The Layering System - An essential to surviving the great outdoors!

The layering system is a devised strategy used for regulating your body's temperature while out and about whether it be a gentle walk up to the top of a local hill or ice climbing in winter conditions across a froze glacier abroad. 

Depending on who you ask about the best method for layering some will advise a few thick and heavy layers while others will often recommend plenty of thin layers. Either way works in order to sufficiently trap and maintain body heat whilst on the move but in my opinion, I would recommend plenty of thin layers due to the fact they are easier to adjust; giving you more precise control over your body's temperature as well as the fact that once the layers are removed they are lighter to carry and pack down smaller in your rucksack than thicker, heavier layers.

Looking at one of the most generic structures for layering used in the outdoors today below is a list of layers and the purpose is layer is designed to fulfil.

Base Layer- The base layer is designed to wick away any perspiration that would otherwise collect on the skins surface, as well as managing to trap a small amount of the body's heat in doing so. Creating a thin layer of warm air between the base layer and the skin's surface. Avoid using materials such as Cotton as a baselayer because once it becomes wet, it stays wet and cools quickly especially when exposed to wind or air, this will draw away all of the heat that would otherwise be trapped by the layering system. Good examples of base layers are thermal underwear, technical t-shirts and merino wool fabrics.

Mid-Layer or Insulation Layer- The Mid-layer or Insulation Layer is the main layer used in order to completely trap and maintain the body's heat. Sweat is always wicked further away from the body through use of breathable mid-layers. Mid-layers can constitute of a light or mid-weight fleece or softshell material.

Outer Layer- The outer shell works in order to repel any wind and rain and protect your other layers from becoming damp and exposed to the elements. The outer-layer is often made up of a light-weight, packable jacket and trousers that can be packed towards the top of the rucksack for quick access in case of a heavy unexpected downpour. The outer layer should also be breathable so that it continues to wick away any perspiration collected by the other layers and completely remove it from the body and layering system. You will often find the most common fabrics used in the outdoor industry to carry out this purpose are Event, Gortex and Pertex aswell as others such as Paramo.

        Figure 1. A diagram of how the layering system works (Backpacking Light, 2015).

Figure Reference: Backpacking Light, (2015). The Layering System. [Image] Available at: http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/layering-system.html [Accessed 4 May 2015].

Outdoor Adventurous Activities- Physical Endurance or Technical Skills?

A topic of conversation that often arises when looking into Outdoor Adventurous Activities and everything that they consist of is the argument of are they purely sports designed and catered for athletes who have a high tolerance and physique for competing and performing or are they a little more complex than that looking at the technique, body position and co-ordination required to succeed in various activities within the Outdoor Industry.

From my personal opinion I would see majority of outdoor activities to be a balance of both characteristics but on closer inspection; examples such as Kayaking I would see as having a larger proportion of Physical Endurance required than technical skill seeing it as a hands on, quick on your feet style of sport. In contrast I would see Canoeing as a gentler, technical sport although it does require physical endurance to initially power the canoe, once up and running the sport requires a more technical stroke in order to maintain the boat’s drive through the water. When the title ‘Canoeing’ is mentioned my initial interpretation, when I think canoeing I picture the classic Native American paddling along a vast open expanse of lake, calm, relaxed and tranquil in setting as the canoe softly glides on route to its destination. Within this visualisation can be seen some of the personal prejudices I have picked up taken from my background in Outdoor Education as each individual will interpret each sport differently.

                                Figure 1. Kayaking on White-Water (The Kayaking Journal, 2011).

The technical skill side of activities appears as part of the muscle memory section of learning as you aim to improve and perfect your technique you compile methods and stages of memory in order to allow you to know as well as feel when you’re completing that technique correctly. In water-sports particularly such as Kayaking, Sailing and Dragonboating all from my personal experience the thought of ending a session less focused on physical endurance and instead more focused upon achieving the best possible technique in order to end on a high note is a key importance in the coaching of individuals. If as a coach you are able to get the participant to finish each session on a good point having achieved even the slightest of things from the session this will in turn gradually improve the person’s abilities, boosting their self-efficacy along with their confidence. The last strokes of a session are the ones the paddler will recall at the start of their next session in order to build upon being at the fore-front of their minds; in this case if the paddler ends the session with a poor, un-coordinated technique thus will set the foundations for error and bad habits along the paddler’s development stage.

