{The Great Outdoors}

To some, the Great Outdoors may sound daunting, including unfamiliar territory, inclimate weather, and the inability to ever truly Be Prepared {thank you, Boy Scouts of America}.

To begin, I am no wilderness woman or John Muir-lifestyle suitable wife. However, with a husband whose passion lies in the outdoors and west coast wilderness, I have come to truly enjoy being outdoors in a variety of ways, from mountain biking to hiking and {my favorite..} floating down the Deschutes River with a blended Dutch Bros. in hand!

Though you may never be truly prepared for anything, there are a few Aha! gems that help me prepare for an adventure that I would like to share with you.

1. Know where you're going

My husband is a classic under-stater when it comes to describing our soon-to-be adventures.  In preparing for an afternoon hike, I hear, "Oh, it's only about 2 miles, flat, and you can probably take a water bottle with you."  Ha! Reality?  A 5-6 mile hike, mostly uphill with 1,000 ft. elevation gain and we run out of water mid-way through.  Am I upset? A little.  Thirsty? Definitely.  Frustrated that I didn't investigate our little adventure ahead of time? YES!

Iknow he has my best interest in mind, and sometimes my husband's excitement gets the best of him {and me} as he leaves out a few details.  Still, I have found that the more questions I ask and research I do, the better prepared I ultimately am for our adventure. Does this mean I sometimes pack one too many peanut butter granola bars or Propels? Maybe.  Nonetheless, this rule results in a much happier me.

{Shoes make all the difference}

2. Wear Appropriate Clothing

This "tip" originally comes from my brother-in-law, Drew.  A recently-graduated apparel designer whose specialty is outdoor wear, Drew's theory on life is that a "horrible outdoor experience" could easily have been prevented.  Maybe wearing the correct shoes, remembering a rain jacket or investing the $5 extra dollars in moisture-wicking SmartWool socks could have made a world of difference!  To continue Drew's point, I 100% agree: wearing the correct clothing and being prepared for the conditions ahead saves an attitude and preserves a lasting memory.

3. Keep a Positive Attitude

No one likes a Moody-Molly, especially when group morale isn't at an all-time high {i.e. realizing that after 4 hours of climbing you reached a "false summit", and have another hour of climbing to go).  I don't feel the need to say much about this, as it is pretty self-explanatory. Just remember that it is clinically proven that fake it til' you make it  {or possibly just proven by my personal experiences..} may actually allow you to fake a smile until it becomes one.  Now, a real fact? Positive people have a higher likelihood of surviving in extreme outdoor situations.  Besides, happy people are friend-magnets. If that isn't convincing enough, I don't know what is!

{Smile like you mean it}

4. Take LOTS of Pictures

This is a personal addition.  In reviewing my library of iPhone photos, and those printed in scrapbooks and posted on my wall, I notice something: when pictures were taken of the beautiful/exciting parts of an outdoor activity, the more clear my memory becomes about the good, and why I embarked on that adventure in the first place.  Aside from this, everyone loves a good Instagram photo.

{Our glorious view from Mt. Bachelor}

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is my two-cents on how I better prepare myself for an outdoor adventure, setting up the experience to be a success.  Does this mean every trip is EPIC? No.  Does this mean I say yes to every fishing trip, cycling excursion or 6-mile run suggested? Not necessarily.  But it does mean I recognize that I am capable of making the most of my experience, and best of all, enjoying time spent with my #1 man.  Hopefully this encourages you to take a second look at exploring the Great Outdoors if you haven't already.

Cheers!

K