It's true. Do a google search for "GoPro, Sea kayak" and see what you get. You will see a couple of surfing videos - the ones that came up for me were pretty boring - a couple of kayak sailing videos (which I don't consider kayaking) and then surfski videos (which I don't consider sea kayaking)
Repeat this test but do it a search for "GoPro, Whitewater". You will get hits like this:
Huck from Andy Maser on Vimeo.
This is a 'sexy' video. Try that search one more time for mountain biking.
Claymore Challenge - Phantom Flex High Speed Camera - Highland Mtn from Tom Guilmette on Vimeo.
The opening credits are sexier than anything in the sea kayaking category.
Kranked - Revolve Teaser from The Coastal Crew on Vimeo.
I wont even get into surfing, base jumping or skiing. For clarity, when I am talking about sexy, I mean beautifully shot, with an interesting storyline - which could be as simple as a short film in music video style. I think all of the videos I posted in the 'craftsman' series are 'sexy'.
There are a couple of reasons that sea kayaking isn't sexy. I think the biggest is camera position. It is really hard to take good, compelling video of sea kayakers. And when you do, it's boring. With the super wide angle lenses on GoPro cameras - and I am not limiting us to GoPro, the searches I did at the beginning were for GoPro because they are so many of them in use, Huck is shot on a DSLR - everything looks smaller, so those big waves you were in, look tiny. That whale you saw? It's invisible.
I am extremely proud of the Paddle North teaser. I think it falls into the sexy category. I think parts of the Paddle North series are sexy, but I think parts of it aren't and the answer for that is that I just didn't shoot enough, and I wasn't always shooting the right stuff.
Paddle North (teaser trailer) from Paddling Otaku on Vimeo.
I want Sea kayaking videos to be sexy. I am tired of sea kayaking being the bastard step child of the outdoor world. I went to the Banff mountain film festival this year and was amazed that there wasn't one kayaking video. Not even whitewater. We just aren't sexy! I am currently planning my next big trip and a large component of it is video. There will be much more video, with less of the view you are seeing directly above. What I think is really interesting is that the best shots from sea kayaking videos, aren't shots of the actual kayaking.... Unless you are on the Skookumchuk, or in 'this is the sea'.
You want further proof that Sea kayaking isn't sexy? Freya Hoffmeister is paddling around south america and I can't find a good video!
Monday, June 10, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Now available in 51 countries.
I am proud to say that Enlightened Kayaking is now available in 51 countries, from Argentina to Venezuela and Japan to the UK! If you are one of the many that have purchased it, thanks! How about doing a review at iTunes? If you haven't purchased it yet, maybe it's time.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Is Kickstarter changing the outdoor industry?
For those of you that aren't aware, Kickstarter is a website where creators of a prototype can make a plea via video, pictures and the written word for donations to help get a product into production. Donations are put into categories, and depending on how much you donate you get something. Maybe just a T - shirt for a $10 donation, or a version of the product for a higher price, or for something outlandish like $1000 a visit from the maker and a copy of the product. This is changing the world because if the 'group' - think internet community as a whole - likes a product you can get off the ground running. The bottle opener/key chain is just one item that is on kickstarter, but there are some amazing things coming from this one source. The Biolite stove was a kickstarter.
Here is a fuel cell to charge your phone or iPad in the back country.
My gut says this one isn't going to fly. As it looks like a stove when it is in use - they do say you cna cook while you charge. I think I would need to play with it.
I posted this on my facebook page a while ago, if they don't get bought by a major sleeping pad manufacturer soon, there is something wrong with the outdoor industry. This is brilliant.
You can also use Kickstarter to fund expeditions - which I am toying with - here is one by NOLS trying to help build a connection between the outdoors, and people who don't usually recreate in the outdoors.
and finally, this is brilliant. While I love my Kelty Noah's tarp, I am thinking about splurging on a NOLS Thelma fly. But while I was thinking about that. This popped up.
Yes, this is for over a hammock, which I will never do. But I am thinking you could use it as a regular tarp. Absolutely love the brilliance of collecting water off the tarp. So the question remains, is kickstarter changing the outdoor industry?
Here is a fuel cell to charge your phone or iPad in the back country.
My gut says this one isn't going to fly. As it looks like a stove when it is in use - they do say you cna cook while you charge. I think I would need to play with it.
I posted this on my facebook page a while ago, if they don't get bought by a major sleeping pad manufacturer soon, there is something wrong with the outdoor industry. This is brilliant.
You can also use Kickstarter to fund expeditions - which I am toying with - here is one by NOLS trying to help build a connection between the outdoors, and people who don't usually recreate in the outdoors.
and finally, this is brilliant. While I love my Kelty Noah's tarp, I am thinking about splurging on a NOLS Thelma fly. But while I was thinking about that. This popped up.
Yes, this is for over a hammock, which I will never do. But I am thinking you could use it as a regular tarp. Absolutely love the brilliance of collecting water off the tarp. So the question remains, is kickstarter changing the outdoor industry?
