Day 1 - Border to Lake Morena (mile 0-20)
Wow - what a day. I don't know where to start. Alarms went off at 5 for a 5:45 departure to the border. Frodo cooked a big breakfast - french toast, eggs, fruit, and muffins. I wasn't able to eat much so grabbed a muffin to go, but somehow managed to lose it between the kitchen and the car. The paltry breakfast and lack of dinner the night before came back to haunt me a few miles down the trail!
We all arrived at the border around 8am. I thought when I got to the border all of my fears would set in big time. I'm happy to report that wasn't the case! I think I was running on pure adrenaline - it was so exhilarating just to be there. Standing in this place I've seen pictures of and thought about for SO long, and finally here I was. Everyone took a bunch of pictures with the monument and the border in back, I called the fam to say one last goodbye from the border, and then we were all off!
The first 6 miles seemed to veritably fly by under my feet. Stopped after two hours of hiking to have a snack and change socks, and was pretty surprised to see 6 miles already completed. It was such a fun start - incredibly beautiful! I expected the scenery to be far more barren, so felt spoiled with all the vistas and bits of greenery. Plus, we all kept ourselves busy with pictures at the 1 mile marker, all the new and exciting PCT signs, etc. We also had our first trail magic! Booboo's Dad is following and supporting her first few weeks - and also supplying treats & drinks to hikers each day! Talk about a lucky time to get started.
Everything remained awesome until around mile 9, when the adrenaline seemed to wear off and my pace started to slow. It got much warmer (it was a beautiful day, no clouds in the sky, but started to get hot!) and fatigue started to set in. All the sudden I was more aware of the fact that I had a 30 pound pack on my back. Took lunch around mile 11, and had a nice rest and then hit the trail again. After more great scenery, the trail hit Hauser Creek (bone dry) before a 2.5 mile exposed slog straight uphill at 2 in the afternoon. The last 4 miles were sort of the opposite of the first 6 - they crawled by, I had a hard time enjoying the scenery, and the weather was significantly warmer than anything this Bay Area girl is used to. Eventually though, we made it to lovely Lake Morena. It's weird to think I'll be back here in a week and a half for kickoff. It's pretty quiet here now, so it's hard to imagine this place teeming with thru-hikers for a festival like kickoff weekend.
All in all, I'd say today was a great start, bumps along the way and all. Funny to experience such a range of emotions on the first day alone. I went from a ball of nerves and energy to pure adrenaline/elation/excitement about the journey, to pretty miserable and in some serious pain...and then back again! It's going to be an interesting trip...
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The Original Day Zero - Traveling to San Diego, and Scout & Frodo
Well, after months of planning, here we are at Scout & Frodo's house after the flight from Oakland. The first trail angels of the trip, they pick up hikers from the airport, host them at their house, and provide rides to the border as hikers begin their trek.
Today was insane - one of those days that feels it's lasted a lifetime. I barely remember this morning. My Mom came over to pick up some of my unused backpacking stuff and say bye, and then the rest of the day was spent packing, cleaning, and taking care of all the pesky last minute items that have been hanging out on the to-do list for too long (WHY didn't I complete my PCT-playlist before today?!) Naturally, the day was way busier and more hectic than it should have been, and I realize now it was silly of me to think it would be any different. In the time leading up to today, I'd had daydreams about popping open a nice bottle of champagne and enjoying it before heading to the airport. Wrong! Running around the house, throwing my final pack together at the absolute last minute, already behind schedule for the departure to Oakland airport, I honestly felt like I was going to pass out a few times from the combination of stress and nerves. Luckily, made it to the airport on time, hopped on the plane, and had a really beautiful ascent out of the Bay Area - the last views of home for some time!
Waiting outside the airport for Scout & Frodo, Brett and I both admitted we were apprehensive about what's to come. The look in his eyes seemed to match my level of "what the hell are we doing/why have we gotten ourselves into this?"We chatted a little about the fears of getting out there and hating it...realizing after a few days this isn't what we bargained for. Sounds weird, but that made me feel a lot better. It was nice to know I'm not the only one freaking out a little about this. I'm fairly confident this will be the journey of a lifetime, but the truth is you never really know until you get out there and actually hike. Mostly it's just nerves, so I'm anxious to hit the trail!
