Uphill training

Yesterday we put some weight in our backpacks (approx. 10 lbs.) and went for a 5 hr hike up Mount Tolmie and down the other side... on to Mount Douglas, up the road and down the Irvine Trail which was quite rocky & steep....the hiking poles were very useful.  Luckily there was a breeze to cool us off and a pit stop for an ice cream at the 7-eleven helped as well. Every hour or so we stopped, took the packs off, and took our shoes & socks off to air our feet, changed into dry socks.  No bad after effects today & slept well last night.

6 hr walk - training

Yesterday we went for our first 6 hr walk....started at Sayward Rd and walked for 3 hrs along the Lockside Trail to Cy Hampton Park and then returned.  The terrain was flat, the sun was shining, and we discovered two accesses to the water that we hadn't seen in our cycling days along the trail.  Stopped very hour or so and took off our shoes & socks and had a snack. Had our backpacks but not fully loaded.   It wasn't too bad at all.  Derek has sore ball of one foot today & Gayle is a little sunburnt on one arm.  Saw two squashed garter snakes on the road and two herons fishing on the seashore.  The trail was busy with cyclists.