Archive for the ‘Safety’ Category

As I write this 16 year old Abby Sunderland is floating somewhere in the Indian ocean on a sailboat without a mast.  Apparently she’s fine out there and will need to hold out  another 24 hours or so for rescue.   Here in Wisconsin, 9 year old Sofia Khan of Chicago was not so lucky.  The search for her on Lake Michigan was suspended and reclassified as a recovery yesterday.  Abby was in the middle of the ocean, alone, and taking on terrible risks.  Sofia was with her family enjoying a day at the beach.  Read the rest of this entry »

Man means nothing he means less to me
Than the lowliest cactus flower
Or the humblest Yucca tree
He chases round this desert
‘Cause he thinks that’s where I’ll be
That’s why I love mankind
– randy newman

Let’s just get this right out of the way. I HATE navigation.  I mean, I LOVE maps and charts.  As a teenager I used to stare at maps for hours. Even now I enjoy examining them and imagining how to get from point A to point B by car or kayak.  What I hate is academic navigation.  The bit where we toss a bunch of labels on common sense ideas, get all worked up measuring this and adding that to come up with some magical, algebraical solution to paddling across a bay in conditions where most of us should never leave the beach.  Read the rest of this entry »

The shadows in the park were longer yesterday
and Lady Luck stood still, waiting for the kill.
- tull

ACA Proficiency requirements for L4 open water coastal kayaking instructors call for among other things, 3-5 foot seas, 3-4 foot surf, 15-20 knot winds, & 3-4 knots of current to be in force during at least part of the certification process.  Luckily not all at once.  I know that at the moment as I’m getting ready to update and going to be shooting for the L4 this time around.  Funny bit is that I keep thinking about how these conditions compare from ocean to Great Lake.  Wind is wind of course and current is current.. Waves on the other hand are different.  Read the rest of this entry »

Now the first thing we have to do is define whether that thing you wear to stay afloat in the water is called a Life Jacket, Life Vest or PFD (Personal Flotation Device.) Well, no we don’t. You can call it whatever you like. One thing is sure, wearing one, whatever it’s called, gives you a much better chance of survival in the water than simply depending on the fates or rescue by human loving dolphins. Read the rest of this entry »

I can’t possibly add to this….

Tomaz Humar Rescued in 2005.

Alpinest Tomaz Humar made a call Monday by satellite phone and said he was injured while climbing 23,710-feet (7,227-meter) Langtang Lirung, high in the Himalayas. According to news reports heavy snow is making a search difficult.  At the moment the search goes on.  There is an interesting backstory behind Tomaz and his career that is worth a look as well.  In 2005 he was rescued on Nanga Parbat’s infamous Rupal Face by helicopter.  I came across this very interesting article from National Geographic Adventure that tells us more about Tomaz Humar and looks at how “adventure blogging” has effected climbing. Something we often talk about in Sea Kayaking as well.  Let’s hope rescue teams find Tomaz soon.

* Update 11/15/05: It is reported today that Tomaz Humar has passed on.  Our thoughts go out to his family.

Hang on, help is on its way,
I'll be there as fast as I can,
"Hang on", a tiny voice did say,
From somewhere deep inside the inner man.
- the little river band

So here it is direct from the American Canoe Association to you: “The following proposals were submitted, have been approved and all associated documentation on the website has been updated. . .” (Get ready for it….) “Removal of the Paddle-float Rescue from the Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking Instructor Criteria. This change was requested and approved due to the fact the Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking course is conducted in close proximity to shore where more basic rescue self-rescue techniques can be utilized and the type of paddlecraft that can be used in a Level 1: Introduction to Kayaking / QuickStart or SmartStart Kayaking courses may not be suitable for teaching this rescue.”  Comments?