September 27. He wants to know, not what I would advise my twenty-two-year-old self today, but whether my twenty-two-year-old self would be disappointed in who I am today. No doubt it would be, but I know better than my twenty-two-year-old self.

First descent, Hermit Trail. It takes us hours to pack up our things and buy provisions in the village. We don’t leave until noon. We want to assess our abilities: 2.8 miles down and 2.8 miles up. My son has something of a spring built into him and cannot be stopped by anything when going uphill. He’s twice as fast as I am, and I’m walking heavily breathing, almost staggering, an old man. But the path has fulfilled its purpose, we know now how to use the equipment and have a better idea what we can expect from ourselves. Tomorrow is a complete rest day, and Thursday the big tour to the river and back.