Keith Rodgers

Stay Cool the Superior Way

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Photographs by Sarka Lhotak & Sam Wyss

by John Fitzsimons

Although starting off cooler than normal in 2013, the weather in southern Ontario had fallen into that all too familiar pattern of high heat and humidity, made all the worse by a persistent Bermuda high. With climate change, paddling in southern Ontario during the peak season has at times meant enduring high heat and humidity, a situation that is rarely encountered on Lake Superior. Against this backdrop, Sarka Lhotak, Dave Morningstar and I, along with our trip organizer Sam Wyss, headed off on the 12 hour trip to Pukaskwa National Park south of Marathon, for a week of paddling July 13-20.

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The Memory of Water

Allen Smutylo

Wilfrid Laurier University Press, 2013

Reviewed by Rob Muylwyk

It must have been around 2004 that I was first exposed to the fine artwork of Allen Smutylo, in this case a colourful etching of an arctic kayak, nicely framed and appropriately hung over the mantel of the GLSKA president of the time. He and his partner happened to walk into the Circle Arts Gallery in Tobermory following a kayak trip in Fathom Five National Marine Park and decided that they could not go home without it. As Smutylo describes in the second chapter of this collection of ten memoirs, he was one of a group of Toronto expat artists that founded Circle Arts in the late sixties. More than forty years later, the gallery still carries his work. Around the time that we moved up to the Bruce Peninsula, Allen was presenting a series of slide shows and talks based on his trips to the High Arctic. Much of the material presented in the slide show is repeated here, so that it can reach a much wider public. 

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Kayak Trailer

by Jennifer Kilbourne

First, I purchased my sea kayak and all the equipment needed to spend some time on the water. My next big purchase was a roof rack for my car, complete with cradles to hold my kayak as I zipped down the highway to my next paddling destination. And it worked well, as long as I had another person to help heft my 16’6”, 56 lb vessel onto the roof of my car. After a couple hours of solo paddling, heaving something that weighs half as much as I do over my head was taking some of the fun out of what was supposed to be a relaxing evening on the water. As I am 5’2”, this was quite the feat (and probably a bit entertaining to watch). Additionally, my car is a very fuel efficient Volkswagen Jetta TDI, and I noticed that I was using more fuel when I had the rack on the car, even with a fairing (“spoiler”) installed.

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Have Kayak … Will Travel?

North of Superiorby Keith Rodgers

Almost every one of us needs to haul our kayak around from time to time and the usual way we do this is by tying it on the top of a vehicle and hoping it stays on for the ride. Whether you do this a couple of times a year, over a short distance only, or many times and over thousands of kilometres, the consequences of a kayak flying off en route are potentially severe – in fact, possibly disastrous or even fatal. So it makes sense to get the right equipment and learn the best methods of securing your boat so that it stays on through wind and rain, alpine turns, emergency stops and the many other perils of the open road.

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GLSKA Waiver

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter the "Release Agreement") BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU WILL WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

DEFINITION

In this Release Agreement, the term Sea Kayaking Activities shall include but is not limited to: all activities, events or services provided, arranged, organized, conducted, sponsored or authorized by the Releasees and shall including moving water, still water, lake and ocean kayaking; loan or rental of kayaks (hereinafter "the boats") and other equipment; orientational and instructional courses, seminars and sessions; all travel, transportation, and accommodation; food, beverage including water supply, use of equipment, and multi-day camping or overnight stays in the outdoors.

In this Release Agreement, the term "Negligence" includes the failure by the Releasees to use such care as a reasonably prudent and careful guide, instructor, trip organizer or sea kayaking operator would use under similar circumstances, or breach of any other duty of care imposed by law.

ASSUMPTION OF RISKS

Participation in Sea Kayaking Activities involves various risks, dangers and hazards including the risk of serious injury, paralysis or death. Sea Kayaking Activities often take place in remote wilderness locations, where assistance, medical and first aid services and evacuation may not be readily available, and communication may be difficult or not possible. The risks, dangers and hazards that may be encountered include, but are not limited to: accidents which occur during transportation or travel to and from the departure point; slips and falls while getting into or out of the boats; overturning of the boats; loss of balance; impact or collision with objects; cold water immersion; repetitive strain injuries; dislocated shoulders; hypothermia; drowning; changing and inclement weather conditions including storms, high wind, high waves, and lightning; encounters with domestic or wild animals; infectious disease contracted through viruses, bacteria, parasites, and fungi which may be transmitted through direct or indirect contact; negligence on the part of other participants; and NEGLIGENCE ON THE PART THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEGLIGENCE INCLUDES FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM OR WARN ME OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES.

Please refer to the GLSKA Risk Management Strategy section of their website for further information regarding the risks, dangers and hazards that may be encountered during Sea Kayaking Activities.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS, ASSUMPTION OF RISKS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT (hereinafter the "Release Agreement") BY ACCEPTING THIS DOCUMENT YOU WILL WAIVE OR GIVE UP CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS, INCLUDING THE RIGHT TO SUE FOR NEGLIGENCE OR BREACH OF CONTRACT OR TO CLAIM COMPENSATION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT

PLEASE READ CAREFULLY!

I AM AWARE OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES AND I FREELY ACCEPT AND FULLY ASSUME ALL SUCH RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS AND THE POSSIBILITY OF PERSONAL INJURY, DEATH, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS RESULTING THEREFROM.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY, WAIVER OF CLAIMS AND INDEMNITY AGREEMENT

In consideration of the Releasees allowing me to participate in Sea Kayaking Activities as defined in this Release Agreement, I hereby agree as follows:

  1. TO WAIVE ANY AND ALL CLAIMS that I have or may in the future have against the Releasees and TO RELEASE THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any loss, damage, expenseor injury including death that I may suffer, or that my next of kin may suffer as a result of my participation in Sea Kayaking Activities, DUE TO ANY CAUSE WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE, BREACH OF CONTRACT, OR BREACH OF ANY STATUTORY OR OTHER DUTY OF CARE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES. I UNDERSTAND THAT NEGLIGENCE INCLUDES FAILURE ON THE PART OF THE RELEASEES TO TAKE REASONABLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD OR PROTECT ME FROM OR WARN ME OF THE RISKS, DANGERS AND HAZARDS OF PARTICIPATING IN SEA KAYAKING ACTIVITIES REFERRED TO ABOVE;
  1. TO HOLD HARMLESS AND INDEMNIFY THE RELEASEES from any and all liability for any property damage or personal injury to any third party resulting from my participation in Sea Kayaking Activities;
  2. This Release Agreement shall be effective and binding upon my heirs, next of kin, executors, administrators, assigns and representatives, in the event of my death or incapacity;
  3. This Release Agreement and any rights, duties and obligations as between the parties to this Release Agreement shall be governed by and interpreted solely in accordance with the laws of the Province of Ontario and no other jurisdiction; and
  4. Any litigation involving the parties to this Release Agreement shall be brought solely within the Province of Ontario and shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Ontario.

In entering into this Release Agreement I am not relying on any oral or written representations or statements made by the Releasees with respect to the safety of Sea Kayaking Activities, other than what is set forth in this Release Agreement.

I CONFIRM THAT I HAVE READ THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT, AND I AM AWARE THAT BY ACCEPTING THIS RELEASE AGREEMENT I AM WAIVING CERTAIN LEGAL RIGHTS WHICH I OR MY HEIRS, NEXT OF KIN, EXECUTORS, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNS AND REPRESENTATIVES MAY HAVE AGAINST THE RELEASEES.