- Read all the guides, blog articles, and testimonials out there (a.k.a watch funny Youtube videos of people falling during river-crossings).
- Decide to purchase the cheapest most moderately effective gear out there (ultralight backpacking? Please, I can carry 25 k for years)
- Read more pack weight testimonials and realize that you’re an idiot. Return all your gear and spend days and days and days looking for the lightest spork out there.
- Cry over the money spent on the ultralight gear.
- Cry over the money spent on flight, visa and insurance.
- Realize that your fancy ultralight gear still doesn’t achieve the optimal 20% of your own body weight. Indulge on trying to put on some weight (hooray for tiramisuuuuuu, I mean proteins?…)
- Hike 28km one day and call it regular training.
- Read 10,000 handheld GPS reviews. Don’t waste your time, they all suck. Who gets lost in the wild anyway?
- Attempt to convince grandma that you will return alive and well.
- Pray that you will return alive and well.
The Intrepid Nomad 