Finding My Rhythm Again

6:55 AM

I wake up at five o’clock, having left the tent doors open to prevent too much condensation inside. You never really know near lakes; they can retain a surprising amount of heat. It’s five degrees Celsius, but it feels closer to one. I’m definitely not getting out yet. It’s raining and the wind is cold, so I stay put for a while longer.

At 6:30 the drizzle is still hanging in the air, but I can’t stay here forever. Reluctantly, I let the air out of my sleeping pad, which instantly makes lying on the cold ground far less appealing.

I calmly make a cup of tea inside the tent, and once everything is packed into my backpack, there’s no avoiding it. I stuff the wet tent into the front pocket, put on my pack, and get going. Step by step, up the next pass.

9:17 AM

11:40 AM

I stop to help a woman who is absolutely terrified after her husband tried to guide her across a river by stepping on stones. Never try to cross on wet rocks—they’re slippery and things often go wrong. So I jump straight into the river, wade through it, and advise her to do the same. Look upstream and ignore the wet feet and the cold. If you fall in, that’s when you really get cold 🤣.

12:32 PM

1:26 PM

Eventually, you do reach the top—you just have to work very hard for it.

2:31 PM

And once you’re up there, the views are sublime again.

Not long after, I catch up with Amanda and Lady Dundee. They’re hiking as a trio now; Kate from Techie has joined them. I tell them which campsite I’m heading for, and they plan to go the same way.

3:28 PM

I hike more comfortably and more relaxed when I’m on my own. I can stop whenever I want, don’t have to talk, can take photos, and lie down on the ground whenever I feel like it.

Down in the valley lies a beautiful landscape, where water flows from one lake to another through small streams winding through the grass. The sun slowly breaks through, making the hike even more enjoyable.

3:32 PM

4:18 PM

I reach the campsite and drape my tent over some bushes to dry. The ground here is a bit sandy, and I want the tent to be dry to avoid mud.

Sitting on a tree stump, I can reflect on the day without being bothered by mosquitoes. Cooler temperatures and a bit of wind are perfect—then the mosquitoes don’t stand a chance.

Total: 28.04 km in 8:35 hours · 1,003 m up · 1,215 m down