"H" is for: Hiking This Summer

Last summer I did not get out on a good overnight hiking adventure at all!

To make up for it this year, me and my friend Harold have set aside a full week in August for an epic journey through Willmore Wilderness area on an 80km (we think) odyssey that will begin at Rock Lake Provincial Park and end at Grande Cache, Alberta.

In order to prepare for this trip I have to now begin getting back into shape. Though I have been a fairly regular gym goer for the last few years, I have to admit that I did slack off this winter. I have several excuses for this however (though there is never an excuse):

• My ankle seems to be afflicted with some sort of tendinitis for the past 2 years. At first I rested it, then I exercised it, then I rested it. Nothing is working. The good news is that when I exercise it, the pain diminishes as I’m moving. It comes back when its resting.


• My left shoulder is suffering from some sort of rotator cusp pain. I rested it. Pain goes away. Any physical effort brings back the pangs of faint pain that indicate I could injure it again fairly easy.


• My gym closed. Not a big reason, but now instead of a 5 minute drive I am looking at a 15 minute drive across town.

The good news is that I have three months or so until our planned expedition, so I plan to use the time to get in shape, get my gear sorted out and plan exactly what food I will be carrying for 6 or 7 days in the back country.

I also would like to look into some mobile technology that will allow me to post pictures and progress, though I am pretty sure mobile service will be at the least, sketchy.