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.
