I had the impression these huts were small, uncomfortable buildings. The old hut here has a front and back 'apartment' and probably 12 bunks. There are foam mattresses, covered with a cotton cover. No guessing when the last time it was changed. Then there are pillows for each bed. I'm thinking I'll sleep with my head on my pack instead.
We had a pleasant five hour walk. There was maybe an hour of flat ground, followed with a couple of hours more of gently ascent.
(On the descent, eight days later, I was rather impressed with how much of the day was fairly steep uphill. Obviously, there was still the 'glow' of a new place distracting my judgment when I wrote this.)
A lunch stop is reputed to be half-way through the day. Like many statistics, such information inspires heartbreak and inspiration, depending on one's mood, how it is presented and the experience with/of the subject/statistician.
There are at least four measurements 'halfway' could be referring to: distance, elevation gain, energy, and finally, time.Distance is nearly useless in the mountains and with increasing altitude. It just isn't a realistic representations of a day for this scenario; unless there is, far and away,.more of it than elevation gain.
Energy is a bit esoteric,
but, at least, I can prepare myself mentally and nutritionally.
Time, is skewing the focus towards pain. Or hardship. With a perspective on 'time,' it almost begs the participant to focus on, "How much is left." I don't even want to go there any more. "Transcend time, Grasshopper (after the Master of th TV show of my youth, Kung Fu). There is plenty of it, yet you shouldn't waste any of it. But, in the end, it does not matter any way. Trying to measure, or project, time.
We are left with elevation gain. The knife stab here is, yet again, how much is left to go. Looking up. The same outcome, measurement and projection amounts to pain.
A well traveled high altitude climber has a particular expertise and insight into this issue, having spent seeming lifetimes wrestling with the slope above.
By far, the least painful attitude is to enjoy walking. If simply walking is pleasant, there is no pain. Each step can become an alignment and centering of your soul. It is best to not use two ski poles, for they insulate the participant from the pleasure of balance. OK, one is a good compromise. The process of sustained uphill walking requires a rest step. The single most valuable technique on any mountain of this planet. There should be flow from one step to the next, where there is a pre-cognition of where I want to be in the next moment. Looking at the immediate ground ahead, I know what I need to do to get there. Each transition is founded on the easiest step from here to there.
This can be a very easy substitute for meditation. And, that, will get us up a hill.
If only making a decision was as easy.
At Nyabitaba, there is a new hut under construction. Being the closest to the trailhead, Ruwenzori Mountaineering Services wants a larger, even more comfortable structure for two day programs, Nearly complete, it promises to be a very nice night out. These guys are laying the groundwork for an excellent program.
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