As someone who has worked outdoors a good part of my life I focus on the weather even more than most rural folks. I have had a weather station at my desk for a very long time that gives me the latest wind direction and speed along with the temperature. This winter I upgraded the system on the roof above the office and now get a ton of useful information that I never had before. Like the minimum temperature for the last 24 hours with the exact time it occurred. The amount of rainfall (none today)or even the wind chill ( 17 degrees at the moment, thanks for asking) given the current wind speed.
All of this is great information to have but in reality it does nothing to make a cold day feel warmer or a rainy wet day feel drier. That is where experience comes into play. What does that wind direction mean on the lake that I was planning to fish on today? How hard can the wind blow before casting a fly becomes difficult and where are we best protected from the wind? Will the time of high tide influence the wind or rain?
Those are some of the things I think about when planning a trip and am adjusting my plans not only before we start but during the trip as well. Of course when I am on the water or in the woods the sophisticated equipment is of no help experience is the thing that makes a difference. Just a small part of what it means to hire a guide.
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