Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man:A Field Guide to Leadership in the Great Outdoors Chapter 15

This is the fifteenth of a weekly blog series that will focus on leadership in the outdoors and how to get the most from the least. Even though the title is called, “Thoughts of a Modern-Day Mountain Man”, it will hopefully cover topics that are useful to everyone.

Chapter 15: Stay away from panther pee.

“Quality means doing it right when no one is looking.” -Henry Ford

In the mountain man’s time of yesteryear, going to the annual rendezvous was the highlight of the year and something to look forward to. Games were played, stories were told and the men and women had an opportunity to relax after another very hard year of dangerous and stressful work high in the Rocky Mountains. The rendezvous was also a time for the trappers to trade-in their hard caught work for the year, their furry gold, aka beaver pelts, for their supplies for the next season, and possibly some cash or coin money. Usually though, the men would leave the rendezvous with little to no money in their pocket after the sometimes month long party at the rendezvous. One of the things the men most looked forward to buying was trade whiskey, which was made in the Eastern parts of the growing United States. In order for the traders and entrepreneurs to bring as much as possible from the East, they would barrel a very strong mixture of whiskey to take up as little room as possible in their limited cargo space. When arriving at the rendezvous, they would cut it with water to make it last longer and to get a greater monetary return on their long arduous journey. Sometimes this finished product was really awful. This inferior watered down product was referred to as panther pee by the mountain men. I will not include the actual word they used to keep this blog mostly family friendly. Word would quickly spread at the rendezvous that one of the traders or vendors were selling a very bad or inferior product for a very high price, in which case the mountain men would spread the warning to stay away from panther p_ _ _. The men demanded high quality, especially at the outrageous prices that were being charged to a captive crowd of customers. They wanted to get what they paid for.

This idea also rang true during Biblical times. When Jesus performed his first public miracle at the wedding feast, turning mere water into wine, we see the example set by our Savior of not settling for an inferior end product. Jesus only offered the best wine, because He was, and is the best. It was even remarked upon by the guests at the wedding, proclaiming the highest quality and taste possible. As with most modern day celebrations, especially weddings, Biblical times were no different, a host would offer a product whose quality diminished over time, knowing the guests wouldn’t notice after already consuming so much alcohol. Jesus did not follow this trend; He offered the highest quality wine knowing it would be noticed and appreciated. Quality and craftsmanship is almost always noticed and is deserving of respect for the level of detail the artisan puts into the finished product. Life on earth is simply too short to deal with sub-par performance from items when and where quality is an option.

Giving the kids the boot.

This thought and intentionality of quality and craftsmanship should be represented with most of the essential pieces of gear and hardware the modern-day mountain man purchases and utilizes. There is a saying I once heard that is confirmed through my own experience and observation, though I cannot remember exactly who said this sentiment or the origin of the expression, it goes something along the lines of “buy once, cry once, buy cheap, always weep.” Outdoor gear, clothing and tools can be insanely expensive and sometimes that price point isn’t warranted as the buyer is simply paying for the name of the brand. High quality gear will always cost more than inferiorly designed product or even more likely a cheap knock-off of an original design. I have seen many once reputable brands go this route of making money only off of their brand name to appease a brand hungry customer base. Their designs were once original and innovative, hand built, designed through knowledgeable designers and user input, but the company is now focused only on shareholders and getting as much profit as possible from a now inferior, mass produced piece of gear. I guess that is business. The discerning customer can still seek out and find well made, quality gear built by artisans who care about their name and represent on old world focus on durability and usability. Men and women who guide today should always focus on professionalism and dedication to craftsmanship for our profession, this can especially be modeled with the gear and equipment the modern-day mountain man chooses to help him in his or her programs. For example, I won’t consider a pair of boots, especially mountaineering boots, unless they will be made by bootmakers who only make boots. The boots need to be focused on durability, longevity and practicality, and they must have the ability to be rebuilt after heavy use by another skilled craftsmen. Boots in particular will become a part of you and your adventures, they will see you through terrain where lesser boots will fall apart. My favorite brand of boots is a German company named Hanwag. I have several pairs of their mountain specific boots that are now on double digits in years of use, with several pairs having been rebuilt by a skilled cobbler. Are they expensive? Initially, yes, very expensive. However, when you break down the cost season by season, they have now paid for themselves several times over. They were, and will continue to be the best option for me. In the disposable commercial society in which we now live, wearing a pair of boots or shoes for less than a year then promptly depositing them in the nearest landfill has become commonplace. This is not limited to footwear. Most gear, clothing and equipment simply isn’t built as well as just a few decades ago. Planned obsolescence is a real thing, companies need you to buy gear over and over to make their profits. The modern-day mountain man should not be a party to this. Buying and having the newest, most expensive item, doesn’t mean it is the best choice or even the most well made. Through experience, the modern-day mountain man will learn what works and what doesn’t, but a good place to start is with equipment companies that share the same principles and ethics as you.

In conclusion, when it comes to gear, stay far, far away from panther pee. Get the genuine item, don’t settle for the watered down version. We are not at a rendezvous, and we are not captive customers. It may be more expensive initially, but with research and experience you will end up with gear that will last, gear that can be repaired, and most importantly gear that you can bet your life on.