Many of you know me as the Adventurous BA. In those blogs, I talk about hiking, a hobby of mine, and how my BA skills are used to make the adventures more enjoyable. Last year, I discussed a 3-to-4 day hike where I had all my gear in my backpack and camped along the way and how I came about my MVP. This past September, I was fortunate to do a 9-day hike on Isle Royale in Lake Superior, one of the least visited national parks. For both hiking adventures, my minimum viable products were vastly different. I’ll be discussing how I came to the conclusion of my MVP for my Isle Royale hiking adventure.

A minimum viable product (MVP) is a concept in software development that emphasizes creating a product with minimum features to satisfy early customers and validate a product idea. The idea can be applied to other areas, including my hobby of hiking on a remote island which requires careful planning and preparation.

The first step in creating an MVP for the Isle Royale adventure was to identify the core features that are essential for the experience. These may include navigation tools, water filtration systems, shelter, and food supplies. Last time I did some prototyping to see if I could stay warm in a hammock in the cold Wisconsin March weather. There was significant room for improvement. During this time, I also tried making several meals and spent many moments determining how to bring my coffee successfully while keeping my pack weight down.

There are several differences between a 3-to-4-day hike with easy access to civilization and a 9-day remote hike that I almost had to start over.

Navigation
- So remote that I couldn’t use my phone.
- Trails are marked very differently between IAT (Ice Age Trail) and Isle Royale
Water Filtration – The island had algae bloom on inner water sources in September (more on this later)
Shelter
- There are not as many usable trees on the island as I am used to so I needed a standalone shelter.
- And with the shelter, I needed to re-evaluate my sleeping pad - I don’t use one with my hammock
- The island is rocky so it’s not always easy to stake down a tent.
Food – I needed a lot more food which added a lot more weight to my pack.

How do I get my nutritional needs met and keep it light enough to carry?
Cold soak options to reduce the cooking fuel needed.

If the MVP is successful, I can then add additional features based on my needs and feedback from other hikers. These may include a satellite phone for emergency communication, a solar charger for electronic devices, and a first-aid kit for medical emergencies. The group I joined for this adventure had prepared with strenuous hill hiking. The group kept asking “Are you trying to kill me?” to which the leader replied, “But did you die?” As a consequence of my experience on September's adventure medical emergencies are not something that you take lightly when you are hours away from medical care. While no one has died, I now know where the nearest urgent care is.

An MVP approach for hiking allows hikers to assess their physical and mental capabilities before committing to the adventure. Hiking on a remote island can be extremely challenging, with unpredictable weather, difficult terrain, and limited resources. By evaluating their MVP on a shorter hike, hikers can get a sense of what to expect and adjust as needed before attempting a longer hike.

In addition to physical and mental preparation, it is also important for hikers to consider the environmental impact of their hike. Hiking on a remote island can have a significant impact on the local ecosystem, especially if hikers are not careful about their waste and resource consumption. To minimize their impact, hikers should follow Leave No Trace principles, which include packing out all trash, using established campsites, and avoiding damage to vegetation and wildlife. Unfortunately, these best practices impact pack weight. Which I want to keep lower for comfort and ease of execution. Hikers should also consider the impact of their food choices, opting for lightweight and non-perishable options that do not require refrigeration or cooking.

Hiking Isle Royale was an incredible experience, by using an MVP approach, I was able to assess my capabilities and enhance my trip. This year was used to prototype and understand the differences between the shorter hikes and longer hikes so that next June when I traverse the entire island, I will enjoy the journey.

In the next couple of weeks, I will be going over the differences and what I learned and my after-action review, what I would like to change for next year’s longer wilder adventure.

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Adventurous BA!

No Hike Is The Same