Monday, April 2, 2012

Musings


It’s been said that hiking a long distance trail like the PCT is 10% physical and 90% mental. I do wonder if I have the psychological toughness to deal with the demands of a journey such as this. I am guessing that, having survived life to this age, I probably do have the mental toughness but one never knows how it will play out. My physical toughness is “probably” good enough but once again, I won’t know till I test myself out on the trail. Did I do enough? Will my 60-year-old parts hold together and (could it be?) even thrive under such a long, physically demanding event such as this one?

What with all the busyness of planning a trek like a hike of the PCT, the internal, emotional and philosophical aspects of the whole thing tend to take a back seat. Between making lists, shopping for food, preparing gear, meals, losing lists and rewriting the lists again, I occasionally get reminders of the reality beyond the details.

I am preparing to leave home, partner, friends, family, pets and anything that is familiar to me on a day-to-day basis. Comfortable routines, easy access to loved ones and other societal comforts is something that will change for me in… just 14 days now. I will be stepping into an adventure for which I have tried to prepare, but one never knows. Anything can happen.

This is, of course, both the fun and the fear of the whole thing. So I can only do the details, hope I get everything (important) done and then put my feet on the ground at mile 0 on April 15th  and point myself north. All the planning will have either been done or it won’t be done and by then, it won’t matter. All I gotta do is walk.


Sunday, April 1, 2012

Dinners almost done!

It has been an overwhelming task to make 150+ dinner meals. Angela helped me over the past two days and we have managed to complete all but 18 dinners! We would have been able to finish but I still needed some ingredients for the last meals... dang! Will it ever end?

Dinner, deconstructed

Six each of six different meals

The eventual home of above meals
Soon, very, very soon.