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Not sure if it's the same boat, but here's Doug with a freshly-caught rockfish in 1999. I can't remember exactly where I took this photo, but it was on a trip from Nootka Sound up to South Brooks and back to Kyuquot. Fun times...

Well, I guess since Jasper has left us, I will address this post to anyone who cares to read it. Words do matter, which is why I'd like to apologize to Jasper for using the word "snotty" to describe his tone in replying to Newbflat. Perhaps the better word would have been "dismissive." Snotty...

Thanks, Jasper, but there is no need to apologize to me. As I clearly stated in my first post in this thread, I see no problem with increased regulation in wilderness areas when the amount of human visitation reaches the point where the natural environment is being significantly impacted. I’m...

Nootka, I think there are quite a few very reputable BCU (or whatever the hell it is called now) trained guides working down there now, and many of them are locals, not just over-wintering gringo guides from the PNW. But as I was thinking about it more, the problem here isn't a requirement for...

Gee, Jasper, when I paddled down there 22 years ago, it was not uncommon to find the remains of green turtles and an old refrigerator tucked up under the overhanging cliffs at the top of steep, sandy beaches. Now I suppose if we want to put on our magical thinking caps, we could assume that...

This, to me, is the crux of the issue. Exiting your boat, whether on a river or in the salt, is a very risky proposition. Sometimes it is your only option to survive, but it comes with significant risks, especially if you are solo. Mary DeReimer (a WW instructor) encourages paddlers to...

My experience does not meet your criteria (no "for real" solo combat rescues), but please don't discount your own realistic rescue practice sessions; they will tell you far more about the effectiveness of your rescue techniques than another paddler's experiences. For example, before setting off...

That was a very enjoyable read! Thank you. Weather days on solo trips can be a bit daunting, but cooking elaborate meals, doing chores, exploring your surroundings, mending gear, and reading and writing can keep you occupied and happy for quite a while. And what a treat to have John visit you...

When paddlers talk about "dressing for immersion" they invariably mean one thing: dressing in clothing that will prevent hypothermia in the event of a swim. To me, "dressing for immersion" also means wearing clothing that will remain on your body when you swim and will not hinder your ability...

Great thread, Andrew. I have done a lot of solo kayaking, including 200 mile river trips with Class IV rapids, and one technique that really works for me is what I'd call "self-coaching." When a situation becomes challenging or dangerous, I literally talk myself through it, often giving myself...

You write your preset messages when you're in your Garmin account and then they become "set" when you synch your device via the computer. You only get three different preset messages, so it really pays to think about what information you need to convey most frequently. Once you're on your...

That's exactly right: Currently, InReach's cheapest plan (called the "Safety" plan) does not include any tracking points, but you can still activate tracking and pay 10 cents a point, which can add up, as you note. However, preset messages ARE unlimited and one of my preset messages says...

Okay, just got off the phone with Garmin Tech Support. Turns that there were major delays on the date of my emergency and that some of my messages did not even "hit there servers" until the following day! The main problem (which I already knew) was that I was so far down into the canyon that...

I think we will just have to disagree about Garmin's ability to make emergency messages take precedence over social messages sent NOT FROM THE DEVICE, but from the folks back home hours before the SOS button was pushed. At least give me time to call Garmin for an official answer. (Jebus, these...

No, tracking data should not have interfered with the emergency messages I sent from the Grand Canyon because I keep tracking turned off on the InReach unless I'm solo and going somewhere "unexpected." (For example, doing a side hike away from the river.) In four years of owning an InReach...

I think the difference between tracks recorded by a GPS and tracks recorded by a satellite messenger has more to do with the cost of transmitting data to/from the satellite than the cost of GPS technology in the device. A track recorded by a GPS is stored in the device and can be viewed on the...

JKA, thanks for that info. Very interesting! Just like the big telecom companies who sell "unlimited" data plans to their customers, and then limit data, it sounds like Garmin puts very real limits on their "unlimited" InReach subscription plans. I don't think that was the reason my SOS...

Hmmm... I never had a problem transferring Garmin's maps from DVD onto my computer and then from there onto several different Garmin GPS units. At present, the maps are sold on micro SD cards and, as I mentioned, it's not impossible to paddle "off" one map and into the vast unknown. Ever tried...

Sorry, I'm not done ragging on Garmin just yet... Another "revenue stream" for Garmin is their maps. About the time I bought my GPSMAP 78, you could still buy Garmin topo maps on DVD. They were about $100 each and each one was a "region" in the US. (Southwest, Northwest, etc.) Since the 78...