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Shaila_27

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Posts posted by Shaila_27

    first CAM trip....

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Since I wasn't on this trip either, I guess I can opine as well. The irony is that new paddlers need more time on the water in various conditions to be able to access their skill and emotional response as well as improve both. I think that this can happen comfortably under the CAM model if these folks could be identified at the launch and then look for more experienced paddlers to agree to stay with them. I started out in conditions that were initially over my head and made me uncomfortable. I was always with one or more experienced paddlers and that made all the difference. Just MHO!

    I really enjoyed the trip yesterday. For some the conditions were quite mild, for others the swell was the biggest they had paddled in. This is my second year paddling so with that in mind, here are my observations:

    1- The paddle was set up for 10am sharp butts-in-boats time, a realitively quick, leisurely paddle and with a pretty loose agenda as far as agenda (rock gardening, surfing, etc.)

    2- I was one of the couple of guilty people who showed up with barely enough time to spare to get my gear together and my boat in the water. (I am 2 for 2 as far as getting lost on the way to that specific put-in)

    3- I know at least a few of us had VHF radios and a beach breifing would have been good to coordinate things such as a common communication channel, the possibility of splitting up in regards to speed, play in rocks, etc. and finally, which people in the group had:

    -not paddled in the area

    -it was their first or second ocean paddle this year

    -wanted to expand their experience in conditions of increased swell, etc. but needed to buddy up with some more experienced paddlers for pointers, moral support, and even a hand if a rescue was needed

    4- The same goes here for a briefing and check-in before leaving the beach at the half way point to go over the same things listed in #3.

    5- I feel as if the group did keep an eye out for each other with stops to check in with the group, verbal checks and head counts along the way - I made sure to ask how people were feeling and doing as well as keep a head count on the front group and the back group.

    With these in mind, I for one feel guilty about showing up with minutes to spare at the put-in when I knew that the trip was initiated with a tight schedule. I am sure that this fact did not effect the beach briefing but I understand that tardiness can be annoying and make it more difficult for the whole group when it comes to communication.

    The other perspective that I feel I have is one of a newish paddler and what that can entail. I agree with Al on the fact that although everyone needs to make their own judgements on issues of limitaions, a newer paddler has no ability to do this because they don't know what their limitations are and they don't know what the conditions may really be like or how they will handle them. Last year I was very shy and concerned about going on any trips because I had no idea how far I could go without getting tired and how I would react to swell, etc. Because of this my general reaction was to not go on trips so I wouldn't hold back other paddlers, be in over my head, and create a situation where I would have to rely on others because I made a bad decision. I feel a great responsibility when it comes to my decisions and how they may effect other paddler's safety and enjoyment of a trip. :blush:

    The great link between those feelings (which still remain at times) and a more informed, outgoing person really came down to the L2-L3 transition paddles last year. I could go on these paddles without feeling like I may become a burdon to a group of experienced people and I could gain confidence and skill in those conditions and trips where I had people watching my back for specific purpose of my learning without my having to ask someone to be my hand-holder during a SNG trip because I was in over my head or even just a little nervous.

    I really feel like, although it is tough to speak up sometimes, people should be open about being a little nervous, etc. because the members and associates of NSPN are often more than happy to pass it on so a newer paddler can gain the experience and the group can maintain communication to keep everyone safe. I still am not always sure if some of the posted trips are tailored for a more experienced groups or for everyone but it seems as if we are a paddling network that will enjoy our time out on the water regardless if it involves a little instruciton or a change of plans.

    I had a blast on the water yesterday. I have never been in seas with consistant 2-5ft swell but I can now walk away with the new knowledge that I was perfectly fine and I am ready to test out similar or greater conditions - and that is what it is all about! :woohoo:

    who has lately taken solo?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    If we are talking cardiac arrest situations. Just to be picky, its not that the person is dead if you do nothing. Without getting into a debate about when death occurs and with few exceptions, the person is dead period. You may be able to forestall irreversible brain damage long enough for them to be revived in an adequate medical setting since it usually takes the right electrical impulses to get the heart working again. People have different views about how long that can be. My assumption has been that starting CPR in a remote setting in the vast majority of cases means having to make an agonizing decision that may haunt for a long time, but the whole thing may haunt no matter what you do or do not do.

