Best advice received/skill learnt?

Back in Pack

Section Hiker
Compared to most on this forum, I am a complete newbie at this outdoor milarky, but always willing to learn. What is the most valuable piece of advice you have received or skill learnt?

to start:
with the climate here, I spend time camping in the deep snow (snowing again as I write this!) the most useful skill I learnt and practiced recently was the method of guying out tarp/tent from Andrew Skurka’s website:

https://andrewskurka.com/guyline-tension-system-backpacking-tents-tarps-hammocks/

Dead-men instead of stakes and trucker-hitch with quick release knots to take down camp quickly.

IMG_2414-3.jpeg
So useful. I have changed the tieouts on the majority of my tents and tarps to be able to set them up like this.
 

Dave V

Moderator
Staff member
Stop. Look. Think.

I like this and think it’s accurate for many especially me.

I started hiking again mainly to find remote locations to photograph, that soon developed into lowering pack weight in order to carry more camera gear and then evolved to only carrying a phone……go figure…….

I used to get out a lot but not so much any more so for me I think ‘Stop, look, reflect, enjoy’.

I appreciate this is not a skill but I think it’s important to soak in the environment as we pass through, I find it an excellent mental relaxant.
 

Teepee

Thru Hiker
Of all the advice I've had from outdoors instructors and trainers etc, this one is the best

If your lost in a remote area, or have a difficult/stressful decision to make and struggling with it, have a cup of tea.

It removes you from the difficult situation for a few minutes and when you reassess, your mind has had a break and can very often deal with the issue better as it has 'fresh eyes' and has relaxed from the stress.

You don't actually need to make a drink, as long as you distract your mind by doing something different for a while, it really helps.
 

Foxster

Section Hiker
Two tips:

Buy your stuff online from places that offer free and easy returns. Other places may be cheaper but you only have to be stuck with one item that's no good to you to wipe out all that you saved by buying from them.

Biologically, there's no difference between a woman's and a man's mouth. (A strange bit of wisdom from my first boss's retirement speech that's stuck in my mind).
 

Heltrekker

Section Hiker
Pearls of wisdom from my ancient and venerable geology professor.

"When the weather gets "Scottish", know your limits and when to call it quits - the mountain's been there for millions of years, you don't need to climb it today"

"In a whiteout, sit down, brew up, wait it out"

And my biggest tip - find the boots that feel perfect for you, then buy them regardless of the price tag. Your feet (and knees, hips, back....) will thank you for it.
 

MikeinDorset

Ultralighter
Always be aware of whether you are skirting around the edge of the incident pit.

Also (in part echoing others):

Look where you are putting your feet.
Know what time it is.
Know where you are.
The right footwear is essential. Most other things don't need to be perfect, just good enough.
That said, there are limits to the idea that there's no such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing.
Learn to navigate. Like, really, properly navigate.
Don't be afraid to carry a china mug on a long day walk. The tea tastes much better.
Look after your knees.
There's a good chance that the person in the really snazzy gear might be about to give you the absolute worst advice.
 

MyHatGandhi

Trail Blazer
If you are inviting someone less proficient than you to go out hiking and camping, then you should treat them as your responsibility.

I've been out with several people who do not always heed my advice and skimped on certain gear (not price, but suitability), with some even refusing to borrow my spares because they "really don't need it", or are "used to the cold".

Once, one of my friends had frost nip for three weeks. Any subsequent hikes with others, I always take note of their gear, and have saved many situations (some could have been more serious) by having a spare rain skirt, bread bags, spare gloves, spare over trousers, fleece or spare rain jacket (depending on what they are missing).

They won't make the same mistake a second time.

Doesn't add much to my weight, but gives me peace of mind and teaches them a valuable lesson, safely.

If their gear was completely unsuitable, I wouldn't take them at all, some items are non compromise.

A second tip: when walking in grim conditions under mental duress, where you can't distract yourself by any other means, just keep saying to yourself (in your mind), "just keep walking, just keep walking, just keep walking" to the finding Nemo swimming chant. Never failed me so far!
 

Ed the Ted

Ultralighter
I love these posts, it reminds me that the best practices can be simple positive, sensible, healthy habits rather than really complicated advanced skills (like Scottish winter night time navigation, useful for sure but most trouble is avoided with a level head and sensible decision making rather than the ability to navigate to the dot on the i of coire an something)
 
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