AT 39 - 4th May (432)

 

I hope the education spot from yesterday didn’t traumatise you too much. 

Another great day. Slept well in a real bed and made breakfast and resupplied at reception. Great selection but a little pricy but I’m not worried. Set off with Boot Lips and walked a mile and then down 250 stone steps, some more than a foot heigh so hard on legs but it ended in an amazing waterfall. Walked another mile along river and then straight up. Lots of switchbacks so not too hard. I had made a filtered coffee pot and had 3 or 4 cups so that powered me up. Also portage with a hot chocolate packet added!!! 

To give a flavour of height.

Sugarloaf is 1644 feet

Kilmacanogue is 234 feet so the climb is 1400 feet. It is a little steeper and shorter miles. Now do that with 35lbs on your back. 

Up 3 miles. 2000 feet. 2.5 hours. 

Down 3 miles. 2000 feet. 1 hour. 

Walked around lake to a dam and had enough so camped at the first spot I came to. Alone in the scary woods tonight with bears, snakes and spiders to keep me company. 

Food Spot. 

Someone asked about what food I eat on trail. Not the T-bone steaks and beer when in town!!! The photos below describe breakfast, lunch and dinner. 

Breakfast. 

Make it in previous dinner packet

Lunch

For the tuna  to make a wrap

Nuts to nibble on

Highest calories possible 

Dinner dish

After. 

All on boiling water  

Decanted wine if you can carry the weight.
 I sometimes do.

Then bear hang the rest in a tree  

AT 38 - 3rd May (420.1)

Bench with a view 

The view

Swim #7

 Not too hard of a hike down (up and down) from Mountaineers Falls Shelter to Black Bear Resort. I took a cabin for the night. Real bed. We (Boot Lips & me) went into town for food with Linda the owner. We paid for her dinner since that was the shuttle cost. Beer and steak and fries, again, anything to put on the calories. My trousers are falling off. Need to get a new pair soon to fit my sleek new self. Swim #7 in river and I even persuaded Boot Lips to get in with my togs. 

Educational Spot. 

WARNING, you are advised that the following article might offend some viewers. 

Please stop now and return tomorrow if you can’t talk about poo, bum, toilet paper and number twos. Scroll down. 

I finished my first loo roll that I brought from Ireland. 38 days and only finished today. I know I’ve been into motels and hostels but not that many times. Let’s say 30 movements. 

I want to talk about how many sheets people use. I use 6 sheets per movement. I fold two sheets together and then in half again. Two finger widths. So I get 3 wipes per 6 sheets. The only reason for doubling it is because you don’t want break through. If it is high quality paper you can get away with 3 sheets. First spread you bum cheeks and perform, when finished take the first 4 ply with one finger wipe the most off. Repeat with your 2 remaining. If you are nervous you can use two extra sheet but not doubled to make sure you cheeks are clean. Since I’m out for 5 days at a time without a proper shower, you have to make sure you are clean and don’t get nappy rash (yes adults can get it too). I know girls have the disadvantage of not having an extension tube like men, so may need sheets for number ones. I’m sure if people used this method a large number of worlds trees could be saved. 

I know some people use nearly a whole roll at one sitting. We are spoiled with supermarkets selling 36 or 48 rolls at bargain prices. Next time you sit take the time to think what excess you are using. We can save the planet together. People should be taught this in school or somewhere, let’s talk about number twos. 

AT 37 - 2nd May (403.9)

Not so wild animal 

Reminder me of Roughtor Cornwall 

Swim #6

 400 miles !!!!!

Rained a bit overnight but dry in the morning. Started the climb up little hump(5445). Whenever you hear little it means there’s a big coming. Big hump (5559), the problem was you go down to go up(4962). The other issue is it was very windy with gusts of 45mph. Every step you were thrown off balance. Your backpack is like a sail and also weighs a lot to throw you off balance. It threw you off the path and you had to do extra steps, exhausting. The wind was left to right so you couldn’t lean into it. If it hadn’t been grass on both sides it would have been extremely dangerous. As it was Night Crawler was running down and a gust caught him and he did 3 barrel rolls. The bushes at the top were like the ones in Cornwall, all leaning over. I was glad to be down from there. Had swim #6 at the bottom, so good. Had lunch and a siesta ready for more climbing. Got to camp really tired. Probably pushed it a bit but wanted to leave a shorter distance to hostel tomorrow. Longest miles so far. 

AT 36 - 1st May (386.1)

 Freezing night. Had to wear my fluffy jacket for the first time. Pulled my hat down over my nose to keep it warm. Woke at 6 and started breakfast and packing at 6:30

What a wonderful day. Absolutely biting cold. I walked higher than the snow line. First day I wore gloves. Lots of climbing but in the cold it took it out of you. Went to the highest shelter (6270) on the trail. Had lunch there but it took an hour for my hand to thaw out afterwards. Did two more hills and camped at a condemned shelter. Very iconic place. Lit fire and good group of 6 sat around. I had marshmallows so cut sticks and roasted them. Everyone enjoyed them. 

Iconic barn/shelter. Closed. 

Privy!!!

Earths fingernails or hair. 

Privy with a view

Highest shelter