Background info: For environment, it is southwestern British Columbia and the weather is fair and there is plenty of water around.
Pace wise, on level terrain, with or without water I have sometimes been able to travel 20-30km (~15mi) with no break but feel quite sore and dead in the end beyond my lingering endurance. Going on 10-15km with breaks seems to be nice, and recoverable.
How should I go about my first week long trip in terms of distance, each day?
My draft plan:
- Wake up and do my morning routine
- Hike from 7-noon (5hrs = ~20km with my ~40lb (18 kg) pack big pack)
- Take an hour or two break for a main meal
- Hike until 5pm or so (~4 hours = ~10-15km)
- Set up camp, small nightly meal for energy and soak in the sunset.
The journey is roughly 150km in a valley route by the way, which if I do that routine each day without falter can be done in ~4 1/2 days, but I plan to give myself lenience and visit small towns/and interesting things along the way giving 7 a good margin.
How's my routine sound? should something like every second day be half the distance, to help preserve my legs from lugging 40lbs (18 kg) or as felt is needed? (I tend to overdo it.) Any tips or hints on sustaining long distance travels for journeys many weeks long if I were to above this relatively simple starting trek, that I can practise?