06/23/2026
We are getting ready to hike the Wonderland Trail in August. In the past few days I have been going over my gear, checking out new gear... like hiking shoes... clothing... stoves. Getting physically ready by hiking 3 times a week, running and cycling. Freeze drying food and creating a menu... Excercising the 3 P's: Plan... Prepare... and practice.
As I was going over past backing lists and information I came across this memo I wrote about getting ready for whatever outdoor adventure I woud be leading and would send it to all the participants that had signed up for the adventure. The original title was... "An Exercise in Caring"... over the years it changed and morphed... into the following:
PROFOUND GESTURE OF RESPECT AND CARING
(PLAN, PREPARE AND PRACTICE)
During my time as an instructor for Rescue 3 International, I taught river safety and rescue skills. Whenever a piece of advice was truly critical, I made a point to repeat it.
Such as: I think that the following rules are important in rescue safety:
1. First, keep yourself safe.
2. Second, keep your crew safe.
3. Third, assist the victim (only when the first two priorities are secure).
Let me share that one more time, because it is the foundation of all the trips I lead and all the adventures, I participate in: First, keep yourself safe. Second, keep your group safe. Third, assist the victim.
Entering the outdoors without prioritizing my own safety is a heavy risk. Self-care is the hub that a successful trip revolves around. It is what ensures me—and the people beside me—are safe and enjoy the journey.
When I neglect my own preparation, a quiet chain reaction begins. Showing up without the proper physical conditioning or practiced skills means I might struggle to keep up. When that happens, I unintentionally become a burden rather than a partner. A minor challenge has the possibility to quickly escalate into a hazard, turning a trip meant for adventure and fun into a situation with multiple victims.
The best kind of rescue is the kind that never happens.* I think that true safety lives in preparation, prevention, and practice. I believe that checking your gear, training your body, and packing proper nutrition are the first and finest steps in self-rescue.
I think when I show up fully prepared it is my profound gesture of respect and showing that I care for my companions. If I am miserable, exhausted, or in pain, my focus naturally locks inward. But when I have prepared and practiced, my focus moves outward. I think when an entire group is looking outward, they can truly watch over each other, and create a safe, supportive space for everyone.
Taking care of myself is my responsibility. I must be deeply honest with myself. Take inventory of my gear, honor my limitations, and commit to improving my physical readiness. If I am going backpacking, I practice hiking. If I am going to be on a paddling excursion, I spend time on the water. If I am going to be a part of a cycling adventure, I get out and ride.
If I feel unsure about an upcoming trip, I ask questions or take a skills class. I do whatever it takes to honor the safety protocols: keep myself safe, keep my group safe, and protect myself from becoming a victim.
The outdoors will always bring the unforeseen. I step into nature for the unexpected—the sudden glimpse of wildlife, the breathtaking vistas, and sometimes the moments where an emergency tests me and because of my out-focus it gives me better opportunity to turning it into a safe and profound learning experience. When I plan, prepare and practice I become the main ingredient in the best kind of rescue: the kind that never happened...
*Les Bechdel River Recuse Quote.
