“There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waitin’ on the other side
It’s the climb”
What have I been doing? Climbing mountains. The Georgia mountains are no joke. You’re always going up out here unless you’re going down to get water and then you get your water and come back up. Even though the climbs are tough it is very beautiful. It’s warming up and the flowers are sprouting! But tomorrow I get to head into North Carolina! One state down 13 more to go! Gonna have to step up my mileage if I’m going to make it to Trail Days!
Day one was great! Did the Approach Trail up the bizillon steps, 8 miles later I was at the start of the AT. The falls were beautiful. Camped at Hawk Mtn shelter with a fun group.
After a 17 mile first day I was set to do 22 to get to Neel Gap. Only one other guy was planning the same miles. Headed out feeling good, got over Sassafras Mtn still thought t I could make it. Unfortunately by the time I got to Woody Gap I realized I was behind and had a choice to make. See the last 5 miles into Neel Gap a bear canister is required (to camp). I don’t have one & there is a $300 fine if you get caught. So I would HAVE to push all the way over Blood Mtn, possibly night making it til 9pm.
Or hike only 4 miles, camp get the next morning. I really hated not making it and figured the other guy was well ahead of me. But then the guy walks up while I’m sulking. Oh he says glad to see ya, I was sure you were up ahead!
Turns out neither of us had it in us to make that push over Blood Mtn. Oh well we found a great camp spot and are resting up to tackle it tomorrow. On the AT it’s not the miles that get ya, it’s the mountains!
For my first trail magic today! A while bags of mini Snickers, Twix and rice krispy treats from a guy named Dr Pepper with the outdoors ministries! Also talked to some Army Rangers who were training. Later when I saw them at their base camp they flagged me down. One the guys says I got something for ya. He says it’s not alcohol (we had talked about doing shots earlier). He have me some fruity hand sanitizer! Didn’t make Neel Gap but it was a good day!
Thanks to everyone that helped me get to the trail! My sister for driving out from Mississippi and grabbing me at the airport. Thanks to my old friend JD for taking me out for a tasty lunch before dropping me at the transit center to catch the shuttle to the hostel.
Let me just say I can’t believe I’m doing another thru hike. Seriously, I clearly remember on the PCT last year saying to myself and sore feet “if I can just get to Canada I will not be doing this again”. Yea something like that with a sprinkling of colorful words I’d never use in front of my mom. But here I go again, my crazy knows no bounds.
One year ago (April 12th, 2015) I started walking from the Mexican border to Canada on the PCT. The whole way I was saying ‘attempting a thru hike’, because finishing was well, never guaranteed. But I did. It was an extraordinary adventure, I am a thru hiker.
On April 15th, 2016 I will attempt to thruhike the Appalachian Trail.
Side note: the logistics of getting to the trail are stressing me out! No I will not check my precious backpack and why can’t I take my pocket knife, sleeping pad, and poles on the plane? The trail is how far from the airport? Good thing I learned how to hitchhike on the PCT……kidding, kidding, everything will work out just fine. But I will not be laughing if you lose my stuff Alaska Airlines, just sayin.
Well if you haven’t heard (where have you been?) I’m off on another thru hiking adventure! This time I’m tackling the Appalachian Trail 2200 miles, through 14 States -Georgia to Maine. Watch out East coast I’m coming for ya! I’ve given my work notice and fly out of San Diego on April 13th hope to see you before I go!
I’ve planned, read and researched my little heart out so now it’s just putting one foot in front of the other. The PCT (Pacific Crest Trail) tested me emotionally, physically, and mentally and the AT will as well I’m sure.
The last weeks of preparation have been an emotional rollercoaster. The hurt and loss I let wash over me like a tidal wave. Then I surfaced and let it all go, buoyed by the encouragement and support of my friends and family. Oh the feels. Lets just say the excitement of starting a new journey and the sadness of leaving everyone behind can be so overwhelming.
Spending time with close friends before I leave has saved my sanity, for reelz. Thanks for dancing in the desert with me, watching the Sun/Moon rise and set, Mimosa brunches, hikes, Survivor nights, all the hugs, laughing til my gut hurt, loong phone calls, and so much more.
After completing the PCT I was compelled to learn/dream/live/do more. (lord knows I’m tryin) I even gave in to identifying reasons for thru-hiking so I can keep them in the forefront of my mind. You know when my feet hurt. Here’s some:
-If you can Inspire just one person…… do it!