And lo, here I am in San Diego! Scout & Frodo are simply awesome people - they've made me feel right at home here, and given my current level of stress, that's no easy feat! They are incredibly generous people, and host a mind boggling number of hikers each year at their home. They've got it down to something of a science. Apparently next week they'll have nights with more than 50 people staying! There's 8 of us here tonight, a relatively quiet night. When we got here, Scout took us on a tour of the house, and told us to all help ourselves to anything. The kitchen is stocked with fruits and snacks, there's a hiker box full of supplies, and their entire garage has been converted to a prep/staging area, with extra fuel, hiker clothes, and any other last minute items you could possibly think of. They'll feed us breakfast before we all head out for the trail tomorrow morning. Pretty awesome folks, indeed. If I'm ever at a point in my life where I can, I'd love to help hikers out even just a tiny bit as much as Scout & Frodo do each year.
I didn't expect to be the only girl here tonight, but it looks that way right now. There's 3 German guys who are also starting tomorrow (arrived in the states just yesterday...I can't even fathom the logistics of putting this together from abroad!), a guy named Chris also from the Bay Area, and someone who arrived when I did named Kit. I wonder if any of them will become my hiking pals! As of writing, it's 9:40pm, and cars leave for the 90 minute journey to the border tomorrow at 5:45am, which means I have 8 hours until the dream of the past 6+ years becomes the start of reality. That's it for now...next time I write is from the trail!
Today was insane - one of those days that feels it's lasted a lifetime. I barely remember this morning. My Mom came over to pick up some of my unused backpacking stuff and say bye, and then the rest of the day was spent packing, cleaning, and taking care of all the pesky last minute items that have been hanging out on the to-do list for too long (WHY didn't I complete my PCT-playlist before today?!) Naturally, the day was way busier and more hectic than it should have been, and I realize now it was silly of me to think it would be any different. In the time leading up to today, I'd had daydreams about popping open a nice bottle of champagne and enjoying it before heading to the airport. Wrong! Running around the house, throwing my final pack together at the absolute last minute, already behind schedule for the departure to Oakland airport, I honestly felt like I was going to pass out a few times from the combination of stress and nerves. Luckily, made it to the airport on time, hopped on the plane, and had a really beautiful ascent out of the Bay Area - the last views of home for some time!
Waiting outside the airport for Scout & Frodo, Brett and I both admitted we were apprehensive about what's to come. The look in his eyes seemed to match my level of "what the hell are we doing/why have we gotten ourselves into this?"We chatted a little about the fears of getting out there and hating it...realizing after a few days this isn't what we bargained for. Sounds weird, but that made me feel a lot better. It was nice to know I'm not the only one freaking out a little about this. I'm fairly confident this will be the journey of a lifetime, but the truth is you never really know until you get out there and actually hike. Mostly it's just nerves, so I'm anxious to hit the trail!
And lo, here I am in San Diego! Scout & Frodo are simply awesome people - they've made me feel right at home here, and given my current level of stress, that's no easy feat! They are incredibly generous people, and host a mind boggling number of hikers each year at their home. They've got it down to something of a science. Apparently next week they'll have nights with more than 50 people staying! There's 8 of us here tonight, a relatively quiet night. When we got here, Scout took us on a tour of the house, and told us to all help ourselves to anything. The kitchen is stocked with fruits and snacks, there's a hiker box full of supplies, and their entire garage has been converted to a prep/staging area, with extra fuel, hiker clothes, and any other last minute items you could possibly think of. They'll feed us breakfast before we all head out for the trail tomorrow morning. Pretty awesome folks, indeed. If I'm ever at a point in my life where I can, I'd love to help hikers out even just a tiny bit as much as Scout & Frodo do each year.
I didn't expect to be the only girl here tonight, but it looks that way right now. There's 3 German guys who are also starting tomorrow (arrived in the states just yesterday...I can't even fathom the logistics of putting this together from abroad!), a guy named Chris also from the Bay Area, and someone who arrived when I did named Kit. I wonder if any of them will become my hiking pals! As of writing, it's 9:40pm, and cars leave for the 90 minute journey to the border tomorrow at 5:45am, which means I have 8 hours until the dream of the past 6+ years becomes the start of reality. That's it for now...next time I write is from the trail!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Final Prep - Bus Party, Showering, and Everything Else Important
I'll just start out by saying - I have awesome friends. I feel so lucky to have so many fantastic people in my life, and I had a chance to say goodbye to a lot of them on Saturday. We rented an old school bus and did a little brewery tour and sightseeing trip throughout the Bay. We couldn't have asked for better weather, which helped make the bon voyage party a blast. Although my time PROBABLY could have been well spent wrapping up last minute plans and packing, I couldn't be happier to have spent the day frolicking about the Bay on a ridiculous school bus turned dance floor with seating around the perimeter.
