Let's get a party started?

Last night I spent the evening catching up on the old news with a college buddy from Northern California. Naturally, this upcoming trek dominated the topic of discussion. At one point, I was talking with excitement and speed as I shared in great detail my itinerary and planning. My buddy, whom I'll call X, remarked on my infectious enthusiasm and asked whether I would consider organizing future treks for close friends of ours. I was a little taken aback, admittedly. The idea excited but simultaneously unnerved me. Granted, I enjoyed organizing, planning, researching, and prepping the trip for myself, but not sure what I thought or how I felt about doing that for a group. The logistics are in my opinion the most straightforward task, but selecting appropriate trekking party members is an art-a difficult one at that.



In fact, I have uncovered a dearth of literature on the psychology of trekking and more specifically party selection, and yet it is probably one of the most critical determinants of group trekking success-I think. In my opinion, if a trek is to be successful, enjoyable, and safe, participants must have strength. But what is "strength"? I'd define group "strength" as the ability of the unit to accomplish the stated objective within the stated, agreed upon parameters. It is a combination of physical and technical proficiency and competence of members, equipment, and group size. It is also in large part the mental and emotional fortitude, commitment, compatibility, and attitude. They say that this game is 20% physical and 80% mental and as cliched as it sounds it is so true. Consider a situation that may seem challenging, let's say for example ascending a 2000ft elevation gain in 1.5miles. While the task is challenging and may appear impossible, it is accomplishable with a positive, "can do " attitude and a perspective that breaks down each step into manageable pieces and with proper slow pacing. I've seen on countless hikes that the weakest hiker is the limiting factor. It's not so much the hiker with the limited skill set or least physical preparation, but the hiker with the "weakest" mental and emotional attitude.



This brings me to the next point-compatibility. The pressures and challenges of the hike can take undo tolls on the group. The challenges can have a positive impact on personal self-growth, self development, and team bonding. Conversely, constructively working through dissension or better yet creating a compatible "like-minded" group is more likely to improve trekking success. And by "like-minded," I don't mean necessarily mean thinking alike but more like sharing a similar vision for completing the objective. The stress and close interactions are likely to exacerbate tensions, and therefore conflict resolution skills are needed to foster cooperation and support. As is often the case, you will often rely on your trekking buddies for safety and help. Wouldn't you want to know "boys/gals got your back"? I would.