“If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn’t be research.” <– attributed to Albert Einstein. I like this quote; it helps make a virtue of necessity. Being human, we necessarily make errors and try things that don’t work. The virtue of it’s the lessons we learn. Here’s some lessons I’ve learned, mostly the hard way, in 2018.
Hadn’t thought of That!
Seriously, you’d think a jump pack for a car would not drain in the cold like a normal car battery does, right? Because otherwise, what’s the point? Well, there’s this physics thing. When it got *really* cold, not only did my car battery die, but also my jump pack. Now I bring the jump pack in when it’s going to be a bitter cold night.
Ok, it may seem obvious to the rest of the world, but those couple of pounds that seem like nothing when you pick up the pack really add up twenty miles down the road. I do not regret carrying the spotting scope that got us a good look at the bear cubs! But my knees learned a slightly different lesson. Even ounces matter.
I hadn’t thought of it…but fortunately, Salty had. The Smith and Wesson .22 M&P has a hand feel and sight picture a heck of a lot like my beloved Glock. It’s also complete cake to take apart and clean, which is vital to me actually training with it regularly. And it pays for itself in ammo costs after only 500 rounds. This scores as the lesson with the best hand feel of 2018.
Walking orthopedic boots make a decent substitute for a cast in a pinch. I got mine for $4 at a thrift store, and I hope it’s a prep I never need. While you’re shopping for yours, you might pick up a walker (more stable) or pair of crutches (more mobile) on the cheap too. You don’t often need mobility aids for the injured, but when you do you really do.
It’s not often mentioned as a medical prep, but which is more likely to become a need: ankle support or an airway kit?
Experiments gone awry become lessons
Well, the potato bins were meant to be an experiment. And I did learn from it. The main lesson was that in my world, potatoes are meant to grow below ground level. Not every gardening tip from the Internet is a good one.
Road maps are wonderful. If you’re driving. They don’t show changes in elevation, which are kinda a big deal when you’re on foot. Secondary lesson: Those ravines at least have waterways in the bottom for refilling your bottles. The U.S. Geological Survey provides topographical maps of anywhere in the U.S. (I’d bring a road map too. The topo maps can be pretty old, missing human-made features.)
Hey! That actually worked!
If you know your route has reliable (if impure) water sources, carrying the filtering water bottle is way lighter than carrying all the water for a long hike. Plus, you may get to sample all the unique flavors of various water sources. Glacial melt runoff beats hot springs hands down.
A compass and map never lose GPS signal. My meager skills were enough to find my hiking destination, but Salty’s got me a book so I can up my game. I’ll review it when I’m done with it.
Food’s everywhere in the fall. Those nasty, invasive, please-don’t-plant-them autumn olives do produce a Ton of fruit. It’s easy to pick and since it’s a roadside invasive plant, easy and free to reach. It’s ok to eat; not great.
This autumn olive tree, and about a hundred others, were loaded with edible berries in a local park.
Trying teaches a lesson better than reading
Even when the lessons are unpleasant — and some of them are a lot of fun! I learned the most when I got out of my comfort zone. May your lessons of 2019 be abundant and pleasant!
Mistakes are lessons IF you learn from them
True dat. Guess it’s a Double or Nothing: Make it a lesson, or it’s a second mistake.
Carrying an 18lb puppy all over the Rockies should have been a good clue about extra weight on a hike:)
Maybe I didn’t learn because I was distracted by the great company and scenery…