wandering chardonnay

Given to fly

Thing about doing another trail is you have kinda have an idea about what’s coming at you. When I hiked the Pacific Crest Trail I had really no clue what I was getting myself into. Great thing about hiking is you’re always learning. I’ve learned that gear can make a world of difference in your enjoyment of the woods.

So I got me some better gear! Yea me. Lighter load equals enjoyable hiking. I met other hikers on the PCT that had tiny ultralight packs and I read a ton about it, hoping I could shed pack weight as well. However some things I just gotta have. As much as I love nature, and would love to float along the trail with a super light tarp, I need a tent.
It’s a bit heavier than my last one but it’s spiffy and free standing! I’m also taking a stove this time and a rain jacket. So where am I cutting the weight?…..I…..don’t….know (yet).

Ok, it’s not that bad I still think I will come in with a base weight around 22 pounds (base weight =the total weight of your entire gear kit, excluding consumables which are food, water, and fuel.) yeah….that is a lot and not light or even ultra light.

Omg I’ve been yacking about gear, for those of you wondering here is some info about the trail!

What is the Appalachian Trail?
The Appalachian Trail (AT) is a approximately 2,165 miles long continuously marked footpath in the Appalachian Mountains that spans 14 states in the eastern U.S.
Its northern terminus is Mt. Katahdin in Maine (where I will end). Its southern terminus is Springer Mtn. in Georgia (where I will begin). One in four thru-hikers who start
from Springer Mountain makes it all the way to Katahdin in Maine.

Crazy exciting right!! This is going to be another physically and mentally challenging adventure with steep climbs, rocky mountainsides and river crossings (oh gawd). So totally like the PCT but way different!! Currently working on my gear list (coming soon), learning to blog from a new phone and an itinerary that I probably won’t follow.

atmap

New Year New Trail

Life

Well the holidays are behind us. All those things that I have been putting off till “after the holiday” are looming large. I don’t have in NY resolutions, I just have things I need or want to do. In 2015 I covered a lot of my wants, but the needs got a tad neglected. That being said 2015 was a great year for me. Things did not work out because of some resolutions or a grand plan I set in place. Nope. Things just worked out. I like to think things always work out the way they should even if it’s not the way you wanted. Just deal with it.

Many things changed over the last year but many have stayed the same. I’m cool with that.

So 2016 being a even year I think it will be a good one. In my world big things tend to happen in even numbered years. Why? Don’t know they just do. So this should be interesting.

My intention is to thru hike the Appalachian Trail this year. Well I am 95% committed at this point. Why not 100%? Because I got ALOT of stuff to do in a very short amount of time and I like to keep everyone on the edge of their seats to see if I will pull it off. Plus no better time than now, I’m not getting any younger, my ‘career’ is non-existent, and my living situation is sketchy. Plus I got the CDT in 2017! Yeah after that I gotta stop moving. Ya know settle down and stuff. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

So I’m in the preparing, training, stress out phase right now. The “off” season was really off for me (off the hook!!!). No seriously, I had good time and now it’s time pay the piper, buckle down and all that stuff.

You would think after one thru hike the next would be easier. Nope. There is a bit more logistical planning involved this time, gear to replace, new maps, a new phone to a post from and guidebooks! So many things. Did I mention I got a spiffy new rain jacket while I was home for the holidays! Yep no more poncho! So I got that going for me.

Stay tuned……….this should be fun!

Little boxes

Hiking, Life

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!

Leave it to me as I find a way to be

Life, PCT

I’m finally finding the time to reflect on my journey. It’s weird, I spent so much time, after finishing the trail, traveling and running here there and everywhere. There has just not been time. Or maybe….

I was avoiding it. Some how there has been a part of me that has not really wanted address how much it effected and changed me. As it is I have changed so deeply at my core that I cry at the loss of who I was.

Some days I catch myself reacting as my old self would, that is frightening. It’s like trying to slide into an old skin. It’s not right it doesn’t fit, it’s uncomfortable yet familiar. It is imperative that I find a way to embrace this new me and move forward.

………..find a way…….
What has started all this ruminating? Well I been working put all my trail pics in a video you know with music and stuff. It’s taking a bit as my computer, well, sucks. The windows program is constantly crashing, so annoying. That and everyday it seems harder and harder to settle in the city. When did things become so overly complicated? Why am I here? Why is it so darn noisy?

Today I watched a film about the Appalachian Trail. So much hard stuff to deal with rain, mice, mosquito, mountains lots of them. Yet after the film I whipped out the calendar to see when I could start! Um, yea when did I become this person, did not see that coming. I have a feeling it’s gonna be a long winter and I need new hiking shoes.

Paperback Writer

Life, PCT

So it was my birthday this last week! Another spin around the sun and what can I say this last chapter in the life of me was a dozey! Really looking forward to the next one because I did not realize the last one was gonna play out the way it did. You just never know.

I didn’t really do much for my birthday, but I did get to go to Youtopia at the last minute. So glad that I did. It was amazing! Got to spend time with some very special people, get my dance on and a bunch of, well other things went on. It was beautiful. Connected with a guy from North Carolina hoping we can meet up when get out east! Even got to throw up my old Coleman tent, after that one person tent that Coleman was super roomy! Heck I could have had people over, if I was ever there. Think I slept all of 4 hours all weekend, good thing I don’t feel as old as I am.

