>>2709414>>2709443(cont)
These just apply when hiking with others:
One uncomfortable thing is if you are /out/ with others, have an honest talk with them beforehand.
I hate doing that, because I hate talking about my disability and I hate that it defines so much of my life, but if they don't know what you can and can't do, it'll just lead to issues down the road.
If they are a hiker that makes a lot of distance and you are always lagging behind, it'll lead to tension. If they are setting up the tent and you are 50% slower because you can't put the tentpegs into the ground without losing your balance, to them it looks like you are a demotivated, lazy piece of shit.
So talk about your limitations and be honest about what to expect from you. If the other person isn't compatible with your limits, don't go with them.
During the /out/ activity, be ready to have to remind them a lot of your limitations if they don't adapt well. It sucks, but normal people forget all the time, they don't even consider half the stuff that's part of your life. It's not coming from a malicious place, it's just that when they look for a campsite they consider wind and maybe view, while you have to consider how to get up from the ground in the morning. Remind them (in a gentle manner) and if they aren't a dick, they'll quickly understand.
Another thing is workload sharing. People have a hard time not to grow resentful of you if you aren't doing your half of the work, even if you legitimately can't and they know that. Try to find ways to mitigate this.
Maybe I can't lift as heavy as the other guy, so the tent goes into his backpack and not mine. In exchange, I'll do the planning/navigating. Maybe I'm not as much of a help during tent setup and take down, so I'll sort out food and cooking. And if you can't do something that you should, verbalize it. "Sorry I can't get that thing from the tent, because once I am on the ground it'll take me a while to get back up" goes a long way.