Tuesday, May 28, 2013
The unnecessary
I am a minimalist. I like gear that serves a purpose, I also generally like multitaskers. But if I don't use something or like a piece of gear, I don't hesitate to move on. I give away or sell a lot old and used gear. Recently I gave a Patagonia Skanorak away because I realized I never used it. It is part of the reason I like expeditioning. Everything that goes in the boat is there for a reason, and it is so easy to say at the end of a trip, well, I didn't use this, so I don't need to bring it with me next time (first aid kit excluded!)
Recently I saw posted on reddit a link to a kickstarter. I like kickstarted, I think there are some amazing ideas getting worked on there. Unfortunately I generally find them too late to take part, but a friend of mine has had some really good experiences with products from kickstarter. Here is what I saw this week:
This is a beautifully designed and built item. Clearly someone put a lot of thought into it. Judging by the support on kickstarter - it made its goal and added a stretch goal - people think it is a great idea. I don't mean to knock a great looking piece of gear. But this is completely unnecessary.
First, what is the outdoor industries obsession with bottle openers? Most yakima products have integrated bottle openers. A few years ago their was a sandal with a bottle opener in the sole. Every multitool, and a lot of knives have them. The knife on my PFD has one! Do we really need another bottle opener?
It's a key chain. I have a key chain. thanks though.
You can use it to secure gear when used in conjunction with paracord (America's obsession with paracord is another blog post!) which means I probably need more than one of these. You know what else can secure gear with paracord? a knot.
The truckers hitch from Paddling Otaku on Vimeo.
No additional gear needed. I haven't timed it yet, but I think that I tie this truckers hitch faster than he uses his bottle board. Really, I don't mean to knock this product. I think it is much nicer than this, and clearly a lot of thought went into it. But I would like to see this clearly talented person putting his effort into something we actually need.
Something else to consider, I am in the minority on this, since it has gotten funded, people seem to like this sort of thing.
Recently I saw posted on reddit a link to a kickstarter. I like kickstarted, I think there are some amazing ideas getting worked on there. Unfortunately I generally find them too late to take part, but a friend of mine has had some really good experiences with products from kickstarter. Here is what I saw this week:
This is a beautifully designed and built item. Clearly someone put a lot of thought into it. Judging by the support on kickstarter - it made its goal and added a stretch goal - people think it is a great idea. I don't mean to knock a great looking piece of gear. But this is completely unnecessary.
First, what is the outdoor industries obsession with bottle openers? Most yakima products have integrated bottle openers. A few years ago their was a sandal with a bottle opener in the sole. Every multitool, and a lot of knives have them. The knife on my PFD has one! Do we really need another bottle opener?
It's a key chain. I have a key chain. thanks though.
You can use it to secure gear when used in conjunction with paracord (America's obsession with paracord is another blog post!) which means I probably need more than one of these. You know what else can secure gear with paracord? a knot.
The truckers hitch from Paddling Otaku on Vimeo.
No additional gear needed. I haven't timed it yet, but I think that I tie this truckers hitch faster than he uses his bottle board. Really, I don't mean to knock this product. I think it is much nicer than this, and clearly a lot of thought went into it. But I would like to see this clearly talented person putting his effort into something we actually need.
Something else to consider, I am in the minority on this, since it has gotten funded, people seem to like this sort of thing.
Saturday, May 25, 2013
Top Ten List
Cue David Letterman, not really. These are my top ten posts - in no real order, with a couple of edits. I am not going to include Christmas related posts - more on that towards the end.
#10 A kind of angry social media post. Written almost two years ago, I think a lot of the comments are still valid. Feel free to respond in the comments with your own suggestions.
#9 I think the most important post I have ever written, and it is close to the most read post I have ever posted. Send it around to your friends who paddle. I love that if you google the topic this post comes up first, though as a Buddhist I should try and separate out the ego? Shouldn't I?
#8 Eerily similar to #10, I am a little angry that a certain product doesn't exist.
#7 Encounters of the furry (and toothy) kind, and the lengthened version at Let's be Wild.
#6 My beloved. Well, my non-wife beloved.
#5 The ultimate stove workaround.
#4 It's always best to start at the beginning.
#3 March 23rd 2010, it all started with this. I still think the most overlooked post, that the most people struggle with. I could write an entire book on this topic, wait a minute, I am! It will be done soon.
#2 So much debate. When it is really so simple. This is a really good, fair and balanced view from a group that know a thing or two about the topic.
#1 This really is my single most viewed post. Go figure. Everyone does it.
Finally, as I mentioned at the top, I didn't include my Christmas related posts. On one level I am not surprised that essentially a shopping list post is very popular, but as a bit of a minimalist I saddens me that this is what a lot of people are most interested in. But with my mind on fairness, here are two very popular Christmas related posts.
#10 A kind of angry social media post. Written almost two years ago, I think a lot of the comments are still valid. Feel free to respond in the comments with your own suggestions.
#9 I think the most important post I have ever written, and it is close to the most read post I have ever posted. Send it around to your friends who paddle. I love that if you google the topic this post comes up first, though as a Buddhist I should try and separate out the ego? Shouldn't I?
#8 Eerily similar to #10, I am a little angry that a certain product doesn't exist.
#7 Encounters of the furry (and toothy) kind, and the lengthened version at Let's be Wild.
#6 My beloved. Well, my non-wife beloved.
#5 The ultimate stove workaround.
#4 It's always best to start at the beginning.
