This is the forty-third of a weekly blog series that will focus on leadership in the outdoors and how to get the most from the least. Even though the title is called, “Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man”, it will hopefully cover topics that are useful to everyone.
Chapter 43: A good field guide is the perfect tool.
Always use your B.I.B.L.E.: Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth
I have used many tools and resources during my time working professionally in the outdoors. Some of my favorite pieces of kit include a good pocket knife, spring loaded camming devices, a Nikon DSLR camera and a reliable field watch. With all things in consideration, the tool that I find most indispensable when serving in the role of a guide or as a group leader is a well-written field guide.
I have been asked many questions throughout the years that I do not know the answers to. In reality, I do not usually know the answers off-hand to most questions that have been asked by students or participants. Who can possibly know that much information about so many topics we will encounter in God's wondrous creation? One of the things I have always prided myself on as an outdoor leader and professional is my nonstop quest for knowledge and answers. I also expect this of the staff members I train, and of all the life-long learners that I come across. When I have been asked a question I do not know the answer to, I let the person know that is asking the question that I will find out and get back to them, or I will direct them to the place or resource where they can find the answer or solution on their own. This serves two purposes for me. One, if I look up the answer to a question I will usually remember it for later reference, and second, I will find out what is the best resource to answer other similar questions that I may encounter down the road.
Like most people, I certainly do like knowing the answers and not telling people who are looking to me for answers that I do not know. But again, there is so much to learn in the world that only God knows all the answers. We would be proven fools time-and-time again If we touted ourselves as experts or someone who knew all of the answers; there is always someone who knows more. The common questions that you will likely encounter in the field can often be answered with a good set of field guides. This is where field guide books can come into their own and are worth every ounce of carrying them along. I rarely go into a program as a leader or guide without my tried and true field guides.
Field guides come in all shapes and sizes and will cover just about every topic in the outdoors. The good ones are simply written, with good illustrations or pictures, and easy to understand. After all, a person shouldn't need a field guide to interpret their field guide.
Throughout my years as an outdoor professional, teacher and storyteller I have come across a handful of people who believed themselves to be way more intelligent than they actually were. You may know the type, always using the biggest words possible and writing in a manner that causes the reader to repeatedly scratch their heads in wonderment. Folks such as this should never be the ones writing field guides or leading people to learn intricate skills. If a person cannot simply explain something in a language that can be easily understood it is highly likely that the person doesn't fully understand what they are teaching and are simply trying to make themselves seem more important than they are. Remember, saying more doesn't necessarily mean more substance. In field guides, as more often than not is the case in most aspects of life, simplicity is the key. Field guides that include language that's indiscernible or requires going to look up information or words using another resource should not be used.
Field guides should be compact and contain as much information as needed, with little more offered. Field guides are not meant to take the place of a textbook or a reference book. They are meant to be a simple answer and solution to complex questions that are readily available at a time when you need them. Most of my favorite field guides, especially ones that focus on flowers, birds, and geology, are color coded. This color coding makes it very easy to get on the same literal page as the information I need. There are many different ways that field guides are organized or written, the reader must find what works best for them, one case does not fit all.
I have done several experiments of sorts with several of my Field Natural History courses throughout the years where I provided some of my favorite field guides or the ability to look up information on the interwebs using a computer, phone or tablet while conducting a field study or survey. Without fail the students will start off using the interwebs, but will eventually find their way to the field guides. The tangible hard paper copies that are reliable and don't require batteries are always in a state of readiness and do not require user input. Field guides are a specific tool for a specific purpose and nothing comes close to the efficiency and usability of such a tool. Without exception the students will hardly go back to the internet to find information in the field. There is something very satisfying in finding the information you need using your own resources and thought processes. I wish more of the world was like this. The internet was originally conceived to make life easier, but in fact it has exponentially complicated life. A good field guide will never complicate your search for information.
The reason that I have referred to this writing project as a field guide is that I wanted it to be an easy and quick read and to offer usable information and thoughts to the common questions in situations that I have often found myself in throughout the years, and ones you will likely encounter too. Without a doubt the book that I use the most when teaching, but should probably still strive to use more, is the Bible. The Bible is definitely a deeply written text and reference book, while at the same time is a field guide of sorts meant to be carried everywhere, used repeatedly and reliably with simple answers to the world’s most profound questions. The Bible is unparalleled in this capacity, no other book can appeal to so many levels of understanding, while remaining so complex to challenge the greatest minds throughout history. My fellow Modern-Day Mountain Men, get out into the field as often as possible and take a good field guide with you wherever you go.
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