Friends
"It's dangerous to go alone!"
If you're new to all this, adventures can be scary.
Assuming you're joining a group, sometimes "bringing a friend" works in your favor. Sometimes it doesn't.
Guidelines[edit]
- Consider very carefully bringing a friend if you're new to a group. You want people to get to know you!
- If you do want to bring a friend ALWAYS check with the trip leader or event organizer first. It is generally frowned upon to just show up with someone without checking with the organizer first.
- Don't ambush an organizer. Crashing the trailhead with 3 unexpected besties isn't how you get invited back.
- Give the organizer all the information up front. Don't ask to go on a trip, and once approved, ask if your friend can come too. This puts the leader in an uncomfortable position.
- If your friend is allergic to bees and epileptic, you should make sure the organizer is totally comfortable with that, ahead of time.
- Make every attempt to bring friends that are more experienced than you. And if not, help them yourself as much as possible.
- Set expectations, tell people exactly what their (and your!) experience is in no uncertain terms. People might assume your friend is experienced because you loaned them your ratty old gear.
- This applies equally to husbands, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends, vaguely friends, just friends, best friends, not friends, etc.
Pros:
- They're friends!
- They'll presumably have your back and carry you to the hospital when you're uncertain others will. (If you are uncertain, reconsider your group!)
- They make you somewhat more "safe" to get to know in the social sense.
Cons:
- Adding people to the trip slows down the group
- You'll possibly alienate potential new friends
- You won't spend as much time with other people on your trip.
- Their negative actions reflect on you poorly, however the converse isn't true.
