The Plan

Mao's was a lot longer. And march might seem the wrong word. But it nods to 'marcher', to walk or, as one dictionary puts it, 'to travel on foot'. Off on May 11, two days to Portsmouth, ferry to Ouistreham, and then on.. The goal: Courmayeur, just into Italy beyond Mt Blanc.

Preparation includes choosing kit and, above all, discarding it. Quantitative social scientists will want to know rucksack weight. About 8 kgs. This does not require the extremes of ultralight hiking, such as cutting an inch off one's toothbrush handle. But compromises have had to be made and time will tell if they are the right ones!