Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Solo




The first time I really understood the meaning of “solo” was the fall of 1991 at an airport in Omaha Nebraska. My flight instructor asked me for my logbook and wrote the line “ok for solo flight”, then signed his name. He was confident I could do what was necessary to take off, fly the plane, and bring it back to the ground safely. He had gone over everything with me, time and time again … what to do if the engine quit, what to do if I get lost, what to do if the radios quit working, what to do if I found myself inside a cloud. The most important thing of course was to continue to “fly the plane”. I did many solo flights after that first day. When I finally did get my pilots license, the meaning of solo flight was still the same. I was responsible for the outcome … no one else could come to my aid and fly the plane for me. I used to fly aerobatics solo … spins, loops, rolls, all the fun stuff. And I am far from an adrenaline junkie; I did it after hours of training, and only did the maneuvers I was signed off to do solo. We often hear of unfortunate outcomes to solo travelers, were these people really prepared for what they intended to do? I believe Andrew McCauley was prepared as anyone could have been. Aron Ralston, an experienced climber, went rock climbing alone … he lived through a harrowing experience being trapped by a boulder for 5 days. The stories are endless, but so are the truly unique experiences that can only be felt solo. I am planning on doing some solo paddles next summer, more than likely to the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. Take a couple long weekends, spend some quiet time on the water, and take in the solitude. I’ve had more training than most paddlers, and my navigation skills are pretty good. So why does it feel like I’m planning something reckless?

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Because you are.

bonnie said...

Cranky anonymous commenters. Everybody's favorite, eh?

Tough, the solo paddling thing. It's so drummed into your head when you're a newbie to always paddle with 3 or more. And then you get better, more familiar with yourself, your boat & the water you're paddling - start getting a sense of what you can & can't do...

and then you start sneaking out on your own & loving it, but feeling guilty when you admit to enjoying something you were trained was BAD...

And the anonymous critics just help the situation so much, don't they?

Alex said...

Anonymous critics are cowards who don't paddle but rather hide behind their computer screens.

Paddling in general has risks. With experience and skill development, we get better at measuring, managing, and overcoming the risks that exist.

Ron, you know your skill level, your knowledge base, and what the big lake can do and I'm confident that you'll make good decisions. I personally love paddling alone and losing myself in the moment.

Silbs said...

Calculated risks are something some of us need to keep the juices flowing. Sitting on shore, waiting for the right conditions and company while aching inside with ennui, can also kill you. It just takes a little longer, and you suffer more.

Ron said...

Thanks for the comments. I hate being the one who says "do as I say, not as I do". When people ask me about paddlng alone on Lake Superior, and I have to say its not really a great idea. But then I have a need to go out and do just that. I do enjoy paddling alone, and spending the nights knowing you are on your own. There is satisfaction doing those things that are challenging.

Kristen said...

Go for it, Ron. Feeling that little bit reckless means you'll think twice about having all your necessary safety gear and the right attitude etc - just like when you're flying.

DaveO said...

Having paddled many a mile with you I would agree with the consensus. Go for it. When I paddle alone on GitcheeGumee (OK, I confess...) I seem to have twice as much gear and a much more critical weather eye. Alex's 2nd paragraph hits it on the head. And I would add 'gutless' to Alex's first paragraph, right between 'are' and 'cowards'........

Ron said...

I'll get some planning done on a 4-5 day trip ... should be fun.