-To gain courage, perseverance and sweet hiker legs
-To learn to be patient, flexible and less afraid of new things, face the fears.
-Growing as a hiker but also as a person.
Thank you (yes you!) for being part of my story this next chapter should be a real page-turner! Send Good Vibes my way, mkay, and follow me on my thru hike of the Appalachian Trail 2016 this should be good. Much luv.
(I will try to keep y’all updated, but my tech skills in the woods are shotty at best, don’t judge, kisses.)
After Trail Update: So I have to admit I took a couple more things than were listed. First I hate to be cold, ulta light be darned. I had four pairs of socks (justification, it was rainy, humid and nothing would dry out and I hate putting on wet socks). I had two pairs of leggings, capri & full length (justification,because you just never know, and sometimes I just want dry pants). I had three bandannas (justification, I just couldn’t decide which one not to take). That being said I did end up sending home my stove (it was nice when it was chilly), and my sun hat (you are in the green tunnel, not a lot of direct sun).
I know I need to get a grip and cut back for the CDT. Mostly all my gear worked super well! Loved the tent (but I am looking at a lighter Big Agnes!! Their sleeping bags are awesome, so why not the tent!). Oh and I am stepping up my sleeping pad (got to get over my fear of the blow up ones). Let the gear shopping begin!!!
I have a new tent I’m trying out (it’s heavier) and an actual rain jacket. Oh and I am also including a stove. I’m still deciding on taking the Sawyer filter, maybe. I’m starting with my Saucony shoes and then to the Altra’s. Now if I can get this all on the plane with no issues!
Pack- ULA CIRCUIT
Shelter- Rei one person Tent
Sleeping bag- Big Agnes Mirror Lake
Sleeping bag stuff sac
Z Lite sleeping pad
Samsung Smartphone
Sansa Clip Mp3 Player
2 pocket chargers for gadgets
Energizer Headlamp
Sawyer Mini Water filter/iodine tablets
Esbit Stove
Plastic container-for drinks and dinners
Titanium spoon
Knife
Smart water bottle/Gatorade bottle
Stuff sack for food
Tiny notebook and pen, permit, guidebook,etc
Various small items in ziploc: Toothbrush and toothpaste, floss with sewing needle inside, earplugs, ibuprofen, earbuds, extra chapstick, hairties, lighter.
Sunglasses
One ounce hand sanitizer
Full size bottle of sunscreen
Toilet paper
Trash compactor bag liner
Extra pair of darn tough socks
Laundry down flash jacket
rain jacket
wool hat
Bandanna x 2
Town dress
Mosquito headnet as stuff sack for clothes
Warm tights
Total base weight of pack (this is the weight without food, water, fuel or worn clothing)
17 lbs
Worn: Hike skirt, synthetic shirt, Thorlo socks, sports bra, sun hat. Dirty girl gaiters and MSR trekking poles.
Sorry my posts have been few and far between. Actually I’ve written a couple of times and just not posted. I’ve been busy and my thoughts have been all over the place. Last year when I did the PCT I started planning and stuff like a year in advance. For the AT it has really been last minute. Honestly I’ve had my doubts about actually doing it right up until I bought the plane ticket. So the ticket has been bought and I’m in stage 3 of planning a thru hike. Stage 1 plan/read/research everything, stage 2 panic, stage 3 just go with it. Yep, 2 weeks out and I’m just going with it, whatever will be, will be.
So I am super excited about being back on the trail. I look forward to the AT culture, emotional roller coaster, physical challenge and personal change that comes along with thru hiking. Leaving friends/family to do something so mentally, emotionally and physically draining is exciting and crazy. I’m a lot more nervousness this time and for the life of me I can’t figure out why. I know the AT will be different and I’ll face certain challenges.
The AT, I’ve heard is more social with way more people than the PCT. While I have been called a social butterfly, being social for me can be draining. I’m kinda an outgoing introvert. We’ll see how that goes. It should help that I am avoiding the town/social vortex, well that’s the plan. My time is dictated by my funds so I don’t have time to, you know, “dilly dally”, right now I’m on a mission.
Did I mention I read Appalachian Trials, it’s a great read thru hiker or not! I kinda wish they’d make a movie out a of book like that or one of the numerous greatly written blogs that I read. Initially I thought my own blog would just be me rambling, and it is. But really didn’t think anyone would read it. So thanks for reading and commenting. Everyone’s support and encouragement means the world to me.