Figure 2. Dragonboating (Georgetown Penang Heritage Site, 2009).

In evaluating all this I believe that the physical endurance side can be developed by individuals over time by committing to the activity and perceiving throughout training and competitions aspiring to have the attitude to want to do better, whereas the technical skill side of the activity is part of the core fundamentals of all sports and these should carry the weight of most coaching sessions whilst also aiming to strike a balance somewhere between the two characteristics.

Image References

Georgetown Penang Heritage Site, (2009). Penang International Dragon Boat Festival - Georgetown Penang Heritage Site. [online] Available at: http://georgetown-penang.com/cultural-events/penang-international-dragon-boat-festival/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2015].

The Kayaking Journal, (2011). Are you nuts? Why White Water Kayaking?. [online] Available at: https://kayakjournal.wordpress.com/2011/09/26/are-you-nuts-why-white-water-kayaking/ [Accessed 28 Apr. 2015].

Versace or Vesuvius

Comparing the world of fashion to the wonders of the outdoors!

You're probably wondering what the heck has the likes of Hugo Boss and Armani got in common with the setting of the outdoor environment? Well the answer is that one simple concept links this pair of completely dissimilar topics and that concept is change.

The world of catwalks and expensive designer brands wouldn't be what it is today without the adaptation of change and on that thought neither would the great outdoors.

Fig. 1. Lindsay Lohan dressed to impress

Imagine a world without change!! Where the latest designer handbag is the same as the last. How then would top name brands be able to slap the asking price of high end retail at hundreds of pounds on something consumers already own in their dozens? They wouldn't is the answer! Without change there's nothing. People would get bored of the same old same old, they would be living their lives following a set routine, making the same mistakes day in and day out. Without this element of change in the world where would we be? Would we even exist??? Who knows if it wasn't for change we wouldn't even be here right now! Instead it could be a pack of Tyrannosaurus Rex's roaming around in deserted wasteland. So as you see 'Change' is a powerful thing. Similar to the Outdoors what is there to achieve and discover in a world where all has already been achieved?

A walker braves the weather, venturing out in a Scottish winter

The landscape and environment is constantly changing, if tides remained consistent there would be no need to measure them, they would be predictable to a tee. But where in a world without change in which we could predict everything would the so called rush of adrenaline we experience while doing breath-taking things? Sadly it wouldn't in my opinion.This provides yet another example of why we need change in our lives in order to succeed and enjoy life. Where is the most challenging and changing environment? in my opinion its the outdoors, the need for quick on your toes decisions at the blink of an eye and the ability to take a large leap into the dark with the faith that you can make a change is certainly one of the many aspects that the outdoor environment has to offer as well as one of the driving points that has fuelled me to obtain a degree in Outdoor Education where I seek to make my change, where will you make yours?

In this day and age so much has been achieved already by our peers and our predecessors yet most of it is taken for granted, why aim to follow modern trends and social norms when you can aim to be different and achieve the unachieved! Whilst waiting for the train the other day I was sat at the station and as I quietly looked around at the busy, rushing world that surrounded me something stuck out that I noticed, a large billboard; ignored and unnoticed by so many as they rushed past it living their lives without change. On this board, which was quite large in size there was a lovely relaxing image of a kayaker sat on a calm section of water, resting. It was not only the irony and juxtaposition of a quiet moment buried within a such hectic place but also that the caption of the image presented the phrase of 'Here to perfom' which I feel strongly sums up our being on this Earth. Some of you may ask how is it we are to perform? My answer to that question is simply to make a change and contribute to the world of change we live in!

The outdoor industry is the only industry I know of where I'm able to reach out and touch the void, or create change trying if I fall short of my acquired goals. With this in mind I feel that equally there is an industry out there suited and catered for each unique individual where we can succeed in creating change.

Fig. 3. 

 "We must walk consciously only part way toward our goal, and then leap in the dark to our success. "  - Henry David Thoreau

References

Fig. 1. Image of Lindsay Lohan dressed to impress. Taken from: http://celebritybagstyles.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-o-matic/cache/c2bd1_lindsay-lohan-gucci-handbag.jpg on the 12/11/14
Fig. 2. Image of a walker, venturing out in a Scottish winter. Taken from: http://apaddleinmypack.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/whw-walk.jpg on the 12/11/14
Fig. 3. Image of a leap of faith, into the dark. Taken from:http://www.investerarcitat.se/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Henry-David-Thoreau-300x200.jpg on the 12/11/14

In the Outdoor Industry is Risk the key to Growth?

