Bartering

So no training update today, instead I thought I would recount a small discussion I was having with Rob, the person mainly responsible for getting me into this challenge.

As you will have seen from earlier posts, the  sanitary facilities are somewhat basic, and as for the opportunity for showers during the trek, let's say that unless you want to stand but naked under the rain in very cold conditions, your favourite cleansing friend becomes the wet wipe.

The question is how many do you take with you? On the one hand you don't want to go short, but they aren't light weight, so quickly contribute to your kit weight allowance. This then raises the next question of what happens when you run out! Rob was suggesting that bartering may become the skill of the trip, exchanging goods for wet wipes. However is suggestion of offering his extra warm sleeping bag for 3 wet wipes at first sounded like a good exchange, until I thought some more. Would i really want to use the sleeping bag of a man who had run out of wet wipes!!!!!!

So if anyone knows of a source of very light, very durable (they have to wipe everywhere!) and that come in packs with large numbers in them let me know........Actually best let Rob know as well, otherwise I fear he may have to abandon the trek to return for a shower and a clean sleeping bag.

Bank holiday weekend ahead, so opportunities for walking.......fingers crossed.

Rain stops play?

So my plan, as you will recall from yesterday's update was to go out walking last night, but as I set off from work, the rain started, and by the time I was home, done a few jobs, including sorting the cat, the rain was much heavier.

Now I am not sure what has happened to me, as normally that would have been sufficient excuse to abandon the plan, jump on the sofa and watch tv, but within 5 minutes I found myself walking up the lane in the pouring rain !

It is amazing how much I am actually enjoying the walking, even in the rain, and the fact I am doing it mainly on my own. It seem a perfect time to be able to think things through and get other plan, be they work or personal straightened out. My only problem is that I am starting to talk to myself, and occasionally falling disagreeing with myself !

So anyone out and about Charlesworth are last night, seeing a very bright red (as you can see), wet, person talking to himself - err that would be me.

Anyway the jacket and trek trousers proved efficient at stopping the water, and I didn't get too hot either. I should think so, bearing in mind the investment I made in this jacket - thankfully I got it a half price, wonder if that means it is only 50% waterproof ! Berhaus Extrem, temperance Jacket, I can thoroughly recommend, well other than the colour - which makes you look like a beacon!

This morning I was back to the gym, and managed to hit the 3 mile mark again, although one of the instructors did check on me to make sure I wasn't having a heart attack ! - So this week gym 3 times and a walk - and what's more I am enjoying it, and it is only Thursday..............

Tomorrow - I may be writing about my total lack of commitment :-)

A bit more about the trek

Since there is no update today on the training aspects, I didn't go to the gym, but do hope to get in a short walk tonight, I thought I would give you some further insight to the trip.

There is great romance in planning and setting off to climb this mountain but less romantic are the fundamental functions that need to be taken care of in a natural environment through which thousands of people tramp annually.

The standard of facilities vary on the trek according to the altitude and also the route taken. The most used route, sometime called the coca cola route does have better facilities in places, but obviously these get a lot of use, on other routes, then a ditch is not uncommon, or as you can see here, a much more established facility.

What is apparently unavoidable is that they are almost exclusively squat toilets and a degree of dexterity and accuracy are required to effectively use them. However evidence abounds to suggest that these skills are surprisingly rare in the climb fraternity.



So perhaps an essential item of kit could be a peg for the nose.........

However there is a little hope, as at least one of the lower altitude camps is now getting a new facility, and wow does this look more what we are used to.

You will be pleased to know that it should be back to training tomorrow.......

3 Miles

So last week I explained that I need to start building up the distance I could run, so today I hit the dizzy length of 3 miles, now for your marathon runners out there (Mr Appleby) - this is just a warm up, but for some of us, we find it a bit harder going......I reckon if I was going to me doing a marathon I would definitely need all day.

So done two consecutive days at the gym to cope with the social arrangements this week, so Wednesday may be a walk as opposed to a gym session.

Back to walking, on Sunday since I had hiked 9 miles, I thought it would be good to get back out there a walk again. This time not as far just a couple of hours gentle stroll, that ended with a visit to the Lymefield garden centre and the purchase of 5 tomato plants.

So the ear infection appears to be clearing up, but it is still bleeding which is a bit unfortunate as if it won't clear I am going to end up back at the doctors :-( I have quite enough of these antibiotics already.....

Weekend as planned

What a fabulous weekend for weather, with the temperatures hitting the heights of 26 on Sunday.

No excuses for not doing the planned activities, so Saturday morning I set about building the wood store. It was at this stage I realised that I didn't have any nails or screws that were long enough for the job, so proceeded to cut all the wood.

By the time I had finished it looked like an Ikea kit, ok minus the screws. This was soon remedy by a trip to B&Q, where I obtained requird items, including roofing felt.

By 2.30 I have the store built, minus the roof, and despite being somewhat hot, decided it would be good practise to go for that walk. So boots on, rucksack packed, just water, maps  and a fleece (yeh ok it could have got cold), i set off.

The directions I had were near perfect and made the route easy to follow. Whilst it say 7 miles, by the time you add on the distance from home to the start and finish point it comes out at 9 miles. I never met a single person on the route, plenty of sheep, two pheasants a few rabbits, but that was it. Despite being a bit of a slog to get up to the top, the views were remarkable, I was so surprised how beautiful it looked. So I can recommend that route to anyone.

I must admit to my legs feeling tired by the time I got home, and didn't do a great deal more that evening.

Update on Sunday to follow tomorrow, but I didn't disapoint, and did head out again for another walk.