#3 March 23rd 2010, it all started with this. I still think the most overlooked post, that the most people struggle with. I could write an entire book on this topic, wait a minute, I am! It will be done soon.
#2 So much debate. When it is really so simple. This is a really good, fair and balanced view from a group that know a thing or two about the topic.
#1 This really is my single most viewed post. Go figure. Everyone does it.
Finally, as I mentioned at the top, I didn't include my Christmas related posts. On one level I am not surprised that essentially a shopping list post is very popular, but as a bit of a minimalist I saddens me that this is what a lot of people are most interested in. But with my mind on fairness, here are two very popular Christmas related posts.
Monday, May 13, 2013
Bent Shaft and HIgh Angle
The student that bought the Cetus HV was of course also shopping for a paddle. When he went down to Charleston he was very focused on the boat, and thought very little about the paddle, though he did use a Werner Kalliste. He had been debating bent shaft versus straight shaft, but when he was talking with the people in Charleston they were telling him that he should be doing a high angle stroke in a boat like that. I should point out for clarity that this particular student is planning an expedition on the Yukon, which I am advising him on as well. But the Bent versus straight and High angle versus low are the two topics that I think confuse people the most. So that is todays topic.
First, high angle versus low angle:
This is from Werner Paddles site:
First, high angle versus low angle:
This is from Werner Paddles site:
Low Angle
Low Angle is the most common paddling style. It is a more relaxed touring style and relaxed cadence. Our Low Angle designs have longer and narrower blades designed to pull through each stroke with the right amount of surface area for good power while maintaining a smooth forward stroke.
High Angle
High Angle paddling is typically a more aggressive style of paddling with a faster cadence and a larger variety of strokes being used on each paddle outing. Our high angle designs have short wide blades for a powerful catch and stroke with a slight dihedral for smooth linking strokes.
When I read that some key phrases stick with me for Low angle: relaxed, relaxed, smooth.
And here is what sticks with me for High angle: Aggressive, Faster, powerful.
If you were paddling 600 miles of the yukon, or 350 miles of coast, which of those do you think would be better? I teach a low angle style, which is not to say that there aren't times that I work into a high angle style for a couple of strokes at a time. Breaking through an eddy for instance, or getting out of the surf zone. High angle style calls for a shorter paddle, low angle slightly longer. It is easier to use a low angle paddle length doing a couple of high angle strokes than the other way around. Low angle generally calls for a smaller blade, larger for high angle. Here is another way to think about the two. High angle equals fewer strokes and more effort for explosive speed. Low angle equals more strokes but easier work for a smoother, more continuous speed. High angle is a more whitewater/racing style of stroke. The blade will move down the side of the boat in a straighter line so you can focus all of your energy on speed. Low angle means the paddle is doing more of an arc, so you will be working less, but correcting direction more often.
So here is how I break it down. Touring, or recreational paddling you probably want to or are, a low angle paddler. Whitewater, racing, rock gardening or playing in surf and you are probably, or should be a high angle paddler. As to why the people helping my student in Charleston thought he should be using a high angle style? I have no idea.
Bent shaft vs Straight shaft
Back in the dark ages when I learned to paddle (okay, 1996 is when I got serious) I went to a kayak festival/symposium in New Jersey. I went to each manufacturer and said "I am a narrow hipped person who wants a boat for long distance touring, what do you have that will work" and each time I was shown a high end touring kayak, generally the top of that particular manufacturers line. I went to the Werner rep and said "long distance touring, fit me for a paddle" what I ended up with was a werner camano with carbon shaft and carbon blades at the 220 length. I asked - what? no bent shaft? and the rep said 'nope'. In 1996 bent shaft was strictly a white water paddle, and really only slalom racing. I guess in the early 2000's bent shaft paddles started sliding into touring. We were then told that the bend in the shaft would prevent injuries to wrists and elbows.
In my opinion - and this is horribly negative of me - I think this is a way to sell a higher priced product to people that don't need it. I know a number of people who say the bent shaft is easier on pre-existing injuries in their wrists. So like I have said on many topics, if it works for you do it, but if you are paddling correctly there should be little or no movement of your wrists or elbows anyway. For me, these are the deal breakers on bent shaft. The bend makes the shaft weaker, so to get the same strength you need a heavier shaft. By adding a bend to get the same 220 length you have to make the shaft longer, which is also going to make it heavier. The Werner Kalliste bent shaft weighs 3 ounces more than the straight shaft. Three ounces doesn't sound like a lot, but over four hours of paddling that is about 3000 pounds you don't have to lift. At the end of the day weight wins over everything else.
Werner does say that the bent shaft gives you more contact with the paddle, which can give you a more relaxed grip. they also say it is easier to tell the proper orientation of your paddle without looking. Both excellent points, and as I said before, if it works for you, go for it.
I should also point out that I only paddle with Werner paddles. I have used just about every other euro blade, and I don't think anything compares to both the quality, and feel of their paddles in the water. I also love that Werner is independently owned, and not part of a conglomeration of companies. I should also point out that I am not sponsored by Werner, but would be thrilled to talk to them on the subject if they were interested. Here are a couple of links that I used preparing this post:
Werner paddles offers a great fit guide on their website - that today would put me in a 215 cm paddle versus a 220 that the rep put me in 21 years ago! I think paddle lengths are like skirt lengths (women's skirts, not spray skirts) and they change with the times.
