[pct-l] Skill Sets - Practice them

[Ned Tibbits]

Bravo, Donna!

I'll never forget the moment you learned the practical reality of finding 
your location by looking at a map and your surroundings while facing an 
impending blizzard and miles from camp on one of Mountain Education's Winter 
trips!
You thought you knew where you were and what you were looking at, where, in 
fact, you were about 90 degrees off.  But that was ok because you listened, 
applied, adjusted and went forward with renewed confidence!

Practicing with someone who will allow you to experience the reality of your 
decisions just enough so as to learn without pain, then show you better 
ways, followed by time to practice and modify to what works for you, is 
priceless to your safety in and enjoyment of the wilderness.  That's what 
Mountain Education is all about.

The compass is important to have along when you haven't a clue, but if 
you're aware of the terrain beside you as you walk along and remember what 
the topo showed you last night or that morning of the trail ahead and you 
compare the two to make sure you're in the right place or you're going up 
the right pass, based on geographic features, you'll never be far off nor 
scared.

This enlightened awareness of your surroundings is a practiced skill that 
will make for more enjoyable trips and a greater sense of confidence, peace, 
and freedom in the hills!

If you want to be prepared enough to succeed in your dreams, you need to 
place yourself in the situations and circumstances you'll meet along the way 
to see what it takes to overcome and learn from each.  We all deal with 
trials differently; what is hard or uncomfortable to one is no big deal to 
another.  What we each like or can tolerate becomes the basis of your hike 
(HYOH).

To quote L-Rod, when asked what type of rain wear to carry,  "It all depends 
on how wet you want to get," or what degree of discomfort you tolerate.

Decisions you make and the understanding you operate upon today will affect 
your tomorrow.  Every step forward is further preparation for the next.  In 
our minds there is no such thing as too much preparation or the practical 
wisdom that comes from it all.

A lot can be understood from reading about or listening to another's 
experience, but it's in the personal application of what is understood that 
practical knowledge is acquired and realized for yourself.

The only way you can prepare for hiking is to hike.  So get out often and 
into all extremes to test yourself and your gear.  Every trip teaches you 
something new.  Only you will know when you're ready to step away from your 
front door and down the winding trail.

Mtnned
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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Please visit: www.mountaineducation.com
----- Original Message ----- 
From: <dsaufley at sprynet.com>
To: "Logan Park" <park at vt.edu>; <pct-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, October 19, 2006 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: [pct-l] Skill Sets


> Know how to utilize map & compass, and how to orient yourself with the map 
> and landmarks.  Numerous times this season, we followed footsteps across 
> snow fields only to find that the trail was no where to be seen when the 
> snow ended.  Relocating the trail required the ability to figure out where 
> the trail was using the map, compass, and physical landscape.
>
> L-Rod
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
>>From: Logan Park <park at vt.edu>
>>Sent: Oct 18, 2006 5:29 PM
>>To: pct-l at backcountry.net
>>Subject: [pct-l] Skill Sets
>>
>>Howdy!
>>
>> From the section and thruhikers, let's hear some skills you wouldn't
>>leave home with in regard to the PCT.  I'm coming from an AT context, so
>>a few that come to mind that I have no practice in are glissade and ice
>>axe use.
>>
>>Hoplite
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>>pct-l at backcountry.net
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>
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