Rules of the Outdoors

Rules (of the Outdoors) ... and Things to Think About.

In general, be quiet. I don't want you to scare the creatures away. I want to see as much game as possible. And, you'll need the energy later on.
Don't ask other people to carry your stuff. If you're not willing to carry it, don't bring it.
When setting a pack down - make sure it can't roll or fall, or be bumped and roll and fall.
Avoid snow bridges, areas of possible crevasses, or other potential dangers.
Plan; let others know your plan; and stick to the plan.
Don't change plans, especially in a panic, or if you're cold, or tired.
Don't break the rules, especially in panic, or if you're cold, or tired.
Don't step on wet logs, or logs with rotten bark, or smooth, wet rocks.
Consider what would happen if you happen to miss the step, and fall.
Children - don't play with the fire - especially when [someone else is] cooking.
Consider collecting some dry wood and kindling for the next morning. If it might rain (which it might), cover it.
Coffee, if you're hooked - either bring some, or get off it ahead of time. Caffeine withdrawal, plus altitude, might not be fun.
Work gloves are nice for handling hot frying pans, or gathering wood.
Put your eyeglasses in a safe place at night. Maybe bring an extra pair. On a once-in-a-lifetime trip it would be a bummer if you lose a pair, or someone steps on them, or ... (fill in the blank) ... and that was your only pair.
Have an extra car key at the car - and show people where it is.
Altitude sickness ... drop a 1000 ft, and see if any difference. If still sick, drop another thousand, maybe two.
Double check - maybe even triple check - when breaking camp - that you aren't leaving anything.
In regard to the above, taking someone else's word for it, especially a child's, might be a bad idea.
Make sure things are fastened well, either to your pack, body, car, etc.; it's amazing what can come loose and get lost, or broken.
Cocoa mix, with instant coffee, is AWESOME.
No tennis shoes (except maybe for camp, or stream crossings). Wear boots: a) tightly laced; b) broken in, beforehand. Using the outing itself to break them in is stupid.
Consider: will those boots last the whole trip? If not, then what? And what about the laces?
Sharpen knives, etc. beforehand.
Stuff like clipping your toenails - deal with ahead of time. Long toenails jamming into the front of your boots on a long downhill stint - can be a bummer.
Think.
Prepare.
Keep your hands free (of carrying things). You'll get less tired. Also, you'll greatly reduce the chance of setting something down (or dropping it) and leaving it behind. In the terrain we like to go - you'll need both hands free.
With regard to the above - fishing rods. If you take a `stumble' carrying a fishing rod - you might find that when you get back up again, it's in more pieces than when you stared, some not intended by the manufacturer. (Ask Greg ... `remote lakes', remember?... been-there-done-that ... two rods in one fall.)
You may offer to carry other people's stuff, but you're not obligated to.
Make every effort to keep your feet (boots and socks) dry.
Along those same lines, endeavor to keep your clothes dry. It will be hard enough staying warm if you get stuck the night - or on a long break - in dry clothes. Wet clothes can be a real bummer.
Wear the boots you're planning to hike with ahead of time - preferably for multiple hours or multiple miles. Flat ground may not be good enough. Heal your blisters at home, ahead of time - instead of on a long hike.
Don't push, shove, rush, or crowd, especially in bad terrain, or at a summit. Don't carelessly pass on a tight spot on a trail with cliffs or other hazards off the side(s).
Don't run. Don't goof off. If you get hurt, it's harder to get you to a doctor.
Don't throw rocks in the lake - I may be fishing, or getting ready to fish.
In general, while climbing bad terrain with loose rocks, etc., don't get below or above others in the party. Take your turn going up, or down, in such terrain. If you do knock something loose, yell `ROCK!'.
If you're climbing and people are above you, and you hear `Rock!' ... get out of the way ... something may be coming your way. In fact, if someone is above you, plan ahead of time how you will get out of the way if you should hear ... `ROCK!!!'.
Do NOT roll or throw rocks unless you are SURE there is no one below. Likewise, there cannot be any cattle, vehicles, etc. below, unless you are willing to pay for them. I will be hiking and may be unwilling to come visit you in jail.
Don't forget t.p. ...
Redundancy: make sure you have extra in the things that are important.
Don't yell at or worry about the dog. Animals are `on their own' in the outdoors. If they can't hack it, then don't take them. That being said - you may have to rescue a dog once or twice on their first outing - till they learn what it's all about out there.
Don't use tracers in fire season.
Opportunity comes to the prepared ... this is true of the outdoors. One should consider having at close hand the gear, weapons, ammunition, cameras, etc. necessary to take advantage of what might come up. It's your fault if you aren't ready.
It gets dark fast in the outdoors, and it's irreversible. There are no street lights where we are going. It is a long time till dawn, especially in late autumn, winter, and early spring.
Do not set things down where they might get bumped, or of their own fall or roll down a hill. Some things like sleeping bags have round features that roll very well once they get started. Bummer if you have a sleeping bag roll into a creek. Been-there-done-that.
Don't set things down where they might get stepped on.
Do NOT step over or near other people's stuff. And likewise, your own stuff.
Don't set something down in any condition where you might leave without it.
Consider leaving radios ON. If you lose it, you might be able to find it again, with another one. Bring extra batteries. Replacement batteries are cheaper than replacement radios.
Always do a radio check BEFORE you need it. Distribute and turn on radios before you need them.
`Redundancy' applies to radio batteries, and even radios.
Digital cameral batteries need to be hot, fresh. (At least mine do.)
