So we have this big snow shoeing trip coming up. We've been talking it up for months to anyone who would listen. We are very excited about the experience and challenge.
The reality is we're also both a little nervous about it and for different reasons. We've done lots of hard things like 6 hour adventure races and even hiked carrying backpacks for days. However, a winter hike for nine days on snow shoes pulling a toboggan was new to both of us.
For Gayle, the key word here is "Winter" and the reality that it might be really cold. In the days and weeks leading up to our trip it's been very cold out. Gayle is not worried about "the cold", it's all about "being cold" and making the right clothing selections.
So how do you pack when you know it's likely to be somewhere between 5 and -35, we'll be outside and working hard sometimes and inside a warm tent, in a proper sleeping bag? Considering all these factors the best thing to do is SHOP!
After hours of researching what the best options were we now have an abundance of warm clothing - Wool Long Underwear, lined pants, sweaters and lots of wool socks (Somehow Paul now has 5 new pairs of wool socks - a big increase from the 1 pair that he bought at a thrift shop in New Zealand when we were living in a van.) And as many of you will be aware, Gayle now gets lots of ads for Lined Pants in her social media feeds!
The other factor when packing was that space and weight is limited. Your pack absolutely has to fit on a toboggan and whatever you bring you have to pull. Our trip guides have give us a good list of things to pack so in the end, between the two of us, we should have plenty of options to match the weather conditions.
Paul's anxiety about this trip is all about the physical tasks. Since 2019, he's struggled with a series of health issues that have significantly slowed him down or, a couple of times, stopped him in his tracks. Any of these might just interfere: back issues, nerve damage, arthritis and most recently a torn meniscus. Sometimes just standing or sitting can have a bad outcome. And, if you know Paul at all, he is just a little competitive and can't help himself from wanting to be first or best - often these days he settles for "better than last time".
Taking on a 9 day trek is a big challenge and he's significantly anxious about slowing the group or, worst case, having to stop. He really doesn't want to cause others to have a bad experience. He's packing lots of Advil and Tylenol and a fold up camp chair. Hopefully that will be enough.
Is Gayle going to be Cold?
Is Paul going to be Slow?
Stay tuned for our post trip wrap up.