Outdoor Fundementals Everything you need to know to stay safe

I really appreciated the depth of knowledge provided by Professor Elizabeth K. Andre for her course - Outdoor Fundamentals: Everything You Need to Know to Stay Safe. She covers knots, clothing, packing, food preparation, weather, first aid with wisdom gained from personal experience. It also doesn't hurt that she is a former U of Minnesota graduate.

Her weather related tip: A low pressure system usually produces rain but there is a difference between warm fronts and and cold fronts. A warm front may bring gentle rain for a long time. A cold front in the summer can often produce strong short thunderstorms.

She provides great tips on minimizing injuries from cooking. To minimize the risk of scalding with boiling water, do not place your legs under the cooking stove  Instead, stand to the side if the stove is on a picnic table or work with the stove on the ground.

Her tips on food selection, personal hygiene, and clothing are helpful. Keeping dry and clean is very important. Wear layers and choose clothing that dries quickly. Consider that the caloric consumption will be higher on the trail because of the energy expenditure. With shared food, pour it into people's hands rather than allowing people to grab the food out of the bag.

Be careful about an aspirational decision. Are you making it because you want to have the experience or because it is a thoughtful one that takes into account the circumstances including the weather? I remember being caught in a rainstorm in a row boat because we were having too much fun fishing. We ignored the gathering storm clouds and got drenched before we landed on shore.

Her suggestions on risk assessment apply both to outdoor situations and in daily life. Decisions are best made when rested and with sufficient food and water. Decide big decisions by consensus rather than by a single group leader. The additional perspectives will serve as a check on the ideas of one person. 

Outdoor fundamentals - 2 minutes