going out and back again....

[rick stoehrer]

all of our trips, from level 2 to ?, all have the same elements. we go out on the water and then we are all coming back to land. we all try to have fun in the middle somewhere. while the middle part is important...it's the coming back part that counts.

as nice as it is to have an idyllic paddle on a lovely day, keep in mind that PLANNING is paramount on the ocean, right? what's your plan? and when PLANNING your trips consider that conditions and weather are FLUID, they are always changing. if you go out and it's pleasant, think about what's going to happen in an hour or 2, will you still be comfortable? if you aren't too comfy going out, do you go? should you go? if you do go, are you within the bounds of your skill sets getting back? are you comfortably within those bounds? if things got a little worse are you still comfy or are you close to the upper end? are the people you are with aware of what's going on with you? are the people you are with comfy and capable for the worst that could likely possibly, happen? not like a powerboat running anyone over, just run of the mill stuff?

if you are leading a group, what are your abilities to deal with what comes up? can you comfortably accomplish what will likely be worst case? now what happens if you have 2 folks in your group in the water? what are your options and who in your group can assist? what's your margin for error on all this?

what happens if the weather turns a little or goes completely to hell? at what point is it dangerous with your skills to be out on the water? what about your group? what are your options on the water for alternative routes, takeouts, way home to a nice bowl of soup?

it's getting to be the time of year where we have some nice weather but the water temperature is pretty darn cold (lower 50's). think about what you wear and how long you could be in the water before things go from merely inconvenient to bad to dire to tragic.

know your abilities, know your groups abilities and have a plan. and then have a back up plan. always be comfortably within all of those boundaries.

it's a lot of stuff to THINK ABOUT when your goal is to just get out on the water, isn't it? but it's what needs to be done sometimes and practice makes permanent and it's probably quite important to think about those things at this time of year when the air temperature can be so decpetive in the risks you're taking.

have a great time and if anyone does all this all the time...well, you're better than me...still workin' on it.

for the impetus to this...see trip reports