Working in a cubicle, sucks. I go to work, sit down and start cranking out orders. I do this ALL DAY. It’s a job and I need the money to, you know, live but it’s not fun. Our company moved into a new fancy building this week. My desk is facing a wall, sorta. See on the wall to the right is a big window (the bottom half is frosted, why I do not know). So from my chair I can only see the sky and watch planes fly by. To the left on the wall is a nice sized flat screen tv. On this tv pictures pop up, like screen savers. At first I was like cool, because they are these nice pictures of mountains, forests, trees, beach and city shots. After a week of this I think they are just there to taunt me. I glance at a beautiful place and momentarily day dream about being there. Yep, I am in cubicle hell.
Speaking of cubes, me and my Nissan ‘sugar’ cube are parting ways. I need to slide back into the no car payment lane. So I’m picking up my ‘new to me’ wheels this weekend. It’s a suv, cuz I gotta have room for my stuff and I think I got a good deal. Hard to say, it’s used but the miles are lowish. Change is good, right?
While change is good, sometimes you just need to stay put. I was all fired up to drop Verizon as my bill was to high and their customer service is lacking. But to change to T mobile I had to call Verizon to get my account number. When I mentioned I was shopping around all of a sudden they wanted to be helpful. You know long time valued customer, whatever. Just like that I got a new phone for $11.00 and shaved $20 off my monthly bill! Sweet, their customer service still sucks, just sayin.
Last but not least I totally went camping AND hiking last weekend. Oh man did I really need that. It was a friends birthday, so it was a great gathering of cool people. We night hiked and day hiked, ate some great food, laughed around a camp fire til my sides hurt. Won’t lie to ya, it was super chilly but so worth it!
So grab your gloves, hat, coat and get outside people, get out of your box! It’s the cure for cubicleitis or whatever ails ya!
Oh after hiking I am pleasantly surprised to have zero pain in my ankle. Yea me!
When I did my preparation, I compared gear reviews from a bunch of blogs, journals and websites. It was my intention to forgo comfort for less weight. That sorta happened. They say you pack your fears and mine was cold. So I carried cold weather gear the whole trip weight be darned. So let’s get started.
Tent: Six moon – Scout
tent inside teepee, yes!!
Upside: Light weight
Downside: Honestly I wasn’t too happy with this choice. Anybody around when I put it up knows of my displeasure. Using trekking poles as tent poles is great til you break your poles in the middle of the woods. Plus staking it down was kinda a pain, especially setting up in the rain or snow.
Sleeping bag: Big Agnes Mirror 20 degree
Upside: Simply put, warm. Even when I cowboy camped and it got all wet, I was warm inside. When it was warm I just threw it over me, still great.
Backpack: ULA Circuit
Upside: Light weight, the fit was great, held more than enough stuff and really sturdy.
Downside: Could use like two more pockets. Also wish there was a way to put away and get poles without having to take off my pack. Like if I could whip them on the pack all ninja style would be cool. But maybe that’s asking too much.
Trekking Poles: Black Diamond Z/MSR. Talus Sure lock
Upside: The Black Diamond was great & light weight, til they broke. Not even sure how, it just snapped at the z part. First one then the other. But they lasted all but 2 weeks. The MSR were a tad bit heavier, but super sturdy. (thanks Dinsmore’s for the poles)
Downside: I really only use the poles when I want to really move or crossing water. Most of the time they are strapped to my pack. However, they were necessary for my tent.
Shoes: Brooks Cascadia 9/New Balance
Ok, so here is the shoe situation. August 2014 I got my Brooks to tryout, loved them. So I trained in them and started the PCT in them. So great comfy, light weight and no blisters. I was happy as a chipmunk, however they had plenty of miles from the jump. So by the time I went to order more (around the Sierras), too late. I could only find Brooks 10 in my size (not my fav). My bad. So I picked up some New Balance and shipped my lovingly used Brooks to Ashland. The NB did not work for me, my feet are flat and weird, but they got me to Ashland where I slipped back into my old Brooks. Now yes I should have gotten new shoes, but I tend to make do and I wanted to ride it out. So I slipped in some inserts and made it to Canada. I don’t recommend this. Ok enough about shoes.
Rain gear: Or lack the of =poncho
I did not have adequate rain gear. There I said it. A rain poncho works well….until it doesn’t. Lesson learned, invest in rain jacket and pack cover. Even though nothing in my pack got wet, except for when I spilled water in there.
Energizer Headlamp: It was inexpensive and worked like it was, but it worked. Basically it just wasn’t very bright.
