Practice Makes Perfect

Kim and I figured that the best way to "simulate" hiking Kilimanjaro, was to climb our local mountains. Our buddy Murray had been running up Sulphur Mountain, so we thought we better join in. For those who know Sulphur Mountain (www.banffgondola.com) understand that running up this mountain isn't exactly easy or normal. Well, nobody ever said Murray was normal.
With Murray running up the 5.5km trail in about 47 minutes, Kim and I hike up in about 1 1/4 hours. The first time we summited (as we like to call it) I was doing a full simulation...pack on the back full of stuff, camelbak full of water, "pole, ple" pace...everything. Kim on the other hand was in a race to the top...although she would turn around periodically to see if I was still alive. On our second summit (2 weeks later), Kim choose to carry a pack up - filled with a bag of flour, cans of tomatoes and whatever else she could find (if the kitchen sink wasn't attached to the counter, it would have been going up the hill as well!)
Sulphur is about a 690m elevation gain over the 5.5km ascent. In terms of Kili, we will have to gain about 4000m over 35km. Sulphur's summit is at 2281m, Kili's summit 5895m...so we are training, but not kidding ourselves!

g

New Wardrobe

To counter the negative experience of the immunization, a positive shopping extravaganza for all those necessities was next. You would think that hiking up a mountain (where you are renting the cold weather clothing) for a couple of Canadians that live 60 minutes from the mountains would be pretty straight forward. Let me tell you, I had no idea how ill prepared for hiking I was. No hiking pants, no hiking shorts, no hiking socks, no hiking shirts - luckily I do have hiking boots, as does Kim. Mountain Equipment Co-of is definitely going to notice a sales spike.

You have to buy "trekking" pants if you are going to trek, right? Even if those trekking pants convert in to shorts, you still need a pair of trekking shorts, right? Even if you have hiked in normal wool socks before, you have to spend about $30 for a pair of hi-tech socks and liner, right? What the hell is a hiking shirt? I own 2, but I don't know what they did to make them hiking compatible???

Of course by climbing to the altitude we are, keeping hydrated is very necessary. The best way to stay hydrated - a "backpack" hydration system. 2 litre capacity - plus carry a couple of Nalgene bottles.

With all this new gear, I need a new sack to carry this all around in. Oh, don't forget the sleeping bag liner.

Remember...this is just me...as a guy, I am not as practiced at this whole shopping thing...Kim on the other hand - pro. I had to plug the meter once while we were shopping and Kim's brother plugged it another time. He came down to visit us during our 3 hour adventure.

Now that I have organized the first purchases, I have realized what I am missing...so MEC will have another visit from the shopping tornado!

g