| Safety
by Doug Lloyd
Offshore winds rank high as one of the greatest threats to a paddler. A minute or two of inattention can mean the differnce between getting to safety in the lee of the land and fighting a losing battle while being blown out to sea.....
Mark
Seltzer, a 40-year-old computer consultant, and
Marilyn Chan, a 43-year-old management specialist, were both passionate
globetrotters. Savvy and cautious, the Canadian couple had traveled
to nearly every corner of the planet. Mark had a vast collection of
travel literature and had transformed his love for travel into an Internet
business. Both shared a fascination for aboriginal culture, which had
led them north to the Canadian Eastern Arctic a number of times. They
wanted their long-time friends and travel companions, Phil King and
Rosemary Waterston, to accompany them to a particularly special place
in the new Canadian territory of Nunavut.
The two Toronto couples flew from Ontario during
mid-July of 1998, and arrived at Pond Inlet, a
town of 1100 residents on the rugged northern tip
of Baffin Island (72° 41' N, 77° 58'
W) 644 kilometers above the Arctic Circle. With
its seasonal profusion of flora and fauna, spectacular
scenery and affordable accessibility, the town
of Pond Inlet had become a popular summertime destination for paddlers
and hikers alike. The ice had broken up by the time they had arrived,
so the four, deliberating whether they should hike or paddle, decided
that kayaking was the easier option to get from Pond Inlet to Mt. Herodier
close by.
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