Epic paddles offers the history of the bent shaft, which is a fascinating read.
If you want to see how to do a high angle stroke, the lesson is here.
Friday, May 10, 2013
P&H Cetus HV - Quick Test
It is a little odd, the number of different boats I have paddled in the past few weeks. It is mostly due to a student who was putting a lot of thought into the boat he wanted to buy. Really a lot of thought. Because of that I was making as many boats as possible available for him to paddle, and the by-product of that was I got to paddle them all as well. I really enjoyed the time I spent with the Valley Etain. Last week I paddled - but didn't review - the perception Essence in airelite. Really nice boat, and I got a photo of myself that I like, it now adorns my facebook page header. He paddled my Delta and a couple of other Delta's I have access to. This past weekend he drove down to Charleston to look at boats, and though he invited me, I couldn't make it.
He came home with one of these:
And he was nice enough to let me paddle it. I want to start with the things I didn't like. I felt like I was sitting very high in the water. This seems like a little thing I would probably get used to. At the back of the seat there was a small bump that was hitting me in a way that would be trouble if I was paddling for several hours. Despite the fact that this was the HV (High Volume, my friend is much taller than I am) it fit me pretty well, but when I edged the kayak my knees were hitting unpadded fiberglass. The hatches covers were basic rubber, that would concern me over the course of years I would expect to own a boat of this nature. It had four hatches. A bow and stern of course, a front day hatch which is becoming standard - this one was quite nice, and large, yet also up and out of the way inside the cockpit!) but it had a day hatch behind the cockpit. Of course bulkheaded. For the life of me I don't understand this! It is so hard to get things into the small hatch opening.... I just don't get it. These aft day hatches are becoming very popular, yet you can't really access them while paddling, they make the largest compartment in the boat harder to pack, the openings are so small you can't put anything of size into them. Someone explain this to me.
Okay, that's what I didn't like. You want to know what I liked? Everything else.
This was a gorgeous kayak. Beautifully made with amazing attention to detail. The finish was superb and on the inside the construction was solid, with no bare edges, or odd leftovers. Getting into the boat was easy - despite my short legs, and its high deck I had no problem getting in or out - though I am pretty flexible. The seat - with the exception of the piece in the back - was comfortable and held me snug, with out being obtrusive. Loved the hip pads on the sides, I will be adding something like this to my boat. It has a nice low back deck, and I am sure rolling it is a breeze.
It literally Sparkles
Performance wise, its rounded chines move onto edge easily, but it does take a little work to hold an edge. It tracks beautifully without the skeg down, and with just a little edge it turns well for a boat of its length, almost 18 feet long. I felt at home in this boat much faster than I did in the Valley Etain. With a little effort I got the boat moving and then was amazed at how fast it felt.
This is truly one of the most enjoyable paddling experiences I have ever had, and that is a bold statement. I have paddled a lot of boats. So could this replace my trusted and loved Delta?
In a word, no. Here is why. Despite its longer length, and HV name, it can't handle as much gear as my Delta. It would be hard to fit a months worth of food/fuel/gear inside her. She weighs right around 10 pounds heavier - we could have a long debate about strength/rigidity between the two very different boats - but here is the deal killer for me. If I had an extra $4000 lying about I would do it in a second. The cetus is almost double the price of my Delta. So, one of the nicest boats I have paddled, but way out of my price range. But this is a four star boat, and It was a joy to paddle.
Oddly, as we were packing up our boats to call it a day, something you don't normally see pulled up.
That is a hand made, skin on frame boat. The gentleman that built it didn't even build it from a kit. I think from what he said, he has two others and is working on a third. Total cost? Under $100 in materials. Quite the contrast, we had nearly $6000 in boats next to this one. Proving again it isn't the cost of the boat the determines its value. It is how much fun you have in it!
He came home with one of these:
And he was nice enough to let me paddle it. I want to start with the things I didn't like. I felt like I was sitting very high in the water. This seems like a little thing I would probably get used to. At the back of the seat there was a small bump that was hitting me in a way that would be trouble if I was paddling for several hours. Despite the fact that this was the HV (High Volume, my friend is much taller than I am) it fit me pretty well, but when I edged the kayak my knees were hitting unpadded fiberglass. The hatches covers were basic rubber, that would concern me over the course of years I would expect to own a boat of this nature. It had four hatches. A bow and stern of course, a front day hatch which is becoming standard - this one was quite nice, and large, yet also up and out of the way inside the cockpit!) but it had a day hatch behind the cockpit. Of course bulkheaded. For the life of me I don't understand this! It is so hard to get things into the small hatch opening.... I just don't get it. These aft day hatches are becoming very popular, yet you can't really access them while paddling, they make the largest compartment in the boat harder to pack, the openings are so small you can't put anything of size into them. Someone explain this to me.
Okay, that's what I didn't like. You want to know what I liked? Everything else.
This was a gorgeous kayak. Beautifully made with amazing attention to detail. The finish was superb and on the inside the construction was solid, with no bare edges, or odd leftovers. Getting into the boat was easy - despite my short legs, and its high deck I had no problem getting in or out - though I am pretty flexible. The seat - with the exception of the piece in the back - was comfortable and held me snug, with out being obtrusive. Loved the hip pads on the sides, I will be adding something like this to my boat. It has a nice low back deck, and I am sure rolling it is a breeze.
