With all this exercise and a vastly improved diet, which I am sure rivals slimfast I am soon going to have to buy some new smaller clothes to fit me. This would be the case except that my clothes are shrinking as fast as I am, everytime they go to the dry cleaners my instructions for a cold wash and cool tumble dry are completely ignored. I guess at least all my old shiny suits will fit when I get back to the UK.
Myself and Shelley in front of the Torres
Starting the real trekking today we set off for the Torres, walking in total for about 19km in 7 1/2 hours, before anyone starts calling me slow that's mostly up hill, well half of it, it includes the stop for lunch and a sleep by one of the rivers when the sun made an appearance. The total climb was about 800m with the last km requiring the use of hands to crawl up. The snow line was quite low so of course a snow ball fight couldn't be resisted. All the water in the streams is from the glacier so there is no need to carry any on the hike, free mineral water great.
On the walk we did see only what I can describe nature at its most shocking, a large hawk swooped by us with a catch in its claws. Stopping on a branch only 10m away we could see what looked like a small bird whose feathers it started to pluck out. On closer inspection it was a small chick and still alive, after plucking most of the feathers the hawk flew off probably to take the live chick back to its nest for its chicks to kill and eat. Seconds later we saw a falcon doing exactly the same.
Our cool guide and mean card player Serkan
Dinner at the dormitory was pretty average but our guide Serkan took the time to teach us a Turkish card game called consations which is very addictive. Serkan also informed me on the best way to grow dredlocks so once my hair gets a bit longer I shall start work on my own set.
Highlights: The weather clearing and the great view of the Torres range
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