One of the most satisfying things about learning the basics of any sport is that once you’ve built a foundation of fundamental skills, you are better able to appreciate its finer points.
Know Before Your Go
With every skill we add to our outdoor tool kit, we unlock a broader appreciation for the greater experience.
The same logic applies when increasing our safety knowledge in outdoor environments – even if the landscape seems deceptively familiar.
The ability to recognize dangerous plants and insects, potential avalanche areas, rip currents, and changing tidal heights, and the knowledge of safe places to set up camp and areas to avoid during hunting season – could all potentially save your life. Deeper local knowledge, such as whether an area is a dark sky preserve, or has fire bans in effect, can also help you be a better user of shared spaces, as well as to keep from running afoul of area rules and regulations.
The Dunning–Kruger Effect in the Outdoors
The Dunning–Kruger effect is a cognitive bias in which people with limited competence in a particular domain overestimate their abilities. As it relates to outdoor pursuits, competence includes both your sport’s specific skill set, as well as the local knowledge of a given area that you need to practice that activity safely.
Money aside, at no time in human history has it been so easy for us to hurtle ourselves from one point on the globe to another and set forth on outdoor adventures in places that may, at first glance, seem familiar as our own backyard. The thing is, a remote, unfamiliar location is not your backyard, and your lack of understanding could be your downfall.
Every Part of The World Has its Unique Hazards
A wild berry that looks almost exactly like one you can eat back home may be highly toxic if eaten elsewhere. Even beautiful seashells, which might resemble ones we’re used to seeing on beaches back home, can hold a deadly surprise. The creature in the photo below is a cone snail, which packs a venom strong enough to kill an adult human.
“It Rained in The Mountains Today”
A powerful example of ‘local knowledge deficit’ is from the book A Hunter-Gatherer’s Guide to the 21st Century, by Heather Heying and Bret Weinstein. The authors recount an experience they had while visiting Central America, in which the family paused from a day hike to cool off and swim in a calm, clear stream.
A local farmer stopped and said, “It rained in the mountains today.” The father replied “Oh, that’s nice,” and the family continued swimming. Only after the man, whose English was limited, repeated the phrase twice more – each time more emphatically – did they realize he was trying to warn them. Within minutes, the calm, clear stream transformed into a raging torrent – because it had rained in the mountains that day. The locals, who understood the implication of this, knew to stay out of the river.
Our Own River Experience
In Central Texas a few years ago, my partner and I launched our fishing kayaks into a lazy-flowing stretch of river, downstream from a large reservoir and hydroelectric dam. This calm waterway, where we’d both paddled many times before – was suddenly swollen with twice the volume of swiftly running water. We’d launched so quickly that morning that we’d missed the hydro facility’s loud warning klaxon, which indicated a water release was imminent.
We returned to shore safely, but with some difficulty fighting against the swift current. Much like understanding the significance of “it rained in the mountains today,” better local knowledge would’ve helped us that day. We later learned that the power company released more water on weekday mornings, when energy demand was highest. Had we taken more time to survey our surroundings and also had that bit of local knowledge, we would’ve waited a few hours or chosen another day to paddle.
Things Outside our Knowledge Base
An example of local knowledge, one that might not be on everyone’s radar, is that of recreational trails in Alberta, Canada, where oil and gas activity is present. Someone newly arrived to the West Bragg Creek area of Kananaskis Country might not recognize the smell of rotten eggs in the air as a possible indication of danger: poisonous H₂S gas from wells or pipeline leaks. For someone familiar with the area, smelling the odor might indicate the need to retreat upwind, and to avoid the area until it’s safe to return.
Whether it’s recognition of typically venomous snakes, knowing the local tide range, river flow patterns, or knowing the subtle difference between an edible berry and its toxic lookalike, having insight into an area’s unique characteristics is of vital importance.
Gaining Local Knowledge – Not the Hard Way
For most outdoor pursuits, whether local or far-flung, it’s best to go with a group – preferably one that includes an experienced local or two. A local guide can help teach you the ropes when it comes to area hazards, etiquette, and best practices.
Here are some ways to acquire the local knowledge that can help you stay safe:
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hire a local guide, visit local outdoor shops and ask about areas you’re visiting
- join an outdoor group whose members are familiar with the area your visiting
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check hiking, biking, or other activity apps (e.g., AllTrails, Trailforks) for area updates and read current and past trail reports
- use all of your senses to survey your environment (what is different or changing in terms of odors, weather, animal scat on the trail, sounds?)
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review hazard overlay maps (smoke, fire, weather, etc.) in navigation apps such as Gaia GPS. See our article about some of the most useful Gaia Map Overlays
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read sport-related guidebooks for the area. (While not sport specific, guides such as Lonely Planet can offer valuable insight on a locale)
- attend local outdoor education classes in areas you’re new to – (we recently attended a course in bear safety at the University of Calgary)
If you’re exploring any new area, it’s important to gather as much information as you can, from every possible source, and also remain aware that there are probably some big gaps in your knowledge.
Stay aware of your own cognitive biases, learn some local knowledge, and stay safe while doing what you love!
For hiking safety tips, see the article Hike Smart, from the US National Park Service.
