Date: 2005-03-09
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Wow, it's been a LONG time since I've updated and a lot has happened, let's try the condensed abridged version.Shortly after my last entry during an ultimate game I sprained my ankle...bad. I was on crutches for a while and the entire idea of a thru-hike was uncertain for a while. Fortunately it's been a few weeks and I'm walking and training just fine, so I think I'm ready for the trail, although I will be bringing my ankle brace just in case.I've made some gear switches, I've traded in the trangia brass alcohol burning stove for an antigravitygear alcohol stove, pot, pot cozy, windscreen, etc. The whole deal cost me around $30 and it seems to be one of the best investments I've made. The whole setup is SOOO light and I've yet to experience any problems. I think longhaul has said that he's decided to switch to a white gas stove for the beginning of the trip because of concerns with his alcohol stove, I'm not sure whether we have different techniques or whether I'm just lucky, but my stove has been working like a charm so I'm sticking with it. I would definitely recommend antigravitygear as a vendor, tin man is amazing.Travis, my hiking partner finally got excited about the trail, at first he was very docile, almost hostile about the whole deal, but as of late he seems pretty stoked. He's switched from "I'm just going to hike until I'm skinny and don't smoke anymore" to "I think I'll finish it, I don't think you will though". That's his somewhat twisted sense of humor though. Regardless, he seems honestly excited about the whole thing. The odd factor about his excitement is the trigger that "started the ball rolling", after all the conversation and description and reading, it took "Trek", the DVD to get him excited. To the guys who made/starred in that film, thanks a lot.I wrote a map script to track the M-company hikers, you'll notice it to the right. It's still very beta, and I'm really hoping it won't crash halfway up the trail, but for now it seems cool.My friend Lon is going to transcribe my journals for me, thanks Lon. Now if I can just figure out exactly HOW bad cell phone reception is going to be.There are a few last minute items to add to my pack, and I'm sure a few that I'll forget, thanks to Cuppa Joe for the advice.Our plans are now pretty much set for the trip to springer. We'll have two drivers and two hikers. Around 7:30 I'm going to meet Alex (driver 1) and Kai (driver 2) at alex's place, we'll then go pick up Travis around 8 and head down toward Georgia, driving through the night. The drive is around 12-13 hours, so if all goes well, we'll all be awake for the first hour or two, then two of us will sleep for 5 or 6 hours, then swap out with the other two, this way everybody gets some decent sleep. Once they drop us off at Amicalola, Alex and Kai are turning right around and heading back to PA for Alex's birthday, I can't express enough gratitude toward Alex and Kai for doing this for usWell, this will probably be my last entry before I start. I can't believe it's finally here, this whole concept still hasn't hit me, at times I get super excited, then other times this whole thing seems unreal. Regardless of what may happen, it'll be an amazing experience that I'll never forget.