It just isn't worth the risk. I'd rather get off and paddle another day. I did that once during my cross-Canada paddling adventure. I started off ok, the wind churned up, the rains came, everything including the river went crazy, broke my only paddle in half, had two other important equipment failures and started to wonder what the hell I was doing out there. I ended the trip the next day. Cost me lots of $$$ to get the trip set up and more to end it early but here I am today, still paddling and posting. Oh yeah, reminds me, I paddled with Linda last Saturday night...her first night paddle...gotta post a trip report...was an interesting experience.

Robert N Pruden