Your right there I was just proving a point.

just adding my 2cents...

im wondering if those of you who have statd that it depends on your on ability and what you youself are comfortable with ..have had a look at Charle Walbridges' book 'River Safety Anthology'. Or indeed if any1 has? It is indeed not the most cheerful read but think it is worth reading.

I personally found the book very insightful...sad but listen can be learned from it.

there are true accounts of experienced kayakers losing their lives on rivers they were very familiar with and very confident on...if they had not been alone their mistake/mishap would have ended in a bit of a gigle in the pub afterwards.

Just something to think about.

nathan wrote:

I never flip though.

haha, there are only two kinds of paddlers my friend - Those that swim, and those who are about to swim.

OK so 'generally speaking' paddling with others is safer.

However, one size does not fit all, and there are several known cases of when the rescuer has been killed going after the swimmer (who subsequently survived). In these (OK rare) examples solo paddling might (with hindsight) have been safer.

There is no perfect solution to this question - that is where decision making, experience and common sense comes in.

Folks who want to be in control of all the risks should go to Disneyland for their thrills.

The way i look at it is...

Do what you want to but remember that the consequences are yours and only yours... I choose not to paddle ww on my own, I prefer have someone looking out for me, just as me for them. I also find it to be a more enjoyable trip if I am out with other paddlers. Not to mention that they usually push me beyond where I push myself... Flatwater on the other hand. I will paddle lakes and practice flatwater moves alone.

I think that we are free to do what we want... Is it a good idea to paddle alone? I dont think so

Preface: I'm a WW newbie having found myself taking the touring yak into rougher water on too many occasions

The way I look at it, everything we do has an inherent risk. It's up to us to figure out whether the risk is small enough to go ahead and to do the activity. One of my other hobbies for instance is storm/tornado chasing. This often involves setting up a camera on a tripod near lightning. I'm still here to talk about it, so apparently the risk is rather small. Same goes for paddling by one's self.

Being a ww newbie, the risk is too large for me to go by myself on anything other than rivers with casual class I/II . I routinely paddle on flatwater for long distance day trips (longest being 35mi). Is there a risk with this? Sure. Most of these rivers, however, have residences nearby and are shallow with weak current. I'm constantly on the look out for strainers and hazards such as rocks.

I also routinely paddle alone in the eddies behind bridge pylons downtown and also below a small reclaimed lowhead dam to practice balance. No matter what, I scout the area beforehand to look for new trees/logs etc that may be new to the area. Foolproof? Naw, but my learning pace would be non-existent if I only paddled when others were around in North Dakota.

Aaron

i paddle on a tidal river by my self some times
but my dad is allways on the river bank waching me but i feel bprity safe as i can role if i capsise:skull:

Im only 14 and when i bought my boat my mum and my brother went 2 the beach with me, but i kayaked on my own, you just gotta be safe..dont go out to far and know how to role:grin:

I've paddled alone heaps on flat water, including at night, when I was training seriously. I've very rarely paddled ww rivers alone, but have park and played alone. I notice that alone, I'm much more cautious and I always feel better when someone else turns up. Its an interesting confidence issue.
I guess its an assumed risk sport, so I'm in the 'personal responsibility' camp rather than the 'black and white rules' camp.

Thanks for all the comments! It's a judgement call for sure. Kayaking is all about judgement isn't it. Also wanted to note that I've never paddled alone.

I know exactly what you mean Mally, paddling alone is pretty daunting even if it is at your local playspot you've paddled a thousand and one times before. I personally would paddle flat on my own, but i know my own limits and would never paddle anything above a grade 2 river on my own, infact most of the time i'd probably wait untill someone else turned up.

It's all down to what the individual feels is safe for them... although i would have to say that i would disaprove of anyone without sufficiant experience of whitewater paddling, self rescue etc. paddling alone.

Just my opinion.
Kicks

If I were giving a newbie advice, I would say to never paddle alone. However, I often ignore that advice on local rivers. Sure there is risk, but as long as you understand risk and are willing to assume it, why not. I enjoy the solitude, and if I were to lose my life kayaking, well, what better way to go?

vetbridge wrote:

I enjoy the solitude, and if I were to lose my life kayaking, well, what better way to go?

I couldn't agree more

i reckon its ok...

i would park and play myself and go for a surf providing i know the beach and the surf isn't stupidly big!!

althouogh i ddo prefere to paddle with others because i feel safer and more confident + its better fun!

I often paddle alone. Its not for everyone but as with all rules ( less than 3 shouldn't be ) there are always exceptions to the rule.

I don't enjoy it as much as paddling with friends but it just requires a little risk management and the commonsense to paddle well within your limitations. Everyones limitations are personal and differ.

After 20 years of playboating at my local spot in everything from 4 meter composite C1's to 1.8 meter pieces of plastic fun I've pretty much worked out the risks in that place and I'm quite comfortable there.
Therefore the maths for me in that place is simple. I'm more likely to be killed or injured in a road traffic accident on the way there or back.

I rarely creek alone as there are more variables involved but have done.
Its worth noting that no mater how good your friends are sometime in class 4 and more increasingly in class 5 your on your own anyway. Your friends may be there setting rescue or running blue angel behind or in front of you. As any experienced paddler knows though there are places on the river that no human can get to and effect a rescue within 4-5 minutes or however long it takes you to drown.

Even when paddling in groups I treat every rapid in my mind as if I am alone.
This focuses me on knowing my line , my exit points, the possible hazards and who else's life I may risk should I make a balls of it.
In reality its all about the group and my function within it. How good the group dynamic is, am i doing my part in it's effectiveness in rescue situations and equally the level of banter to be enjoyed.

Its far from a black and white answere i'm afraid.
for example
A regular paddling friend of mine and I arrived at a creek (pushy class 4) in normal water to find it huge. A level rarely seen. Guessing that most of the eddies would be washed through we reckoned it would now be a pushy class 5.
None of our other regular paddling buddies were available to join us but others where.
We both agreed it was within our abilities but where not sure about the other possible paddlers. We knew for certain it was above some of them but they seemed to be happy to join us.
After some taught which included the option of just driving home. My friend and i decided it was safer for just the two of us to put on.
We decided the risks we may face trying to effect rescue on this continuous river with little egress far surpassed that of not having the extra bodies along.
ps. Kayaking funnell ? Now that taking it to a whole new level Joe. Waiting for the Rugby world cup to start too ( Come on ireland ) Might give that a go if ireland win