I would add another aspect: personal health, training. Personal health, you really need to be healthy and fit for what ever age you are. I am not taliking about athletic but healthy. You need to be concern with your diet and exercise, now. It is probably the hardest part. As for training, you really need to know how to use your equipment, and "shake it out" on a few day hikes. The nothing more fustrating than it being cold, wet and trying to use your to use your equipment for the first time. A quality knife, light weight .22 rifle and revolver are a must in that order.
I would add another aspect: personal health, training. Personal health, you really need to be healthy and fit for what ever age you are. I am not taliking about athletic but healthy. You need to be concern with your diet and exercise, now. It is probably the hardest part. As for training, you really need to know how to use your equipment, and "shake it out" on a few day hikes. The nothing more fustrating than it being cold, wet and trying to use your to use your equipment for the first time. A quality knife, light weight .22 rifle and revolver are a must in that order.
Agreed. Next post on this topic, I'll add.