Readiness Principle
The readiness principle operates equally for very different outdoor challenges. An extreme example, readiness is essential for a trio of twenty-something mountaineers expediting an extreme accent of the mountain spire Cerro Torre in the southern Patagonia of Argentina. At the other extreme, readiness operates for a frail advanced age bird-watcher strolling with cane a short asphalt nature trail loop in a local suburban natural area. Successful outcomes in outdoor activities, at every level of challenge, require personal and group readiness equal to the challenge undertaken, no more, no less.
The readiness principle operates in outdoor research, too. Whether a field ornithologist doing roadside point-counts of singing breeding birds in rural Midwestern forests and fields, or a glaciologist sampling snow layers in a study pit hand-dug deep in Antarctic ice sheet snow, successful outcomes in outdoor research, at every level of challenge require readiness.
The readiness principle applies to outdoor occupations, too. Whether employed as a rural meter reader for a utility company, or a professional bush pilot serving remote hunting camps on Alaska’s north slope, successful outcomes in outdoor employment at every level of challenge require readiness.
Successful outcomes through personal and group readiness are the product of acquired ability and preparedness, and team work, not solely a product of natural ability, or investment in high-tech equipment, least of all, luck. Acquired ability results from developed knowledge, skills, and experience; a result of study, training, and guided repetition. Preparedness results from integrated planning and preparation systems followed by implementation systems in the field. Readiness is systematic. Readiness is not innate.
Readiness rewards. Readiness enables more consistent control of consequences. Not just reducing undesirable consequences, but increasing desirable consequences for greater rewards in outdoor experiences.
Readiness is seamless. Readiness is integrated with social systems and with ecological systems. Readiness is ‘built in’ at home and at work. Readiness is a part of family life at home and in the great outdoors.
Readiness is with you, not on you. Readiness can’t be carried in a shirt pocket or a daypack or stored in a box in the trunk of your vehicle–seek knowledge beyond the internet, develop skills through training and practice, obtain and test equipment, gain experience little by little–go outdoors and do it.
What is a successful outcome? Is it a bagged peak? a rare bird sighted? a bag limit of ruffed grouse? a twenty-five mile day for a through-hiker on the Appalachian trail? a below zero, blanket camping night out? an enjoyable stroll around a loop of a nature trail? an enjoyable family picnic? a safe road trip and family hike in a state park? a new scientific hypothesis tested in a remote jungle canopy? an outdoor job well done; or is it more than all of these?
Readiness is demonstrated by more than mere success in a chosen endeavor. At the core, outdoor readiness is an ethic of personal and group responsibility for the social and ecological impacts of our outdoor activities; recreational, scientific, professional and commercial.
We define success as follows:
1) Enthusiasts go outdoors and do it, they seek outdoor fun and challenge and gain outdoor appreciation regularly. They achieve their outdoor objectives consistently.
2) Enthusiasts return home under their own power as planned from outdoor pursuits, safe and healthy as when they left home, enriched by the experience consistently.
3) Enthusiasts leave nothing behind in the outdoors, no trash, and take nothing away that is extraneous to the their chosen pursuit.
4) Enthusiasts leave the outdoors much as they found it, without unnecessary impacts that do not quickly recover, or in the extreme, recovery is complete within in one growing season or harvest cycle.
5) Outdoor researchers and outdoor professionals work to minimize outdoor impacts and consumptive impacts by maximizing the use of best practices so natural resources and outdoor recreation resources remain sustainable.
6) All who use and enjoy our wild places and green spaces advocate and demonstrate sustainable practices and responsible use of natural resources so future generations may fully experience the great outdoors. Success means paying forward.
Outdoor Readiness is demonstrated, not awarded. It is not proven by a resume of certifications. Outdoor Readiness is success through competence in outdoors activities. Enjoy and protect our great outdoors and our opportunities to enjoy our great outdoors.
We will discuss readiness topics and readiness ethics in detail as we build our team and we build this site. We supply readiness training and we will supply essential equipment in the near future.
Please read our Readiness Disclaimer. Inherent risks, objective hazards, and human error impact outcomes of all outdoor activities, particularly those activities pursued in wild places away from engineered safety systems prevalent in our daily lives. Go outdoors and do it, at your own risk!
The Outdoor Readiness Team
© Thomas Bain, Outdoor Readiness 2011-2017. All Rights Reserved.