Research and Pre-Plan Your Plan

I know this might be a trivial part of the planning process because with all the tools we have in this current day and age this should be the easiest. The point I would make is that in almost every trip or adventure, poor planning almost always negatively impacts the overall experience and can be very dangerous. In almost every ride, trip, or adventure that I have been on I come across people who are suffering due to not planning properly even when it is blatantly obvious that they should have been prepared.

• Research
  
  • How and where do you research?
    
    • Great place to start is to use any weather agency
      
    • Fishing report websites (this gives more details on ground conditions)
      
    • Call a local guide, rental service, outfitter, or sporting goods store. Usually they have information to share.
      
  • General knowledge to include when researching: Each ecosystem has their nuances and here are some examples.
    
    • Weather-
      
      • Deserts – hot days, potential for cold nights. High probability for gusty wind conditions.
        
      • Mountains – high altitude mountain ranges tend to offer warm valley, cold peaks, and weather that can change within a very short time.
        
  • What resources are available so you don’t have to carry everything from your home base to base camp?
    
• Plan your preparation
  
  • Maps – almost all forestry office, survey supply company (Holman’s for example), and professional sporting goods retailer (REI) will have maps. There are apps you can use (I will cover in another post) and websites. Keep in mind, the more detail in the maps the better.
    
  • Gear you have and gear you need – remember, less is better from a transport perspective, but there are tricks and tips that can help maximize your packing and make sure you have the gear you need.
    
    • Useful gear vs. nice to have.
      
  • Essentials – food, medicine, emergency supplies