Date: 2008-10-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Dear readers,I write this entry from the comfort of my bed, with warm tea on my nightstand next to my prescription cough syrup (with codeine) and kleenex overflowing the trash can. I'm supposed to be wrapping up the second hiking weekend of my rotation in the field right now, but my immune system has let me down with the change of seasons.I got hit with a horrible viral infection on Tuesday in the field. Of course, Mother Nature decided to throw sub-freezing temps and snow at us the following day. By Friday I was not any healthier and definitely not able to spend the weekend backpacking in the cold and snow, so I left the field early. My first time in 18 months I've had to leave the field, and it sucks. It's strange coming home to an apartment that you weren't supposed to be back at for another five days. I'm not supposed to be in civilization right now. I could sit and do nothing all day and that would be okay because I'm not really supposed to be here. It's very strange, and hard to explain. And this makes me realize how much I love my job. I'd rather be out there than here. But when you're sick in the field you want nothing more than a bed and hot shower. The grass is always greener on the other side.Anyway, I've been keeping my sick self busy with AT research. The one plus to getting sick and having to leave the field was that I am able to take advantage of the REI sale that goes on until the 13th that I thought I'd miss entirely. I want to give a shoutout to my parents for purchasing my summer bag at the sale for me since I thought I wouldn't be around and now that I am around, I was able to use the 20% off member coupon myself, which I used to buy trekking poles today!! I finally decided on the Leki W's Luau. With the sale I got them for under a hundred bucks and they are some of the lightest on the market at 16 oz. I am pleased, and glad to finally have that purchase taken care of. The last big ticket item left to get is my tent which I am hoping to prodeal from work before I quit, however, MSR is currently out of stock for the season, so I hope they resupply for Spring before December 10th!I feel like my thru-hike is a gigantic puzzle and slowly the pieces of the puzzle are getting put into place.I've been in good touch with fellow female thru-hikers Karen, Patrice, Angela, and Liz. It's been wonderful having them as a resource for questions and discussions about gear, hygiene issues, food preparation, clothing, and anything else you can think of. Not to mention, it's wonderful to have an outlet for all of this AT energy I've got that everyone else in my life is tired of hearing about. Their companionship through the internet has been invaluable and the hike is still 5 months away! If this is what it is like before the trail, I cannot wait for the friendships and bonds I will create with people during my hike! And I truly hope I will run into those girls at some point along the way despite their earlier start date. Patrice is trying her hardest to get me out to Maine for a weekend in Acadia with all of them in November. It's enticing... That's about it from now. Being sick isn't too fun, but I had the time so I thought I'd add an entry. I'm hoping to go back into the field for a day or two before the rotation ends on Wednesday. We'll see, though. Oh, and also, I want to get together with a Head Instructor on the other rotation who thru-hiked in 2004 (trail name Brood-X). He frequently takes over my group for me, but we never have more than a minute or two to talk AT and since we live opposite schedules we never see each other otherwise. From the minute here or there we have talked about it, I know he will be a valuable resource and have great advice for me.Happy Trails,Amy