The Power of the List
On an average day, on my way to work, I find myself running back into the house having forgotten my coffee, lunch, sunglasses, my phone... Frankly, I am a forgetful person. But rarely do I find myself in the backcountry with my life in a large pack or managing avalanche terrain missing important pieces gear; for one good reason- I keep a list. I keep many lists, one for the various seasons and activities. I keep one on my phone for summer and fall road trips that I check while queuing up music for the drive ahead. I keep one taped to below my key holder in the winter for dawn patrol splitboard missions. Lists are powerful tools in the outdoor persons' arsenal, seasoned mountaineer to a new hiker. Here are some tips on how to make your gear lists and how to utilize them:
1. Make it While You're Packing: Making a list seems easy enough, but it's easy to forget things (the point for the list, ya know). So when making a list for a new activity or trip, set some extra time aside while packing and write down the items you are setting out for the trip. I just did this last week for an upcoming ski tour. It was an easy tour, but I spent a solid twenty minutes packing for the night before, writing my new ski list for the winter. Once I got the initial list made I sat down and went through it a couple of times to refine; adding stars to some things (beacon, probe, shovel, and extra warm gloves) and questions marks to others (my thermos koozie, goggles). Now, I have my list for the really early dawn patrols and big missions and I don't think I will forget anything.
2. Make Multiple: This one is pretty obvious, but sometimes the obvious needs to be said. Climbing and ski touring doesn't have a lot of overlap in terms of gear (excluding my beloved Waterbottle Parka) so having a list for each activity is important.
3. Keep it Accessible: Bruce Temper, avalanche expert and author of Staying Alive in Avalanche Terrain keeps his gear list below his rearview mirror in his car, because a list is useless if it sits in a closed notebook or silent phone. So while making a list and making multiple of them is great, not having one accessible is as bad as not having a list at all. This is probably the most important point I make today. Don't let the list get lost in a pile of spam mail or receipts. Stick it to your bathroom mirror, on your coffee maker, set a reminder on your phone, just don't let it get lost.
4. Reassess it Often: I get more gear monthly, so I often have to make a new list changing or adding things I bring. Sometimes even when I don't have new gear, I simply have been out more and discover I need to bring something different or don't need something at all. By coming back to my list often I also make sure I know I am using it (going back to keeping it accessible).
5. Keep it Simple: You will use a list if it isn't too specific or too long. Don't sweat the small things, sometimes I will forget a toothbrush on an overnight, but I won't forget my stove or sleeping bag, because I put that on my list. A list is more about the big picture to help you succeed on your next adventure.
