Kayaking the Pacific Ocean Coast of California and Oregon
by Tsunami Ranger Steve KingForget about The Hunger Games and women’s Olympic beach volleyball! Here we describe the myriad beach games undertaken on most Tsunami Ranger retreats. One can train for these games anywhere and anytime but the true … [Continue reading] about Beach Games: Essential Sea Kayaking Skills Development OFF The Water
Editor's note: Eric wrote this poem in November, 1971. The picture of Vishnu was in his computer files. I kept his original punctuation.Adieu, Adieu I’m a success story What are you? I’ve accomplished everything I’ve nothing to … [Continue reading] about Eric Soares 8/1/53 – 2/1/12 RIP
by Moulton Avery Editor's note: This is the second in a 4 part series on cold water safety by Moulton Avery. Moulton is an expert on heat and cold stress. He gave his first public lecture on hypothermia in 1974. He was executive director of the … [Continue reading] about Cold Water Safety – Golden Rule Number 3: Field-Test Your Gear
“Let me not hear facts, figures and logic; fain would I hear lore, legends and magic.” (From “Roots of Oak” by Donovan) What is magical thinking? I first encountered this phrase in an article about grief. A man had died of cancer and his 11-year … [Continue reading] about Lore, Legends, and Magic – Magical Thinking and the Tsunami Ranger Approach to Sea Kayaking
by Tsunami Ranger John Lull Introduction Tidal currents form in inland marine waterways in response to the rise and fall of the tide; the water from the rising/falling ocean flows in and out of bays and estuaries. Stronger currents will form … [Continue reading] about Kayak Navigation Part 3: Crossing Current; How to Calculate a Ferry Angle
One of the most exciting things to happen this year was receiving an order from The Ocean Dragons, an extreme sea kayaking team from Galicia, Spain. Oscar Alvarez, aka "Fugy", sent me an email. In it he described finding a copy of the Tsunami … [Continue reading] about Meet The Ocean Dragons!
Editor’s note: This article was one Eric had sketched out for 2012 and was completed with assistance from Tsunami Ranger Captain Jim Kakuk. Disclaimer: We’re just joking. HELL = Hedonistic Epicurean Libertine Lifestyle. From time to time on this … [Continue reading] about Sea Kayaking is HELL
by Moulton AveryEditor's note: Moulton Avery is an expert on heat and cold stress. He gave his first public lecture on hypothermia in 1974. He was executive director of the Center for Environmental Physiology in Washington, DC for ten years, … [Continue reading] about The Golden Rules of Cold Water Safety
Editor's note: Thanks to Charlie Teall for the photos of Neil and John at the slot. Eric loved autumn because it's the start of football season. In fact, his video “The Tsunami Rangers’ Greatest Hits” was modeled after the NFL’s Greatest Hits films. … [Continue reading] about Worst. Crash. Ever.
by Will Nordby Editor's note: Will Nordby recently completed his career as a broadcast and print photo-journalist based in the Bay Area. He started kayaking in 1973 and has traveled along the coasts of Alaska and British Columbia in addition to the … [Continue reading] about Steve Sinclair – Storm Sea Skier and Legendary Sea Kayaker
launch 1. To hurl, discharge, or send off (a weapon, blow, etc.). launch 1. To put to sea. 2. To start on some new course, career, or enterprise. 3. To throw oneself (into) with vigor; to rush; plunge. From Webster’s New 20th Century Dictionary … [Continue reading] about Launching – Burning Man 2012
The retreat began for me by running down Eric’s recommended kayak camping list at Jim’s request. After some digging, I found it and emailed it to the Rangers and guests. Packing commenced. I went through all Eric’s camping gear, some of the bags … [Continue reading] about The Tsunami Ranger Retreat – August 2012
by Tsunami Ranger John LullIn Part 1, I covered navigation by line-of-sight, using visual references, ranges, and no tools beyond a chart. This works fine until visibility is reduced by thick fog or when paddling in open water well offshore or … [Continue reading] about Kayak Navigation Part 2 – Compass Use and Dead Reckoning
