Please enable JavaScript.
Coggle requires JavaScript to display documents.
Hiking Trip Action Plan - Coggle Diagram
Hiking Trip Action Plan
Specific
Rest before the trip
Depending on other activities going on this might be difficult, like how this trip played out. I had three days of rest since the last trip and a lot of that time was dedicated to unpacking, cleaning, homework, then repacking. It just felt very rushed and I didn't have a ton of time to just relax. I feel like it could've been beneficial to take a day off or half a day off and just do nothing to recenter myself. So the next trip I go on I will take the time to make sure I am mentally prepared and rested enough for the trip, it plays a big part in enjoying the trip.
Injury Prevention
I've had this issue with my knee for a few years now, I think starting in high school XC. It comes back every now and then and the last 2 days of the trip I noticed the discomfort creeping up. I've noticed going downhill is the main cause of pain for it. I just need to keep this in mind while being out there especially with a 40lb bag on my back. It wouldn't hurt going slower, or investing in trekking poles to help prevent pain and discomfort. Effort to take some weight off my knee. I could also go some very basic leg exercises to try and strengthen the muscles and tendons in my knee as well. This can also relate to my first point of taking rest. If I notice it getting worse, I should get off my feet and let it heal/not hurt.
Lessen weight of my back
It would be helpful to weight all of my gear. It was just difficult to get a scale to be able to without bringing everything I own to the compound, but doing that will help me understand how much things actually weigh and be able to pack a little lighter. Maybe switch things out for lighter things, mix things around and try stuff out. I can always try to repack my bag and see if I can try and get it lighter.
-
Measurable
I will be able to tell if I am rested for the trip or not during the trip. I'd have a lot more energy at dispense.
If done correctly, I will see less knee pain. As long as I pay attention to it. I will for sure notice if my efforts of injury prevention aren't working. At that point, it would be worth seeing a doctor to identify what's going on exactly.
I will be able to see if I can get the same amount of gear or same use of gear with a lighter weight. If it doesn't work I'll have to settle with a 40lb back, but I'm sure I can go lighter.
This one might be hard to measure, but I can be small bits of communication like simple group conversations to gauge how I'm doing in terms of talking to the group. If I'm still unsure of what to say in situation I can talk to leadership students or Steve and Casey and see what they think I should do or say.
Appropriate
This is something I need to work on, giving my rest some necessary rest, I always just want to keep going and doing stuff. I need to give myself a rest every now and then so I can keep doing the things I wanna do without being exhausted. For sure needed being in this industry where you'll go through spots of just constant work not being able to full rest until you go to sleep. Something to keep in mind.
It would be great to be able to do these activities without it hurting to take every other step. I want to get the fully experience out of things and that will be difficult with that kind of discomfort and pain. For sure something I'd like to address before it's always like that.
Being able to pack lighter will allow me to have less on my back, which ultimately cause me to have less weight on my knee as well. Back to injury prevention, walking around with a huge bag is not good to my knee. So being able to lessen the weight will help with that as well. I can also relate this to taking rest, it will allow me to not be as tired after hiking a couple miles. Meaning I can have some more energy in the tank left.
For sure a needed skill to have if I want to work anywhere in the outdoor industry. Even just everyday life this is a useful skill to have. I've always been quiet and I want to change that. This is part of why I join the program as well. To help improve my leadership and communication skills.
Realistic
This shouldn't be that hard to achieve, it's all just fitting some rest into my schedule. This is relevant with trips and just normal school days. I feel like I'm always doing something, It wouldn't hurt giving myself an hour or so of time to chill and regather myself. For sure achievable.
I'm hoping this is achievable, It's hard to tell if this is something I can fix. This might be more of a keep an eye on it and address it accordingly. It would be nice if I am able to fix this, but knees don't tend to like to be fixed that easily.
I can for sure do this, I already have a few ideas on how to lessen the weight. So when I get the scale out and compare everything it'll be much easier to actually do it.
I'd say this is a realistic goal to give myself. It will for sure take some work, but its do able. Might take some time as well. This isn't a semester or a year long effort. I'd imagine this kind of thing takes some time, but its something I want to work on.
Time
I can work on this basically everyday I'm busy. Just say to myself alright after you finish this rest for a little bit and then keep going with what you were doing.
Basically everyday, anytime I'm walking downstairs or carrying something heavy I have to keep an eye on it. For the most part just walking won't upset it, it's more of going downhill and those kinds of motions that cause it to start feeling uncomfortable. I don't think there will be an end time for this, it might be something I'm always going to have to work on and keep an eye on.
For sure when I'm packing for a trip I can work on this. I can also do this if I'm bored and just wanna give it a try. I hope to have my back dialed by next fall for those upcoming trips, but we will see. Things always change and ill get more gear and have to adjust it some more, but as for my 4 essentials kit and just normal stuff I bring, I'd like to have that part dialed down.
I can practice this basically whenever were working in a group. I can try to contribute something to the group and work on communicating to everyone. This is another one of those things that can always be practiced and always worked on, there isn't necessary an end point for leadership and communication skills.
Evaluated
It would be good to see by next trip I am fully energized and ready for the next couple days to the activity we're doing. That would be a good goal to set.
Anytime I do any physical activity I can address that situation to see if it got upset at all. It's not always instant, it tends to slowly get worse, so If I notice it start hurting I can point more attention towards it so it won't get worse. A goal would be to be able to not have to worry about it that much, but now with the amount of walking I'm doing around campus, it feels fairly prone to getting worse.
A goal of mine will be to have the same style trip but bring the weight of my bag down my 5lbs. That feels fairly realistic. A good starting point, I wouldn't be sacrificing things I need for weight. It would help take some weight off my back and legs.
A goal would be to be able to drive the conversation of a disagreement into the right direction, because there's always going to be a disagreement somewhere. After every bit of communication with a group I can reflect on it and see what could have gone differently and how it could have been handled better and save it for next time
Reviewed
At the end of a busy day. I can ask myself if I'm exhausted and if I could've used more of a rest and make adjustments from there. Or before a trip just see if I'm good to go. Or even after the trip I can ask myself if I could've rested more, or if I was good.
It the pain and discomfort gets worse or more often I will have to do something more drastic then just keeping an eye on it. I'd probably end up going to the doctors to get a CT scan or MRI of it. Forgot which one it would be. I might end up doing that anyways over the winter break just to see if there is anything really wrong with it and if there's anything I can do. I've gone to the doctors before for it and basically all they said was to just keep an eye on it. That was about 2 years ago, so It wouldn't hurt going back. If it gets worse I definitely will. See if there's any specific workout I can do to help strengthen it at all.
I hope this goes fairly smoothly, If I'm unable to get the weight down I would just have to settle for a 40lb back. I'm sure I can bring down at least 5 pounds though. If it doesn't work it would be very helpful to get the scale out and compare the weight of everything and make adjustments according to that
If what I believe is the right thing to do in situations thinking from the leadership perspective turns out to not work, I can always speak to someone with more experience on this topic (TA, instructors, peers) and see what they think. There's always room for improvement in this topic. You might always have to adjust plans according to the group, something I want to be able to recognize quickly and make those changes.