For him it represented a series of principles which guide the decisions and behaviours of an expedition’s members in order to achieve the maximum across the team with the minimum of stress. By 1974 he’d refined the idea enough to write 17 pages on it in his seminal “Wilderness Handbook” and it continues to be at the core of NOLS courses today.

Expedition Behaviour means being prepared, on time, organized, flexible and humble; seeing the humor in everything; exercising a tolerance for adversity, uncertainty and discomfort; and putting the needs of the group and others on the same level or above one’s own needs. Some people do it instinctively, others take a while but eventually, given the reality that wilderness places in front of us, almost everybody gets it.

Nowadays, NOLS defines Expedition Behavior as the following:

• Serve the mission and goals of the group.
• Be as concerned for others as you are for yourself.
• Treat everyone with dignity and respect.
• Support leadership and growth in everyone.
• Respect the cultures you contact.
• Be kind and open-hearted.
• Do your share and stay organized.
• Help others, but don’t routinely do their work.
• Model integrity by being honest and accountable.
• Admit and correct your mistakes.

Not just applicable to expeditions, I think they have a lot of relevance to all team endeavours, don’t you?

Find out more over at the NOLS website.

“While doing his national service in a Swedish infantry regiment, he trained for Alpine climbing expeditions by sleeping in a gravel pit. His tough, self-imposed programme included setting his alarm clock at random: if he woke at 3am he would walk 30km in full combat gear; if he woke at 6am, he would walk 60km. “I wanted to get used to living with the unexpected,” he said.”

The rest of the obituary further emphasises how dedicated this man was to both adventure and minimal impact techniques.

“Kropp aimed to tackle each expedition “in harmony with nature”, without support and leaving no trace of his passing. “It is important for me to leave nothing behind me on a mountain,” he said.”

You can read the rest of the obituary on the Telegraph website.

Photo from MountainZone.com.

A Wild Campsite

I’ve just returned from four days in the Brecon Beacons, working with Marlborough College on a life skills week for 180 fourteen year old students. My small part in this enormous logistical exercise was to run two 2-day hill walking expeditions for twelve of them at a time.

We were wild camping in remote mountain campsites with no facilities so we had a carry all of our equipment in our rucksacks. Despite being given a packing list, many of the students failed to being essential items or brought inappropriate items and learnt the hard way from their mistakes or laziness. There is nothing like experiential learning to drive the message home!

I was asked many times over the course of the trip ‘What’s in your bag then?’ and so I thought I’d share the contents of my rucksack here, so you can see what I need to survive 48 hours in the hills.

Camp Equipment

• 52l Rucksack
• Tent
• Sleeping Bag
• Inflatable Mat
• Head Torch

Spare/Camp Clothes

• Thermal Longjohns
• Puffy Jacket
• Spare Thick Socks

Clothing

• Thin Gloves
• Warm Mitts
• Fleece Balaclava
• Fleece Headband
• Pertex Windshirt
• Thin Fleece
• Softshell Jacket
• Waterproof Jacket
• Waterproof Trousers

Cooking and Eating

• Gas Stove
• Aluminium Windshield
• Gas Canister
• Plastic Spoon
• Insulated Mug
• Pan and Handle
• Lighter and Matches
• Sponge/Scrubber
• 1l Water Bottle

Miscellaneous

• Map
• Compass with Whistle
• OHP Marker (for writing on maps)
• Sharp Knife
• Sunscreen
• Sun Glasses
• Insect Repellent
• First Aid Kit
• Drybag with Phone and Wallet
• 2 Walking Poles

In addition I would be wearing Boots, Thick Socks, Underwear, Lightweight Trousers and a Wicking Top.