Date: 2019-02-12
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Today I finally got my In-Reach Explorer activated. This gadget has a lot of features and after reading the entire manual and watching three YouTube videos, I kind of,sort of now know how to work it. This is a global communicator/GPS  which works off a satellite and has a SOS button if I get lost or critically hurt. I will be able to communicate even when there is no cell service so that¢s pretty cool. Yesterday, I took everything out of my pack for the upteenth time and re-evaluated everything for any potential weight savings. Mainly I cut back on my extra food but all in all I¢m leaving everything as is ,I¢m just a tad over 30lbs, I double checked the weight at Publix. If you recall I was at 32 lbs on my shakedown hike in October and the good news is that once it warms up I¢ll be able to send several items homes, my knees will just have to toughen up till then. The final preparations are well under way and ready or not I¢m setting off on the trail Monday Feb 18th ( Lord willing of course) . I¢m going to jot down a list of things that anyone leaving for any extended hiking trip might need to address and maybe if you think of anything I should add please let us (community of hikers) know. I can tell you,I am blessed to have a wonderful supportive wife that without her I could not attempt this adventure.This will not be in a particular order but some should be addressed well ahead of time.Doctors appointment for overall health assessment Physical fitness training, hiking ,hiking ,hiking ahead of timeRecovery plan on trail stretching ,yoga etcReservations for Transportation & Lodging  especially if hotels are limited near the trail headLegal matters,financial,wills,power of attorney etc.Contact credit card companies and let them know you will be traveling Arrangements for any medications during this time periodCancel or suspend subscriptions and memberships Arrange for potential mail dropsCommunication plan determined ahead of time so family and friends won¢t worryContacts updated if you have a new phone or GPS deviceNavigation- decide what you will use Awol guide,Gut-hook app,maps etcHouse and pet sitter, lawn and pool and ac services if needed Hiking Permits / registration ( the Smokies do require a permit) gov shutdown can affect.Pictures of meds,license,important documents left for your home support teamHiking gear, food and knowing how to use everything Mail stopped ,forwarded or picked up, important bills should be automatedEmergency contact medical info on your person Gas stabilizer for bass boat ( or buddy that will use it and keep it running) almost forgot this one!I¢m sure there¢s a twentieth one but that¢s all I can come up with for now. They say a large percentage of the challenge of a thru hike will be mental ,but I¢m not sure how to prepare for the homesickness I¢ll surely feel.I did read the recommended book Appalachian Trials : A Psychological and Emotional guide to Succesfully Thru-Hike the AT by Zach Davis it¢s a great read with good mental exercises.I am thankful for all of the supportive comments I have received on my guest book, they are very encouraging and I will read them every night. This whole thing is a very long shot but I plan to make it!Thank you!