Date: 2006-04-01
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Miles today: 0.0

It was one year ago today that I committed my hike to the written word. I have been quite busy the last year in dealing with the psycological part of my journey. Not mine, but that of my family. As I had mentioned, my grandchildren are my greatest concern. Beginning in June of last year I took the 8 year old and the 5 year old on their own overnight "backpacking" trip. I used the Ice Age Trail as our training grounds. It was then that I brought up the idea of me hiking the Appalachian Trail and why I wanted to do it. We talked about how long I would be gone and the different ways that we could keep in touch with each other along the way.   We didn't wander far from home, and we didn't "rough it" by any means, but we hiked, ate trail food, used the Whisperlite camp stove and slept in my 4 man tent. I taught the oldest to use my GPS, we ate dehydrated ice cream (not a big hit with the kids), and even met a group of folks that lived near the AT. The oldest hiked 5 miles, being very disapointed that she didn't make it the whole 7 miles to Holy Hill, a prominent site on the trail. We ended up gettint a bit "misplaced" and we had to get off the trail because some severe weather was about to hit. We will try it again this year. She thinks that perhaps this year she should carry the map so we don't get lost. Life is good! (LIG)   The five year old started the trip with some reserve. When she found out that her sister had hiked 5 miles she stated "I am NOT goint to hike that far. Definately a difference in the "hiker spirit" in the two of them. We began our trip by finding that the elastic cord in my tent poles were severed. We needed to go to K-Mart and get some duck tape (now one of my staples of backpacking). We arrived back at the campsite and she declared that this was "one of the worse days of her life" (?). Then came time to light the Whisperlite stove. I still am practicing the timing as to when to close the valve and then re-open it. I re-opened a bit too soon and white gas spilled on the picnic table and while I was running to drop the stove in the fire scar my dear grandaughter watched the picnic table in flames... by the time I turned around the fuel was consumed and the fire out. The eyes on the child were the size of saucers. BUT I had told to to stand way back went I started to light the stove. The dear child remembers to tell the safety part to everyone she recants the story to. Almost one year later and she is still reciting the story, even to Santa Clause! Needless to say, 5 years old and she walked 3 miles! An outstanding achievement.   The rest of the year has been just short conversations with the love of my life and my four children. My sister is on board. Someone at work stated that I have a "hiking clause" in my employment contract. I don't have an employment contract, but I do have an agreement that I will be taking a 6 month LOA. Everyone at work that I have spoke to regarding the hike has been nothing but supportive.   I have some concrete goals that I want to accomplish this year. I will list them here:   *Route my trip using the AT database, determining where I will stop each night, noting water spots, and where I will send my maildrops   *Take the 3 bigger grandchildren on another one night trip each   *Get at least two weekends of big mile hikes under my belt   *Gain the support of all of my immediate family members   *Buy hiking poles, lost mine on my last 5 nighter, (actually left them in the trunk of someone's car   *Nail down the equipment that I plan on using in 08Next year the goals are:   *Take each grandchild on a 2 or 3 nighter   *Dehydrate and prepare all my meals, I plan on using the freezer bag cooking method and using mail drops for most of my food. This will lighten the load and the cost.   *Learn the bird calls so that I can know who is joining me in the woods   *Learn the names of the plants that are common to the areas that I will be in   *Purchase a pocketmail system and learn all I have to   *Get educated on my digital camera so that I can use it to it's full potential   *Spend as much time loving and spending time with all the folks that I will be missing so much.So good-by to 05, Lots to do in 2006. I can feel the excitement mounting and I know that the time will pass ever so quickly. Each day I spend time thinking about my trip, how I can prepare both physically and mentally, and things that I can do to help my supporters know that all is well."Be bold and mighty forces will come to your aide" unknown author