Adapting to Changes When on a Trip Workshop - October 21, 2026

Every great adventure starts with a plan. The problem is that the trail rarely sticks to it.

Weather changes. Roads close. Fuel runs low. Vehicles develop problems. Trails become more difficult than expected. Sometimes the safest decision is to change the plan entirely.

In this hands-on Oregon AT workshop, you'll learn how to recognize when conditions are changing and make better decisions in the field using the same STOPA framework we teach in our vehicle recovery training:

STOP • THINK • OBSERVE • PLAN • ACT

But this isn't a sit-and-listen class.

Put Your Skills to the Test

For the hands-on portion of the workshop, you'll be divided into teams and sent on a virtual overland adventure inspired by the classic Oregon Trail game.

Your team will have a route, resources, and a limited set of tools and solutions. As you travel, unexpected problems will arise. You'll have to work together, assess the situation, choose the right resources, and decide how to move forward.

You'll encounter challenges involving:

• 🗺️ Navigation and unexpected route closures

• 🌧️ Changing weather and trail conditions

• ⛽ Fuel and resource management

• 🛞 Tire and vehicle problems

• 🔧 Mechanical issues

• 🌅 Running out of daylight

• 📡 Communication challenges

• 🏕️ Changing or abandoning your original destination

• ⚠️ Decisions that can turn a small problem into a much bigger one

Some solutions will work. Some won't. And some decisions may make the situation worse.

The goal isn't simply to be the first team to finish. The goal is to get your team safely to the end of the journey.

What You'll Learn

By the end of the workshop, you'll have a better understanding of how to:

• Recognize when a trip plan needs to change

• Separate facts from assumptions

• Identify risks before they become emergencies

• Evaluate multiple options when things don't go according to plan

• Manage fuel, time, daylight, weather, and vehicle limitations

• Avoid common decision-making traps like "we've come this far" and "it'll probably be fine"

• Communicate changing plans with your travel group

• Build margin into your trips so you have options when things go wrong

You'll leave with a practical STOPA decision-making framework you can use on your next adventure.

Who Should Attend?

This workshop is designed for anyone who travels off pavement, from newer adventurers looking to build confidence to experienced travelers who want to sharpen their decision-making skills.

No previous training is required.

Come ready to think, troubleshoot, work as a team, and adapt when the plan changes.

Because the best trip isn't necessarily the one that goes according to plan. It's the one where everyone gets home safely.

Pre-registration required. Space is limited.