Warm weather is hear

So it looks like this weekend we will have some good weather, so amongst the list of outdoor jobs that need doing, I am planning a 7 mile walk roung coombs ridge on Saturday. Picture above is Cown Edge looking towards Manchester.

I know that this is not a very long walk and neither is it very high, and the conditions will be nothing like they will be in October, but my first search for images of Coomb ridge resulted in the picture below, which was just a touch alarming, although nearer to the conditions we will find in October :-)

So if you are out and about Saturday afternoon in the Charlesworth area, look out for a billy no mates with his rucksack on.

Iodine

Using iodine to disinfect drinking water is apparenlty a long standing practice throughout the world, routinely used by outdoor enthusiasts, travelers, military personnel, disaster survivors and emergency respondents. When used for short periods, and with the correct dosage, it has been considered safe.

However, as usual, having not a lot better to do, the European Union banned it's use.

So alternate ways of dsinfecting your water are required.

While at the equipment shop on Saturday I was politely advised that all the new tablets used made your water taste like dettol, and even if you use flavouring crystals / additives it just tastes like diluted detol.

Recommendation, try and find someone who has some.

Well I won't publicly reveal sources, but i came across a supplier, and when I got home yesterday, there was my iodine ready for disinfecting my water. Need to try it out now, make sure it does taste ok.

I would be interested to know how other people are disinfecting their water and what the results are like. Yes there are filter pumps, but I have read varying things about the reliability, plus they are expensive, and knowing me will break on the second day!

If you want to know where it is still available, drop me a line

Perforation

So this morning didn't start so well, yesterday I was really struggling with my hearing, this morning when I got to gym I found my ear had perforated - I won't go into details - let's just say YUCK!

So a few days of deafness in one ear now!

Anyway back to kit lists

next on the list was a merino wool base layer top from Trekmates, this is brilliant and keeping moisture away from the skin, and even when damp keeps you warm.

To go on top of this is then a Berghaus fleece, so two layers on, and I can bore you more tomorrow.

Training wise, well the slowly increase the running distance got me 2.5 miles - oh that seems to be the same as yesterday - err ok I will put that down to perforated ear :-). However I did find a new walk to try at the weekend, around 8 miles, so assuming I don't get lost, I will give that a go on Saturday afternoon, assuming the weather is ok.

more tomorrow, though since no gym tomorrow, that won't be more miles running.....

Shin Splints Day

So last night, I could tell that my legs were used to walking - now there is a slight predicament. Due to "car strategy" I didn't go to the gym Monday am as normal, so by the evening the fronts of my legs had stiffened up considerably, this morning when I woke then I had quite a bit of pain in them.

The pain is good pain, i.e. the sutff that comes after a good exercise, so I know I am doing the right thing :-)

Anyway a session at the gym this morning has helped stretch them out. On Sunday Rob, who was the person who challenged me for this trip did the Manchester 10K run, he was trying to encourage me to try that as well. Thankfully I declined but thought, I will give a 10K run a go this morning in the gym.

Well all I can say is, better in the gym that surrounded by thousands of people. I got about 2.5 miles done then had to give up - I blame the heat, no air conditioning on first thing this morning, but honestly, I need to build up my stamina.

Anyway small challenge to follow is to build up to 10K by end of June (could be interesting as I have a weeks vacation in the mid of June so no gym, and don't fancy taking my training stuff, but maybe I will need to!)

I mentioned kit purchase, so brief starting place, I managed to get two Berghaus Tech T shirts for £12 each, these are great for keeping moisture of your body, and they are supposed to be odour resistant, have UV protection, so make a good trekking T shirt for lower down the mountain, and can be used as a good base layer for when it gets colder.

Tried this one out on Sunday, definately kept me dry, it wasn't , yuck, as for odour - well the shirt smelt ok, don't think I want to comment on myself!

More tomorrow.

Outdoor Action

Saturday, I travelled to Blackburn in order to get some more kit for the trip, but also so that i could train in the kit I would be using. After lot's of searching on the web, I came across Outdoor Action who appeared to have a wide range of kit and also some good offers. However I didn't want to risk just ordering over the internet where comfort and fit were required, plus I was hoping to get some advice.

After an email exchange they agreed to meet any on line prices if I went to their shop in Blackburn. What can I say they are great, so helpful, lot's of advice, not only had the guy serving me, been up Killi, he also had several regulars who used the shop who were part of the support groups for such trips. Therefore not only could he advise on the best gear, he was also full of other good information.

Best thing I can say, is they wouldn't let me buy stuff that I could get cheaper elsewhere (don't but these, bob to M&S 3 for £15 just a good), and also some things I did need, they told me to come back in a couple of months as they would be able to offer a bigger discount.

So if you need any outdoor kit for any activity I can strongly recommend them http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/

So now with a load of new kit, I thought best to try it out, so on Sunday I kitted up and went for a 2 hour walk, leaving Broadbottom, up through Charlesworth, over Monks road to the Grouse Pub, then back down into Glossop and back to Broadbottom. (actually not quite, as I did grab a lift from Glossop home)

More about the kit later this week.

For more followers

Yesterday I announced my challenge to my colleagues in Brother, whilst a few of you were already aware, the fact that now there are a few hundred aware, I thought it best to provide a fresh starting point for the blog.

For those new to this blog, have a look at the early history to see why I am embarking on this challenge and what it entails.

My current training regime is still consisting of regular sessions at the gym to get my overall fitness levels up, and then some walking at weekends.

This weekend I am going to purchase the rest of my kit for the trip, a bit of a bit outlay, let's hope that I still do some walking when i get back from this trip!

So by Monday I expect to me a few hundred pounds lighter, but as a result of wallet fatigue as opposed to training !

Keep following, I will get back to week day updates from now to the run in.

Ian