I spent childhood summers portaging through Algonquin and Temagami. In the backcountry, you learn fast: strip away everything that doesn't serve a purpose, understand your users (weather, terrain, crew fatigue), and design for function over aesthetics. A clean portage route beats a scenic one. A shelter that keeps water out beats one that looks good but leaks.

Building products works the same way. Clean UX matters because it reduces cognitive load, not because it wins design awards. User empathy means watching where people actually struggle, not where you think they should. And the best features are the ones users don't notice: they just work. Like a good paddle stroke: efficient, repeatable, invisible.