: I have read “Deep Trouble” a couple of times trying to absorb the many
: different problems both professional and amateur kayakers get into. Much
: of it is common sense you would think. Then I read the book “Kabloona in
: the Yellow Kayak” by Victoria Jason who paddled a sea kayak in the artic
: covering 5000 miles. An expert you would think. She didn’t even have a
: life jacket through half of her trip until a couple of guys chided her for
: the lack of one. I read the book “Arctic Crossing” by Jonathan Waterman
: who paddle and sailed the Artic in a kayak for a couple of thousand miles
: with a Balogh sail and blow up pontoons. He capsized a couple of times
: near shore and barely got out of the water because his legs and arms were
: almost useless from hypothermia setting in. He was sailing without his
: pontoons on when he capsized. These are great books written by
: extraordinary people but I wonder about their judgments.

The only book I can comment on is Victoria Jason's. Her approach was with great respect to the waters she was paddling on and she listened to what the local people said about conditions and what to expect around the next bend. That is how she was able to paddle the Northwest Passage solo. My trip will eventually take me around northern Quebec and Labrador via the Artic Ocean...I plan to use Victoria's philosophy well. Those who know local waters best, know local waters best. If Victoria was still alive today, I know she's be paddling toward other unknowns and do just fine. That said, I'd take a pfd along just in case. Then again, all it's going to do in case of upset is prolong the time it takes to suffer hypothermia. I'll go anywhere challenging, but no where if I think death is certain.

Robert N Pruden