We are interested in the line between safe and not safe. No interest here in legislation. I don't believe that dress codes for cold water boating could be legislated or enforced. Many paddlers go out in high risk conditions from time to time. In preparation, a choice is made that may at some level relate to cliff climbing. The paddler makes a personal decision. Is it going to be FREE CLIMBING or will there be a safety line? The free climber is not allowed ANY MISTAKES. While climbing one day, I saw one of our climbers reach out for a new hand grip and saw his hand miss the ledge about 60 ft up. He did a cartwheel through the air. I saw his eye glasses spin away from his head. He dropped through the air. We were not FREE CLIMBERS!! He may have ended up with some rope burns. He was on a rappel line. The fellow tied in at the top, holding the rappelling line around his waist, may also have had a little rope burn. The climber was halted about 40 ft off the ground. Bounced up and down a time or two. The rope, 150 ft gold line, is in my garage. I use it as a safety line when going up on the roof once a year to clean the soot out of the chimney. Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** 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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