85 DAYS TO GO!

🏕️ This week I completed a winter shakedown hike (training weekend). I camped in the Peak District at -3 degrees for two nights. I packed up camp after the first night, walked 10 miles with all my gear and then pitched again for the second night. I need to build that mental resilience, especially in the cold (my nemesis) and this weekend was a test for that!

Learnings:-
* When packing away a frozen tent make sure that you have emptied all the tent pockets first! (My car keys were inside!).
* Rocks are great replacements for tent pegs if the ground is frozen, but the rocks still freeze to the guy lines and floor!
* The Tyvek bivvy sack (left open to reduce condensation) kept my quilt dry, so that’s a bonus. Heat pads, down pants and booties are essential!
* I hate packing up in the cold. My hands get so cold and painful. I just need to be faster and get it over and done with sooner.
* Let the air out of your sleeping pad while you are lying on it. Then you will have the motivation to get out of your warm sleeping bag!
* Gas canisters don’t like the cold, so keep this inside your sleeping bag at night. (I couldn’t get my stove working so ended up having a coffee with Kevin in his camper van next door on day two). I won’t be able to do that on the PCT!

😇 Great news! The lovely Ash from Ireland who is also walking the PCT and starting with me in 17th April has managed to secure a Snow Skills workshop for us whilst we are on trail! How cool is that? It’s a safety course conducted in the San Jacinto mountains (which I need to cross on my hike). Thanks Ash! Check out her intro video on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/nfjt7iV7esY

STUDY 📕

I enjoyed a zoom session on altitude and dehydration which was specific to the PCT. Wow! I learned so much, but my main takeaways were:

💤 We only acclimate when we sleep! So sleeping at different altitudes will help.
👍 The good news is that PCT hikers will naturally acclimate as we start low and gradually build our way up into the mountains.
🏋️‍♀️ It doesn’t matter how fit you are, AMS is sneaky.
🤢 I learned the difference between HACE & HAPE. One is a type of altitude sickness that causes swelling in the brain. The other is a type of altitude sickness caused by fluid in the lungs. I now know what symptoms to look out for, so can help anyone else who may be showing signs.
💊 Diamox is the only approved drug to help with altitude sickness. 125mg is adequate. Any more than that can cause severe side effects.

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📕 I started a book about the mental challenges of the PCT.

Why do so MANY hikers quit in the first 100 miles of the PCT?

* Features tips and interviews with successful and unsuccessful thru-hikers, trail angels, and more.
* Covers the mental side of thru-hiking along with sleep, FAQs, expectations, pooping 💩, and what to do if the thought of quitting early strikes.

I can’t put it down.

GEAR ⚙️

I know this is sad, but I tried out my new jacket/pillow at home for a few nights this week. The fleece on the pillow combination is superb. It’s a winner for me (OMM Rotor Smock)

FINAL THOUGHTSRead more