Lallen

By the way, not something I've done often...

Pru, I just did the exact same thing on my Cetus LV yesterday. Not even sure exactly how, but it was on the skeg slider...

And congratulations to you, too Warren! I don't know anyone who has been more methodical in their skill development than you!

Congrats, Rob. You've worked hard to earn those stars.

Nate sums it up nicely with the term "compact" group. That could be either in a straight line or a small pod close together. I've had several coaches who use the mantra "Safe, efficient, effective". Personally, I'd rather use whichever technique is most appropriate to the particular group in the specific environment that gets the job done safely vs being dogmatic about the method. Experiment with both and see what works best. Totally agree in a busy shipping channel with high speed ferries and tons of boat traffic you might want to form a line, hold it and paddle across as quickly as a group as possible. In other circumstances, just keeping eyes on each other (which does mean people in front need to remember to keep turning around and slow down as needed) and staying in a small cluster is a fine way to cross.

Oh, and one more thing-garbage bags and bungee cord to act as an emergency hatch cover...

Gorilla tape, extra float bag, Denzo Tape, mini absorbent towel. Fortunately have not had to use any of them in actual emergency, only drills. Getting the Gorilla tape to stick is biggest challenge-hence the addition of the towel to dry before applying.

And sometimes camping not only builds new friendships but reconnects old friends as well. Phil and I had a grand time sharing a MITA Island with a couple from New Hampshire. We bonded over good conversation, chocolate and peppermint hot chocolate with Bailey's. They reciprocated by leaving us butter rum back at the local shop on a different island from whence they'd ventured. We became Facebook friends upon our return. Several months later, our new friend messaged me to see if perhaps our friend Kate on FB used to go by the name of Cathy and was she from the South? Turns out our friend knew Kate from a former lifetime where they had done whitewater together. Small world...

Rob, you asked a question about how much you might notice the difference between current and new boat. I am sure that will vary greatly based on the type of boat you are transitioning from. I switched from an Impex Montauk to a Cetus LV a couple years ago. The Montauk was Carbon Kevlar and my Cetus LV is fiberglass, so the new boat is substantially heavier. I noticed a huge difference right away in my ability to hold and push an edge on the Cetus LV because of its hull shape vs the rounder edges of the Montauk. The lower back deck on the new boat made it easier to play with different types of rolls. The LV felt big on me at first- the cockpit is much longer as well as the boat itself. There were other differences as well and it did take a bit of getting used to. But I never looked back or regretted the change. And found my comfort level and confidence grew pretty quickly in the Cetus LV. Also, I strongly seccond the demo days where you can test numerous boats on the same day-it's fun and you get the ability to compare them while the memory is fresh. Also, if you then have the ability to borrow or rent a boat you think you like for a day or week, highly recommend it. Since it is a big investment you can then put it through its paces and make sure you're comfortable in varied conditions in it. Happy shopping!

I'm glad others brought up the value of both risk assessment vs. incident/risk management. Planning, knowing you and your companions' skill sets, reading the weather and conditions, choosing appropriate environments, etc are all critical in avoiding trouble. That said, the sport we engage in has inherent risks-and $h*t happens. Seasick paddlers, rapidly changing weather, a heart attack or dislocated shoulder, and a myriad or other unforeseen events can cause a trip to go south in ways we might not imagine. Which makes the incident management training equally critical. The other thing that often strikes me when reading/hearing about incidents is how they do seem to occur at the two ends of the spectrum. On one end, the tragedies that occur among the beginners/inexperienced who venture out unprepared for conditions-underdressed in cold water, no life jackets, inability to handle wind, etc... At the other end, the very skilled paddlers who get into trouble-sometimes a result of complacency and sometimes because they're pushing themselves in extreme conditions that go awry.

Kate, thanks for giving me a good belly laugh! Glad I could inspire you to aspire to achieve awesome new feats. Here are a few ideas to get you started: 1) You could go to Greenland to learn some new rolls and possibly win a gold star in the world championships, 2) You could just go paddle in Greenland. 3) You could return solo as you desire to see the whales and icebergs in Newfoundland in June. 4) You could surf those 4-5 foot waves where you could demonstrate successfully how to use those beautiful rolls. As for me, here are my goals for the New Year: 1) Complete the ACA L3/L4 IDW with the ultimate goal of certification in the next year or two. 2) Begin 5* training (even better 5* training in Wales! More achieve able for this year in Boothbay, though). 3) Have at least one amazing camping expedition someplace interesting-location TBD... 4) Make friends with my new whitewater boat, surfing that local wave more frequently than having it be my own personal swimming hole...

Many thanks-I am honored to have received this award. So sorry I was not able to be with you all to enjoy the festivities. And thanks to my good friend Pru who accepted it in my absence.

Todd, if Santa doesn't bring you a drysuit, you might ask if any NSPN'ers have one you could borrow for the NYD paddling trip. Charles River Canoe and Kayak in Newton also rents them. Although they are officially closed for the season, CRCK also operates a ski track in Weston so might be able to arrange the rental though you'd need to check with them. If you're a former white water paddler you're no doubt used to cold water and may have a reliable roll. But you're likely to find friendly folks here who might be willing to offer a loaner. The water temps certainly warrant the safety benefits of a dry suit in January...

