A kayak can carry one in to areas inaccessible by any other practical means. Add camping gear and one can dance with Mother Nature’s diversity in the most remote and pristine places on earth. In the process, logistical fortitudes are tested, friendships solidified and the soul fed all the adventure it hungers for and sometimes more. There is no finer way to explore and experience the natural world than from a seat of a kayak, self-support style.

But how does this relate to Earthen Exposure and its revolving health theme? Good question. While kayaking is considered a low-impact sport by virtue of being human powered, we should not kid ourselves. Kayaking is not without environmental repercussions. Each time we check our paddle in as luggage*, load our kayak on a car, or purchase a new piece of gear, we indirectly add to a host of real problems. On the other hand, I believe self-support can foster the kind of awareness in ones surroundings that facilitates a deeper respect for nature...the kind of respect needed to fully appreciate the current environmental problems and more importantly, the ones future generations could be faced with. While the ego will dilute the experience for some, for others, the connectedness made while deep in remote canyons will be undeniable.

So, if you are going to self-support, don't just do it for bragging rights to a particular creek or river. Get out there, immerse yourself, observe and experience it for everything it is. In the process though, I humbly suggest pondering how you might lessen your impact in everyday life. We all want to believe our individual lifestyles are "low impact", but, in reality, most of us could do more and do so with little to no sacrifice. It's simply a matter of learning to alter our habits. At the very least, our immediate health will benefit and we can, with dignity, know the attempt was made to leave the greatest legacy to our grandchildren and theirs possible; clean air to breath and unadulterated water to drink. And, if our successors are lucky, they too will have the means to enjoy the same beautifully pristine canyons we are so privileged to see today.

“Certainly, travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” Miriam Beard

There is so much more to self-support than whitewater. Expand your knowledge, enrich your experience & build a closer understanding & relationship with your surroundings by learning something about the areas fauna, flora & history.
“Anyone Can Hear The Water Speak” by Bill Chisholm is a great little read about our connection to nature and the importance it plays in everyday life. Read it here.

This section of Earthen Exposure happened rather haphazardly and originated from hand written notes I started taking in 1992 while experimenting with different self-support loads. Meant to serve as a reference tool for myself (and to appease my anal-retentiveness), these notes migrated to my hard-drive and accumulated there as I learned to type with the efficiency of a secretary. It then dawned on me while planning Earthen Exposure to compile these notes, along with some things discovered on the range during my unconventional early years, and make it available to others.

These ever evolving notes (check here for updates) are geared for the experienced whitewater kayaker interested in self-support. However, other lightweight travelers such as backpackers, sea kayakers, and those who tour on bicycles etc may also find useful ideas. Regardless, this stuff is not gospel, or the only way. There were paddlers and other fanatics of lightweight travel figuring these things out when I was still messing my britches. Use what you find here as guidelines and idea sparkers then watch your own discoveries flow. Begin here and if you have suggestions or comments, please email me.

WARNING
These pages are not instructional nor for the beginning kayaker. You need to get proper instruction. Even then, kayaking is dangerous. Kayaking in remote places with a loaded kayak intensifies the danger. The risks may involve serious injury or death. The decision to accept that is entirely your own. I shall have no liability or responsibility to any person with respect to personal harm or property damage caused indirectly or directly by any material found in these web pages.

In honor of our friend, please visit the David Norell memorial site.

*A 737 jetliner burns 866 gallons of fuel per hour.

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