Fridge,
I like to hear about your experiences in Alaska. Lots of outfitters fed up with losing their food supplies have gone to using electric fences to protect their camps.
Dealing with the rain involves some extra steps which you have neatly outlined. After that it is mostly mental toughness and just dealing with it. How do you screen people you have never met who might have limited experience in the outdoors or not much mental toughness? For trips like Katmai and the Olympics you need sturdy companions.
First of all if they have limited experience I zero in on just that. Two years ago in Alaska I had a team of 12 and being the oldest and fat guy I was always in the lead along with one other guy Mauricio. Mauricio whom I had never met was in the reserves officer program and a pro mountain biker who was very fit and I noticed he was on my heals the entire way. On one occasion I said to him...What is taking them so long. I am older and fattest guy out here? Mauricio replied back... fridge... you're not feeling the fatigue crossing the tussock bog fields..? I said of course I feel it.. I just know my body and my ability and never try to cross the line unless it's life or death. I pace myself. As we continued on through the trip every day Mauricio would be on my heals and I would say to him... go ahead of me... see that hugh rock formation on the hill... go to that point and I'll catch up to you... He always says... no fridge I'll stay with you... making a long story very short... last day late evening around a fire as we all sharing our experiences and triumphs
many of the team members asked me about how I could move so gracefully through the bog fields and Tussock... I told them experience and knowing my limit being honest with myself and HONEST to me is key. I asked Mauricio why did he not go ahead and push his ability to his limit and he replied back... fridge sir..... you had the 44 magnum and I didn't have anything including bear spray... He give the biggest laugh the entire trip, but a lesson to those who I answered there question as how do I do it... I was older and carried approx. 20 lbs more than anyone else. Know yourself, limits and be honest to yourself. I look for this quality and outlook on everyone I meet up with before a trip. I also look at there backpacking experiences and mileage as well as there base weight.. It's like when you're a pro carpenter swinging a hammer for many years and the guy or gal next to you driving nails into a stud wall swing there hammer not a smooth and timing not as mastered... You can tell if someone has swung a hammer enough to master it, you know your game... trust me... if you don't know your game, I would not even try to enlist a team into a trip with demands and obstacles.
Knowing who you are and honesty with yourself is key to any adventure you embark on.
I will be asking questions and I expect them to ask me the same. I don't know them and they don't know me...
Taking teams in the bush for the past 20 years with no major injury and loss of life. Safety is number 1. A strong team will only be as strong as the weakest member. We are one and we finish as one. If someone did experience an unfortunate injury I have several back up plans with Sat phone, spot messenger and total up front communication with Rangers before I embark.