With Woodland Ways, we’re very lucky to have the opportunity to travel to many different parts of the world, and with new opportunities coming up in the next 12 months, I thought I’d share my method of preparing myself for any expeditions I’m going on.
I try to make an expedition every year for several reasons. The first, is that I just want to. Having not travelled much in the past, and hitting 50 later this year, I decided to live as much as I can and experience as much as possible while I’m still young enough and fit enough to enjoy it. Secondly, I see every expedition as part of my professional development, as apprentice instructors, we’re encouraged to teach from experience, and the only way to do that, is to gain as much as possible in different and challenging environments.
I have no fixed method of choosing where I’m going, but when the decision is made, the first thing I do is print off the kit list and read through, cross checking with kit I already have and drawing up a list of kit I need. If I need to buy new kit, I try buying out of season in sales, for winter kit, as needed for our Aurora Winter Survival Expedition in March, I bought in the end of season sales, and made some good savings. I have also made some of my own kit for this, so again, I started early with research and reading up on recommended sources, giving myself plenty of time to make what I need. Another source of hard-wearing durable equipment is the army surplus market, but, though hard wearing, it can also be heavy and bulky. Some of this is second hand so could have signs of wear and tear, but again, check up on suitability for the environment you’re going to.
Once I know where I am with my kit list, my next step is to ensure I’m physically prepared for the expedition. So, if I’m likely to me doing lots of walking, such as Wildlife Tracking, I’ll get some hill walking in for a few months in the run up to departure. For canoeing, as on our Yukon or Sweden expeditions, I focussed on shoulder mobility and upper body conditioning. The last thing anybody needs is a pulled muscle, or worse, when you could be several days away from extraction or medical help. I also visit my G.P. early on to take any jabs I’ll need for the area I’m travelling to, especially as we are potentially going away from habitation and medical assistance.
Once I have done these, I find I have plenty of time to sort any kit I need, and take any inoculations, as some of these are given over several months, I find myself mentally prepared, and can start really looking forward, and enjoying the run up to departure.
I’m sure everyone has their own way of preparation; this is just mine. But one thing’s for certain, if I’ve bought or made new kit, I feel the need to get my money's worth, so, at some point, I have to go again!!