Today we open door fourteen and today I will give you a guides advice. First of all I would like to talk about skills. To become a good outdoorer you always need to develop your skills. For being able to do that, you need to understand from were you are going. So start with a inventory about your level in navigation, river crossing, first aid, weather, bivouac technic, clothing. Also add winter skills such as avalanche, bivouacking and winter tenting, frost injuries, skiing. Add your physical level to it and you now have a schedule to work on.
Guides advice about equipment; You pay for what you get, I have seldom regret things I bought for expensive money. But I’ve sworn over bad equipment which has broken. But it all becomes from the activity and area you are in, as well as how often you are doing it. I look into details and features. If there are pockets at the right place etc. This will tell me if the brand knowing what they are doing. But if you are a top freak, then is should be as stripes as possible. So you cant go for that advice always. But boots, backpack and shell layer is the place to be carful with. And of course tent, this will you live with for at least 15 years.
Ok, so now you got the area you want to develop, and you got the right gear. What’s next? Now its time for planning. So next advise will be; make a plan. Defined a plan for what you will develop and explore. A rough plan will be good enough. To detailed planning only means that as fast as its done it will be out of date so to say.
Ok, so now its time for the developing of your skills. How to do that? Now the guides suggestion will be a…..guide. Why? Because she/he will help you out with becoming better. This advise also included guides. See and learn. It is always good to see and hear someone else to describe an area. So hire a guide at lest for a day to get better knowledge.
Now we have come to the last step, now you will find out your own needs of equipment and what to bring. I always carry at least three things in my pack. First a wind shelter, then a saw and of course a first aid kit. Then I am prepared for the most. Also a compass and a map, but that is basic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KD2irAdMzIw
See ya tomorrow..
Great advises Bergman. One can always develop more skills.
Its always a course to take.