After the trip on the River Irues (See previous blog post) I was sat round the camp fire with many things running through my head. The following paragraphs are some thoughts.

It is only really when you are in a situation/ emergency do you find out what a persons true character and mentality is. This is not useful if you are trapped in a gorge with situations unfolding. As paddlers we often meet different people to kayak with, how good are you at judging the person's skill level and experience? What do you look for? River tick list? Gear? Online presence? Without being direct and asking for references and certificates its going to be difficult to assess whether they'll help or hinder the trip. Its very easy to say, "Yeah sure, tag along." and assume they are capable

Its good to have the right equipment and quality kit, but its only as useful and effective as the operative. Its good to carry a pin kit, but only taking a 10m throwline on the river suggests that the person has the equipment because everyone else has and they really dont have a deeper understanding of the needs and usage of the equipment. If you have to tell someone to thread a stitch plate on their harness before being used in a static load situation (not in the water) you should be thinking whether they should be using the equipment. Its up to the individual to spend time with their kit and become familiar with it. How much weight the chest harness can take, whether the BA has a load bearing loop and does it need to be used with leg loops. What you don't want is someone with all the gear and no idea.

Sometimes its worse if people don't have the right gear at all, a competent kayaker should read a description, assess the run and choose gear accordingly. If someone plans to do a 5k walk in in flimsy river shoe's, you have to question if they have ever done a walk in before. In turn this could indicate they don't have the fitness and commitment. If its a 5k walk in, it could be a 5k walk out, footwear should reflect that.

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