GLSKA First-Timers Trip

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by Deborah Jackson

Kayak clubs, I have been informed, are typically guilty of being populated by snobbish folks with less than warm welcomes for newcomers. I have run across such clubs, but GLSKA is definitely not one of them. When the club president makes an effort to break the mould and reach out to newcomers by planning and leading a trip, open to all, it surely speaks to a higher understanding of how to build a great Association. The time and patience invested in slowing the pace to guide, encourage and inspire new members will contribute to the group’s base of proficient kayakers and ensure greater enjoyment by all. I applaud this move and am thankful to have been able to participate in the fourth annual GLSKA First-timers trip to Massasauga Provincial Park, in Georgian Bay.

On the morning of our departure, we met at Pete’s Place, a small trailer in a parking lot near the end of Healey’s Lake Road. Our timing was perfect, as just prior to our arrival, a black bear and her cubs had ambled through the parking lot but departed by the time we arrived (thankfully).

There were nine of us at the put in – Jim Forbes; Peter Goodwin; Deborah Jackson (that’s me); Joe Kaczmarczyk; Kas Kusmierczak; Keith Rodgers; Goni Sarakinov and Gord and Edna Sears. As we met, greeting and checking out each other’s equipment as we loaded our boats, we were eagerly looking forward to the adventure. Some were newer to the sport, some a little rusty (evident by the thick layer of dust on kayaks) and some were seasoned but patient as they contemplated a slow trip with newbies. I had been advised by people beforehand that the water would be deadly cold and the waves deadly large, so was gearing up mentally for a test of endurance. I was pleasantly surprised.

As we headed out towards Sharpe Island, we were met by our co-leader Johanna and her friend Kevin, one of the more seasoned paddlers who joined us for the trip. A subsequent lunch stop on a large rocky outcrop was a welcome rest for most of us. Upon reaching a fine campsite on Sharpe Island, we pitched tents and some of us swam in the warm bay. The site’s resident rattler kept to herself on this cloudy day but there were other wiggling life forms to enjoy and find sharing the cockpit with you under your spray skirt or wizened and dried in our rolled up tents upon returning home.

Since we had all read our newsletter archives carefully, it came as no surprise when the “short” evening paddle to Wreck Island was announced. The wind came up a little on the paddle there but we were assured that it would blow us all back to camp on the way back. The island hiking trail was incredible but too short for those who love geology and taking pictures! There were several slack jaws evident as their owners contemplated the violent natural forces that created the magnificent geological record exposed on the shore of this island. It definitely requires another longer visit sometime soon.

We returned to our Sharpe Island campsite and the roar of camp stoves soon filled the air. We enjoyed some pyrotechnics, compliments of Peter, as he tested his stove for the first time this year. Dinner types ran the gamut from Kevin’s gourmet cuisine to Goni’s dried reconstituted fare with interesting variations in between including somebody’s cat food, fetched accidentally from the freezer instead of the seafood packaged for the trip! Bad news is, somebody dumped the cat food in the pit privy without thinking. This is a bad thing to do as it attracts bears to a campsite. I hope the bears didn’t go digging for it.

After dinner we all ambled down the hill towards the water and lounged at the edge like a herd of well fed water buffalos chewing our cud. Many rousing conversations emerged in the night amidst the steady slap of hands on skin and the drone of the winged ones as they mined us all for blood. When it became too hard to see through the cloud of bugs around us, we all retreated quickly and gratefully to our bug-proof tents.

Morning broke brightly enough but there were heavy black clouds on the way. Nobody wasted any time packing up their tents and loading their boats. As we headed back to Pete’s Place a light rain began to fall and by the time we posed for the first ever First-timers group photo, we were dripping. I don’t think anybody left without thoughts of returning and I think all were happy to have met new paddling friends.

Thanks to Keith and Johanna for taking the time to introduce us to the club!

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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.