Tip 1:
Don’t Rely on Technology.
I love GPS technology, but have made the mistake outdoors of relying on it at the exclusion of a map and compass. I made the same mistake in New York. I left my map at the hotel and set out with a GPS, which had a “Walking” setting. The problem is that a 70-story building is a pretty effective barrier to a GPS signal, and when you have tall buildings on all four sides of you, a GPS is pretty useless. The lesson: always bring your map.

Tip 2:
Be Properly Equipped.
When I go in the woods I’ve got good footwear, an appropriate hat, and I’m prepared for changes in the weather. Being out in a huge city is no different. It’s surprising how cool it can get in the shade of the concrete canyons, and how windy it can be at ground level. You can’t see the horizon, so you can’t see rain clouds moving in, and weather can be a surprise. The lesson: be prepared.

Tip 3:
Stay in Shape.
It’s no surprise that hoofing it in the weeds can wear out your legs and feet, but I was surprised about how physical life in the city can be. The irony is that I got much more exercise in a day in New York than I do at home. In the city the subway stop was six blocks from the hotel, and then it’s up and down stairs to the train, and then your destination is six blocks away from the nearest stop. Repeat that half a dozen times a day and you start to get a workout. The lesson: city or country, keep yourself in shape to make the most of each day.

Tip 4:
Study Behaviors.
You can learn a lot if you know what to look for. In the woods you can determine activity, travel patterns, and routines of the indigenous wildlife. It’s the same in the city. I was waiting for a subway, and as it pulled into the station, the cars were all pretty full. As it came to a stop, one car near me was virtually empty. I made a beeline for it, figuring I scored big. Two steps into the car I knew I had made a mistake–the stench nearly drove me to my knees. Urine and feces do not combine pleasantly in a warm subway car, and by the time the doors were closed and we were moving, it was too late for me to escape. Not wanting to step in anything, I tried to control my breathing to the next stop, where I made a quick exit. The lesson: if the local wildlife is avoiding something, maybe there’s a reason.

Tip 5:
Do a Good Map Recon.
Learn to do a good map recon and you can greatly reduce your level of anxiety about being in a new area. Determine some waypoints, find the boundaries of your operational area, and figure out how to determine compass directions. I know that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west, but that knowledge is tough to rely on if it’s overcast and raining, either in the deep woods or the urban jungle. The lesson: wherever you’re going, do your homework before venturing out.

Tip 6:
Ask the Locals.
Whenever I go anywhere new I gather as much information as possible from locals—they obviously know more about the area than I do. In New York there was a dinner planned at Carmine’s, one of those famous restaurants. I knew it was going to be pricey, but when talking with someone who had been there before, I learned that the portions were huge, and that sharing was expected. Our table of four ordered two salads, two entrees, and a single dessert—and had leftovers of everything. We likely would have spent twice as much without the local information. The lesson: if you hate to ask for directions or information, get over it.

« Top »