Expedition Tips From Swee Chiow

"Head in the clouds. Feet on the ground."
Set your goal high but execute your plan with lots of practicality and common sense.

Research
Ask questions like: "Has anyone done that ? Who ? How ?". It would be good to speak to people who have done it. There is a lot to be gained by hearing it from the horses' mouth.

Make full use of the Internet in gathering information. Libraries now have much more extensive collections on a wide variety of subjects than ever before.

Identify a critical success factor
In any adventures, there is at least one overriding factor that will determine the chances of success. For eg., for my upcoming North Pole expedition, the most important skill I must have is survival in the extreme cold.

Securing Sponsorships
This is one big hurdle before you even set foot on the mountain. Make sponsorship like a business. The companies you identify as potential sponsors are the investors. They want to know what are the returns you can give them. Your expedition is a product, a property. The more unique it is, the more attractive it will be.

The Team
The most difficult element as in any venture, is undoubtedly the human relationship. A cohesive and harmonious team will not only increase the chances of success, but enhance the enjoyment of each member. However, a team with conflicts is a ticking time bomb. Lives could be in danger due to emotional outbursts leading to regrettable consequences.

If you are the leader, make sure you know your teammates well especially your members' stress tolerance and risk threshold. If you are a team member, support your leader and do your bit in making the team atmosphere as harmonious as possible.

Emergency Plan
How big your security net needs to be largely depends on 2 major factors: competency and risk. An experienced climber with high technical skill may judge an attempt on say soloing Everest without oxygen a challenge within his safety limit. On the other hand, a trekker planning a trek in Nepal for the first time may feel safer going with a guide.

Talk to people, ask for advice and make an informed decision. At the end of the day, all adventures involve certain risks. It is a matter of knowing how to achieve new heights and come back alive !

Last But Not Least
Have fun! Enjoy the beauty that Mother Nature provides. Remember to stop and smell the wild flowers, feel the breeze and breathe the pure air. If you have a child-like attitude, Nature has lots of surprising lessons for you.