The Buddy System

“Does everyone have a buddy? Good. Let’s get started!” How often have you heard these words recently? Unless you fall into the teenage or child categories, chances are you haven’t really thought about the buddy system all that much. When I think of the buddy system, I think of kindergarten restroom trips, Scout hikes, and high school dances. Most times, children simply choose someone they get along with, but in the case of dances, it is imperative that parents inspect the buddy that their child has chosen and if needs be, make the selection for them.
The buddy system is designed to ensure that instead of one kid wandering off and getting lost, two kids wander off and get lost, but at least they have someone to talk to while they wait to be rescued. Plus, two heads are better than one, right? Whoever came up with that phrase must have never seen two teenage boys put their heads together. The phrase should be: two non-teenage male heads are better than one. Typically, though, two people can come up with better solutions to problems than one person by his or her lonesome. And don’t forget the panic factor. Fear and terror can easily overcome one person, whereas they have a harder time influencing two people who are determined to let each other know that everything will be okay.
When I was a Scout, the buddy system always seemed like an annoyance. I always got stuck with the kid that really needed help. He’d see a butterfly and suddenly he’s chasing it toward a cliff edge. Or he brought so much crap in his backpack that I end up having to take some of it. Despite my youthful experiences with the buddy system, I can see how effective it is now that I’m an adult. Whether you’re hiking or hunting or snowmobiling or anything else outside, the buddy system can save lives.
Every year there are tons of new stories of people who could have avoided a grisly demise if they had had a friend with them. Backcountry hikers that go solo and disappear, only to be found dead at the bottom of a ravine months later; a swimmer who goes out for a dip, suffers a muscle cramp, and never makes it back to shore; a kid who runs to the gas station just down the street for candy and completely vanishes. These are times when a friend could have proved very helpful. Of course, a friend is not a guarantee against disaster, but the chances of a disaster happening are certainly lessened. There are instances when having a buddy may not be enough. Bears and nasty weather, for example. Once again, though, another head may be useful in solving a potentially dangerous predicament.
I’ve grown up since my Scouting days, and instead of pairing up with the awkward Scouts, I’ve paired up with the love of my life, which is a huge upgrade, I might add. My wife and I do almost everything together. I don’t even have to think about it when someone asks, “Does everyone have a buddy?” I can’t tell you how many times my wife has saved our butts because she remembered to bring a map or pack water or any number of things that I inevitably forget. I hope you have a buddy; someone you can count on to share adventures with you. Your buddy could be a spouse, a best friend, a family member, a neighbor, or anyone that’s going to be there for you, just as much as you are there for them. Buddy up and enjoy the comfort of knowing that you’ve got support.