The Great Adventure

Having researched, planned and dreamt about my trek for so long, I find it hard to believe, as I sit here typing at my computer, that its only two week before I go. This time in a fortnight I will no doubt be kicking my heels in the departure lounge in the airport of Newark New Jersey waiting for my early evening flight to Salt Lake City to be called.

I still feel that I have a lot of unfinished business - I'm furiously trying to think what else I may need. I also need to bite the bullet and load up my backpack for a weight check to ensure that I am being realistic in what I take. I need to remember that there is a tent, food along with 4 litres of water to be carried once I am over there.

I have had a lot of fun with AXA Insurance who have not managed to cover themselves in glory. I eventually managed to elicit from them written confirmation as to the additions to my standard policy - namely increased trekking altitude cover to 3500 metres, along with independent traveller cover. They then contrived to cancel my policy by mistake. Add in that (in the early stages) I could only deal with an Indian call centre and you can imagine that my patience was wearing decidedly thin.

Longstanding readers will recall my disappointment at discovering that Wilderness Horizons Expeditions had reduced the price of my holiday by $500 the week after I paid the full price of $1595. Well I comforted myself by thinking that the price of my flight would have no doubt increased if I had left booking any later.

Well checking around on the Continental Airlines website I have discovered that the flight price has indeed increased and by eye watering sums. Today (the 8th July) it's now showing at  £1430 (I paid £760) that's almost a doubling in price.

The last of my ordered equipment has arrived (well until I decide I need to buy something else!)  The item that had me sweating the most was my sleeping bag. Given my size I searched around for a firm that made long sleeping bags and I eventually hit upon The North Face (TNF) Blue Kazoo which is made in an extra long length to fit people up to 6ft -8.

Its a 600 fill goose down sleeping bag suitable for a temperature down to  - 9 degrees. Whilst I am not expecting it to be this cold I have also "sourced" a silk sleeping bag liner from Ebay which will make the bag significantly warmer, as well as having the added benefit of keeping it clean.

Unfortunately the sleeping bag was "to special order" so I ordered one at £153 from my old old friends at gearzone.co.uk who have been keeping me on the edge of my seat to see if it arrived within the 21 working days (4 weeks and one day) timeline. I ordered it on the 9th June and fortunately it turned up this Monday gone.

I had searched around to see if it was available locally (price premium expected) but apart from some shops telling me that it was only produced in the one size (which incidentally they were charging £155) everyone was quoting special order and up to 21 days delivery. Essentially they were all purchasing them from the same European importer in Italy, so all roads literally lead to Rome!

I have booked the hotel rooms in Salt Lake City. I will be arriving locally at 8.25pm MDT (Mountain Daylight Time) Saturday night which is 03.25 am  UK time so having been travelling since 09.25am BST the only thought on my mind will be "bed". Consequently I have booked a hotel called the La Quinta at $75 which is very close to the airport. It offers a complimentary courtesy bus which will be handy as I need to be back at the airport by 1pm the following day Sunday to catch the Jackson Hole Express north.

For my return to Salt Lake City (SLC) on Friday the 4th August I have an early start at 6.30 am from Jackson which will deliver me to SLC Airport for 12.00 noon. On the basis I may have some energy left I have booked a room at the Little America  Hotel in downtown SLC at a rather extravagant $100 to enable me to undertake a little sight seeing during Friday afternoon and evening. Again this hotel operates a complimentary courtesy bus from the airport so my transportation is sorted. It is not far away from Temple Square where Assembly Hall pictured above is located.

SLC is of course the home of the Mormons and is also home to the world famous Mormon Tabernacle Choir. They practice every Thursday evening when one can listen to them for free. I did consider returning from Jackson a day early to see if I could attend, but decided on balance I would probably appreciate a day in Jackson "chilling" (sorry Mum I know you hate that word!).