Cindy arrived safely last night and we've already been out for coffee and chatted about how we are going to display her art in the house.  The crates (3 of them at over 100 pounds each!) should arrive in the next two days so we will be busy, busy, busy!

With Cindy here, I am in a partial vacation mode and also feeling the need to get several tasks done...so it's an interesting balancing act.  As ever though, Cindy is a very undemanding companion.  And it helps that we have history behind us in terms of a looooong road trip (Santa Clarita, CA to Prince Rupert, Canada) and a backpacking trip (the amazing Chilkoot Trail).  We determined last night that the trip was 3 years ago.

Time does indeed take wing.  My next big planned backpacking trip is a jaunt up the Inca Trail to Macchu Pichu for my 50th (gulp!) birthday.  So I have 3 years to get this bod back into backpacking shape.  I don't plan to take quite that long.  I'll want to get some shorter trips in over the next few years so, perhaps, my brother Dennis and I can hit the trail again early next year.

I'll need the extra practice.  The Chilkoot Trail was a 33 mile backpack with a relatively low elevations (3,500 feet although it seemed like we gained most of that in one day).  See the trail profile on this link.

The Inca Trail, by comparison, covers about the same distance but starts at a significantly higher altitude and goes to 13,775 feet.  (Gulp again!)  Check out the profile on this one.

So you can see it will be quite a challenge.  Requiring its own sort of prep work.  We will have to get acclimated for several days and then just make sure we're fit and attuned to our bodies as we hike.  The good news is that on this trip, there are porters.  So we will just be carrying day packs instead of 45 pound backpacks.  (We were travelling "light" for the Chilkoot.)  The porters are required in order to preserve the ancient trail and to provide employment opportunities for the local guides.  I think it's the only way I'd make it!

So far, my tentative companions on the trail are Lynne Secrest and Cindy Morefield.  Dan's about 90% committed.  Any other takers? 

In the meantime, it's back to measuring walls, taking down art and hanging out with my excellent friend, Cindy.

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