    In the H2O Solo course they basically said that CPR isn't going to work on the water (not that people should give up). The big thing that they stressed with any injury while out in a kayak was that when you run through the ABC's for life threatening issues (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) you never get past "Airway" until you are on land. Even if the injury is a broken bone, concussion, heart attack, separated shoulder... the first and most important thing is airway and when you are on water, that is always compromised. The chest compressions are tough because they are only an oxygen circulator to keep tissue viable until real help can come. It really is a catch 22 with not a lot of optimistic outcomes.:sweats:

    A Favor?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Thanks Peter! I will take you up on that. At the very latest, I can pick it up Thurs. the 12th or EARLY Friday morning. I want to do whatever is convenient to you and I am open to any day.

    Shaila

    My contact info:

    sbgent@gmail.com

    617/308-1990

    A Favor?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    I am leaving Friday June 13 to go to Conn. for the weekend and one of the activites planned for a friend's bachellorette day is a paddle around the Thimble Islands. My girlfriend needs a boat to use for the couple of hours and I just can't stomach renting a 10-12ft. "kayak" for $40.

    Nicole has paddled before and the trip is very tame so your boat will be safe in my hands:) I will lock it to my roof rack when it is not in use. I am not picky - a poly boat would be great and Nicole is an average sized woman, 5'5".

    I live in Salem, MA so the closer, the betterj.

    Thanks in advance!

    Shaila

    Kayak Rack Recommendations...

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    "2. Yakima and Thule both have their adherents. I think Yakima bars are a bit stronger, probably due to basic physics (experts chime in here): a circle is stronger for a given wall thickness than a square. I've seen a few Thule bars that have sagged permanentaly from overloading, but not really any Yakima bars. Another advantage to Yakima bars is that you can rotate stuff down out of the wind or the way: ski carriers, riser bars, even saddles. Can't do that easily with a square bar. As for rotation while loading: tighten the clamp!"

    I like my Yakima bars. I have a Jeep Liberty and when I was using the HullRaiser, I could push them down on the round bars so my car would fit in the garage without taking off the rack. The round bars do seem super strong and Thule accessories work with either round bars or square bars (yea hullivator!).

    Salem Sound Late Afternoon 3/30

    in Past Trips

    Posted

    I will try and make it. It depends on when I get into work...

    (the dreaded 5 am or the "slightly" less dreaded 6 am)

    A nice paddle will certainly motivate me to wake up. There also is a public put-in at the end of my street (leach st.) you can back your car right up to the stairs/gravel that lead right down to the water. Street parking isn't policed but if it is, anyone is welcome to park in my driveway. http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1942527"" target="_blank">Leach St. Put-in, Salem, MA

    Outfitter for Kayak rentals in New Haven, CT?

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    Can anyone point me to an outfitter for kayak rentals in New Haven, CT? I will be there with a few friends and they will not have boats. I know that the City has some programs off of Lighthouse beach and somewhere it said that they do rent out but all of the other info suggests otherwise.

    Any help on places to rent in or near the area woudl be much appreciated! Also any info in good paddling in the area would be great too.

    Paddle this weekend?

    in Past Trips

    Posted

    I am still interested in going out this weekend. Monday looks like it would be the best bet for me. The predicted conditions for Monday are increased from Saturday:

    SW WINDS 15 TO 20 KT...BECOMING S 20 TO 25 KT UNTIL LATE

    EVENING...THEN BECOMING SW 15 TO 20 KT AFTER MIDNIGHT. SEAS 3 TO

    5 FT. A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND

    OVERNIGHT.

    Monday would be a good day to do Deveraux beach, Marblehead around Peaches Point and into Salem. The waters are more protected.

    Let me know what people are planning.

    Shaila

    theft provides opportunity for new camera

    in General Message Board

    Posted

    I hope this works... Here is a scaled down version of the video from the Olympus 790. It definitely looks better when the file size is not shrunken down. There also is a microphone in the camera that works above and below water but for the sake of the example, I took the actual sound out. I will say that it is difficult to film under water with a PFD on. :haha:

    Olympus_790_Examples.mov

    Here are a couple of pics from it too. I haven't had many opportunities to take pictures out on the water.

    post-100578-1206194225_thumb.jpg

    post-100578-1206194235_thumb.jpg

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