Guys, not every adventure has to be unplanned and not everything planned is the best adventure. I went to China with no plan back when it was hard to get a visa, and it was cool but with hindsight more of a plan would have been helpful.

On the flipside there are things which require planning, even training, and which are awesome experiences. I almost feel like you wouldn't think a north pole treck would be an adventure because you'd take more than 10lb supplies and a tent

Well said and agreed...

But everything is relative.  I think the point of this whole thread though was to solicit ideas for Rupert's consideration, so every perspective here seems just as valid as any of the other ones, and they all seemed backed up by fairly badass stories, which lend them all additional merit.

The main idea though, from my perspective, is that you don't OVER plan, when you do NOT need to, and you try to limit what you bring to what will be required.  A trip to China sounds like you need some planning.  A 4 day jaunt doesn't require more than a yellow sticky note left on your refrigerator telling everyone when you'll be back.

Like I said before, I lived half a year in a 2 man tent... but I have also owned a 35' 5th wheel deluxe camper, with pop-outs, a queen bed, shower, and a TV.  It's up to you how much you want to 'rough it', what you take, what you don't take, etc. and that has quite a bit about where you are going and why.

I keyed in on this thread because at first I thought Rupert never even went backpacking and here he tells me he's been half way around the world humping a big frame pack.  I do think though that I could offer advice both on 'crisis' and on exploring, because I think I've had quite a bit of experience with both.  And while I have never been to the North Pole, I have been flown 200 miles North of Nome, into the Arctic Circle in a twin Cessna, with all the seats ripped out to accommodate me, 18 sled dogs, gear, and supplies for 2 weeks... and while I indeed had more than 10lbs of stuff, to my credit, I literally did NOT have 10lbs of EXTRA stuff:)

...it's all a balance, and the more experience you have, the better you are at finding the line that suits you.  Personally, I always like a challenge, so if I don't perceive the challenge to be too great, I MAKE it great, by planning less and taking less.  If the challenge is truly great then I do my best to prepare and research and make sure I make it back alive and in one piece... so I can come in here and tell you all my epic stories about how I made 'the impossible' my b###ch:)

There's a difference between "planning" and "preparation". You can head out for an adventure without planning much in particular, but you need to be prepared, in terms of knowledge, skills and adequate gear (or the resources to acquire it when needed) to keep yourself alive in the conditions you'll encounter.

Usually, the more you know, the less stuff you need.

Here are some guys that planned a ski trip and were obviously prepared for the unexpected avalance they encountered:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SwbP9WLX3fY&sns=em

I love that guy's voice as much as the imagery.  I bet it doesn't sound like that all the time.  That adventure took only one day.  And while you may never have the skills, planning, prep, whatever, to do that, you can always jump out of a plane for $100 any day of the week, with an experienced tandem jumper.  And while I guess it isn't perfectly safe, it isn't all that dangerous either. 

So if anyone out there can't find anything on TV, do a search online for a reputable skydive operator inyour area and see if they have any space left for this afternoon.  Chances are they will.  And all you have to do is show up an hour early and listen to them tell you not to do anything stupid and just go. 

Then, when you are standing in the door of the plane, and you realize there is no way back besides out that door...



...instead of yelling 'Geronimo', curse my name instead, as they launch you into the abyss...



And by the time you touch down safe and sound...



....you'll thank me:)

Nothing like doing it for real from a Cessna 180 - 1 foot on the step, the other on the wheel.  One hand on the wing strut and the other on the door and smoke cannisters strapped to your boots under the light blue, dark blue and green canopy.

nothing like watching sky divers from the local pub with a pint of Stella in your hand 

Oh this is exciting... thx for all the ideas. 

I am not sure 4 days is an Adventure... Going without the phone would not be such a big deal.  Explaining it to Sue would be the most difficult.  Be nice to catch up with them every now and again.  I just had 3 days offline, and Friday was only a half day, so I am not addicted to the computer anymore.

When I did my post College walkabout , it was 3 1/2 months in India/Nepal.  It was such a long time ago though.  I didn't ring home once, and sent Mum 2 cards.  My girlfriend at the time didn't want to talk to me when I got back. No idea why.   She was invited to come with me.

No 10 days meditation would be a step too difficult for me...  I get bored with my own company when going for a run, so that long in my head....  ahhhh never know what I might find!!!! 


Nothing!!!!!! 



Dogboy I did the tandem sky dive... Sue did the round canopy from 2000 feet, and had to jump herself, and I agree with her that has a bigger rush.... (But don't tell her I said so! )  At 10,000 ft, the land seemed a long way away, and so death (it is only the last fraction of an inch that gets you) was still a distant issue.

I do find it difficult to do anything without a purpose. So riding round on my bike needs an end goal. For 4 days, I could explore more of the west coast, to see if there are any hidden corners that I do not know about.    Thought... I could take my blow up kayak on my bike, and if the sea is calm, explore bits from the sea too....

>I did the tandem sky dive
I agree with you on all points.  But in my mind it's still up there as one of the best things you could do with $100, 2 hours, and absolutely no skills whatsoever and it comes with a big rush.

But if I ever took it seriously, I'd forget planes and buildings and just ski off mountains in France, like those guys in my video, above.  I've watched about 10 videos like that and I'm hooked on the idea.


>Thought... I could take my blow up kayak on my bike, and if the sea is calm, explore bits from the sea too....
I think our job here is done:)

QuoteI do find it difficult to do anything without a purpose.

Wow! You're like my evil shadow persona... or perhaps I'm yours.

I think most people would think my dad was one of the most driven people they had ever met. When I was 22 and told him that I couldn't think of one purposeful, productive thing in the world that interested me, he said

Quotet doesn't matter. Just keep doing new things and don't hurt others. Eventually, you'll either find the things you love or you will have lived a full and varied life and you'll be eligible for Social Security. Either way, it works out.

We locked heads a lot, but he actually knew the right things to say when the chips were down.

ergo:  I beg you to add that quote to the good quotes thread.  That one is worth remembering.

Done. At the risk of being self-indulgent, I have to add two things.

1. He prefaced that by asking with the earnestness that only a father can: "How old are you now?" (what mother asks that?)

2. When I said I had enough "youth crises" that I didn't think I would need a mid-life crisis, this was one of them. His followup suggestion was that I open a course catalog for the local university, and see if there's a single course in there that interested me. He said "Don't think about career or practicality. Just pick something you wish you had studied, but never did. Just follow your curiousity and see where it leads."

I picked a history course. It was a long and winding road, but 25 years later, I have a doctorate in history, five books to my name (two more in the final stages) and my work has taken me to Switzerland, to Wisconsin where I met my wife and has allowed me to live in Yosemite. It's not by accident I remember that conversation!

if there was a like button on that post, I'd click it 5x:)

Wow Ergo,, I will try to take that with me for when my daughter needs it.  Thanks.

Yes Dogboy, job done, thanks for all the help folks...

tandem always reminds me of the old PG Tips ad

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KqNnPrxzm3g

Had a friend back in the 80s who used to belong to a nudist parachuting team - not exactly great for tandem