EXPEDITIONS HAPPEN. PEOPLE GO TO AMAZING PLACES AND DO INTERESTING THINGS THERE. NOT ONLY DO THEY HAPPEN, THE HISTORY OF ALL OF US IS A RESULT OF EXPEDITIONS.
THAT SOME PEOPLE DO THESE THINGS AND OTHERS DON’T IS NOT RANDOM. THE PEOPLE THAT DO FOLLOW A BROADLY UNCHANGING FORMULA THAT PUTS THEM ON TOP OF K2, AT THE HEADWATERS OF THE MEKONG, AMONGST ISOLATED TRIBES OR THE MIDDLE OF THE GOBI. OVER THE MILLENNIA SURPRISINGLY FEW OF THE NUTS & BOLTS HAVE CHANGED – SUPERFICIAL THINGS LIKE FLIGHTS INSTEAD OF BOATS, TABLETS INSTEAD OF MAPS, GORETEX INSTEAD OF YAK SKINS – BUT THE BASICS OF GETTING FROM HOME TO SOMEWHERE MOT WILL NEVER SEE AND BACK AGAIN REMAINS A CONSTANT.
ALMOST DAILY AT FEEDING THE RAT EXPEDITIONS WE HAVE THE CONVERSATION; HOW DO I MAKE THE TRIP I WANT HAPPEN. WE NEVER TIRE OF IT BECAUSE THE NATURE OF THE BUSINESS IS INHERENTLY INTERESTING, BUT WE SEE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT EITHER OVER-THINK OR MISUNDERSTAND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. YES, EXPEDITIONS AND EXPLORATORY TRIPS ARE RICH IN DETAILS AND HAVE LOTS OF MOVING PARTS – BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS IT’S MORE STRAIGHTFORWARD THAN MOST THINK.
THIS SERIES OF ARTICLES EXPLAINS THE STEPS. OF COURSE EACH TRIP IS UNIQUE, BUT TO SOME DEGREE EVERY STEP NEEDS ADDRESSING AND WILL BE UNIQUELY DIFFERENT. IN ORDER, THE STEPS ARE;
OBJECTIVE WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
TIME HOW IT FITS IN WITH YOUR LIFE
MONEY PAYING FOR IT & VALUE FOR RISK
TEAM THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
GEAR THE THINGS YOU NEED
PREPARATION GETTING IN ORDER
STEPPING OFF SAYING GOODBYE & GOING
TURNAROUND COMING BACK & WHAT NEXT
NO ONE IS MASTER AT ALL THESE, BUT DEFICIENCIES IN ONE CAN BE MADE UP FOR IN ANOTHER WAY AND OFTEN THE GRAVITY OF THE OBJECTIVE OR THE ESPIRIT DE CORPS IS ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PUSH THROUGH. ONCE YOU FIGURE OUT THE EXPEDITION PROCESS AND HOW SIMPLE IT ACTUALLY IS IT BECOMES EASIER EACH TIME, BUILDING A LIFETIMES ACCOMPLISHMENTS OFTEN DREAMT OF BUT RARELY UNDERTAKEN.
