Renowned outdoorsman Cliff Jacobson, in a Scouting magazine issue of September-October, 2016, addressed the “Pitfalls of Impatience” in relation to actions taken during an outdoor activity. Cliff described four different scenarios that might reasonably be faced by a volunteer Scout leader:
(1) “We can’t get off schedule” – As stated by Cliff, “Pushing to make a timeline, particularly in bad weather, is a major cause of accidents.” In the scenario described, Cliff’s Scout troop decided to wait out some approaching weather during a canoe trek, rather than keep to a pre-determined schedule. It is pointed out that the event activity plan should be flexible enough to account for changes in the itinerary.
(2) “Been there, done that” – The point is made that “weather and human activity can quickly turn an ordinarily easy outing into a nightmare”, and that “clear heads typically prevail over those who act with over-confidence.” Cliff reminds us that each trip should be viewed with “fresh, clear eyes.”
(3) “There’s a great campsite ahead. We’ve got to get to it” – Cliff makes the point that getting to a pre-arranged campsite should not be undertaken at the expense of the physical condition and morale of the group. He makes the point that “most accidents occur at the end of the day when fatigue cloud’s everyone’s judgment”, and that “the health and safety of those in your group are far more important than reaching the ‘perfect’ destination.”
(4) “Others did it, we can too!” – Cliff makes the point that attempting to follow in the footsteps of a more experienced crew when traversing a challenging stretch of river might be foolhardy for a less experienced crew. The crew’s abilities should be matched to the challenges presented by an activity, be it hiking or canoeing, as opposed to blindly going where others have gone before, and who may be more experienced. “Macho thinking, with a dash of inexperience and impatience, can cause injuries.”
Good reminders all!