Journey to Dreams: Another month in the history book.

Thanksgiving was last week and Christmas is just over three weeks away. This year has flown by. I am now just over thirteen months to retirement and twenty-one months until I depart for Nepal. I am more confident about my journey there. I know spending nine weeks there working will build my fitness level up to the challenge that the EBC trek will bring. Since I have also decided to hire a private guide I can pace myself and keep it a bit more comfortable. The average group tour takes twelve days, that includes flight departure from Kathmandu to Lukla and return. I will be departing from Salleri and returning there. That will add about four days (2 up and 2 back) to the trek. I will have a total of about four weeks from when I depart until I have to be back in Kathmandu for my flight back home in early December. I am hoping to do it in three weeks so I will have time to go to Chitwan National Park in Southwestern Nepal for a few days.

I am still undecided about traveling to Peru and taking on the Inca trail. I will make that decision next Autumn. I will at some point in time travel to see the Andes, but it's the trek that makes me nervous as it has a set schedule and it is with a group. I will have to see how well I do on my next two big hiking trips before I make the decision on whether or not to do it.

Since this past weekend was a 4-day holiday weekend I took advantage of it along with the cooler temperatures and got back on the trail at Mother Neff State Park. I took my little runt-mutt Uisce as she has been feeling neglected as I have been dog-sitting my sons dog. She does love hiking and her spirits were lifted from the day out. I also hit the gym on Saturday and Sunday. On Saturday I did 1000 steps on the stair master (20 minutes) and the three miles ( one hour+) on the treadmill. I did three fifteen minute sets of 5 min at 3%, 5 min. at 7.5% and 5 min. at 15%. I finished with 5 minutes each at -3%, 3% and 0 for a cool down. On Sunday I just did the treadmill, 5 min at 3%, 10 min. at 15% - 3 sets then the -3%, 0 cool down. My legs were a bit sore overnight last night but by this morning I felt fine.

I've had some quiet time at work today so I looked up strength training for hiking in the mountains. I even searched weight training. I didn't really find anything regarding weight training, they just mention what I am already doing, Stairmaster and treadmill at high inclines. They also recommend Yoga and I did pick up on a few new poses I could add in to my routine. So I at least know I am on the right track regarding my training. I could do with increasing the frequency, but with work my time is limited. But once I retire - daily workouts will be on the cards.

My sons dog, King