Mistakes IN THE OUTDOORS I’VE MADE

GOOD JUDGMENT comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment, or so goes the adage.

Mistakes and misadventures might not be fun at the time, but they can teach us valuable lessons. Reflecting on my own mistakes in the backcountry – and the following three are certainly not the extent of my errors – I realise that each has had a ripple effect on my time in the outdoors, helping improve preparation, decision-making and ability for self-reliance. Although learning from others’ mistakes might not be as impactful as learning from one’s own, I hope readers find some take-outs in mine.

YOU ARE NOT SMARTER THAN YOUR COMPASS

We left Maungahuka Hut early, headed for the Holdsworth Road end and planning to complete a