ProfoundKnowledge

“Hmmm.. now let's take all these combined years of experience.. and see if we can't come up with 5-10 SUCCINCT sentences that capitalize on backpacker wisdom..

What are those profundities.. those gems.. those little bits of knowledge.. that you know NOW.. and didn't know then regarding backpacking.

(No epistles please, serious comments welcomed.)”

“I think mine is.. night hiking is a lot of fun.. extremely exciting.. but also dangerous.. it is SO EASY to wander off the trail.”

“How to squat in the woods correctly,.. YUP, there`s a thread about it along with drawings!LOL”

“The less said, the more appreciated.”

“drink before you are thirsty....rest before you are tired....”

“TownDawg - I halfway guessed this was your thread.

My contribution:" Where-ever you are, be there."”

“good point Phil. People who talk about backpacking while at work and about work while backpacking are really missing something, IMO.

Live in the moment. And to agree with what TownDawg said: make it exciting!”

“Mine backpack as much as I can untill I die!

8)”

“Cliff Bars alone do not a luncheon make.”

“Thats true.I like balance + bars they rock!!!!!

8)”

“I can't help but throw in some history behind the phrase "Profound Knowledge" that I know TownDawg was drawing from when he started this thread.

Dr. W. Edwards Deming proposed what has been called "Deming's System of Profound Knowledge." Deming was the guy who went to Japan around 1950 and taught the Japanese how to manufacture better than us. Deming called for managers to look at things from a different perspective, and Profound Knowledge was that new perspective. Deming’s System of Profound Knowledge consists of four main elements: (a) Appreciation for a system, (b) knowledge about variation, (c) the theory of knowledge, and (d) knowledge of psychology.

Appreciation for a system stresses continuous effort to understand systems and systems theory. Part of the theory of knowledge applies to understanding systems using the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) cycle. The PDCA cycle is a version of the scientific method that managers use to develop theory about how a system works and then conduct an experiment to verify or disprove the theory. Whether the theory is proven to be correct, new knowledge about the system is created. The cycle continues and new knowledge of the system is created constantly. The new knowledge helps the company to stay competitive. Statistical methodologies (e.g., Design of Experiments and regression analysis) can be powerful tools for evaluation during the PDCA cycle.

Knowledge about variation refers to Deming's belief that everyone should know about variation. He emphasized knowing the difference between controllable and uncontrollable variation instead of blaming workers for all variation. We need to understand the capability of the system as well at the interaction between forces. SPC is the primary tool that Deming promoted for separating out the two causes of variation for appropriate action. Knowledge of psychology was needed to always be learning what motivates people, how to treat them, and effective training methods.

Deming believed that everyone should always be striving to learn more in these four areas--no matter who they were or what they did.

In backpacking, I don't see anything that refutes Dr. Deming's philosophy.”

“Water pumps are the greatest thing ever invented. Saves weight big time by not having to carry as much water into the woods.”

“The woods are lovely, dark, and deep,
But I have promises to keep,

- Robert Frost”

“The best laid schemes o' Mice an' Men,
Gang aft agley,

- Bobbie Burns”

“Lighter packs are easier to carry.”

“I like Robert Frost!

8)”

“The Road Less Traveled, my favorite.


Backpacking wisdom? -

Wherever you go, there you are.”

“Thats true!

I am going to be at work and that sucks!

8)”

“Im off on mondays!hehe

but I thought youlike your job? or just not as much as backpacking!”

“I like my job but Mondays suck.

I like backpacking more then work!

8)”

“Hikers hike.”

“My fav post to this thread so far:

"drink before you are thirsty .... rest before you are tired...."

pepperDog
12:29:49 PM
03/02/02

This is SO TRUE.”

“Rest and drink all the time!”

“Let's rest.

Are we there yet?”

“heh.. sometimes those rests going uphill are like every 1000 yards..

:)”

“I've got it! A Real Backbacker never asks, "Are we there yet?"

*grin*


Hey, TD, back in the Marlboro Lights days, those rest stops were LOTS closer together than 1000 yards! More like 100 feet.”

“tilt: lol.. I still smoke cigars.. so i hear ya.”

“A stationary stone gathers lots of (slippery) moss.”

“puff.....puff

I'm bushed!

A real backpacker never gives up!”

“Stoned Gatherers moss no Rollers.

Strolling Roans rather no Gauss.


(there's a third one, too...)”

“I think we are hopefully lost.

If we aren't here, we are somewhere else.

They put the trails where they do for a reason.

I feel a whole lot more like I do now then I did a little while ago.”

“SYPHILIS SPIROCHETE can affect the BRAIN.”

“We noticed.”

“(sniff) If it wasn't for TT, I would never have learned that backpacking is about drinking and resting. (sniff) I love you guys!”

“Dunadan...get your own Bud.”

“Masterbation harms more than just your eyesight? It's true! ”

“You are ONE profound BPer Nigal.”