Preparing for missions in difficult places • Hacker News Board

Re: Preparing for missions in difficult places

#41

Post by BiteCode_dev » Sun, Dec 17, 2023, 8:42 PM UTC

jauer wrote: post #35

resolutebat wrote: post #25

Interesting read. As a former 100% travel road warrior in semi-exotic places (data centers in developing countries), I'm very surprised he's checking in bags though, that's just asking for trouble. I presume it's the big hunting knife that makes this unavoidable, but is this really that necessary?

A bit above where he mentions checking a bag, he says: > But in our context, I am not a tourist. First, I need to perform, second, where I go I may not have shops. Or much of anything really. Just the supplies to stay functional without being able to rely on any local infra (food/water/shelter/medical) makes not having a checked bag challenging IMO. I'm on-roster with a tech NGO (sounds like he does something similar…

That's exactly that yes.

Also, duplication. I want laptops and hard drives in different bags in case of water, fire, mugging, etc

The big hunting knife is not mandatory. As I said, I use it rarely.

But I'd hate to be in a situation where I need it and not have it.

Maybe it's also good luck charm at this point :)

Re: Preparing for missions in difficult places

#42

Post by [deleted] » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 1:25 AM UTC

BiteCode_dev wrote: post #7

mynegation wrote: post #3

Ok, forget the packing lists, advice, and all this survivalist stuff. All I want to know is what _kind of jobs_ requires preparation like this. This is not covered in the article, I have an impression - deliberately so.

Yes, deliberately indeed. But I as suspect you may believe, I didn't work for the military. I worked for NGOs, governments bodies, the UN and WHO, and of course the private sector. At home I have a fridge, hot water, heating, nobody is shooting guns except in the shows I can stream in HD thanks to fiber while eating an organic avocado. So it's easy to forget a huge part of the world is not comfortable. But those area…

[deleted]

Re: Preparing for missions in difficult places

#43

Post by yial » Mon, Dec 18, 2023, 8:26 AM UTC

I’m on the board of an NGO that works in the Peruvian Amazon… but have also done NGO work in India.

Some personal things I find super helpful (and the list in the article is accurate.. though I’ve never needed a big knife just small ones ).

* hydration salts

I personally really like Patagonia black hole duffles. I got one after my last duffle just shredded to nothing. They fold up very small.

platypus water bottle / bladder. I couldn’t find it for sale searching right now, but it has a flip cap with a locking mechanism and a carabiner. When empty they take up little space.

* I always pack two headlamps, and extra batteries. If you need a headlamp, someone else seems to always need one too.

* the right footwear, beyond just wearing something like Tevas, or Merrill’s (though I wouldn’t fully endorse either). Research if you need to have rubber boots that go to your knees as well, or similar.

* don’t assume a place to sleep. A travel hammock with mosquito netting can be a life saver.

I’m sure there’s other things too… but just off the top of my head. And of course, don’t skip any vaccinations.

Re: Preparing for missions in difficult places

#44

Post by throwaway738585 » Mon, Dec 25, 2023, 5:18 PM UTC

mynegation wrote: post #3

Ok, forget the packing lists, advice, and all this survivalist stuff. All I want to know is what _kind of jobs_ requires preparation like this. This is not covered in the article, I have an impression - deliberately so.

Drone pilot. Especially in war zones