Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity?

The others have made good points, but I'd like to add one more. If you
have family that cares about you and/or depends on you, you need to take
that responsibility into account.

It's great to be an "intrepid solo paddler" and all, but you need to put
your testosterone aside and seriously consider all the ramifications of
your actions. I don't know you, so I'll have to take you at your word
that your appropriately skilled and prepared, but even the best prepared
paddlers get into unforeseen predicaments. You simply cannot prepare for
every contingency.

There's a saying in the climbing community that's somewhat appropriate:
"There are old climbers and there are bold climbers, but there aren't
many old, bold climbers."
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

Interesting points, I like the climber analogy, although I dont think it
is a very relevant comparison. My basic question seems answered, solo
paddling in general falls outside the accepted norms of the paddling
community.

My perspective:
We have lived on the water for many years. I accumulate more miles in a
year sailing, windsurfing and paddling than I do driving. I look
foreword to an all day distance paddle the same way a runner or a
cyclist will look foreword to a long jaunt. In a similar way, I have
set common routes and "go, no-go" decision criteria for each. Its just
about getting out, getting some exercise and enjoying life. I have been
doing the same routes many times a year, for many years. While always
challenging, they are far from pushing any new bounds in the sport.
Granted that the areas I paddle are not for everyone, in my opinion
the perceived danger is much higher than the real danger.

Community perspective:
Inference that solo paddling is:
-inherently much more dangerous than group paddling
-is only for the testosterone laden or adrenaline junkies
-shows a casual disregard for family, friends and public safety personnel
-is generally irresponsible


What is interesting is that is the generally intensity of paddling
community groupthink is much greater than in the sailing or windsurfing
communities. The range of accepted behavior is much narrower. I often
paddle past the same places we go wave sailing, but I've never heard
windsurfers toting the irresponsibility or dangers of being alone on
your board on a desolate beach. Granted there is a higher minimum skill
bar just to get thorough the impact zone.
The solo sailing debate raged in the 80's with the introduction of
several solo racing organizations and sole one-design boats.
Personally I am not a fan of solo distance sailing, mostly because you
have to sleep sometime. But based on the growing number of solo racing
fleets (i.e. mini 650's) the once outcast solo distance sailor has some
how fallen inside the zone of consensus of the sailing community.

The perceptions of the dangers of solo paddling are more of a
rationalized conformity than the result of any real analysis or deep
understanding of the factors that increase or decrease the inherent
risk. Sorry, but I feel no need to conform.

Cheers

Brian Nystrom wrote:
> The others have made good points, but I'd like to add one more. If you
> have family that cares about you and/or depends on you, you need to take
> that responsibility into account.
>
> It's great to be an "intrepid solo paddler" and all, but you need to put
> your testosterone aside and seriously consider all the ramifications of
> your actions. I don't know you, so I'll have to take you at your word
> that your appropriately skilled and prepared, but even the best prepared
> paddlers get into unforeseen predicaments. You simply cannot prepare for
> every contingency.
>
> There's a saying in the climbing community that's somewhat appropriate:
> "There are old climbers and there are bold climbers, but there aren't
> many old, bold climbers."
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

Brian Nystrom wrote:
>> The others have made good points, but I'd like to add one more. If you
>> have family that cares about you and/or depends on you, you need to take
>> that responsibility into account.
>>
>> It's great to be an "intrepid solo paddler" and all, but you need to put
>> your testosterone aside and seriously consider all the ramifications of
>> your actions.

Buy AD&D life insurance. It's cheap. I pay $17 a month for a
quarter million dollars of it.


>>I don't know you, so I'll have to take you at your word
>> that your appropriately skilled and prepared, but even the best prepared
>> paddlers get into unforeseen predicaments. You simply cannot prepare for
>> every contingency.
>>
>> There's a saying in the climbing community that's somewhat appropriate:
>> "There are old climbers and there are bold climbers, but there aren't
>> many old, bold climbers."
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

Glenn S. wrote:
> Brian Nystrom wrote:
>>> The others have made good points, but I'd like to add one more. If you
>>> have family that cares about you and/or depends on you, you need to take
>>> that responsibility into account.
>>>
>>> It's great to be an "intrepid solo paddler" and all, but you need to put
>>> your testosterone aside and seriously consider all the ramifications of
>>> your actions.
>
> Buy AD&D life insurance. It's cheap. I pay $17 a month for a
> quarter million dollars of it.

That all well and good, but it doesn't address the emotional trauma and
potential long-term effects of a family losing a loved one. I guess if
you think all your life is worth is $250K, it's a solution.
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

Andy wrote:
>
> The perceptions of the dangers of solo paddling are more of a
> rationalized conformity than the result of any real analysis or deep
> understanding of the factors that increase or decrease the inherent
> risk. Sorry, but I feel no need to conform.