Cold Weather Gear:
Laundry Puffy jacket-not the lightest, but inexpensive and warm
Cool Max long sleeve top- loved it, kept me super warm!
Wool hat, fingerless gloves (camo insulated gloves for Sierras), leggings, cropped workout pants. Surprisingly this all kept me toasty enough.
Socks- I had a lot of socks, so weird, I lost some, bought some, was gifted some. I really liked the Thorlos and the Darn Tough the best though.
Well I think that is it. I really didn’t have that much stuff. Daily I wore my black skirt (found at a thrift store years ago and used to bike in, that skirt could tell some stories). Topped it off with a Columbia short sleeved shirt (loved it even more when I found the hidden pocket), dirty girl gaiters (all the kids are wearing um) sports bra and my Pat hat!
So time ton start working on my new gear list…….I’m gonna need some things!!!
So I have been off trail for almost a week. I miss it to say the least, like all of it. The early mornings, the aching feet, even the dirt. It was just so less hectic and simple. When did everything get so complicated with so much stuff.
I thought when I was done I would just want to stop moving, sit down. Nope. Even with the balls of my feet still tender, I feel a need to, well, walk.
Totally enjoying my time here in Seattle. I really like this town. Been staying with my friend Rod who incidentally was at my last dinner before I left and then hosted my return dinner. Can’t think of anyone better, the man knows food. Many thanks for the re-entry crash pad Rod.
Speaking of food, holy crap I can’t stop eating. So many tasty things I haven’t had in so long. But seeing as I am not putting down 20+ miles daily now I have got step away from the food.
So I’ve gone on a few walk abouts. Yesterday I walked six miles to WalMart. Found a nice little trail from the house then along I-90. Heck there is even a 9 mile trail into downtown. I love this town. (there is also the slim chance I could run into Eddie Vedder, so there’s that).
Alas, I’ll being heading further south in a couple of days, by car. Yeah, road trip! It’s time for TTITD. I’ll have a bike there but there’ll be plenty of walking to do!!
Well if you haven’t heard I freakin made it to Canada! I can’t believe it! Got to the northern terminus on August 13, 2015 at 9am!
Left Skykomich (thanks for the ride Matt!) and took the ferry from Chelan to Stehekin. Steheken is a great place you can only get to by ferry, float plan, or hiking. The fire was just across the lake, we could see flames from our campsite. (thanks to those fighting the fires, you guys are incredible). Got to stop in the famous bakery. Had ice cream, a cookie, monster cinnamon roll, and the biggest croissant every filled with cheese & bacon. So much yummy goodness! Visit Stehekin, the people are so nice, the lake is beautiful and bring me one of those croissants!
After stuffing myself we hiked on to Rainy Pass and hitched into Mazama. I was worried my last package won’t make it, since we had to change the shipping at the last minute. But Leslie was on the ball, and it got there just minutes before I did! After a quick resupply Goat and I headed for Harts Pass. There was trail magic there, muffins, fruits and drinks! Thanks Meander!
We camped 6 miles out from the border and celebrated a bit! I woke the next day in a mood, due a lack of sleep. There was a deer (with a huge rack) eating outside my tent all night, seriously I could hear it chewing. Guess we were in his dinner spot! My mood improved once we started those last miles, to the monument.
I’ll tell ya it was kinda weird when we got there. I had imagined it for so long. So hard to believe it was over and I had made it. That and I also had 30 more miles back to Harts pass, so it wasn’t really over for me.
2015 pct register
wine and reflection PCT
After many pictures, signing the register and some mashed potatoes (I was super hungry) we said our goodbyes and Goat headed into Canada while I headed back to Harts pass. (Goat you were a great hiking partner! Thanks for the laughs, trail chat, pushing me and putting up with my crazy especially in the rain! Lol)
The 30 mile hike back was a great decompression. Plus I got to see many friends headed to the border. Came around one corner there was Toasted Toad! Happy trails to you man I will never forget Forester Pass!
Did I mention how beautiful Washington is? I will definitely be back! The views, lakes, mountains, only second to the Sierras, in my opinion. I was told there was another fire the smoke & helicopters confirmed it. We were very lucky to get through before the northern fire closures. There is a reroute so people can still get through! Good luck to all those still pushing to the border! Stay safe and happy trails!
To all those I hiked with or crossed paths with on trail, let me just say Thru Hikers are a special kind of crazy and I wouldn’t want it any other way! Thanks for being part of my journey. See you on the next trail….yes there will be more!!!
wandering chardonnay 