Sunglasses - if any chance of snow, or snowfields, even grain fields.
Girls who feel uncomfortable `doing their thing' in the outdoors, should do it beforehand. (Bummer on long trips.)
Let people, maybe several people, know where you're going.
One person at a time crossing fences, and streams.
This `one at a time' thing goes for other stuff, like crossing logs, tight spots on trails, summiting. Don't crowd.
Generally it is best to have at least two adults on any trip. Especially if there are children along, or people who would not be able to get out on their own.
Careful with sticks - we don't want anyone's eye getting poked.
Don't get so far ahead (or behind) that you can't hear.
Consider: could you find your way out, alone, if need be?
Do you have enough clothing in case the weather turns? Consider a tent, or other rain/storm protection - even if there are `no clouds in sight'.
Consider: what if you had to spend the night (unplanned). Could you?
Do you have anything to eat, drink?
Consider First Aid.
Bring any `personal' stuff you might need. (Stuff that doesn't weigh a lot - but is important. You know what I mean.) Hey, I'm not ashamed to take some A/D ointment - sometimes I need it.
Snake country - don't put your hands, feet, etc. in or near places you can't see - e.g., where a snake could be sunning, or shading.
Don't shoot [at] a snake in rocks. A ricochet could kill you way faster (and way deader) than a snake bite. In fact, don't shoot the snake at all, if doing so would in any way endanger you or others.
Take pictures, tell stories, write it down, while you can. The teachable moment, the memorable moment, is at hand, and will pass.
Sometimes fences are electric fences. If you don't learn about them from others - you will eventually learn about them yourself.
Porcupine quills can be extracted in the field ... if the victim is well disciplined. Otherwise your adventure just ended - and you're on your way back to town to the vet, or doctor.
Once in a lifetime, or maybe twice, you'll really get into the game. It would be sad if you didn't bring enough ammo.
Plan for GOOD contingencies (as well as bad).
Practice, shoot, and practice some more. I have missed game because I assumed I had practiced enough, when in fact I hadn't. It's better to go through 50 rounds in practice, and hit the one chance you get at game, than to assume 5 practice shots are adequate, and you miss when it comes time for the real thing. But keep things in perspective. Being a perfect shot will not get you into heaven (as much as it may feel like it). Don't be such a fanatic that it takes from your family, or religion. But if you've worked some overtime, and can take advantage of it; put your work aside, and go on out.
Go through your gear - and go through it again. Make sure it's there, and it works.
Do you know where all your stuff is?
This may vary in level of difficulty from person to person, but THINK (first); don't do stupid things, especially in the outdoors.
Make sure you have ammo, arrows.
Make sure you have all your guns and other equipment. If you took your weapon apart - do you have all the parts?
Make sure you have the appropriate licenses and permits.
Do you have permission?
Is your gun clean?
Do NOT set a loaded gun down, or lean it against a tree, or fence, or car. I am amazed at the number of mil people I see lean their weapon up against a tree, car, fencepost, wall. Hard on the sights when it falls over, hard on the working parts when it gets dirty, ... - in addition to the horror of a potential accidental discharge.
Don't even take a gun if it will pose a hazard.
Consider not taking a firearm. On second thought, with this wolf thing - maybe we both should carry. But let's be careful.
If you continue to jabber, do not be surprised if more things (maybe even rocks) are put in your pack to slow and quiet you down. (Ask Jonathan.)
If you bring a gun - don't just shoot and make noise. There may be a big buck, or ram, just outside of camp.
Don't leave trash; pack it out or properly dispose of it. I will be mad if I find out you left garbage, including wrappers, peels, etc.
Except for footprints, and some coals and ashes, leave the place looking as though you've never been there. The tracks will disappear in time. Coals are also produced by forest fires and lightning strikes, so eventually they'll blend in.
Don't sleep under a dead snag.
Really, I can't emphasize this enough ... think ... be careful. If you do something stupid at home, you can run inside and someone can take you to the doctor for stitches or whatever else you need. Outdoors, it's not that easy. You might get real cold, and hungry, and uncomfortable, waiting for us to get help. You might go into shock and die. And this assumes we'd be willing to help you.
Bring pets along only if they are not a nuisance, and if they do not pose any dangers. If your dog can't wait its turn at a fence, or along a tight spot in the trail with cliffs on one or both sides - then leave it/he/she at home - even if it/he/she is a hunting dog.
I'm not afraid to die - but I don't want to die hunting, or hiking, because I, or someone else, did something stupid. Almost-been-there-done-that.
The drive home will probably be more dangerous than the adventure itself. Don't drive if you're too tired.
Don't sleep too close to a stream ... you'll find it's wetter and colder. Don't sleep in a flash flood path.
Don't sleep on a logging road, trail, or some place where you could get run over.
Don't assume you can outrun a forest fire. Don't assume one can pass over or by you, either, and leave you untouched. Just make sure you never get caught in one.
Don't go around barefoot - especially off the road where your only transportation back to civilization requires your feet.
Don't put your boots too close to the fire. Wet boots are better than burned up ones. The fact that I even invited you on this hike indicates that to some degree I like you. But that does NOT mean I would be willing to carry you out if you ...
Don't do anything else stupid, or dangerous, or careless. Don't break any laws, in addition to these rules. If you are a nuisance, or are dangerous, or disregard the laws of the land, or if you are loud, or unpleasant to be around, or if you snore too loud, I will not take you next time ... maybe not even the first time.
If you are a child, I may cut you some slack - but don't count on it.