One for the Road
One of my favorite pieces of travel advice came from a hokey little magazine article about family road trips, but the advice is applicable to ski mountaineering trips or expeditions as well. The basic idea is to force yourself (and your partners) to spend one minute of contemplation before you take off going through a list of things you need to bring. Skisbootspoleshatglovesgogglesmoneydrugsfood?
Prepping for a trip always takes longer than expected and often ends with a last second dash for the car, squealing wheels and a mad rush out the door. It is only when you are twenty minutes down the road that you remember that your wallet/boots/jacket are right where you left them… safely back at the house.
Now you have to turn around, go all the way back, then back again, which makes you REALLY late.
The trick is to nip the panicked exit before it begins, which is right as the car key is heading for the ignition. Put the key down, look at the clock and force yourself to think for a full minute before you begin. The minute you spend could save you hours afterwards.
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Click the bag for 15% off from Backcountry.com on a burly MHW duffle.
Category: 14 Travel
Nice site. I’m hoping it will change my life.
Pretty sweet website Andrew. This one little tip is the brightest nugget in the pan! Have been trying to train myself to do this before minor trips like heading to work on my bike all the way up to major ski trips to Canada. Really pissed when I forget some gear and forget to run through the pre-ignition check list.
I’m going with the one minute pause next time.