Overcoming Challenges to Getting Outdoors
One of the biggest obstacles we hear people running into when they dream and scheme about their adventures is how to get started. "What if's" can quickly morph unmanageable challenges into exhaustive barriers before the bag is even packed. Adaptation and perspective can make the difference, but we talk about getting started and dealing with the unexpected in this post.
Some of the questions that will come to mind are how to deal with weather changes, equipment failures, fitness challenges, financial limits, time constraints, pandemic weirdness, and even general life balance.
Small Steps Toward Big Plans
The best answer to this is planning, proper equipment and clothing. Part of the planning process is learning about where you are going and what you would like to do. You might say, “but I want to have a spontaneous adventure.” That’s fine, but I would argue that having a “fun” spontaneous adventure is better for your group or family as opposed to being less than enthused the next time you are wanting to go out exploring. The basic foundation of this can be food, shelter, proper clothing, and an understanding of what you might find on your trip. We are here to help.
Where are you going and are you hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing? We regularly head off into the unknown, but we go with a map, smart phone, and even a compass. While, yes, your smart phone has many of these tools, having some basic backups can be invaluable. Did you know that you phone has a native GPS that can work even when you don’t have signal? There are some great apps like ALL TRAILS, and TRAIL FORKS that can really help if you are hiking. If you are on the water, apps like NAVIONICS can truly be life savers. They work even when your phone signal doesn’t, helping you explore or even just get home.
Proper planning for your group can mean that you build fitness and confidence as you go so that you can be more adventurous in the future. Be prepared for the unexpected, though. Some will say the adventure begins when the plan ends and coaching yourself to embrace these challenges and adapt will go a long way towards success. The mental side of adventure has just as much importance as proper planning. Adaptability to change, be it weather or even turning back for some reason, allows you to set a goal of going farther next time.
The Gear for the Conditions
Weather can also be easily monitored with today’s technology, but as we all know it can change in an instant - or just be plain wrong. Weather apps can help but nothing beats paying attention to the weather as it happens. This allows you to actively be aware of weather changes. This is especially true at sea or in the mountains. Plan well and bring a packable jacket - plan for the weather to swing 20 degrees. On a warm day that is forecasted to be 75 degrees and sunny, but ends up being 45 and raining, your jacket becomes a necessary piece of gear. If instead the temperature reaches 95 degrees, then someone will really be happy for the added sun protection. This brings us to talk about clothing.
There is a saying in the outdoors: “there is no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing (Alfred Wainwright). In short, if your gear is up to the task, then you can have a good time in almost any condition with the right attitude. Having a set of waterproof rain gear for each of the people in your party is essential when heading outdoors: getting cold and wet is one of the leading causes of “I am never doing that again” and can even lead to injuries.
The body’s ability to rapidly lose heat when wet is astounding and can be easily prevented with some good rain gear. There are lots of companies out there that make great stuff, but the key is to find something that matches what you are trying to do. If the material doesn’t breath, then you can get just as wet and cold from your own sweat as you would from getting rained on. GorTex is a brand name for a line of waterproof membranes that manufaturers use in clothing to make it waterproof and breathable. Quality waterproof products will seal the seams and joints, cover the zippers, and keep Mother Nature out while still allowing your body to breath and expel moisture.
NOT ALL COMPANIES MAKE THE SAME QUALITY OF GEAR. This can be an entire standalone blog post. The attention to detail and materials used in the creation of gear can greatly increase the price of the garment. It can also cut down on weight, add to durability, and expand its range of use. While the price may be higher for this quality of rain gear, it can also last for many, many years. Additionally in a lot of cases, even if it gets damaged it can be restored via the company’s warranty service or through their repair facilities. This allows the gear to keep performing for a very long time.
Good gear is an investment and the importance of it is why we spend so much time going on and on about this topic. This stuff can save your life in some situations. The more you go out and have fun using it, the better value it is to you.
Here’s an example: I once had a boss who said that the most expensive shirt he ever bought was a cotton t-shirt for $30. He wore it only once a year. The best value was the $90 merino wool shirt that he wore almost every day for three months while backpacking. It didn't stink, didn't hold moisture, reflected the sun on hot days and became his base layer on the cold days. If you compared the shirts by the number of days worn, the more expensive merino wool shirt was a better value. He definitely got more of his money’s worth from that shirt.
Buy gear that you can use in your normal life and also out on the trail or at sea, and you will make an investment that has VALUE. Rant done. Wait, no, LEAVE COTTON AT HOME. Really, it absorbs and holds onto moisture, stinks, dries super slowly, and can really be a pain in the posterior (know what I mean?). Synthetics and merino wool are your friends, from socks and undergarments to top layers and outerwear… it is just the better choice. You will pack less, stink less, and smile more.
Fuel the Adventure
Food. This is where I allow the most flexibility, because it is to taste… get it? Puns are fun. Really eat to fuel the adventure. Before hiking, carb load on breads and pasta, during hikes have power bars and gels, afterward protein is your friend while you are rebuilding muscle. Comfort food at the end of a hike or biking excursion like tacos is not only something to look forward to, but doubles as a rewarding time to review and relive the adventure just shared.
If you are on the trail with kids, for the love of pete bring SNACKS! Kids burn through way more food than we ever realize, so snacks that keep them going are essential. Trail mix, gummy bears, suckers, granola bars, raisins, bring it. If you feed them they will have more fun. Any time you are trying to create more memories, adding another enjoyable sensation like food helps to imprint that happy memory and feeling into their minds and will create long-term memories.
There you go. I have now taught you to hack your kid’s brain… and this will work on your significant other as well. You’re welcome.
