As a first test of my equipment for Kilimanjaro, Udo and I went on a three-day hike that included Glittertind (2464 m) and Galdhøppigen (2469 m). Not very high up, no problems at all with oxygen 😉 But a nice trip, and except for the day we were going to go up Glittertind, the weather was fantastic. We ended up walking around Glittertind, and only went to the Galdhøppigen summit the day after. Equipment test shows: I need better sunscreen 🙂

The top of Northern Europe

It’s like Christmas in July

Hokus Pokus, a blank 7 (about VIII- to VIII accoridng to UIAA). My second one after Hekseskudd, a pretty short route with a tricky start, a rather painful mid-section (really sharp edges) and a lot of moving back and forth.

Now I need to find me an easy 7+, one that mostly requires a high tolerance for pain and a good sense of balance.

131 hours without a spam. That’s 4.5 days – pretty good. As I wrote earlier, I’ve been training my filters really well, and my spam quota is currently down to 1 spam in 98 messages.

What’s yours?

I went shopping. Our local store had a deal on ropes, and I’m tired of having to borrow a rope – it’s time I buy my own.

While there, I went into a spree. I’ve always liked Salewa’s coloured clamps, beecause looking for the number on one while standing on a small crack with just one foot isn’t something I enjoy much. So these are going to be my new friends.

Also, I got a Arcteryx Bora 60 on sale. It’s not the latest model, so I guess that’s why I got it at half price. And it fits me like… If I was to ever have an exoskeleton fitted, this is how it should fit. I’m just 1.70, and used to things being a bit too big for me – this backpack came in three sizes, and it fits me without any adjustments needed. In fact, it’s less adjustable than my tattered old one, because they have three sizes. Love it. I can’t wait for the first trip out.

The only negative point about the shopping trip was that I couldn’t take the shoes home I’d picked for myself a few weeks ago – they were out in my size, and they have to be ordered. I’m hoping they’ll come in time for me to walk them in before my first trial walk. Jotunheimen’s mountains will be the first test of my equipment for Kilimanjaro.