Looking around the bus, I saw faces from so many parts of my life - my high school and college friends, friends of friends who have become close friends, former coworkers, Brett's family, his high school friends, college roommates and teammates, and our friends from Oakland, etc. What a joy to have so many fantastic people there to send us off in style! Thanks to everyone for coming out and getting low to Motown on the Bay Bridge.
I can't believe tomorrow is the big day. All the boxes are packed and ready to go (for the most part), all of the gear is packed, and things are finally coming together. I'm so excited to hit the trail. I can't even imagine what it will feel like standing at the southern terminus - right now I'm just ready to be there, but I anticipate being just as excited but significantly more terrified come Wednesday morning. I'll handle that once I'm there though.
For now, I'm starting to process the "final" mundane bits of life. I remember when I graduated high school and college, I went through a few months each time of "this is the last time we'll bike to class (go to the farmer's market, hangout at Humboldt Manor, go to Froggy's on a weeknight, etc.) together." I know I'm on the emotional end of the spectrum, but I suspect a lot of people have those feelings when a major life event is coming to a close. I'm feeling that way about funny things now...showering, sleeping in a comfy bed, blasting music in the living room and chilling out with a glass of wine on the couch, having a selection of clothes to choose from in the morning when I wake up...the list goes on. It's funny to think how simple all of those are, but I'm sure appreciating them more than ever right now!
Looking around the bus, I saw faces from so many parts of my life - my high school and college friends, friends of friends who have become close friends, former coworkers, Brett's family, his high school friends, college roommates and teammates, and our friends from Oakland, etc. What a joy to have so many fantastic people there to send us off in style! Thanks to everyone for coming out and getting low to Motown on the Bay Bridge.
I can't believe tomorrow is the big day. All the boxes are packed and ready to go (for the most part), all of the gear is packed, and things are finally coming together. I'm so excited to hit the trail. I can't even imagine what it will feel like standing at the southern terminus - right now I'm just ready to be there, but I anticipate being just as excited but significantly more terrified come Wednesday morning. I'll handle that once I'm there though.
For now, I'm starting to process the "final" mundane bits of life. I remember when I graduated high school and college, I went through a few months each time of "this is the last time we'll bike to class (go to the farmer's market, hangout at Humboldt Manor, go to Froggy's on a weeknight, etc.) together." I know I'm on the emotional end of the spectrum, but I suspect a lot of people have those feelings when a major life event is coming to a close. I'm feeling that way about funny things now...showering, sleeping in a comfy bed, blasting music in the living room and chilling out with a glass of wine on the couch, having a selection of clothes to choose from in the morning when I wake up...the list goes on. It's funny to think how simple all of those are, but I'm sure appreciating them more than ever right now!
Thursday, April 11, 2013
Last Week at Home
I took a few months off work before starting the PCT to ensure that by the time April rolled around, I'd be completely ready to go. How silly...I'll be on the trail in less than a week and I am suddenly feeling totally unprepared.
All of the major prep work is done. If I was dropped off in Campo right now with my pack, I think I'd make it just fine. I have to keep reminding myself that although all of the planning and prep work is important, at the end of the day, the trip is going to take on a life of its own as soon as I hit the trail. I think I'm pretty much equipped to do so at this point. I know I shouldn't stress too much, but that's much easier said than done! In the meantime, I spend my days organizing food boxes, resupplies, extra gear for different points in the trip, and mountains of maps. The living room is a disaster (shout out to Scott and Rita for putting up with the copious amounts of PCT related items cluttering the living room!)
I haven't had a full night's sleep in probably close to a month...I may be going delirious at this point. I wake up constantly throughout the night from one or another ridiculous PCT related nightmare, and I find myself questioning whether a conversation with a friend actually happened or if it was just in a dream. Funny enough, I think I'll sleep much better once I'm on the trail and sleeping on the ground every night.
All of this stress and worry just boils down to the fact that I'm anxious. I'm ready to make this dream a reality! It hasn't hit me yet that I'll spend the next five months of my life working every day towards one of the biggest goals I've ever had. I just can't wait to get out there and start walking. But for now...back to work!
