Date: 2010-04-27
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

So I think I should go back over some of the planning for this trip, since I started my journal after everything had kind of fallen into place. At first, hiking the AT was a romantic fascination. A very real fascination, but almost like the girl your crazy about and just can't get the guts to pursue. You think about in all the time, first thing on your mind in the morning and the last thing on your mind before you go to sleep. Than you begin actively flirting with the trail. You start serious research, you read trail journals, and you become a regular at the local outdoor shop (REI for me). I spent some drunken nights watching movies like "Southbounders", "Trek" and "Appalacian Impressions". Than you watch them again, and again. You discover a multitude of web sites like whiteblaze.net, trailjournals.com, campmor.com and many others. You spend hours every day digesting every little piece of information you can get your hands on. It's funny, when I did my section hike in 2005 I had no idea these sites or the underlying community of the AT existed. I remember being surprised by the number of people out there and asking "how did you find out about this trail?". So you go on to these forums and ask questions. The answers are abundant and helpful to say the least. At some point, you pull the trigger. You go from the romantic fascination straight to....Im gonna tell her. Or in terms of the trail, i'm going to hike you. I'm not sure exactly whent that was for me. I suppose when I actually handed in my resignation at work. Gear. When it is all your gonna have for six months of you life it is obviously pretty important. Having been in the Army so long, I know the importance of having good functional stuff. I am no stranger to the outdoors, nor am I stranger to the misery of cold, wet, hungry outdoor living that will obviously be a part of this trip. When I research gear, I dont think about it terms of the best weather and conditions, I envision using it in the worst. On my first AT hike I just kind of took what I had. Much of it left over from my Colorodo days. Much of it heavy, bulky and not practical. I think I left out with a pack weight of 60-70 pounds. I probally had a gallon of water or more. I had packed based on what I knew. What I knew was how to pack like a soldier. Anyway, I've changed my rationale. I purchased really nice functional stuff. I tried to go as light as possible, often paying the price for reduced weight. The more you pack, the more you will enjoy camping. The less you pack, the more you will enjoy hiking. Since i'll be hiking 10-12 hours a day, I choose to enjoy the hiking, and I look forward to creature comforts when I hit town. My pack weight will be 25-27 pounds with food and water. Lower pack weight will also reduce risk of injury.Transportation is another big part of the planning. Where are you leaving from and when. You have got to get to the trail before you can hike it. Since my plans changed from a NOBO to a SOBO hike, i've found myself back at he beginning of some of the planning. Researching the northern part of the trail. Looking up hostels and shuttles, and trying to plan accordingly. As of now, I've had two offers for a ride to the trail. Aubreys father and uncle both expressed an interest in driving me up to Maine. That would work out nice. If Aubrey and her father drove me up, my plan would be to climb Katadin on the first day, spend another night in a hotel with Aubrey and her father, than begin the rest of my hike. The thing about a SOBO hike is your first ten miles is spent climbing and descending Mt Katahdin, one of the hardest highest climbs of the hike. One fueled by adrenaline I'm sure.Worries. My biggest worry about a Southbound hike is being lonely. While several thousand people venture out each year to attempt NOBO hikes, only a few hundred leave for a SOBO hike. One of the best things about hiking the trail are the friends you make and the bonds that form. There is a sense of family and belonging amongst hikers having a common goal. I hope that doing a South Bound does not rob me of that. Since it looks as though Sean is definately on board for the SOBO, at least I will have one friend. Anyway, this entry has gotten far to long. Until next time....what dreams may come.