Teacher's Guide

Tur etter evne and trip planning

Tur etter evne means that we plan, and carry out, a trip that we are able to manage. Everyone in the group must have what it takes to complete the trip to be undertaken. All members of the…

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Tur etter evne means that we plan, and carry out, a trip that we are able to manage. Everyone in the group must have what it takes to complete the trip to be undertaken (Faarlund, 1972). It is fine to challenge yourself, but the challenges must not be greater than what you, as a group, or on your own, are able to handle. Nes (2019) lists five points that are central to tur etter evne:

  • self-awareness – your own and others’ motivation, reserves and abilities
  • knowledge of the weather and the natural environment where you are going
  • experience – what you already know how to do, and reserves to spare on the trip
  • avoiding situations that could leave you or the group needing help from outside
  • being self-reliant – having methods and equipment to help one another in case of mishap.

Both before the trip and along the way, it is important to make fresh assessments of whether you are able to carry out the trip as planned. For example, someone in the group might fall ill, or you might come across rivers swollen by floodwater and run into trouble fording them. Weather and going conditions are important to take into account, while the participants’ experience and equipment also matter for how we handle the situations that arise.

The only mountain rule we need to know is that we must choose and plan a trip so that our own capacities – even if they should be reduced along the way – will always weigh more heavily than the demands placed on us – even if those demands should become more severe. In other words: choose a trip within your ability, not beyond your ability. (Faarlund, 1971, p. 22)

What we have to take into account when we start planning

Planning a trip should be done together with the people you are going on the trip with. The choice of activity is an important factor in how you plan. There is a big difference between a canoe trip and a walking trip. The aim of the trip and the participants’ skills are affected by the activity you plan. In addition, you must think through the safety assessment for the chosen activity. In general, winter activities are more demanding in terms of safety than summer activities (Jakobsen and Pulli, 2021, p. 285).

In addition to the choice of activity (or activities), there are four factors you should think through when you start planning the trip. By taking these factors into account, we will become even better at planning a trip within our ability (Nes, 2019).

  • Who
  • Where
  • When
  • Equipment.

These factors influence one another. That means it is no help having the world’s best skis if the person on the skis cannot ski. In the same way, it is difficult to do long day’s marches in demanding terrain in December, because it gets dark quickly. But if there are few, experienced people in the group who know the terrain and the weather is good, it may still be possible to carry out.

Illustration: Ola Njå Bertelsen

Who

is on the trip sets the conditions for what kind of trip we should plan. We need to find out:

  • The number of participants
  • The experience and skills of those taking part
    • Navigation skills
    • First-aid knowledge
    • General trip experience.

Where

you are going on the trip is also important to work out.

  • Where do you want to go?
  • Do you have a map of the area? Where can you find one?
  • How far are you going to walk?
  • What is the terrain like?
    • Will you be going a lot uphill or downhill?
    • Is it boggy or scree?
    • In winter: are there avalanche-prone areas where you are going?
  • Height above sea level?

When

are you going on the trip? The time of year matters a great deal for where you should route the trip and what you need to bring.

  • What time of year are you planning the trip?
    • How long is there daylight?
  • What are the going conditions like? A lot of snow, muddy, icy, a lot of water in the rivers? Avalanche danger?
  • What is the weather forecast like?

Rondeslottet in November. A slippery pleasure. Photo: Juel Victor Løkstad Grande

Equipment

you have available is also important for planning.

  • What do you need to bring on the trip?
  • Do you need equipment for cooking and overnighting?
  • How do you obtain equipment if you do not have everything yourself?
  • What safety equipment do you need to bring?
  • Do you need repair equipment?

After assessing the four factors, the connection between them will be clear. The equipment available in the group affects where you can route the trip, while the time of year and the participants also affect what equipment is needed. By looking at these factors before the trip, we will be better prepared for what lies ahead. We will therefore also be better able to assess whether the trip can be carried out with the participants as planned, as well as making it easier to make adjustments along the way.

Here you can read more about trip planning

Route choice and SARTTO

Exercises for trip planning

See also the exercise ‘tur etter evne’ to practise how pupils should take account of the various factors in trip planning.

Exercises for trip planning and safety

Next steps

Learn more

Text

Gina Wigestrand, Snuitide (2021)

  • Sources

    Nes, C.L. (2019). Skikompis: snøskred og trygg ferdsel. Fri flyt

    Christoffersen, J. (2019). Tur etter evne. Dei fire faktorane påverkar kvarandre gjensidig. I Skikompis: snøskred og trygg ferdsel. Fri flyt. Side 144

    Grande, J.V.L. (2007). Rondeslottet. [Foto]

    Jakobsen, A.M. & Pulli, K.K. (2021). Sikkerhet i nærmiljøfriluftsliv. I Østrem, K. (red.). (2021). Nærmiljøfriluftsliv i skolen. (s. 274–297). Cappelen Damm Akademisk

    Østrem, K. (red.). (2021). Nærmiljøfriluftsliv i skolen. Cappelen Damm Akademisk