Warren, when backcountry skiing, Phil and I have used the Jet Boil with some of Annie Chun's or Simply Asia Noodle Bowls. So great on a cold day for lunch! Hot soup in a thermos would also do the trick. With snow on the ground though, we simply carried the noddle bowls and melted the snow for the jet boil. More of a consideration when carrying stuff in a backpack vs a sea kayak. But nothing like a hot meal to feel like you're really living the life of luxury in the backcountry!

Thank you, everyone! Warren, you are absolutely right-the biggest gain from doing the assessment was all of the training and practice that lead to becoming comfortable in conditions. And I suppose, a confidence boosting experience in surviving being put through my paces during the assessment. Honestly, had I seen the conditions we were dealt by Mother Nature this weekend when I was a tea bag in May on a different 4 star assessment, I'd have run screaming the other way from the idea of assessing! I'm quite directionally challenged so FOG on the first day was my worst nightmare come true... And as John C put it we had a "proper" day at Popham on Sunday. Blaine, there's definitely some 5 star training in my future though I don't know if I'll ever get to a point where I have the skills/desire to do that assessment. David, I feel very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with such fine coaches. And I must admit the idea of assessing with this group was a bit intimidating but they were all great and encouraging and did their best to put us at ease.

A very special thanks to Pru and Bob Levine for their help and moral support throughout the assessment. And also to the other NSPN'ers-and a few turkeys (you know who you are!)-who helped me get to this point in the journey!

I love my Kokatat Expedition with the over skirt, arm pockets, drop seat. Although I don't need the hood often, when I DO need it, it's usually a miserable day and much appreciated, My suggestion is to get the best suit you can afford since it's one of the best investments you can make. I,too, am the lucky recipient of a replacement suit. Mine was wetting out after about 4 years, sent back to Kokatat for repair. Brand spanking new one arrived shortly thereafter because they determined it was delaminating...

Absolutely, Warren! And you are correct, those are exactly the types of situations and decisions you might find yourself facing on a multi-day expedition.

Warren, glad you both enjoyed the trip and challenges. It's a fine line to balance pushing one's skills in conditions and staying safe. if you don't have an opportunity-and willingness-to test your skills, then it's hard to find out what your limits are. Ideally, doing that without ending up in the "Terror Zone." And, having successfully completed your journey without mishap, my guess is your confidence experienced a huge boost. Which will translate to greater ease next time you find yourself faced with similar conditions...

Warren, glad you both enjoyed the trip and challenges. It's a fine line to balance pushing one's skills in conditions and staying safe. if you don't have an opportunity-and willingness-to test your skills, then it's hard to find out what your limits are. Ideally, doing that without ending up in the "Terror Zone." And, having successfully completed your journey without mishap, my guess is your confidence experienced a huge boost. Which will translate to greater ease next time you find yourself faced with similar conditions...

Cath, a number of small paddlers do seem to be very fond of the Avocet LV, as Katherine suggests. My first boat was the Montauk, which is a bigger version of the Mystic. It served me well for a number of years. I now paddle a Cetus LV, which I love, but that might be too big a boat for you.

Me, too, Jason!

IF you have perfect technique, one could probably roll a tugboat... That said, certain boats are definitely more forgiving than others. And how many of us have perfect technique 100% of the time???

Suz, if you hadn't introduced me to the whole pie concept and showed me how hatches were just meant to carry one, I'd never have discovered! ;-) BTW, I hear you have a killer recipe for Vegan Brownies that travel well-you must share... I think Kate would have preferred the simplicity of everyone doing their own thing with meals. For me, sharing the meals and seeing what everyone had in their bag was one of the highlights of the trip. As an ex-Knowles guide, John had some amazing tricks up his sleeve. A fry/bake pan that could make biscuits that really were more like scones, not to mention his fabulous upside down pineapple cake. Who knew such wonders were possible while camping? And Kate herself introduced us to the wonders of steamed cornbread dumplings, made fresh and served over chili. Oh, transport me back a couple weeks in time, please!

Rolling is not so difficult once you learn how, but it IS one of the most challenging things for many people to learn. Let's face it-it's counterintuitive. As human beings, we are not meant to breathe water. Therefore, when finding oneself upside down with a neoprene sprayskirt on, most people want to lift their head so they can breathe. Which is the exact opposite of what one needs to do for a successful roll. It also requires finesse to learn how to roll effortlessly without "powering" through it. For some, that comes more naturally than others, and good instruction can certainly be immensely helpful. That said, two or three hours practicing with Cheri Perry and Turner Wilson, even with a solid roll under one's belt, can leave one (at least, me) rather spent! And I have witnessed even the finest coaches going for an unplanned swim. To quote a whitewater phrase, "we are all in-between swims.". So best to have and practice a variety of rescue techniques. I do agree the forward stroke is one of the hardest to master as well. For better and worse, it's easy to get in a boat, pick up a paddle, and go. But to do it skillfully and efficiently? It takes time, patience, and practice to develop good technique. And there are so many subtleties to keep working on!