“Be Prepared!” - We hear this phrase all of the time. It has been the motto of Scouting America since 1910. We can apply it to all aspects of life; but, what does it mean to “be prepared” for Swamp Base specifically?
The first principle of Leave No Trace is to plan ahead and prepare. This is normally taken very literally. Finding a trek date that works for your crew, arranging travel plans, making sure you have the necessary training and forms completed, gear is purchased and packed, and you have familiarized yourself with the trek route and program outline often fill the forefront of most people’s minds. These are, of course, extremely important parts of preparation for any high adventure trek.
However, I encourage a little thought outside of these typical preparation tools. The Scout Oath challenges us to be “physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight”. These three virtues are vital to being prepared.
Preparing physically for a Swamp Base trek can be a key component to confidence and comfort. Practice days with your trek crew that help you familiarize yourself with paddling, stearing, swimming, getting in and out of a canoe in deep water, and more, in a variety of weather can help you prepare for a long day in the swamp. There are no currents here at Swamp Base, so every paddle stroke counts. Even if you can’t get out in a canoe, exercises that can help improve your paddling endurance can make those long days feel shorter.
Preparing mentally can be extremely important as well. Sitting in a canoe, exposed to the elements for 8 to 10 hours a day, with the same people for a week can be mentally exhausting. Being familiar with the route, taking full advantage of water and swim breaks, communicating well with your canoe partner and crew, understanding environmental factors, and keeping a positive attitude can make the 61.6 miles feel like a breeze. Let’s face it, no one wants to be stuck with a “negative Nancy” for 5 days.
Remaining morally straight is one of the most overlooked preparation tools. This is because the benefits don’t always directly benefit you personally. Moral preparation means that you cleaned all your dishes, used facilities and equipment respectfully, and left the environment better than you found it. While this may not directly benefit your trek crew, it can certainly make or break the crew behind you. Coming into a messy, smelly campsite at the end of a long day can tank morale, but coming into a clean and organized campsite can be the icing on the cake. Volunteering to help with kapers at Camp Atchafalaya, assisting Quartermaster staff with unloading the trailer and cleaning gear, and keeping your trek guide sane by having your gear ready on time in the morning are all great ways to set a Scouting example and prepare for your trek ethically. Remember someone always lives downstream. The Atchafalaya Basin is a prime example of the fact that what you do upstream has profound effects on those downstream of your actions, whether they are good or bad.
If you have read this far into this blog post, then you are well on your way to being prepared for a Swamp Base trek. Stay tuned and “Be Prepared” for more posts to come as we ramp up our Preaux Tips blog.
Comments