It literally Sparkles
Performance wise, its rounded chines move onto edge easily, but it does take a little work to hold an edge. It tracks beautifully without the skeg down, and with just a little edge it turns well for a boat of its length, almost 18 feet long. I felt at home in this boat much faster than I did in the Valley Etain. With a little effort I got the boat moving and then was amazed at how fast it felt.
This is truly one of the most enjoyable paddling experiences I have ever had, and that is a bold statement. I have paddled a lot of boats. So could this replace my trusted and loved Delta?
In a word, no. Here is why. Despite its longer length, and HV name, it can't handle as much gear as my Delta. It would be hard to fit a months worth of food/fuel/gear inside her. She weighs right around 10 pounds heavier - we could have a long debate about strength/rigidity between the two very different boats - but here is the deal killer for me. If I had an extra $4000 lying about I would do it in a second. The cetus is almost double the price of my Delta. So, one of the nicest boats I have paddled, but way out of my price range. But this is a four star boat, and It was a joy to paddle.
Oddly, as we were packing up our boats to call it a day, something you don't normally see pulled up.
That is a hand made, skin on frame boat. The gentleman that built it didn't even build it from a kit. I think from what he said, he has two others and is working on a third. Total cost? Under $100 in materials. Quite the contrast, we had nearly $6000 in boats next to this one. Proving again it isn't the cost of the boat the determines its value. It is how much fun you have in it!
Thursday, May 9, 2013
First Aid Kits
If you follow me on facebook, you probably know that I am an instructor with the Wilderness Medical Institute (WMI). Because of that I spend a lot of time talking to people about first aid kits. If you read this blog regularly you know about my mishap last year and the fact that I didn't have a first aid kit in my boat when I needed it. Since then I have changed a few things, and with the addition of mountain biking to my list of regular activities, I needed to add a couple of things.
I have always been a fan of the theory that the bigger your first aid kit, the less likely you are to need it. This is a theory that has worked well for me. I use a 15 liter dry bag as my first aid kit when paddling. It lives in front of my feet in the cockpit, so it is easy to get too. Only when it was out of reach did I need it.
Many times people tell me they just want to buy an empty kit, and they will fill it themselves. This is a mistake. No matter which brand first aid kit you buy, the manufacturer can get the supplies for it much less expensively than you. So I recommend that people buy a first aid kit, then remove the things they wont ever use, and add things they will.
I really like this little REI kit, though there are many good options. I have yet to find one that comes in a dry bag. I don't like the idea of moving the kit around with me as I change activities. So when I started mountain biking I bought another little rei kit, and added it to the hydration pack I was using for cycling. I have the identical kit in my deck/lap bag when I kayak. I then have my large 'expedition' kit in the trunk of my car, which comes with me on multi-day trips.
This is the kit that goes with me on day trips.
I have added to it two pairs of nitrile gloves. A WMI wound pack (which is the best 4 dollars you will ever spend) I got rid of the small roll of tape that comes with the kit and replaced it with a full size roll of athletic tape. I also added an irrigation syringe. In the yellow bag I have things like sunblock, and powerfood, chap stick. a light source, etc.
This is the exact same kit in my hydration pack. With the exact same additions and subtractions. I don't have to think about what is where, and what the kit contains. it is just ready to go.
and finally, my expedition bag. On the left, in a ziploc bag, a large ace bandage, a triangular bandage and two rolls of tape. Next to it - rolled up - is a large SAM splint. I think of this as 'musculoskeletal'. Gear for dealing with a sprain/strain or fracture. All the way to the right I have another ziploc, this is filled with roller gauze, an assortment of bandages 2x2, 4x4 and bigger, WMI wound packs, tincture of benzoine, band aids, irrigation syringe. Nitrile gloves, Trauma shears, and tweezers. I think of this as 'Trauma'. Materials for dealing with any sort of traumatic injury. Laceration, punctures, avulsions, burns. you name it. In the middle is a small black bag with a BP cuff and mini maglight. A Littman lightweight stethoscope. A CPR shield and an ALS field guide - the one I carried when I was a medic.
Before an expedition I will add medications to the big kit. Here are things I don't carry. No quick clot, or commercial tourniquet products. Unless you are in a war zone you won't need them, and I have heard very contradictory information of how well quick clot works. No sutures. First, you probably wont need them, second, in the back country sutures can cause more trouble than they are worth. Without a local anesthetic they are painful to use. If the wound gets infected you have to cut them out, clean the wound and re-suture. The WMI wound pack carries steri-strips that when paired with tincture of benzoine and a transparent semi-permeable dressing works better, and is more field maintainable.
I am fanatical about gloves. I buy expensive nitrile gloves that fit me really well. This way I can actually do things with them on. I don't care what people say, you can improvise a lot of things, but not gloves.
The most important piece of gear I carry however, isn't in any of these kits. It is what I have learned over many years. First as WFR, then an EMT-BASIC. Then I worked as an EMT while I studied to get my Paramedic, but honestly after all of that training, and work, my wilderness medicine skills really got hammered home when I became a WMI instructor. WMI refined my skills and made me a better practitioner, and a better teacher. I highly recommend that you take a wilderness medicine course. Much like my theory on first aid kits, I think the better you are trained the less likely you are to need it. Or at least that is my hope.
