I like to gain experience from just up to the point before it goes pair shaped but always go out prepared for the bratwurst. At least I go out thinking I am prepared because I haven't been in any serious predicament touch wood.
Its a shame that our sport can be so deadly but then you might get knocked down by a bus one day or murdered by swine flu (pesky little demons) so just enjoy and listen and learn from our experienced peers, even young peers like Malcy_c and Mountaineagle and older ones like Kinley and Caberfeidh and Mountainstar