Hey this is TA calling in from day 29 of the great big walk. We are located at 3100m above sea level at Bakim Kharka. I remind you that a kharka is place where animals are brought to pasture. There’s the remains of a little pasture building here made out of bamboo and it was a different kind of day for us. We got started a little bit later because we were waiting for food resupplies to come up. Definitely a hot one for us down below, the Canadians are all wilting a little bit so we climbed back up to snow so now we are feeling quite comfy. It was definitely an uphill walk all the way. We gained almost 800 or 850 m and given that we’re on a linch trail system at the moment. The trail is much more primitive. So lots of stepping up and over and on rocks and lots of (inaudible) and things. The forest was absolutely gorgeous again today with rhododendrons in bloom some magnolia’s, lots and lots of moss and fern and even some laila’s in one of the kharka’s. We’ve had an interesting experience watching some of our staff start foraging in the forest the last couple of days. They are foraging in the forest, the last couple of days. They are foraging for what they call thicke. They will cook it with salt pepper and chilli and have it with (inaudible). Yesterday’s thicke was reminiscent of Japanese maltweed. You peel the stems and it’s kind of a (inaudible) and you can eat it raw or they could cook it up which they did.

Today’s forage was for sort of a flower cluster from a ground leaky plant. We haven’t had a chance to try that yet because it does need to be cooked before you can eat it so we’re looking forward to trying that with our dinner tonight. Definitely here on day 29 finding the joys of simple camping life. We basically eat sleep walk, eat sleep walk, eat sleep walk and we (inaudible) a piece of research that you might be interested in that said that after 4 days of camping your body will naturally reset to the daylight that you’re situated in. So that you’ll rise in the morning with the rise of the sun and you will go to sleep with the fall of the sun. Which is indeed true for us. We’re lucky these days if we can stay awake till 7:30 and we’re up between 5:30 and 6 when the sun rises here and there’s definitely a wonderful simplicity that comes from living outside. One of my current research projects actually is talking to folks that are 50 and older who are still taking trips that are longer than 7 days. So if happen to be out there and would love to participate, drop me a line and I will chat with you when I get back. But I am interested in what happens to folks when they do spend more than a weekend outdoors. What happens?

What is different about being out here for the length of time that we’re being. I am definitely thinking about that a lot and writing about that in my journal and will be reflecting on some of the data and some of the interviews that I have already done. Definitely enjoying our great big walk. Today Marian had 15 235 steps, 281 floors, 19.19 km. I had 14 173, 311 floors. 9.37 km and Cam had 14 950 and 9.9 km. A little bit of a measurement difference between the different devices and the heights of the various humans wearing them. So basically it was a big walk. Lots of uphill today and a pretty good distance. Sylvia thanks for the congrats. We are all pretty pleased to be done with the phase 1. We know that phase 2 we’ll start walking in and start meeting is in about 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 days so they start walking tomorrow. Your sisters are a little worried that something is on the go at home so give us a text and let us know that everything is okey dokey if you would. And that is it from this Saturday on the great big walk. Hope you’re having a fabulous weekend. Get out go for a walk. Grab a buddy. Climb a hill. Do whatever it is that gets you excited to move your body and be physically active. Thanks and have a great day. Bye!

Total Steps for TA: 14 173 steps, 311 floors

Total Steps for Marian: 15 235 steps, 281 floors

Total Distance for TA: 9.37 km

Total Distance for Marian: 19.19 km

Great Big Walk acknowledges the support of the Memorial University of Newfoundland Quick Start Fund for Public Engagement in making these updates from the field possible.