When I took my winter skills class, I discovered that one of my water bottles froze during my 3-day survival trek.
In our results-driven culture, it’s easy to forget that the value of a lesson can be revealed days, months or years later. But the memory of how long it took for that ice to melt, even in a heated room, taught me a useful lesson.
Now I hike with a frozen water bottle.
I add water to a clean bottle until it’s 2/3 full. I set the bottle in my freezer until just before I begin my hike; I top off the bottle with cold water, wrap it in a plastic bag, and put it in my day pack.
I can hike all day and into the evening, enjoying a refreshing sip of cold water, even on the hottest afternoon of the year.