I have always been a fan of the theory that the bigger your first aid kit, the less likely you are to need it. This is a theory that has worked well for me. I use a 15 liter dry bag as my first aid kit when paddling. It lives in front of my feet in the cockpit, so it is easy to get too. Only when it was out of reach did I need it.
Many times people tell me they just want to buy an empty kit, and they will fill it themselves. This is a mistake. No matter which brand first aid kit you buy, the manufacturer can get the supplies for it much less expensively than you. So I recommend that people buy a first aid kit, then remove the things they wont ever use, and add things they will.
I really like this little REI kit, though there are many good options. I have yet to find one that comes in a dry bag. I don't like the idea of moving the kit around with me as I change activities. So when I started mountain biking I bought another little rei kit, and added it to the hydration pack I was using for cycling. I have the identical kit in my deck/lap bag when I kayak. I then have my large 'expedition' kit in the trunk of my car, which comes with me on multi-day trips.
This is the kit that goes with me on day trips.
I have added to it two pairs of nitrile gloves. A WMI wound pack (which is the best 4 dollars you will ever spend) I got rid of the small roll of tape that comes with the kit and replaced it with a full size roll of athletic tape. I also added an irrigation syringe. In the yellow bag I have things like sunblock, and powerfood, chap stick. a light source, etc.
This is the exact same kit in my hydration pack. With the exact same additions and subtractions. I don't have to think about what is where, and what the kit contains. it is just ready to go.
and finally, my expedition bag. On the left, in a ziploc bag, a large ace bandage, a triangular bandage and two rolls of tape. Next to it - rolled up - is a large SAM splint. I think of this as 'musculoskeletal'. Gear for dealing with a sprain/strain or fracture. All the way to the right I have another ziploc, this is filled with roller gauze, an assortment of bandages 2x2, 4x4 and bigger, WMI wound packs, tincture of benzoine, band aids, irrigation syringe. Nitrile gloves, Trauma shears, and tweezers. I think of this as 'Trauma'. Materials for dealing with any sort of traumatic injury. Laceration, punctures, avulsions, burns. you name it. In the middle is a small black bag with a BP cuff and mini maglight. A Littman lightweight stethoscope. A CPR shield and an ALS field guide - the one I carried when I was a medic.
Before an expedition I will add medications to the big kit. Here are things I don't carry. No quick clot, or commercial tourniquet products. Unless you are in a war zone you won't need them, and I have heard very contradictory information of how well quick clot works. No sutures. First, you probably wont need them, second, in the back country sutures can cause more trouble than they are worth. Without a local anesthetic they are painful to use. If the wound gets infected you have to cut them out, clean the wound and re-suture. The WMI wound pack carries steri-strips that when paired with tincture of benzoine and a transparent semi-permeable dressing works better, and is more field maintainable.
I am fanatical about gloves. I buy expensive nitrile gloves that fit me really well. This way I can actually do things with them on. I don't care what people say, you can improvise a lot of things, but not gloves.
The most important piece of gear I carry however, isn't in any of these kits. It is what I have learned over many years. First as WFR, then an EMT-BASIC. Then I worked as an EMT while I studied to get my Paramedic, but honestly after all of that training, and work, my wilderness medicine skills really got hammered home when I became a WMI instructor. WMI refined my skills and made me a better practitioner, and a better teacher. I highly recommend that you take a wilderness medicine course. Much like my theory on first aid kits, I think the better you are trained the less likely you are to need it. Or at least that is my hope.
Tuesday, April 30, 2013
The Garmin FDR (Fun Data Recorder)
This is something I think Garmin should start selling. Yet another new product idea from someone with no ability to make it real.
I teach a lot of people how to use GPS, and a fair percentage of people expect two things from a GPS device that they don't do, or don't do well. The first, people expect them to be accurate to within a couple of feet. They just don't work that way. The best accuracy I have ever seen from a handheld GPS unit is about 9 feet (keeping in mind that is a circle with a radius of 9 feet, so a diameter of 18 feet! An 18 foot wide circle!) The device I saw do 9 feet was using the US GPS satellites and the Russian GLONASS satellites. GPS's that can't use both generally have an accuracy of around 30 feet, and for most people that is enough. In GPS class I am find of saying "if you can't find your car from 30 feet away, you have bigger issues." The second is, they are dismayed to find out that if they turn off the GPS it doesn't continue to track where they are. People regularly state that they want to use a GPS 'To track my position" so after a day on the trail, or the bike, or the boat, they can see where they were. There are several apps that do this, but then you have to bring a relatively bulky and relatively fragile phone into the outdoors.
Most GPS devices will do this, but there is a problem. Most GPS units use a flat patch antenna, located at the top of the unit above the screen. This needs to be facing up so it can 'see' the satellites. Leaving it on all day long will also use a lot of batteries, as battery life is around 20 to 30 hours depending on device.
While my imaginary Garmin device the 'Fun Data Recorder' (or should it be flight data recorder?) can't fix the first problem, it can fix the second problem. Here is what it should do.