Looking forward to my life settling down a bit but I am just not sure when that’s gonna happen. With work and so many people I need to catch up with. Feels like I am constantly running with hardly time for a short hike. That makes me sad and even more anxious. Pushing to get into my own space by November, that should help lower my current high anxiety. I just feel really discombobulated with things everywhere, the room, the car, storage. I need a solid landing pad so I can focus and stop stressing out. At least I’ve started eating better, so there’s that. One day at time, one thing at a time, just breathe……………………

By the way did you see this article:
It’s all about the journey. Hiking the PCT, solo.
This was pretty much the first interview I’ve ever done, or least remember (mind is the first to go). It came out pretty awesome, but that’s just me. Thanks Teresa!

How’s chardonnay today!!??

Uncategorized

Hey guys!! For those of you still following I have not fallen of the edge of the earth. Nope. But getting back in the swing of things has been harder than I imagined. So – Very – Hard. I’ve been an emotional wreck. What you say, but you look so well adjusted. Nope I’m a good faker, I miss the trail, bad. I’ll be honest I did not prepare properly for reentry by any means. But heck things are looking up or so I like to think. I got a job!! Woohooo! Now I have to find a place to live, pay down some debt, you know some adulting.

Oh and in other news (if you haven’t heard)…….I finally went to the doctor and…….Closed Fracture Of Distal Fibula (broken ankle). So there’s that. Now I have to see a surgeon. But I’m trying to be all optimistic about it, so yea, it will be fine. In time for me to start training for…………………… the Appalachian Trail! Yes, I know I said the Camino. but the AT is right there and I really want to do the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) in 2017. Hey I’m a Libra, it’s my birthday month so I’m just weighing all the options. Changing my mind tomorrow is totally possible. One way or the other I am working my butt off this winter so that I am ready to hit the trail (any trail) next spring. Mark my words.

Hardest thing right now is staying off my ankle. So hard. Went for bike ride today just to get out. Bad idea. Biking in the city is just depressing and dangerous. I’m seriously giving thought to moving out of the city and SoCal. The Pacific Northwest is calling ……

Gear Breakdown

Hiking, PCT

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

WP_20150519_002_preview — 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
train track_preview

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:

Walker pass_preview

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!!!

Post trail dust off and reacclaimation

Life, Uncategorized

Well I’m back in San Diego. Physically I am anyways, my mind and heart are somewhere else.

So let’s see the Burn was way different for me this year. The weather was crazy, windy, dusty, cold (this has been the coldest summer on record for me, seriously), and the art was stirring, but there were SO many people. Going to the burn right after the trail might have been a bit over ambitious on my part, I admit. At least I had some down time in between and wasn’t just dropped directly into that or I may have lost it. Honestly it was a bit more intense than I thought it would be.

No sooner than I got to the playa I got in a tiff with a dear friend. We worked it out but I really internalize it and just wanted to hide out in my tent sanctuary, that did not exist. (note to self there is no such thing as a minimalist burn) It was very conflicting having so few things for months then being around all the excess on the playa. Also, even though self expression is stressed at the burn, I felt more ‘myself’ on trail. On the playa there is a need to ‘dress with flare’ that seemed like a mask to me. Nevertheless I got myself through it, left my Brooks Cascadia in the temple with a note that took forever to write with all the crying. Those were great shoes, letting them go was like closing a chapter I didn’t want to end. The random connections didn’t really happen this year. Reconnecting with new/old camp mates and distant friends was much more what I needed and enjoyed.

Now that I am back in SD the finality of it all has hit pretty hard. Trail life was, well simpler, everything now is overwhelmingly complicated. Agh. The weirdest things have been throwing me for a loop. It is hard i’m sure for people to understand the difficulties associated with coming off the trail. Like driving, I hate driving now, i just do. Why does everything have to be attached to an address? Why am I so broke but, I have so much stuff? Agh. All I really want to do is climb in my sleeping bag and hide. But I cannot, because I have “things” to do. That and it is like 100 degrees! (i am loving that part!)

Luckily I have friends who are allowing me to crash at their home while I “get it together”. Thanks Colleen and Mike. And yes, I am “getting it together” albeit slowly. First, I need to get a job or two even. Because………..wait for it…….I’m preparing for the Camino de Santiago!!!! A girl’s gotta have a dream!!!

Time to burn

Life, PCT, Travel

Tomorrow we hit the road headed to Nevada!! Time for that thing in the desert, otherwise known as Burning Man. I’m excited to say the least. Last year darling Marie sat with me at the burn and asked me what my dream was. I quickly said: To be a thru hiker! Then end with a burn.

Well I put it out in the universe and boom! Even when I doubted things just fell into place. Sometimes you just have to put it out there, then get out if your own way.

Super freakin hyped to see all my beautiful crazy burner friends. Let me tell you all throughout this journey my burner friends have been there. Whatever I needed. When I went to my first burn 5 years I had know idea I would meet so many amazing, generous, crazy, beautiful, loving people. I’m so lucky and super grateful, I get hearty (is that a word) and teary writing about this.

But no time to get mushy. We got to finish packin and loading! Dusty hugs for everyone soon! I love you guys!!!!

oh I am so burning my shoes!!!! shoes

Re-entry

Hiking, PCT, Travel

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!!