That's not true at all. All it take is a review of kayaking death
statistics (readily available on the ACA's web site) or reading the book
"Sea Kayaker, Deep Trouble" and you'll see quite clearly that solo
paddlers, particularly ill-prepared solo paddlers make up a high
percentage of paddler deaths. Beyond that, many of us here have personal
experiences with tough conditions and rescues, and have seen how quickly
one can go from being a happy paddler to being in deep doo-doo.

There are very good reasons that paddling alone is discouraged. It's
similar to the "buddy system" in SCUBA diving. There are plenty of
people who dive alone too, but they know that they're taking extra risks.

The reaction you got was the responsible thing to tell someone of
unknown ability and preparedness who is considering paddling solo. You
apparently know the risks and have taken some precautions, so I'm not
about to try to tell you what YOU should do, but in general, the
reaction you got is what someone contemplating solo paddling NEEDS to
hear, hopefully to get them to think it through and therefore make an
informed decision. Beyond that, it's an individual choice.
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

Andy wrote:
>
> Community perspective:

My two cents:

> Inference that solo paddling is:
> -inherently much more dangerous than group paddling
Can't deny that, in a group you have a lot better change to rescue
yourselfs then alone.

> -is only for the testosterone laden or adrenaline junkies
Bullshit IMHO! Paddling alone and experience nature is great to do.
Nothing to do with hormones (at least not those mentioned

> -shows a casual disregard for family, friends and public safety personnel
Not a convincing argument, get real, when things go really bad in a
group it will be the same.

> -is generally irresponsible
Risk is the change something occurs multiplied by the consequences,
being in a group can reduce the consequences but even then there is no
guarantee. If you know what you do, have the skills and equipment
(including communication) and aware of the risks I don't see the problem.

bjorri.

>
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

bjorri wrote:
> Andy wrote:
>>
>> -is generally irresponsible
> Risk is the change something occurs multiplied by the consequences,
> being in a group can reduce the consequences but even then there is no
> guarantee. If you know what you do, have the skills and equipment
> (including communication) and aware of the risks I don't see the problem.

Hmmm, I think that a lot of paddlers think that they are aware of the
risks, but I wonder how many of those *really* are aware of the risks
(or the consequences, for that matter).

--
Wilko van den Bergh wilko<a t)dse(d o t>nl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
---Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.---
http://kayaker.nl/
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

Wilko wrote:
> bjorri wrote:
>> Andy wrote:
>>>
>>> -is generally irresponsible
>> Risk is the change something occurs multiplied by the consequences,
>> being in a group can reduce the consequences but even then there is no
>> guarantee. If you know what you do, have the skills and equipment
>> (including communication) and aware of the risks I don't see the problem.
>
> Hmmm, I think that a lot of paddlers think that they are aware of the
> risks, but I wonder how many of those *really* are aware of the risks
> (or the consequences, for that matter).
>
I call that skills. To be true I won't go alone on open water yet but it
must be great to be alone at the Waddenzee overnight. Don't know if I
ever will do a thing like that but I'll would enjoy it.

bjorri.
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity? 

bjorri wrote:
> Wilko wrote:
>> bjorri wrote:
>>> Andy wrote:
>>>>
>>>> -is generally irresponsible
>>> Risk is the change something occurs multiplied by the consequences,
>>> being in a group can reduce the consequences but even then there is
>>> no guarantee. If you know what you do, have the skills and equipment
>>> (including communication) and aware of the risks I don't see the
>>> problem.
>>
>> Hmmm, I think that a lot of paddlers think that they are aware of the
>> risks, but I wonder how many of those *really* are aware of the risks
>> (or the consequences, for that matter).
>>
> I call that skills. To be true I won't go alone on open water yet but it
> must be great to be alone at the Waddenzee overnight. Don't know if I
> ever will do a thing like that but I'll would enjoy it.

I wonder if it's about skills. It seems to me that a lot of people are
simply unable to imagine anything to go wrong quite as badly as it
probably will. Sure, having experienced some bad things will help
tremendously to get a clearer and more realistic image of what can go
wrong, but I think that it will probably involve a lot of fooling
yourself as well.

Granted, I'm already uncomfortable on a little bit of moving water, so
voluntarily crossing the Waddenzee at night on my own would definitely
be out of the question for me... (unless maybe my life depended upon it...)


--
Wilko van den Bergh wilko<a t)dse(d o t>nl
Eindhoven The Netherlands Europe
---Look at the possibilities, don't worry about the limitations.---
http://kayaker.nl/
 >> Stay informed about: Solo Paddling, a danger to humanity?