The route ...

Ok, so this is it!  The route and mileage.  If I can stick to this plan, it means that I will arrive at the end of the trial just before September - but that's 1.5 months ahead of what they suggest.   However, these check points don't include the 'detours' due to the fires or fallen bridges and trees.  Last night I had to breathe and state the big task, break it into small chunks .. then achieve.... so with that in mind - its only 27 check points ..... or when I get to 15 it will be down hill from then.... 7.50pm - just had confirmation that I have the permit to walk the trail .... cutting it fine, just like the fire permit, USA permit and the Canada permit that needs to be posted to a point near the trail because I have cut it too fine! However it does seem to be working at the moment .. 

Section	Distance (mi)	Elevation Gain (ft)	mi/day	ft/day	Trail
					Days
US/Mexico Border to Mt. Laguna	42.3 mi	5,570 ft	22.9 mi	3,021 ft	1.8
Mt. Laguna to Warner Springs	67.3 mi	3,567 ft	27.6 mi	1,463 ft	2.4
Warner Springs to Idyllwild	69.0 mi	10,211 ft	22.2 mi	3,280 ft	3.1
Idyllwild to Highway 18	95.5 mi	12,307 ft	23.1 mi	2,974 ft	4.1
Highway 18 to Wrightwood	89.5 mi	8,090 ft	25.2 mi	2,276 ft	3.6
Wrightwood to Agua Dulce	90.8 mi	10,615 ft	23.7 mi	2,770 ft	3.8
Agua Dulce to Highway 58 (California)	112.2 mi	12,128 ft	24.2 mi	2,612 ft	4.6
Highway 58 (California) to Kennedy Meadows Store	136.2 mi	15,310 ft	23.9 mi	2,690 ft	5.7
Kennedy Meadows Store to Muir Trail Ranch	153.4 mi	25,228 ft	21.4 mi	3,524 ft	7.2
Muir Trail Ranch to Reds Meadow	50.4 mi	8,434 ft	21.3 mi	3,565 ft	2.4
Reds Meadow to Tuolumne Meadows	36.1 mi	4,626 ft	23.1 mi	2,962 ft	1.6
Tuolumne Meadows to Echo Lake Resort	151.8 mi	19,905 ft	23.0 mi	3,011 ft	6.6
Echo Lake Resort to Sierra City	103.1 mi	10,906 ft	24.3 mi	2,570 ft	4.2
Sierra City to Belden	91.6 mi	10,876 ft	23.6 mi	2,802 ft	3.9
Belden to Old Station	88.5 mi	10,330 ft	23.7 mi	2,766 ft	3.7
Old Station to Burney Falls SP	45.9 mi	1,457 ft	29.2 mi	928 ft	1.6
Burney Falls SP to Castella	82.9 mi	8,000 ft	24.8 mi	2,395 ft	3.3
Castella to Seiad Valley	155.6 mi	15,309 ft	24.7 mi	2,431 ft	6.3
Seiad Valley to Crater Lake (Mazama Village)	168.3 mi	19,416 ft	23.8 mi	2,743 ft	7.1
Crater Lake (Mazama Village) to Shelter Cove Resort	81.8 mi	7,002 ft	25.5 mi	2,180 ft	3.2
Shelter Cove Resort to Olallie Lake	140.9 mi	13,331 ft	24.9 mi	2,358 ft	5.7
Olallie Lake to Timberline Lodge	54.2 mi	4,885 ft	25.2 mi	2,270 ft	2.2
Timberline Lodge to Cascade Locks	47.8 mi	4,140 ft	25.4 mi	2,200 ft	1.9
Cascade Locks to White Pass	147.7 mi	20,822 ft	22.5 mi	3,170 ft	6.6
White Pass to Snoqualmie Pass	99.0 mi	9,185 ft	25.0 mi	2,323 ft	4
Snoqualmie Pass to Highway 2	74.5 mi	13,450 ft	20.8 mi	3,748 ft	3.6
Highway 2 to Manning Park	187.2 mi	30,213 ft	21.6 mi	3,480 ft	8.7
Totals:	2,663.5 mi	315,313 ft	23.6 mi	2,796 ft	112.8



or in visual form: x40 of these ....

Lovely to clear the mind and put plans into play. Tonight was spent at Wigmore Hall. Small, but perfect to hear the opera singer (and the negative club talk! hmm tut tut!!!)

I hope to be able to pack in a couple of live gigs before I head out into the wilderness.... it's definately something that I will miss : feeling and seeing the music pulsating and dancing around the room... not sure the rattlesnakes will create the same atmosphere😄😄😄😄😄

I hope that tomorrow .... I will book the flights for the South pole .... then it will be real .... ultra real ... it's always interesting to have a 'warm up' of 2800ish miles across the desert, forest and mountains before going into the major event 😄..

What is interesting is that before this time, I always had another to consider and very happy to contain..but the lid has been taken off in all areas of my life .....

and so here it begins.... 😄

Next task has been sorting out the fundraising for these trips. I have decided to support Cancer research and have a just giving site. Please support this very worthy cause ... every penny counts 😄

Emma tamsin fundraising page

Ok, time to start on the bucket list! Tomorrow I will find out if I'm all good with the injections that will allow me to do the PCT and South Pole trek. Who knows?!?!? ... but by tomorrow at 8pm I will know for sure 😄..... it's too exciting for words!! 😄

3.15pm: Just out from the Doctors..... I am fully vaccined and ready to go (although let's hope that I don't get bitten by any dogs!!) .... equipment has now been bought (ice axe and water purifier included) and just working out how to actually get to the start of the trail that's miles from anywhere.

This really is too exciting for words .... especially as the 60 day skip to the South Pole plan is coming together too!

I guess this is THE opportunity of a life time .... and boy will I go for it 😄😄

running up a skyscraper this time!

I have to say, my voluntary work with Crisis over Christmas really made me think and appreciate what I had. There were many stories and facts that I heard over the few days or so. They say that most homelessness is linked to a major event in life - a death, the loss of a job, a partner leaving, a tragedy  ... normally one trigger that starts the drinking or not being able to pay the bills or not being able to think straight.  The people who I met were my (and your) reflections - CEO of company's, solicitors, lawyers .... regular people like you and I who had an event that had knock on effects, that resulted in not being able to have the confidence or organisation (confusion reigns after such an event) to think straight ... then the landlord or government steps in demanding money, letters, taking homes away or the like.... so perhaps more drink and/or drugs are thrown into the mix .... before the street .....that initially provides a simple way of life with no demands, expectations and where confusion can remain without notice. 

So this time ... I ran up a skyscraper for Shelter - such a great organisation and great to be able to support them more ... this picture was just as I got to the top ... very proud to be wearing that t-shirt (although very shortly after this photo I had to sit down due to wobbly leg syndrome 😄).  it was darn hard work running up all those stairs ... was around the 100 girly mark .. so reasonable happy with that 😄

no fuss event in fort William

philharmonic orchestra

valcuha conducts Strauss ........ 

The festive season begins with tonight’s concert, coupling the suite from Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel with Strauss’s good-humoured high farce about two young lovers, Der Rosenkavalier. The opening work, also by Strauss, set the musical world on fire in 1888. In less than 20 minutes of music, Strauss stretches the limits of what a symphony orchestra is capable of with a finale that will, quite simply, knock your socks off.

and that it did indeed..... a perfect mix of music, opera and piano .... hmmmmmmm