It should be small. Around 2 inches square, black plastic with no screen. The top of it will house a small GPS receiver, it will also have two small LED's and two buttons. The bottom has a water proof seal to at least IPX7, inside that seal is two AAA batteries, and a mini USB port. The bottom will also accommodate different mounting options. For instance, you should be able to mount it to the top of a pack, or a bike helmet, or the deck of a kayak, or maybe around your cats collar!
You depress the power button to turn it on. the led Flashes yellow until it receives enough satellite signals to get a location. When it has location information, the led turns green for one minute and then turns off. You press the second button when you want it to start operating. When it is operating, it flashes green for one minute and then turns off.
Here is what it does. It uses a high sensitivity GPS receiver and a pressure based altimeter to track your speed, location, and altitude. While you are moving it generates a track of your speed and movement in three dimensions - well four, with the fourth being time. With no screen, I would like to think that two AAA batteries could keep it running for a couple of hundred hours.
At the end of what ever activity you have chosen (or your cat has come home) you open up the bottom compartment and connect it to a computer via USB. you can download a GPX file with all your trip information, and use it either in Garmins Connect website to see where you went. Or you can upload the data to Google earth, or Strava, or whatever other app or software you are using.
It is only used to track, not for navigation, so it isn't eating into their core market. You can't access any of the information without a computer, but it should have a large memory so you could use it to track multiday trips. It is small and light weight, once it is attached and running you forget about it. But it gives people the ability to track their own movements and share the data with the world.
Garmin, if you could get to work on this I would appreciate it. Next summer I have a big trip planned.
I teach a lot of people how to use GPS, and a fair percentage of people expect two things from a GPS device that they don't do, or don't do well. The first, people expect them to be accurate to within a couple of feet. They just don't work that way. The best accuracy I have ever seen from a handheld GPS unit is about 9 feet (keeping in mind that is a circle with a radius of 9 feet, so a diameter of 18 feet! An 18 foot wide circle!) The device I saw do 9 feet was using the US GPS satellites and the Russian GLONASS satellites. GPS's that can't use both generally have an accuracy of around 30 feet, and for most people that is enough. In GPS class I am find of saying "if you can't find your car from 30 feet away, you have bigger issues." The second is, they are dismayed to find out that if they turn off the GPS it doesn't continue to track where they are. People regularly state that they want to use a GPS 'To track my position" so after a day on the trail, or the bike, or the boat, they can see where they were. There are several apps that do this, but then you have to bring a relatively bulky and relatively fragile phone into the outdoors.
Most GPS devices will do this, but there is a problem. Most GPS units use a flat patch antenna, located at the top of the unit above the screen. This needs to be facing up so it can 'see' the satellites. Leaving it on all day long will also use a lot of batteries, as battery life is around 20 to 30 hours depending on device.
While my imaginary Garmin device the 'Fun Data Recorder' (or should it be flight data recorder?) can't fix the first problem, it can fix the second problem. Here is what it should do.
It should be small. Around 2 inches square, black plastic with no screen. The top of it will house a small GPS receiver, it will also have two small LED's and two buttons. The bottom has a water proof seal to at least IPX7, inside that seal is two AAA batteries, and a mini USB port. The bottom will also accommodate different mounting options. For instance, you should be able to mount it to the top of a pack, or a bike helmet, or the deck of a kayak, or maybe around your cats collar!
You depress the power button to turn it on. the led Flashes yellow until it receives enough satellite signals to get a location. When it has location information, the led turns green for one minute and then turns off. You press the second button when you want it to start operating. When it is operating, it flashes green for one minute and then turns off.
Here is what it does. It uses a high sensitivity GPS receiver and a pressure based altimeter to track your speed, location, and altitude. While you are moving it generates a track of your speed and movement in three dimensions - well four, with the fourth being time. With no screen, I would like to think that two AAA batteries could keep it running for a couple of hundred hours.
At the end of what ever activity you have chosen (or your cat has come home) you open up the bottom compartment and connect it to a computer via USB. you can download a GPX file with all your trip information, and use it either in Garmins Connect website to see where you went. Or you can upload the data to Google earth, or Strava, or whatever other app or software you are using.
It is only used to track, not for navigation, so it isn't eating into their core market. You can't access any of the information without a computer, but it should have a large memory so you could use it to track multiday trips. It is small and light weight, once it is attached and running you forget about it. But it gives people the ability to track their own movements and share the data with the world.
Garmin, if you could get to work on this I would appreciate it. Next summer I have a big trip planned.
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Valley Etain - quick test
A couple of odd things happened yesterday. I had a lesson with a student I have worked with before who is prepping for a paddle trip on the Yukon. We were working on skills, but this time he also wanted to paddle my Delta and a Delta 15 that I had access too, he still needs a boat. At the same time a friend offered up his brand new Valley Etain (plastic) for a test paddle. I thought I would take the opportunity to give you feedback on it. I paddled it for about an hour and half. I used it during the lesson, and for a few minutes afterward.
My first impression is that it is a beautiful boat, with a gracefully upturned bow - it should ride over waves, instead of punch through them. Soft chines, and very smooth lines. I couldn't find a sharp edge anywhere. It is rotomolded plastic, but looks to be multiple layers with an inner layer and an outer layer. A beautiful and simple finish. The boat I was paddling was outfitted with a skeg, a stern hatch, a rear day hatch (both bulkheaded) and smaller day hatch in front of the cockpit (as seen in the picture above) and a bow hatch. It also has a recessed compass point.
