I would probably go with the cheating option too :) It's better to get some food there so that you don't have to carry so much weight. And you were lucky that Pavel was so understanding :) It reminds me that I have to take more cash when I go to the mountains. I keep forgetting that they might not be accepting credit cards :)

Great tour! 45 km is a lot to walk in a couple of days so you did a great job (cheating or not :))

Have a lovely day!