Title Any luxury items in my backpack? And how am I training?

I have no special information on equipment lists that would help any hiker plan their trip. But I do think luxury items are fascinating. Some personal gear lists include them, and Trek’s gear lists offer «pillow, pet, journal, instrument, electronics» as categories. While picking up an instrument seems like a wonderful luxury, I won’t be bringing my 50-pound lever harp anywhere on this trip (although it would be wonderful if I could magically appear every night to play). I should have taken the whistle or the harmonica. Other luxuries to consider could be a large camera, an umbrella, scented soap, headphones/earphones….

Is a diary a luxury?

This one is complicated. In this electronic age a cell phone offers voice memos, text storage, photography and even video editing. However, moving electrons on a screen is not the same as a journal. The problem is that journals require another kit, a pen or some pencils, maybe an eraser. The weight begins to increase. I’m going to be honest, though: my journal, in sketchbook form, is not classified as a luxury. It is classified as an essential item. Completely immersing myself in my surroundings by drawing or painting what I see is one of the deepest pleasures of being out there, following the trail, step by step. This process has connected me to the present and helped me notice countless incredible details. A mini wasp nest no bigger than my thumb nestled under a rock, iridescent butterflies on a patch of damp soil that disappear as soon as my shadow falls on them, the rare and shy Edelweiss flowers that I only noticed when I stopped to paint the view. So sketchbook, pens, pencils, paint, this is all inside!

Is electronics a luxury?

For most of us, electronic devices including GPS, maps, phone or text contact with others or emergency services are definitely part of the basic kit. I also include headphones/earphones because they are very lightweight and can be a great help in many situations. Do e-readers like Kindles? My friend J considers this a must-see tour and never runs out of reading material. I think they are too heavy and still…

I prefer a real book!

Yo Do you know that books are heavy, and when I finish them I would feel terrible about tearing out each page while reading it and using it for, say, “other purposes”? However, a real book comforts, distracts, calms and is familiar. Andrew Terrill, a hiker who walked 7,000 miles across Europe, took several books, a large camera AND a detailed diary. He named his backpack “Ten Tons,” which sounds like it. He describes taking it as if he were getting a massage from a forklift. But what book should I take? A novel or poems? Memoirs or natural history? This is an important decision that I am very far from making. Any advice gratefully received.

A pet?

My lovely sister-in-law gave me a small statue of Jizo, seen here trying out corpse pose on my yoga mat. He is a Japanese Buddhist bodhisattva who serves as a guardian of travelers, children, and souls in the underworld, and is often found on the side of the road in rural areas. At only 20g, Jizo will make a good companion, especially since holy wells are sometimes places where restless souls reside and you may need all the protection Jizo can offer.

How is the training going?

In my youth I was something of a runner and I trained properly. Fast runs, long slow runs, exercises. It never made any difference to my speed. I remained a very slow runner, behind the pack, although I was still proud to drag my body through our 10K race in the big city. I high-fived world-famous marathon runner Haile Gebrselasse, which was exciting. My racing days are over. Spinal surgery and then two hip replacements meant the surgeon firmly told me «no high impact stuff».

From rehabilitation to training?

It was only a few months ago that I had my second artificial hip installed. My first foray outdoors was a feat for me and involved walking 10 meters on the flat with two crutches. But I’ve been here before, so I did the rehab diligently. The muscles around the legs are devastated by hip arthritis, apparently the brain is simply telling them to shut down to try to reduce the pain. The surgeon then cuts them out and stitches them back together, and well, it takes a little time to get them going!

After a few months I can walk, although I still limp a little, and I can do all the “Activities of Daily Living”, as physiotherapists call them. This just means I can shower, get dressed, and go up and down stairs. However, that won’t take me hundreds of miles on the trip to HHH.

That’s why I’m taking training seriously.

I have developed a three-phase training plan.

Phase one; STRENGTH. Getting all my muscles working properly again, lots of squats and lunges, and working on my walking pattern to stop limping and get a nice, smooth, flowing walk. Lots of core strength training and some upper body strength to be able to lift that backpack without problems.

Phase two; ENDURANCE. In this phase I am increasing my distances and “standing time” as runners call it. Walking will be done as much as possible in daily life, replacing trips by car, bus or tram. There will be longer distance walks in our local national park to prepare me for rough terrain and hills. Some test hikes and overnight stays are also planned here to see how the weight of my backpack feels. I enjoyed these spring flowers on a test walk.

Phase three; RESISTANCE and MENTAL PREPARATION. In this phase I will try to build on what I have done so far and think about the mental preparation I will need. I suspect I will feel a little lonely at times, I will certainly miss having my own harp, my books, my family and friends around me. I’m planning to have people join me here and there, but I’m still having a hard time committing to dates and locations. I think meditation and writing will also help with this. The final phase will include more detailed climate planning. The weather in this part of the world is fickle, changeable and can range from wet and cold to hot and dry at any time. This phase will consist of testing the kit in all climates. My departure feels more real and less a figment of my imagination.

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