All of the major prep work is done. If I was dropped off in Campo right now with my pack, I think I'd make it just fine. I have to keep reminding myself that although all of the planning and prep work is important, at the end of the day, the trip is going to take on a life of its own as soon as I hit the trail. I think I'm pretty much equipped to do so at this point. I know I shouldn't stress too much, but that's much easier said than done! In the meantime, I spend my days organizing food boxes, resupplies, extra gear for different points in the trip, and mountains of maps. The living room is a disaster (shout out to Scott and Rita for putting up with the copious amounts of PCT related items cluttering the living room!)
 |
| food, and resupply boxes, and gear, and clothes, oh my... |
I haven't had a full night's sleep in probably close to a month...I may be going delirious at this point. I wake up constantly throughout the night from one or another ridiculous PCT related nightmare, and I find myself questioning whether a conversation with a friend actually happened or if it was just in a dream. Funny enough, I think I'll sleep much better once I'm on the trail and sleeping on the ground every night.
All of this stress and worry just boils down to the fact that I'm anxious. I'm ready to make this dream a reality! It hasn't hit me yet that I'll spend the next five months of my life working every day towards one of the biggest goals I've ever had. I just can't wait to get out there and start walking. But for now...back to work!
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
KEEN Sock Testers!
Well, my last post was about shoes so I suppose it makes sense that the next one would be about socks, although that wasn't initially the plan. However, I found out yesterday that Brett and I were selected to be KEEN sock testers on the PCT! You read that right, folks...as my old coworker pointed out, I'll now be able to add the title "Official Sock Tester" to my resume.
I'm pretty stoked about the socks although we haven't seen or tried them on yet (they're not on the market yet but coming soon.) KEEN invited 2013 thru hikers to apply to put their new socks to the ultimate test - a PCT thru hike! We applied and are so excited to have been chosen - socks are no menial consideration, to be sure.
The socks are Merino wool (two thumbs up/a definite must!) but are specifically designed to withstand the elements and rigor of a long trek - the wool near the toes and heels is interwoven with a fabric called dyneema. All my climbing friends out there are probably more familiar with dyneema than I am, but in a nutshell, it's basically a super strong fiber used in climbing equipment, etc.
Pictures to come when the socks arrive...but suffice it to say, I feel like we've won the lottery. And with one week to go before flying to San Diego...anything that helps make my to-do list a little bit shorter is a complete godsend.
I'm pretty stoked about the socks although we haven't seen or tried them on yet (they're not on the market yet but coming soon.) KEEN invited 2013 thru hikers to apply to put their new socks to the ultimate test - a PCT thru hike! We applied and are so excited to have been chosen - socks are no menial consideration, to be sure.
The socks are Merino wool (two thumbs up/a definite must!) but are specifically designed to withstand the elements and rigor of a long trek - the wool near the toes and heels is interwoven with a fabric called dyneema. All my climbing friends out there are probably more familiar with dyneema than I am, but in a nutshell, it's basically a super strong fiber used in climbing equipment, etc.
Pictures to come when the socks arrive...but suffice it to say, I feel like we've won the lottery. And with one week to go before flying to San Diego...anything that helps make my to-do list a little bit shorter is a complete godsend.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Shoes
I suppose it comes as no great surprise that one of the most crucial considerations for a thru-hiker is foot care. The success of a hike can sometimes come down to how well a hiker is able to maintain blister-free and happy feet.
Many people are surprised to hear that I won't be wearing hiking boots on the trail. I've never been a huge fan of hiking boots (so heavy!), so I was happy to hear that they're uncommon on the trail. Hikers instead typically opt for trail running shoes - my preferred shoe choice! In all likelihood, I'll go through 3-6 pairs of shoes on the trail (that's a huge shoe budget for one year, and not a single pair of heels!)
I've spent the past 5 months testing shoes that will keep my feet as injury free as possible. It's no easy feat (feet?! harhar) to find what's right for me. My feet are small but wide, with a super high arch. That's a tough combination. On top of that, it's apparently not uncommon for your feet to grow up to 1-2 full sizes when you're hiking! I didn't believe it at first, but after some of our longer training hikes and overnight backpacking trips, the first pair of shoes I'd purchased, which had been quite comfy for the first hundred miles or so, suddenly felt tight. I think I've done a good job getting my hands on shoes that will get me through at least California. The most important thing is to ensure there's plenty of room in the toe box...if not, blisters are likely.