The handles on front and back are secured with bungies that have a lot of spring. If you use them to lift the boat, which you shouldn't, they will quickly wear and break. Sliding into the cockpit it has a very nice seat with a low profile seat back. just enough support in the seat back, but it stays well out of the way. For this paddler, 5'7" and 170, the rear deck height is a bit too tall for me to do a layback roll - the owner is a much bigger person than I am. The cockpit was incredibly comfortable, with all those smooth edges. the thigh braces were placed well, but were hard plastic with no padding. By the end of my hour my right knee was already sore.
The hatch covers are rubber, and pop over a lip, or coaming and do so easily enough - which concerns me that they leak, or will with wear when they are even looser - though the do have a very solid and secure feel. They are a much nicer cover in both design and use than the similar Wilderness systems covers, but not as nice as on my Delta Seventeen.
Paddling this boat was a joy. It wasn't the fastest seventeen foot (17.7 in fact) boat I have paddled but even with the skeg up it tracks better than most. The soft, rounded chines make it roll onto edge very easily, but those round chines make it a little harder to hold there. On edge it turns readily enough, if just a little bit slow.
The water was still a bit cold, and I chose to paddle without my drysuit, so I didn't roll the Etain, but I am sure it rolls easily with those rounded chines. It had slightly lower initial stability compared to my Delta but I got used to it very quickly. I had no problem spending the hour in it for the lesson I was doing, and didn't feel hampered in the normal movements that I would do in my familiar boat with this now unfamiliar boat around me.
We had a fairly heavy wind on the small lake we were paddling, which made for great teaching opportunities, and the boat performed well. Just once I put the skeg down during a particularly bad cross wind that was causing a weathercock, but it was no more than I would have to do in any other boat.
Speaking of the skeg, it is a solid feeling mechanism that both deployed and retracted with ease. I generally don't like skegs for the single reason that I do long trips and need every cubic inch of space in my stern hatch. I don't like giving up space to the skeg box, this one, thankfully is very small, with the cable pretty much completely out of the way.
All in all, this is a great boat. Fun to paddle, and I am sure awesome on short trips. It doesn't offer enough dry storage for my long distance needs, but still an awesome paddling kayak. If I were looking for a second, 'just for fun' kayak this would be a good option.
My first impression is that it is a beautiful boat, with a gracefully upturned bow - it should ride over waves, instead of punch through them. Soft chines, and very smooth lines. I couldn't find a sharp edge anywhere. It is rotomolded plastic, but looks to be multiple layers with an inner layer and an outer layer. A beautiful and simple finish. The boat I was paddling was outfitted with a skeg, a stern hatch, a rear day hatch (both bulkheaded) and smaller day hatch in front of the cockpit (as seen in the picture above) and a bow hatch. It also has a recessed compass point.
The handles on front and back are secured with bungies that have a lot of spring. If you use them to lift the boat, which you shouldn't, they will quickly wear and break. Sliding into the cockpit it has a very nice seat with a low profile seat back. just enough support in the seat back, but it stays well out of the way. For this paddler, 5'7" and 170, the rear deck height is a bit too tall for me to do a layback roll - the owner is a much bigger person than I am. The cockpit was incredibly comfortable, with all those smooth edges. the thigh braces were placed well, but were hard plastic with no padding. By the end of my hour my right knee was already sore.
The hatch covers are rubber, and pop over a lip, or coaming and do so easily enough - which concerns me that they leak, or will with wear when they are even looser - though the do have a very solid and secure feel. They are a much nicer cover in both design and use than the similar Wilderness systems covers, but not as nice as on my Delta Seventeen.
Paddling this boat was a joy. It wasn't the fastest seventeen foot (17.7 in fact) boat I have paddled but even with the skeg up it tracks better than most. The soft, rounded chines make it roll onto edge very easily, but those round chines make it a little harder to hold there. On edge it turns readily enough, if just a little bit slow.
The water was still a bit cold, and I chose to paddle without my drysuit, so I didn't roll the Etain, but I am sure it rolls easily with those rounded chines. It had slightly lower initial stability compared to my Delta but I got used to it very quickly. I had no problem spending the hour in it for the lesson I was doing, and didn't feel hampered in the normal movements that I would do in my familiar boat with this now unfamiliar boat around me.
We had a fairly heavy wind on the small lake we were paddling, which made for great teaching opportunities, and the boat performed well. Just once I put the skeg down during a particularly bad cross wind that was causing a weathercock, but it was no more than I would have to do in any other boat.
Speaking of the skeg, it is a solid feeling mechanism that both deployed and retracted with ease. I generally don't like skegs for the single reason that I do long trips and need every cubic inch of space in my stern hatch. I don't like giving up space to the skeg box, this one, thankfully is very small, with the cable pretty much completely out of the way.
All in all, this is a great boat. Fun to paddle, and I am sure awesome on short trips. It doesn't offer enough dry storage for my long distance needs, but still an awesome paddling kayak. If I were looking for a second, 'just for fun' kayak this would be a good option.
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