I’m in Minnesota. I’ll be here for a week hanging out and going to doctors appointments with my very puffy and closer to being diagnosed sister. I’ve been assured that Mayo Clinic is the the most interesting place to see in this town besides Mall of America, and we’re going there tomorrow.

I came prepared with snowboarding gloves, long underwear and two pullovers under a down jacket. Andy threw in the neoprene face mask which I took but thought would be unnecessary. I walked three blocks to get something to eat and it felt like nanobot icicles were freezing all the cells in my face. Next time, if there is a next time, I venture out the neoprene mask will be worn.

I’ll be here for a week.

Before I left we did a cold weather gear test. It was the first time we slept in our new sleeping bags in the double bivy. The original plan was to hike to Bridge Mountain again and camp overnight. We missed the trail head and ended up walking about four hours and camping at a lower elevation. It’s was cold, slightly uncomfortable but not unbearable. I think it was about 40 degrees but the thermometer wasn’t working so we can’t be sure.

Next steps: working on the actual time line of the trail and ordering and putting together four and a half months of meals.