Date: 2013-02-11
To: The need to walk for a long long time
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

My remaining gear is coming in daily now.   I downsized to a 20" X 66" Neo Air XLite and it saves me 5 oz. I figure if I can save weight here and there I can justify the weight of my verbatim keyboard and Anker Astro charger. I've decided the jetboil is definitely the way to go...I just need to have heavy duty freezer bags that are boil safe and a coozy type holder to allow the food to cook without loosing heat. I'm just not into cleaning dishes while I'm backpacking :0(~ This also saves weight for me since I won't have to buy jetboil cookware which is bulky and heavy. I definitely am not an ULTRAlite backpacker but I do appreciate a light pack (around 22-25#s)...I'm not as young and strong as I use to be and heavy weight on my back while hiking significant elevation just isn't a pleasant experience for me!!! So, I am trying my best to keep my pack within my comfort zone :0)   Those DARN socks!!! I can't find them anywhere accept for online!! And even then, the ones that I want are on back order. DARN TOUGH socks are definitely at a premium. Does anyone know where I can get a few pairs???? Low cut hikers with medium cushion??? I'll peruse the web again tonight for them.    I'm so excited for all the NoBo's that are starting in the next couple of weeks! I really look forward to reading their TJ's and hearing about what their experiences are on the trail. I'm hoping they include information about water sources that were supposed to be there but maybe aren't reliable. This is pretty important information. Any other info or warnings that us late starters could use would totally be appreciated!! I am using the ATguide and will include any changed or conflicting information in my TJ as well.   Something pretty exciting has happened as far as the support/funding aspect of my thru hike is concerned!!! In my "About me" section of my TJ I talk about needing to take a very very long walk to make sense of and process the last 20 or so years of my life...including war. A large part for my need to walk and walk and walk was catalyzed by my experience in 1991 when I was a combat medic on the front line of Desert Storm providing combat casualty support for The 1st Marine Division and Iraqi prisoners of war. I am so proud and honored that I was a part of that war....but, as a 22 year old young woman who had never experienced anything remotely close to combat, I returned home and just didn't have the tools to deal with all that I was exposed to. In short...it effected my life in the years since in a profoundly important way. Definitely in a positive way as far as my Patriotism is concerned but in a very negative way as far as my ability to make sense of it all and cope....      Anyway, there is a grant project called "Walk Off The War" at www.WarriorHike.com which is offering support for veterans in their thru hike on the AT. In 1948 Earl Shaffer told a friend he was going to ¢walk off the war¢ to work out the sights, sounds, and losses of World War II. Four months later, Earl Shaffer became the first person to hike the entire length of the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine. Marine Corps Captains Mark Silvers and Sean Gobin founded a nonprofit called Warrior Hike and hiked all 2185 miles of the Appalachian Trail to raise donations for wounded veterans. Now they have gathered sponsorship from various outfitters and support from VFW's along the route of the AT to support veterans who need to walk a long time to process all of their experiences and allow the trail and nature to help them heal....   I have most all of my gear but it certainly would be nice to have some support along the way. They are starting March 16th. Unfortunately I won't be able to start that early but I may leave sooner than I was planning now so that I can be a part of this endeavor. I sooooo wish they would have had this when I first got back!!! Perhaps many many things would have been different in these past 22 years. :0)   It's very interesting... Ive been thinking about what I would do after this hike if I didn't return and continue being a physical therapist. Ive been thinking about Wilderness Therapy or Eco Therapy with at risk youth where you take them backpacking for a week or so at a time as a therapeutic tool. Then I found out about the "Walk Off the War" project. I worked in the VA for 5 years with spinal cord injured Vets...my favorite job ever!!! Who knows... I might have stumbled upon something..... :0)