General Preparations

When exploring the outdoors, you learn things along the way. There aren't shortcuts to this process. There's no correct degree of preparedness. You'll have to feel it out for yourself.

My philosophy is that you should rely on your own judgement in all situations. What I try to provide here is information, so that you can get a sense of a route and to help you make those judgements. These will be concise trip reports, and in some cases we make mistakes or things don't go our way. This serves as a record for myself as well.

Everyone has advice. To keep things short, let me limit myself to five things I think are important. Some may disagree.

• Do your due diligence, consult multiple sources, think ahead, and when you're out there think in the present. Check the weather. Know the objective hazards, know your experience level, have an exit plan.
• Bring a (topographic) map and compass and learn to use it. Read it beforehand, and read it on the trail, use it to confirm your expectations. Don't rely only on your GPS; it's a great tool but nothing replaces the spread of a map.
• The outdoors is local. If you move somewhere, don't expect the same trail or weather conditions, don't expect sun rock or river to behave the same way. You'll be starting over again, somewhat.
• Factors to investigate: how cold does it get at night? How exposed to the sun is the terrain? Can I get water, how much do I need? Is there lightning danger? Can I see coming storms or upstream rain? How fast can I descent or ascend to escape danger? Is there dangerous flora or fauna? Rockfall hazard?
• Some routes are more technical. Do extra due diligence when you're doing something you're very new at (e.g. mountaineering, canyoneering). Since you'll have very little by way of expectations, things are more likely to go unexpectedly. Have an exit. It may be better (but not always easy or possible) to learn from someone experienced: friends, clubs, or lessons/guides.