Check out my shoe collection! Here's hoping these bad boys will carry me painlessly across the trail:
Many people are surprised to hear that I won't be wearing hiking boots on the trail. I've never been a huge fan of hiking boots (so heavy!), so I was happy to hear that they're uncommon on the trail. Hikers instead typically opt for trail running shoes - my preferred shoe choice! In all likelihood, I'll go through 3-6 pairs of shoes on the trail (that's a huge shoe budget for one year, and not a single pair of heels!)
I've spent the past 5 months testing shoes that will keep my feet as injury free as possible. It's no easy feat (feet?! harhar) to find what's right for me. My feet are small but wide, with a super high arch. That's a tough combination. On top of that, it's apparently not uncommon for your feet to grow up to 1-2 full sizes when you're hiking! I didn't believe it at first, but after some of our longer training hikes and overnight backpacking trips, the first pair of shoes I'd purchased, which had been quite comfy for the first hundred miles or so, suddenly felt tight. I think I've done a good job getting my hands on shoes that will get me through at least California. The most important thing is to ensure there's plenty of room in the toe box...if not, blisters are likely.
Check out my shoe collection! Here's hoping these bad boys will carry me painlessly across the trail:
Thursday, March 28, 2013
PCT Planning - 1 Month Out!
Apparently I'm not very good at maintaining a blog. I'm never quite sure what's worthy of posting, especially since I'm still just in the planning phase. But the PCT is quickly approaching and I thought I should record some of the preparations and planning now so I can remember all of the details later.
A quick recap on the past 4 months since I left the Fed. Life has been pretty...relaxed...which is a major change from my typically hectic, on the go lifestyle. Apparently early retirement suits me well! I had the opportunity to spend time with my Dad and sisters over Thanksgiving (with a bonus mini-vacation in Chicago on the way to Michigan), spent a week and a half in Denver before Christmas with my Mom and sisters, hosted Christmas here in the Bay Area, and rang in the New Year with some of my best friends at the Russian River. Since then, I've gotten more serious about the real reason I left my job, and have spent my time hiking, researching gear, buying gear, testing gear, buying more gear, reading everything I can get my hands on about the PCT and ultralight backpacking, and planning the logistics of the actual hike (no easy feat). Did I mention there's been a lot of time spent on gear? This hits a little close to home...
Although I've enjoyed some time off, I'm getting pretty restless, and I'm excited for the trail to start. It was great to take this time to slow down a little. I think there would have been a lot more culture shock/adjusting if I had gone from a busy and stressful work life straight to the trail. I've enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and for the first time in my life, taken time to just enjoy being alone. Lots of reading, lots of walking, lots of cooking, lots of other things that always seem to be the first to go when life gets hectic...pretty boring stuff for the most part!
I officially have a start date - I'll be hitting the trail on April 17. While I've felt pretty good about my level of preparation, suddenly it feels very close. There's a lot of last minute preparations to wrap up, but I'm not tooooo worried yet. Low level stress has started to set in about the impending journey! So I guess that means it's time to get back to work!
A quick recap on the past 4 months since I left the Fed. Life has been pretty...relaxed...which is a major change from my typically hectic, on the go lifestyle. Apparently early retirement suits me well! I had the opportunity to spend time with my Dad and sisters over Thanksgiving (with a bonus mini-vacation in Chicago on the way to Michigan), spent a week and a half in Denver before Christmas with my Mom and sisters, hosted Christmas here in the Bay Area, and rang in the New Year with some of my best friends at the Russian River. Since then, I've gotten more serious about the real reason I left my job, and have spent my time hiking, researching gear, buying gear, testing gear, buying more gear, reading everything I can get my hands on about the PCT and ultralight backpacking, and planning the logistics of the actual hike (no easy feat). Did I mention there's been a lot of time spent on gear? This hits a little close to home...
Although I've enjoyed some time off, I'm getting pretty restless, and I'm excited for the trail to start. It was great to take this time to slow down a little. I think there would have been a lot more culture shock/adjusting if I had gone from a busy and stressful work life straight to the trail. I've enjoyed spending time with family and friends, and for the first time in my life, taken time to just enjoy being alone. Lots of reading, lots of walking, lots of cooking, lots of other things that always seem to be the first to go when life gets hectic...pretty boring stuff for the most part!
I officially have a start date - I'll be hitting the trail on April 17. While I've felt pretty good about my level of preparation, suddenly it feels very close. There's a lot of last minute preparations to wrap up, but I'm not tooooo worried yet. Low level stress has started to set in about the impending journey! So I guess that means it's time to get back to work!
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