The Great Adventure

Well I'm back - sorry for the delay in posts, as its been a mad couple of weeks. This post is more a brief summary of what I have been up to rather than a considered post so forgive me if I seem to be rambling somewhat. Hopefully, camera permitting, the photographs on my return will be worth the wait.

My first concern as I sit here in Liverpool in the sweltering heat - 95f here to day (35c) is that it is looking hot over in Jackson and especially Salt Lake City (SLC). The forecast for SLC on Saturday is 109f (43c) and the Jackson Forecast is not much cooler at 100f (38c) for Sunday. Hopefully it may be a bit cooler at higher altitude.

My decision to take enough receptacles to hold 4 litres of water is looking wise, although I did discover that 4 litres weighs 10lb! 

I'm in the process of packing my backpack. It actually takes two forms -  one packing for the flight and the other for the actual back packing element, when I can use the external straps to carry my trekking poles and sleeping mat/pad. I have taken the precaution of purchasing waterproof dry sacks so that my clothes should come hell or high water remain dry (the only danger is that they may float away in any flood)

I am advised by Paul at Wilderness Horizons Expeditions that there are currently three other people booked on my trip, so that makes 5 including our guide - a gent named Ed Schuster who is a Wilderness EMT and Wildlife Biologist has provisionally been pencilled in.

Out of mild interest I again checked the flight cost on Continental Airlines and was yet again surprised. My flights are now priced at a truly unbelievable £1780 (I paid £760). Interestingly if I had booked to go in November a very modest  cost of £430 (well out of season I guess).

I have decided to take my mobile (an old Nokia 6310i) which is a tri band phone. According to the Orange web site I should be able to obtain a signal in Newark, Salt Lake City and Jackson. As a precaution I have opened a pre paid account with One Suite that will enable me to ring a toll free (free phone) number anywhere in the States and dial home without having to feed a phone coins.

After I finish the trekking element of my holiday I have a free day to fill in Jackson on the 3rd August. I have discovered that there is a Coach Tour departing from Jackson at 7.30am and heading off into Yellowstone Park for the day, so it is looking highly likely that I will take advantage and take some pictures of Yellowstone Lake (above) and Old Faithful, that was on my original planned trip with KE Adventure Travel .

I have been experiencing some problems with my digital camera a Fuji film Fine Pix S602 Zoom. A number of recent pictures I have taken have been blurred and out of focus. Thankfully I have discovered this was caused by me accidentally having set the focus to manual instead of the normal automatic, so fingers crossed for some decent pictures.

I'm heading off to the airport at 6.30am Saturday morning so I guess I'll see you all when I get back (7th August). Have fun - I'm certainly intending to do so!