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Sea Kayaks Techniques Bulletin Board
Not quite
Posted By: Brian Nystrom In Response To: Sounds like your inexperience talking, Bryan (Robert N Pruden)
Date: Saturday, 11 December 2004, at 8:25 a.m.
While I haven't paddled inadvertently over any waterfalls, I've been in many situations while ice climbing where I was scared silly, but choked it back, maintained control and got through it. The emotional discipline required to control my fear and remain calm in the face of potentially deadly circumstances was one of the things that attracted me to the sport. As you know, there is an amazing clarity that one experiences in such situations that simply cannot be duplicated in daily life.
I don't fear death, either, but I also have no particular desire to die any time soon. A serious cycling injury a few years back has changed my self-view somewhat. It woke me up to the fact that I'm not indestructable and that injury or death can happen at any time. There's nothing quite like having your beliefs tempered with a hard dose of reality. There's a balance to be struck between challenge, risk and enjoyment. Admittedly, I've scaled back the risk percentage a few points over the years, but I'm having a lot more fun.
I would never try to discourage you from doing what you love, be it solo kayak trips or whatever. If you're injured or die while doing it, it's your choice. Just don't kid yourself about your ability to defend yourself against bears with a knife, that's all. Bravado won't save you and it may well mislead you into putting yourself at greater risk.
*NM*
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