When the unexpected happens!

By Michele Michel

‘Accept the Unexpected’…But safety always comes first!

That’s what 12 disappointed sunrise Harbour Kayakers had to do…at the 11th hour, just as we were getting ready for an early night to cope with the 4.00 am alarm - the call came in that the wind was picking up and the kayaking would no longer be safe to proceed….so much for 2021 going to plan!

I guess many of us have been coping with all sorts of disappointments for the past year from a plethora of overseas and interstate travels plans being thwarted to family gatherings being cancelled, parents and kids and grandkids not visited- the list is quite endless.

So, what do you do? Pull up your socks- muster your inner resilience and move on to Plan B. Just as many did last Sunday. No kayaking? Ok, let’s go to the Sunday Como Trek Training session instead, making lemonade from lemons!!

But rather than focussing on that- what you must be thankful for is that even when a decision will disappoint many, ultimately what matters most is your SAFETY.

Our guides at Eagle Rock Adventures took a final look at the weather forecast and saw that it had been updated later than usual and they put our safety first. At Diamonds, we make considerable effort to choose reputable third-party providers that have safety as their priority.

We do the same! Our Diamond Days and Dreams don’t go ahead without a reccie being done- sometimes a few reccies. Risk Assessments are written up, one for each adventure. Trip Intention forms are submitted to local authorities. National Parks licensing and passes have been applied for. Appropriate First Aid training and kits are kept up to date. Accurate records are kept on every client’s dietary and medical issues. Industry Good Practice Guidelines are reviewed and adhered to. Our accreditation is kept current with our peak bodies - Fitness Australia, National Parks and Outdoor NSW - and we receive regular updates and the most current industry advice. This has been critical during the recent bush fires and the COVID pandemic.

When conducting outdoor training or adventures- we can have the right maps, be all trained up, give advice on the right gear and first aid, amounts of food and water to pack, choose the time, the terrain and route to be used- but the weather is our worst enemy. It is completely out of anyone’s control. Tides, swell, rain, thunderstorms, extreme heat, extreme cold and wind speed, and direction all change regularly. Want to do a coastal rock scramble? We check the tides and swell. Going a longer hike? We check the weather forecast for later in the day- not just the morning. Need to cross a creek or river? We check the recent rainfall, tides or swell. Weather forecast sites aim to have the most accurate information to pass onto people. But weather forecasting is an inaccurate science. So as much as we will always look at what is predicted and make appropriate judgments -Mother Nature is the only one in control.

Sometimes we can make appropriate adjustments to the itinerary and gear packed and be good to go. Other times we can implement our pre-arranged Plan B. But at other times, as disappointing as it might be, we will make the call that it is best not to start in the first place or decide that it’s time to turn back!

Either way, we’ve always got your back!