| |
Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board
Re: Quadra Island Trip Observations
Posted By: Shawn Baker In Response To: Re: Quadra Island Trip Observations (lee)
Date: Thursday, 30 September 1999, at 1:05 p.m.
Keep rambling, Lee!
I always learn more from reading about other's bad experiences than I do from a "everything went well, it was sunny, and nobody got tired or wet" trip report.
I don't think the dangers of sea kayaking are immediately apparent to someone outside the sport just contemplating getting into it. Most people (myself included) don't even consider safety until they really start studying the sport. I paddled for a year before I faithfully wore my PFD 100% of the time. I never took a first-aid kit, seldom brought dry clothes, extra food or water [let alone something hot to drink]. After reading comments by people like you, reading Paddlewise posts, and reading every sea kayaking book I can get my hands on, I realize that safety is not to be under-emphasized.
Shawn
> Byron, good feedback. I hope the owner got it. One of situations that
> occur in clubs is that folks begin to identify who they like to paddle
> with and who handles trust and responsibility well. It is most unfortunate
> that your experience with a "professional" came out as it did.
> Thank goodness nothing happened.> A friend that has recently jumped into kayaking wholeheartedly said that I
> and the folks I work with might be over emphasizing the danger/safety
> issues, but after hearing of your experiences and others I am left with
> the sense that people have to be responsible for their own safety, ie. did
> you or the other paddlers know whether a 10 mi. and subsequent 6 and 10
> mile paddles were outside of the comfort zone? Or was this something that
> the guide said was doable? It is dificult to prepare folks completely for
> something that is totally new. Fit young folks might not know their
> limits, aging weekend warriors might ignore theirs, But the lack of
> pre-trip orientation, safety contingency plans is unacceptable.> What is a beginner paddler? I used to call myself a very advanced
> beginner. Now I find that how people identify themselves really doesn't
> accurately describe their actual paddling experience. When folks sign up
> for a basic class from our brochure, it says"..learn wet exit,
> t-rescue.." But there is still about 1/10 people that say "I
> didn't know we were going to get wet!, you should have told me, the
> brochure is vague" Then again there was one person in their 50's that
> had shoulder surgery 3 mo. before, which she mentioned as she was having
> dificulty lowering herself into the boat, she didn't mention anything in
> the medical info form. Or on a college freshmen orientation ,a young woman
> with carpal tunnel and wrist guards decided on sea kayaking because the
> other options didn't look good. Or the gentleman in his late 50's that
> came in a basic 2 course with his wife,he hadn't taken the previous course
> but since she had (he was a guy! and been around boats) he figured he
> would have no problem. Totally screwed up the beginning of the class as he
> realized he was over his head and thankfully bailed.> I remember a few club trips where someone told the trip facillatator that
> they were familiar paddling in the open bay and knew rescues, as the 10 mi
> paddle on a strong ebb tide progressed it was evident this person was way
> out their comfort zone... after being helped back in their boat they were
> told quite clearly to cut the trip short and go back with some other
> folks. Other coastal trips involved surf landing/launchings and some
> facillitators didn't seem to realize the responsibility that came with
> paddling with people of little experience. I wonder if folks that do that
> are unconciously trying to set up a hero rescue situation. Scares me.> pardon the rambiling response, hope your next experience is better.
| |
Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.
|
Kayak Trips |
|
|
|