulating paddling the way we regulate airplane instruction (and that doesn't include ultralights!), I think we just have to accept that most people are going to behave like your canoe paddlers. Magazines like Sea Kayaker and books (like the one that Matt Broze and George Gronseth wrote) have been a big help in identifying problems and educating paddlers to recognize them and plan for them. But people have to either read those pieces or take lessons and your average paddler is just not that interested. One suggestion I have is to get involved with your local youth groups... Boy Scouts, Campfire Girls, etc.... and offer to speak to them. I take my kayaks and gear to local schools and dress up and explain to them what the gear is for. It's important because where I live the water temperatures in the summer are 70 to 80F but lots of people go over to Puget Sound to play on the water where the water temps are in the 40s (F). They underestimate the problems cold water present. People don't have to buy drysuits or wetsuits to paddle canoes... but they should recognize that there could be a problem and think about it a little. Craig Jungers Moses Lake, WA *************************************************************************** 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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