Expedition Loap Solo 2006

Blisters » 13. 8. 2006 at 9:34

I was working a bit later today and covered 6 km in total. I admit I can feel it a little bit! My calf muscels are a bit sore but what is worse, I’m starting to have blisters on my feet. The biggest two are about 2×3 cm each. I’m not even feeling or having any troubles with the other five or six. They are just there - perhaps for fun? It is not so much fun with the two big ones but so far, it’s not that bad. I pierce them twice or three times a day, get the liquid out, put some medication cream on and in the end, put some baby daper rash powder on. The last procedure is especially pleasant as the powder has strawberry scent (And I heard that feet usually smell pretty bad from hiking boots! Every time I take off my boots in the evening, the only thing I can smell are strawberries!) First few steps after the treatment my walking is not very good and it does hurt a bit but after a while it seems as I’d have no blisters at all.

I was going to attach a photo of my blistered feet to this message but I acknowledged in the end that it’s perhaps not the best idea. I am attaching the other picture instead which I’d call “Alone”. The truth is though I’m not really feeling alone. Although last time I saw a person was on Thursday, and I doubt I could meet anybody within 50 - 60 km, somehow I’m just OK with that. I guess it helps me a lot that so many people have been checking out my website and adding comments. Unfortunately I am not able to read all of them right now as I just don’t have enough rechargable batteries for PDA and satellite phone with me here but the most interesting ones have been sent to me in form of text messages. I found out yesterday, for example, that my expedition website was even visited by Mr Sura who also left a very nice comment there. I think it was one or two years ago when Mr Sura reached North Pole. Even though it was a commercial expedition guided by very experienced Polar explorer, he accomplished something that only very few Czechs have so far.

Back to my daily routine. I am only 4 km far from the glacier right now and I can even see its face from my tent. If everything goes well I will probably sleep on the ice tomorrow night! There is still quite wide river ahead though which l’ll have to wade accross. Once on the glacier, I will be finally done with all the shuttling back and forth carrying 30 kg heavy backpack.