In whiteout conditions, you will not be smarter than your compass. Photo: Mark Watson

Mistakes I’ve made in the outdoors

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Mark Watson

Mark is Wilderness’s gear editor and a dedicated storyteller, documenting his adventures in both words and photos.

By Mark Watson

From nearly setting a hut on fire to not trusting his compass, Mark Watson shares some of the finest mistakes he’s made.

Good judgment comes from experience and experience comes from bad judgment, or so goes the adage. Mistakes and misadventures might not be fun at the time, but they can teach us valuable lessons. Reflecting on my own mistakes in the backcountry – and the following three are certainly not the extent of my errors – […]

About the author

Mark Watson

Wilderness gear editor Mark Watson divides his workdays between graphic design, writing and photography. His passion for tramping, climbing, cycling and storytelling has taken him all over Aotearoa and the world in search of great trails, perfect moves and epic light. He has published four books and his photographs have featured in numerous publications. Especially motivated by long distance travel, he has tramped Te Araroa and cycled from Alaska to Tierra del Fuego.