The Way of the Wolf: Five Mental Keys to Pulling Off a Long-Distance Expedition

April 6, 2017

Frank Wolf is one of Canada's most experienced wilderness adventurers. Take advantage of this knowledge and read his Five Mental Keys to Pulling Off a Long Distance Expedition.

You need certain bits of gear and a modicum of planning to succeed in an expedition, but the real key to success in any long-term wilderness excursion comes down to your mental approach.

In short, attitude is everything.

I find it takes about two weeks to shed the mental and physical softness of society and fully engage with the trip experience—to get into a state where your city-self is gone and you exist simply to move through time and space in the wilderness. So I consider a long wilderness journey to be at least three weeks: two weeks of breaking in and then at least a week of being in the groove tacked onto the end of that.

Here are five keys to getting into that Zen state of tripping—to attain your black belt in “Trip-Fu:”

1. Keep it Simple

The longest journey begins with a single step, so don’t clutter your mind with a million different things that you think may help you on trip. Needs, not wants, are what you should focus on. You’re there for the experience, not for stuff.

When planning your journey, keep in mind that all you require is food, shelter and transportation. Once you have that, you’re set. Everything else is extraneous. Think of it as a weekend trip with more food. The gear is the same, you just have to carry more food with you or pick it up along the way in remote communities.

Oats, PB&J and a freeze-dried dinner will be your daily ration of breakfast, lunch and dinner. Supplement with wild berries and fish. There’s your food. Tent is your shelter. A canoe, kayak, skis or your feet are your transportation. OK, you’re good to go. All you have to do now is take that first stride or paddle-stroke and you’re on your way for as long as you like.

2. Stay in the Present

On an expedition, everything is fresh and new—you’re travelling through terrain you’ve never experienced before and most likely will never experience again. Don’t think of the next trip—the only important trip to you should be the one you are on. You will never pass this way again so stay in the present and drink it all in.

3. Embrace Difficulty

There are no easy days on a true expedition. Every day will present challenges. For example, a canoe expedition will involve travel across lakes, down rivers, up rivers and portaging. Each of these phases is part of a chess match of sorts as you match your mind and body with whatever nature throws your way.

Windy lakes can be a grind or potentially dangerous, calm lakes a monotony. Downstream travel brings on the decision-making and skill to safely navigate rapids. Upstream travel involves finding the path of least resistance as you work against the current. Portaging involves navigating through bush if there is no trail, and even if there is a trail, the physical effort involved is always engaging. Embrace every challenge, revel in the toil, get high on endorphins. This is what expedition travel is all about.

4. Tune Into Nature

Don’t listen to music, podcasts, e-books or anything that involves a set of earbuds. If you do, it means you’re not engaged with the journey—you’re somewhere else. Listening to anything other than the wind, water and wildlife cuts you off from the experience you’re there for. Constantly listening and looking at the ever-changing surroundings, no matter how subtle, will heighten your senses—allowing you to catch glimpses of the natural camouflage the beasts of the wilderness possess.

Be the animal to see the animal. You won’t spot a herd of caribou, a lone muskox on the horizon or a wandering polar bear if you’re head is down and you’re blasting Iron Maiden.

5. Have Fun

If there’s a cliff, jump it. If there’s a flume of water, ride down it. Jump naked from your canoe. Howl at the moon. Grow a beard if you’re a guy; grow leg hair if you’re a gal. You’re on a weeks or months-long journey in the wilderness, master of your own domain, wild and free as you’ll ever be. Go make the most of it and have a blast.

Read Previous Entries From "The Way of the Wolf"

Frank Wolf’s Exclusive Blog on Explore-Mag.com

The Way of the Wolf: A Line on a Map (Welcome to my New Blog!)

Welcome to Frank Wolf’s blog at explore-mag.com. Join us bi-weekly to be inspired by one of Canada’s most renowned adventurers!

Read the second instalment of Frank Wolf’s new blog—and discover a unique, adventurous canoe-themed "rockumentary."

In the third instalment of his new blog, explorer Frank Wolf talks about becoming an "accidental environmentalist."

Frank Wolf interviews Sebastien Lapierre about his amazing solo ski to the South Pole.

Frank Wolf tracks down Julian Heavyside—UBC Ornithologist and part of the team that recently identified a new species of bird. Find out why we call him "The Indiana Jones of Birders."

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Frank Wolf

Frank Wolf is a Canadian filmmaker, adventurer, writer and environmentalist. He is known for documenting wilderness expeditions around the world, with a focus on the Canadian North. His award-winning films include 'The Hand of Franklin', 'Kitturiaq', 'On the Line', 'Mammalian', and 'Borealis', all of which broadcast on CBC in Canada. He was named one of 'Canada's Top Ten Adventurers' by Explore Magazine and was named 'One of Canada's Top 100 Explorers' by the Royal Canadian Geographical Society. He's written dozens of articles for various publications over the years, including several features for Explore Magazine.