Date: 2012-03-30
From: Making plans to return to the trail

To: Bellvale NY
Miles today: 0.0

Hello All,... ... ..Following up on my last years thru-hike attempt, I have reached out to my local hiking club, the New York - New Jersey Trail Conference, to give back, by joining trail maintenance or work crews. I have also accepted the responsibility to maintain an exciting section of "Long Path" near Wurtsboro, NY.. . . . . .. So after completing a few trail work crew days over the last couple of weeks, I am heading out to hike the 88 miles of the AT in NY, going NOBO. The weather will be Ok, just a little rain and snow expected during day 1 and 2, but it's time to get back on the trail. I'm starting out this Saturday March 31, 2012 hitting the trail around 11 a.m. from Route 17A near Bellvale, NY. I have my work cut out for me, the trail is challenging. As my friend Jim Oakley, aka Big Bear, puts it "The NY section of the AT is a real kick in the ass with roller coaster hills, nasty rocky steep ascents and descents¢¦ . . good, honest AT hiking". ...This section includes Bear Mountain, the Agony Grind, the Lemon Squeeze and, I'm carrying enough food for 6 nights, so starting out, my pack weighs a whopping 43 lb. ugh. .. My food alone weighs 10 lb. and water is 5 lb. so that puts my pack at 28 lb. That 28 lb. includes 2 water filter devices, a MSR gravity and a Katadyn Hiker Pro, back up jet boil fuel and with the possibility of a cold night or two, I am packing my heavier BA 15* sleeping bag. There are no real extras in there, just what I've learned I need or want with me. I am looking forward to short milage days during this NY section hike, conditioning me for my May/June return to the AT in VA.... ...This year I am planning a section hike, starting at Hogs Camp Gap, VA (where I left the trail and returned home after getting sick) and hiking 480 miles over 32 days, completing my journey at Route 80 in Delaware Water Gap PA... .. ..I have become acutely aware that my mind set this year is completely different then it was last year when I was intensely preparing for my thru-hike. . . Then I was carefully mapping hiking days, zero days, food drops, my gear and so on. Last year, all of my planning was focused on the trail and making it to Maine.. . I was very anxious to see if all my detailed planning would pay off. While I was hiking and feeling well, my planning did pay off and all I had to think about was hiking and having a great time, it was wonderful and exhilarating. This year, I am very excited about returning to the trail with all of last years intense anxiety, not only gone, but replaced with brimming confidence. . . With over 900 AT miles now under my boots, I have learned what works for me and what doesn't and most importantly, I learned I really do love long distance hiking. This year, with all the planning, testing and actual AT miles behind me, I am rip roaring ready to go. . . All I had to do was check and recheck my gear, rebuild my food drop boxes, tape them up and get them labeled. . . I'm planning to go approximately 480 miles, so I'm only making up 5 food drops. That's why the NY section "warm up" hike is very important to me. I need to be in full "AT" shape before starting out from Hog Camp Gap in late May. . Like I said before, the only way to train for hiking is to go hiking.. .. so I'm going hiking ... .. Right now I am in Moonachie NJ, writing this journal and helping Gerrie get the house ready for our Easter family gathering and dinner. .. .. I have all my gear packed and ready to go.....Temps, it's 50* outside right now (8:30 p.m.) going down to 36*, sky is cloudy, no wind no song birds just the sound of sporadic traffic on nearby Moonachie Road..... .. Total AT miles hiked today 0.0 .. .. .. . . Nite all. . . . . . .PITA