In many aspects of the outdoors and numerous other industries it is argued that risk is required in order for participants to grow both independently and in a team environment. Philosophers such as the writings of Mark Jones who when speaking at the Conference presentation on risk at Tawhitkuri New Zealand in 2002 refers to uncertainty providing us with risk and that risk being the key to growth.

It is sure to ascertain that if risk is required for growth then that risk should be controlled and measured such as examples of Marcus Bailie who is the Head of Inspection for the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority (AALA) refers to the method of his safety triangle which demonstrates the balance of controlled measures, hazards and benefits.

Fig 1. The Safety Triangle by Marcus Bailie (AALA).

Others such as (Mortlock, 1987) refer to unmeasured risk leading to the fourth stage in his 4 stages of adventure which is Mis-adventure.  This mis-adventure develops physical and psychological damage to participants along with promoting feelings of dissatisfaction and self-rebuke. These feelings are very commonly associated with the participant of the activity losing control, due to being stretched too far. It is simply a case of too much too soon and can force fear and worry into participants, there is always the risk of occurring when Risk is used by Outdoor Educators and instructors in order to enhance growth.

Fig 2. Duke Of Edinburgh's Award  Official Logo
(Taken from the boys brigade website)

Programme’s that operate in the outdoor industry such as that of the Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme which gives participants aged 14-25 the opportunity to venture out on expeditions across the country; in areas such as the hills of the Yorkshire Dales, the mountainous regions of the Lake and Peak Districts and the boggy terrain found on Dartmoor National Park all under staffed supervision. Under this programme participants are slowly introduced to risk in a controlled environment, this can be argued as giving participants the feel and perception of real risk in order to allow them to grow without actually posing a real danger in the event of any failures or mishaps.

Organisations such as the Cornell University which offers Outdoor Education, stress the importance of including risk within their values, seeing it as a vital in order for people to succeed and grow in a particular activity. The fear of that something could easily go wrong due to the presence of risk forces the students to me alert and almost worries them into taking precautions. These precautions lead to good, safe practice being developed in set individuals who are susceptible to the fear of the risk they are exposed to.


An example of where risk is certainly not necessary in the outdoors is field-trips n which if risk is incurred it could lead to incompetency in the work carried out and false findings being recorded. Having just returned today from a field-trip in the Ainsdale Sand Dunes at Formby in Merseyside where as part of a team I was collecting soil samples from the beach working inwards over the dunes towards more dense vegetation.Whilst carrying out the fieldwork my team and I were exposed to very little risk and despite this lack of risk we were still able to grow and stretch our knowledge. Although some of us were out of our said comfort zones, having only carried out minimal field studies prior to today's visit. Whilst out of this comfort zone we were constantly being stretched in our learning, not so much so that it led to us entering the Panic Zone or the stage of mis-adventure as Mortlock would put it.

Fig. 3. A diagram depicting 'The Stretch Zone Theory' 

Forms of Risk

Real Risk: If you are climbing a mountain and you fall you could die.


Apparent Risk: If you are climbing a mountain whilst attached to the instructor by a rope and you fall you could die but it is now unlikely.


Subjective Risk: If you are climbing a mountain and you stumble, you could fall, it is therefore subject to the individual and their stumble.


Objective Risk: If you are climbing a mountain with an instructor and lighting strikes or you are subject to an avalanche of falling rocks it is something which the instructor can prepare for but can't guard against. This type of risk is an outside risk meaning; it can't be prevented.

References

Mortlock, C. (1987) The adventure alternative. Milnethorpe, Cicerone.

Jones, M. (2002). Can we still ethically adventure in New Zealand? Paper presented to Risk 2002 Conference. SEHOPC, Tawhitikuri, New Zealand. 

https://coe.cornell.edu/mission Accessed 11/11/2014

Fig. 1. Marcus Bailie's Safety Triangle taken from a presentation delivered by Marcus Bailie.
Fig. 2. The DofE Award Logo taken from http://www.boys-brigade.org.uk/dea%20new%20logo.jpg on the 11/11/14

Fig. 3. A diagram of 'The stretch zone theory' taken from http://plugintosource.files.wordpress.com/2012/01/action-zones12.png on the 11/11/14