Volunteer with your local SAR outfit. You will venture forth at unpredictable times, in conditions when sane people are staying put. Sooner or later, you and your gear will be tested significantly.

The good news is that you will (or should)be functioning as part of a coordinated group effort, and your whereabouts and condition will be known to other team members. Cherish your successes and learn from the other kind of operations....

I believe I have made this pitch before on this forum, but it is Christmas time, and this is made very much in the spirit of the season...