The Paddler Magazine Issue 61 Late Summer 2021 | Page 42

ThePADDLER 42
I learned from the maestro , Mike

‘ In vino veritas ,’

if I get on with them after a few nights in a pub , then they may well be good for a trip !
WHEN YOU PREPARED FOR AN EXPEDITION IN REMOTE LOCATIONS , WHAT QUALITIES DID YOU LOOK FOR IN A FELLOW TEAMMATE KAYAKER ? I was on the Everest expedition not because I was one of the best paddlers in the UK but because I got on with Mike . I think my 1975 trip round the Alps had been a trial . In ’ 78 , we went around the Alps , and a certain paddler joined us trying to get on the expedition to the Braldu . Mike soon sensed that he was there for the wrong reasons – the phone call never happened !
How do I select companions ? I learned from the maestro , Mike ‘ In vino veritas ,’ if I get on with them after a few nights in a pub , then they may well be good for a trip ! I have been on trips where it has gone wrong with people who came on the trip by reputation rather than friendship .
IT ’ S A TOUGH CALL , I KNOW WITH ALL THE EXPEDITIONS YOU HAVE UNDERTAKEN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD , BUT DOES ONE STAND OUT ? First descent of the Bakhriaria River , Zagros Mountains , Iran . Easiest question of the lot !
TELL US ABOUT HOW YOU MANAGED THE RISKS IN SUCH REMOTE LOCATIONS ? I have carried rapids that I am sure I could have paddled because of the location . If you are four days into a trip and you swim and lose your boat when your only way out is by boat , you assess rapids differently !
People ask me if I take a satellite phone on a trip . No , I don ’ t because who are you going to call ? Where are you ? Remember , I made my trips before GPS and the like . However , I also have a great deal of the ‘ Suppose it didn ’ t ’ philosophy in my attitude .
(“ Supposing a tree fell down , Pooh , when we were underneath it ?” said Piglet
“ Supposing it didn ’ t ,” said Pooh after careful thought . Piglet was comforted by this .)
I have been on Grand Canyon trips where we have had a satellite phone . Why ? So John can ring his wife ? And what if his wife says little Jimmy has broken his leg or young Suzie has chickenpox , or she ’ s running off with the milkman . OK , John now knows the situation , but the whole trip is ruined because he can ’ t get out till the end , and his misery will infect the rest of us . I had a trip in Turkey for a bunch of Americans years ago . Halfway down the Coruh , we got to the town of Yusufeli and being yanks ; they had to phone home . One of them discovered his best mate or someone was dying , so he bailed , and so about four others left too . Going home wasn ’ t going to solve anything !