Preparation Post #2

Only 17 days to go before we start our trek across Scotland!  Things are continuing to come together.  We have made a few stops, and received a few orders since the last post and have put together pretty much everything we are going to need for the trip.  The new sleeping mat has arrived and was even tested out by Ben on an overnighter he did in Southern Alberta this weekend.  He provided a rave review including, "best sleeping mat ever!!"  This is good news for Mandy to stay warm and comfy in the tent!  Mandy and I also picked up some small toiletries and other necessities at Walmart the other night: mini toothpaste, small container of Sudocrem (good for chaffed areas 😳), pack of baby wipes (to stay clean and fresh) to name a few.

Some Critical Supplies

As mentioned in the previous post it is shoulder season here in Alberta.  Every week when I come home from work I keep hoping the snow will be melted, and the trails will be accessible.  The day before I came home this week we got more than a foot of snow, and probably more in the mountains...  Today for our walk we decided to go to the winter gate in Kananaskis, which is still closed, hoping the road beyond it would be clear of ice and snow.  The first bit was clear, but as we went further (and higher) the road got snowier.  Amanda commented how it felt like walking on the beach, which would seem nice, but does take significantly more effort.  After an hour we decided to turn around and head back, which made for a solid 10 km walk.  The weather was really nice, and with the gate still closed there were no cars or trucks, and almost no people.

Turn-Around Spot

View Heading Back To The Car

I will be heading back to work this Thursday, and when I return a week later we will have three full days left before we catch our flight.  Those days will be spent packing and re-packing a couple of times, printing up train tickets and other documents, setting up our eSIMs, and maybe reviewing the maps one last time.  It's hard to believe it's so close!!  We are both excited, and looking forward to getting on the trail!!