curious builders

The Trips Manual

Adventure is what I live for — it brings me happiness, contentment, and restoration.

The purpose of this manual is to ensure I consistently get out on adventures without analysis paralysis or decision fatigue.

Big adventures are non-negotiable. Weekend trips require systems.

Philosophy

  • Trips happen when scheduled, not when inspiration strikes
  • Denmark vs. Norway/Sweden/Alps — accept that local adventures are for practice. Real backcountry experiences happen outside Denmark.
  • Cheap adventure is still adventure — during intense savings phases, scale down but don’t eliminate trips

Planning protocol

Adventure is scheduled, not spontaneous

  • Never wait to “feel like” going on a trip when the weekend arrives. If my bag is not packed by Thursday, it’s not happening.
  • Do not feel bad or contemplate a missed adventure if I end up arriving at Friday or Saturday and I’m not prepared to go on a trip. The mistake happened earlier and I should not let that get me down.

Trip pipeline

  • I want to aim for 2 trips always in the pipeline. This would often be one bigger trip and then a smaller one.
  • The smaller one can be used as a shakedown trip to prepare myself for challenges on the bigger trips. E.g., try new gear and techniques.

Smaller trips (1 night to extended weekend trips)

  • Commit Sunday before the week starts. If I want to go on a trip, it has to be a priority. Not just for the next weekend — for the entire week.
  • My bag should be packed and ready by end of Wednesday. Wednesday is usually my WFH day so I have a more relaxed schedule. Thursday is often a busy day with work and workout after work. And by Friday I want to be fully ready so I don’t have to spend energy packing in a rush.
  • Consider taking Monday or Friday off. Even if I don’t “need” it to do my trip. The extra time and energy will help make the trip more likely to happen.

Bigger Trips (1 week to multiple months)

  • Ask for time off well in advance. Makes it easier.
  • Plan and book. Implicit commitment.

Budget

  • Don’t be too cheap. Sometimes paying just a bit more makes the entire experience less stressful. Also: if I cheap out too much I end up just staying locally and that is not what I want. I want to experience the world.
  • An easy way to save a lot of money is by limiting hotel stays. Yes I like having a stay in a hotel after a trip out in the wild. But it is expensive and can often be avoided.
  • Take the time off. This is what I save for.