Do you get nervous before an expedition?

Do you get nervous before an expedition?

Benedict Allen (Explorer) gives expert video advice on: Do you get nervous before an expedition?; How long does an expedition last?; How do you decide what expedition to do next? and more...

Generally, I don't get nervous before I go because I've done preparation. Nowadays especially, I've learned survival skills. I can cope with the Amazon, New Guinea, Borneo, and the Arctic, and so on. So I've gone extra fast, I could acknowledge. Also, because I go alone, I tread slowly. I work out a sort of backup plan, as it were. I do a bit of networking. I go to the area and I talk to frontiersmen, talk to indigenous people and just get to know how things are. So that it's a step by step approach. I think if you are feeling fearful back here, well it's quite natural. You are taking on a big thing. But you have to reassure yourself and say, "There's no danger today or tomorrow. I'll just take things one day at a time." That's how I've done my expeditions, not really thinking about the end objective which is some scary feat I'm trying to pull off and how I am preparing for that and gradually feel more and more at home in this place that I'm familiar with.