(Sea Kayaker: Deep Trouble) Introduction: Kayaking Safety

The introduction of the book is a treasure trove of safety information for any paddler new or seasoned.  I found the checklists and insets rich with vital information.  This should be information should be packaged and sold with every boat.  Information includes segments on tides and currents, safety equipment and safety checklists.  Since authors would not be happy if I transcribed the entire introduction, I’ll let you read the book for the details.

I did want to pick on one issue that was mentioned in the introduction: “Rescue beacons and other communication devices”

Personal rescue beacons, cell phones and VHF radios are a sea kayakers last line of defense when everything else has failed.  When conditions or circumstances exceed skills or means calling for help is the final option.  Unfortunately, not for everyone, a recent article I read recently highlights the impact that affordable rescue beacons are having on search and rescue teams.  I know that that most people will not use these devices frivolously, but I have a deeper concern. 

Does having one of these devices extend the risks that people are willing to take?

 I am not sure that I can honestly answer that question for myself with a confident “no”.   I know that there are crossings and conditions that I would only tackle in a group.  Even then, I know that whatever could befall me could overcome the group as well and I may be on my own anyway.  Still, having a group is better than not having one.  I think the difference that having the beacon makes is that it almost seems to eliminate the risk not just mitigate it.  The false sense of security given by the thought "I have a beacon, if all else fails I can call in the cavalry" is easy to slip into.  This forgets a couple of key points. 

The first hole in this assumption is that the device will actually function when you need it to.  Four years on a nuclear submarine taught me that Murphy has a strict law and terrible sense of humor.  I will confess that on  a couple of occasions I have gone paddling and forgotten to check my VHF radio only to find that the batteries are low or even worse dead.   A beacon is susceptible to this and other failures.  Keep in mind that the laws of physics could care less about your circumstance.  If you don’t have enough juice the signal is only going to go so far.  As far as cell phones go, when the stuff hits the fan is not the time to find out how water proof your phone is and if your providers network coverage matches their advertising.

The other flaw in this thinking is that it ignores the fact that whatever conditions lead to the crisis may prevent or impede your rescue.  Bottom line there is no sure thing and there is no replacement for the right equipment, good planning, strong skills, and an honest assessment of conditions versus skills.  Accidents happen and even the most skilled and best prepared of us can be lost.

The last few weeks I have been monitoring the news reports around the world for kayaking incidents and there seems to be about one paddling incident per week that result in a search and rescue operation.  The fatalities have included paddlers of all skill levels as have the survivors.

One of my outdoor role models is Reinhold Messner, the first person to summit Mt. Everest without bottled oxygen.  In a documentary shot by Outside Magazine they asked Ed Viesturs, another accomplished Himalayan climber, what set Reinhold apart.  His response was something to that effect that he wasn't more skilled than anyone else and he wasn’t unique physically.  What made Messner the most successful climber of the 20^th century was his judgment and instincts.  That when attempting to summit a certain mountain he turned around eight times before he finally reached the top. It was that sort of judgement that kept him alive and allowed him live long enough to accomplish more than any other modern climber.

Judgment seems to me to be the combination of instinct, experience, humility, and skill balanced against the desire to push past our limitations and grow.  It is our most important piece of safety equipment.