#1 Backcountry Tool: Intuition
When I ask people what is their #1 backcountry tool, most people respond, “GPS”, “tarp”, “a good trip partner”....while these are all important for a successful trip, I’d like to talk about a tool that people often don’t realize they have. And it doesn’t weigh anything!
I’m talking about intuition - that gut feeling that you have when things are a “yes” or a “no”. I believe intuition helps us manage risk and make better decisions. Intuition can speak in different ways; it can be a feeling in our body such as tightness in the chest or throat or it can be a thought, “I’m not sure about this”. It can be an exciting buzz, a feeling of, “Hell, yes!” While some people are more in tune with their intuition than others, we ALL have this ability.
Intuition is something that hasn’t been valued through my life and I’ve actively worked to fine tune my intuition through my adult life - in both an outdoor setting and with personal life decisions. I’ve learned to pay attention the hard way. The decisions that I’ve regretted in the outdoors have been moments when I had a feeling that things weren’t quite right, but I didn’t have the confidence to speak up or slow down to make a better decision. On the flip side, not only has intuition helped me make better decisions, but it’s helped me find more joy in the outdoors. It’s led me to pick trip partners where we honor everyone’s wisdom. It’s helped me realize what aspects of places and activities make my heart sing.
Here are three ways to help intuition have a presence on your outdoor adventures:
Allow pauses in decision making and group discussions. Some people process information verbally while others process quietly. Some people need more time than others. Allow ALL voices to be heard in group discussions. Make space for FEELINGS, not just FACTS. It’s okay to say, “I’m not sure why, but this just doesn’t feel right”.
Develop your own daily practice of paying attention to your intuition. What does a “yes” feel like in your body? What about a “no”? How does fear feel in your body? Healthy risk? What happens when you’re not feeling safe?
Choose your trip partners wisely. Choose people that you feel comfortable with speaking out if you’re questioning something. Too often, people don’t speak up because they feel like imposters, but all information is totally valid in a group system.
Intuition can truly help us along the way. Perhaps a certain slope doesn’t feel safe to ski. Perhaps a certain campsite just feels like home. Perhaps it feels right to turn around and head back to the car. Whatever it is, speak up, voice what your intuition is telling you and make a decision as a group about what to do next. The more you use it, the stronger it will be.
