Planning for the Essential Things in Your Adventures

The path that opens in front of you while walking truly has endless opportunities. Who really dictates which path you should take, especially when there is a fork in the road. At the end of the day the direction in which you choose to explore is really up to you. If you want to go left, who is there to tell you that is the right or wrong way to go? Now of course, if you have a set destination there does need to be a certain element of decision making along the way to ensure you continue heading in the direction required to make it to where you are hoping to get to. But does that mean that the left fork in the road is always the right one?

Last week I dove into the freeing elements of one’s journey. How for me, the trip itself is really more about the adventures of the journey going from Point A to Point B and not so much about the details of the how or when. But there are certain aspects of backpacking and tripping that does require some form of planning on the part of the adventurist. I mean, if I show up to Scotland with only Canadian currency, then you can bet I likely will not be able to purchase anything using cash. Or better yet, if I have dietary restriction or preferences and I don’t look into what might be available I risk being stuck hungry because there are no options for me along the way.

This is where guidebooks, social media pages and reaching out to those who have previously done the trip come in handy! Tips and tricks on where to find this and how to find that. Changes to the trail that are important to know. Great places to eat or stay the night. Bad places that you should not go to because its border-line wrecked their trip all together. All of this information can be key with planning your trip.

With about 5 weeks to go until I fly out on my first international solo trip, not to mention my first thru-hike, I want to enjoy the trip and be free to make choices along the way based on what I want to do when I want to do it. But I do know that without a certain level of planning, the trip could turn out to be incredibly challenging, full of barriers and maybe even halted. So, what am I doing to get the best of both worlds?

The first thing I did was purchase the most recognized and recommended guidebook for the West Highland Way (WHW). I have read through it and made notes such as where I am allowed to camp and where I need to have permits. Where the terrain is going to be more challenging than others and what the recommended itineraries are to make the most out of my mileage each day based on the timeframe I have to hike the trail in. I have noted possible accommodations that could work as a last minute “I just want a warm dry bed tonight” moment if I have been hiking in the pouring rain all day. I have taken note of food locations that do meet my chosen lifestyle for eating to make sure I have some options to explore Scotland cuisine. The guidebook so far has been quite useful. It also provides methods of transportation from every possible point of exit or entrance on the WHW so that if I need to leave the trail I can easily and quickly reference the best way to get into a town.

The second resource I am using is Social Media. Particularly, a Facebook page dedicated to tips and tricks on the WHW. Now granted, Social Media can be incredibly superficial, repetitive and often full of bullying and harassing comments, but it does have its useful moments as well. In between all of the repeated questions regarding where to camp, where to eat, where to this and where to that, I have found and recorded many other notes around items that are not listed in the guidebook. Like where to find water sources along the way, which “roads” may be easier than others and their opinions on the high road vs. the low road at the split. When people are going and the various different kinds of gear they are going to use based on the time of year. How bad the midges are and if one is going to be completely demolished by these little incessant creatures that I’m sure God had a use for when they were created. For those who don’t know, they are basically mini versions of mosquitos that don’t have a purpose to their bite but will eat you alive just the same. At least mosquitos use your blood for their livelihood which one could possibly argue that they then have a purpose? Ok…ya…I am sure I am upsetting the eco-system advocates but still….ouch… and itchy!!!

Ok back on track….The third resource and possibly the funnest one of all is YouTube! Exploring and watching the video vlogs of those who have done the trail before are so much fun! They can be entertaining and informative at the same time. I follow along on my maps and make little notes along the way based on where they are in their videos of things I want to take note of when I go. Seeing the gear people use and the varying ways they set up their tents, cook their meals and basically survive with just a backpack is always inspiring and motivational to keep in mind the reason why thru-hiking can be enjoyable.

Although backpacking is challenging and the mental game is off the charts, the fact that you can see people accomplish lengthy adventures is proof of what humans are capable of. The mental game for me is the most challenging when I get out there. In Ontario, doing any overnight backpacking is a challenge because I struggle with the anxiety of feeling like I am doing something wrong or against the rules. Often stealth camping is a requirement, as the trails near me do not condone overnight camping along the way which makes camping “illegal”. That is another topic for another day but the mental strength it takes to persevere through bad weather, tired body, stealth camping and missing the family is the biggest hurdle for me.

So, in conjunction with my last post, trip planning can be full of freeing factors that allow for spontaneous decisions but there still needs to be a certain level of planning involved to make the most out of the opportunities that lie ahead. Where do you like to get your information from when planning your trips? Regardless of how you like to plan…..get out there and set up the fun…..