Experimental hikes

To help you better understand the essence of "experimentality", I will show it in comparison with standard tours.

Standard hike.

•  the route is 100% known to the organizer (conductor). He has passed it more than once or twice, he has accumulated knowledge on alternative options for passing certain sections, the terrain literally sits in his head, a map and GPS are practically not needed (only in case of poor visibility). The downside of all these positive aspects is the instructor’s lack of interest in completing a long-familiar route.
•  the website contains comprehensive information on the hike: a route plan with a detailed description of each day, a map, photographs of interesting places, reports from tourists who have been on this tour. If something is missing, the necessary information will be provided upon your request.
• tour dates are scheduled half a year in advance. Each planned hike is guaranteed to take place, the group will be large.
• group size 10-12 people
•  everyone is invited to join the group. No special skills, travel experience or special equipment are required.
• the daily routine on the hike is gentle. We get up not too early, the lunch break is long, we stop for the night before dark, we sit by the fire as much as we can (tea and cookies).
• the instructor leads the group deliberately slowly, holds back the “runners”, supports those lagging behind, puts them at the beginning of the group, closer to himself, in order to adjust the overall pace to them.
•  the instructor is gentle, patient and friendly. Helps everyone, tells everyone about everything.
• tour cost - average market price.

Experimental trip.

• The guide is walking this route for the first time; either he has not been here for many years, or he has only been on certain sections of the route. This means that he is terribly interested in every meter of the path, every stone, spring or path. If the instructor is also a photographer, then he practically does not hide the camera. He doesn't let go of the map, compass, or satellite navigator. In short, not an instructor, but a shining Christmas tree (shining with joy, pricking with tension).
•  there is either no information about the route, or there is little of it, or there is a lot of it, but “raw” and not in Russian. The organizer himself frantically searches for maps of the area, reports from predecessors and GPS tracks. He will be grateful for any help.
• the date of the trip is set as a result of a collective discussion of future tour participants.
• group size 6-8 people. Although we went together a couple of times.
• to get into the group, you must meet certain requirements (physical fitness, hiking experience, character, availability of equipment)
• the daily routine is intense. We get up early, rest regularly, but not for long, and walk until dark. We don’t sit too long in the evening - we need to sleep to rest before the next push.
• the instructor walks quickly, often leaving the group waiting at a fork while he runs off to investigate. Upon returning, he grabs his backpack and runs forward even faster. The search instinct requires satisfaction. There are no lagging behind in the group, as they stayed at home.
• the instructor turns from an affectionate mother into a stern martinet. He does not speak, but gives orders, his head is full of state secrets and brilliant thoughts that you will not learn about until the instructor implements them with your help.
• experimental hike is much cheaper than its analogues.

The ideal experimenter.

I would like to dwell in more detail on what kind of requirements for the character of tourists are set by the evil organizer of the experimental trip:

• Optimism. Believing in victory and fighting for it, even when on the verge of death, is the key to survival in any environment.
• Non-conflict. The group must at all costs remain a single whole, a friendly, cohesive team. This means that during the hike you need to forget about grievances, intrigues, competition, any separatism and aggression directed within the team and at its leader:)
• Search instinct. This is more than curiosity, it is a passion for discovery, it is a love of the frightening unknown.
• Consciousness and caution. In order for adventures to remain adventures and not transform into incidents, it is necessary to maintain the ability to reason soberly in any situation (more than one step forward).

Invitation.

If, after everything you’ve read, you haven’t flared up with indignation, haven’t started writing a denunciation to the Human Rights Committee, and you haven’t lost the desire to participate in experimental campaigns, write me, we will discuss options for your participation in our projects.