Rescued! - Now Pay For It!

Paddlers' Place
#284

I do mostly take my comments seriously, but very rarely intend to offend. You are rare because many kayakers with your level of skill take the time to share.

I have never joined any forums and hear frequent warnings about the pitfalls of forums. However, I was impressed by the comments I found on the site when researching topics. Becoming a member gave me better access and an opportunity to add to the content. Compared to most members, I have very little kayaking skills. I’m a one-trick pony. I ride in a cushy boat that stays dry and upright. I can track straight and understand my abilities and limitations. The occasional turmoil is worth the tolerance, because I’ve been able to measure the gains that I attribute to the positive comments from selfless people willing to share what helped them.

Kayak speed isn’t all about fast boats or physical strength; it doesn’t have to be about tippy or sleak boats. There’s a kayak design for virtually every condition and skill base. It’s all good.

#285

This spring “killing season” for the unaware is beginning:

-sing

#286

I look at it from the “reasonable man” test.

what would a reasonable man carry into a winter day hike into the mountains, a boater carry into the ocean on a cold and windy day, what should a kayaker carry.

Its kind of like we all know we shouldn’t use a cell phone while driving however most people still do it anyway even though they know better.

Each sport has a minimum set of equipment for “conditions” and “time of year” and even if only going out on a 3 hour cruise you should always have that minimum complement.

If you don’t then you need to be paying for your rescue, let’s call it a dumbass tax.

If I paddle inland water in the summer I carry PFD, Skirt, Whistle, Light and dry clothes. for even something as short as a 30 minute paddle, where I’m less than a half mile from any shore.

If I’m inland more remote, I also carry a emergency shelter, and firestarting gear as well as water processing gear and snacks.

If Im coastal, on juat a play day. I’ll carry my PFD Skirt Whistle, Light, Flare and VHF marine radio. (required by law, well not the VHF) and a change of clothes.

however if I wind up on a bigger paddle I’ll also add in my emergency shelter water processing gear fire-making tools and some snacks maybe a MRE or two.

same goes for hiking, If I’m in a snow zone even if it’s not snowing I’ll carry snow-shoes, E-shelter, firemaking etc…

as they say it’s better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.

but for any sport there is a “minimum” gear load out and if you don’t have that and get yourself in over your head you should pay the “dumbass tax” because you ought to know better.

And you don’t know how many times I’ve gone camping (wilderness camping) and run into people who are also camping with “less than minimum load out” only to come wandering into my camp asking to “borrow” something or other. These dumbasses, were lucky they were doing this in the summer time so the impact of their unpreparedness was minimal. They usually leave the next day because they were having a miserable time.

3 Likes
#287

Nobody cares as much as the victim. Unless you break bones, you should be able to take care of yourself.

#288

How do the millions of Americans suffering from lifestyle diseases fit into your culpability model?
If you require taxes then you must treat everyone equally especially since half the people are born with low intelligence through no fault of their own. :wink:
Dumb people have more difficulty making the right decisions. This doesn’t mean their lives are worth less.

2 Likes
#289

I never though about it that way! That’s why debate is always good. Somebody eventually makes a great point.

1 Like
#290

Especially when it comes to door latch steps…

#291

Then sometimes its beating a dead horse . . .

#292

Cognitive ability, like physical beauty, is nothing to feel smug and superior about but you observe people thinking nothing about it all the time.
If you are smart enough to make prudent decisions, be grateful. A lot of very good people just are not that smart and don’t deserve to die for it.
They didn’t get dealt a good hand of cards sometimes.

3 Likes
#293

Another up in the Whites:

-sing

#294

Should the family of the recent NYC “tourist” helicopter crash victims be billed for their recovery?

#295

That sounds more like an accident than unpreparedness. It’s a reminder that winter hasn’t given up on us yet. Light snow across New England this morning.

#296

Not enough info. The “mistake” this time of year, going above treeline, is to not bring snowshoes and crampons. I used to do annual week long solo in May (around my birthday). It’s not unusual to encounter hip deep plus snow above treeline.

-sing

#297

an just where does personal responsibility fit in.

Being dumb - Great, but you still have the personal responsibility to do some basic research before jumping into a sport. Now a days, the internet is available and if you don’t do that 5 minute what should I have before doing X, perhaps you need to then pay for your lesson.

#298

There is no such thing as “ being dumb”. There is such a thing as being irresponsible. Unfortunately this Society breeds it, deliberately.

#299

That’s the point, doesn’t matter if you are dumb or not you need to take personal responsibility and educate yourself in the safety measures of your sport.

I mean you don’t step on an airplane to go solo skydiving without knowing how to step out of a perfectly working aircraft (always a dumb idea.) without knowing how to both pack you parachute, and what to do in ermergency. without some serious training.

However if you don’t do the personal learning you’re not going to be really needing rescue.

Same goes for Scuba.

#300

Same goes for everything, but Society wants dependent people, it serves their purpose, so it deliberately creates them. How else can morons like Karen Bass, Gavin Newsome, Alexandria Cortez, Joe Biden and almost Kamala Harris get elected?