Background for the question, details, video, peectures: http://bedrockandparadox.wordpress.com/2011/02/21/first-epic-of-2011-a-case-study/


Summary: My friend Bill and I did a big ski traverse on Saturday. A while after dark we found ourselves struggling along a broad ridge in the dark, in a storm, dealing with crappy conditions, looking for a way off through avy terrain in potentially bad avy conditions. We found a safe way off, and made it out waaay after dark.

It was super fun.

So then, the exit question is, what was most important to our success and safety?

Knowledge?
Skill?
Experience?
Fitness?
Luck?

Most important?

The presence of mind to use all of the above.

All to often, when under pressure, we forget/ignore/dismiss what we know.

"We knew better, but...." didn't happen.

Nice trip.

Knowledge + Skill + Experience + Fitness, combined with a sound decision-making process.

Fitness is way under-rated in the decision making process -- physical fatigue leads to mental fatigue which equals poor decisions...

Keep your cool

Don't freak out and start doing things without thinking

Keep thinking of contingency plans

Enjoy the experience, hopefully you'll survive and it will be a good memory