Date: 2014-02-09
To: Wait, Weight, Weight
Miles today: 0.0

Now with just eight weeks to launch date waiting is the hardest part.   I do have a lot to do like finishing the purchase and packing of food for mail drops, deciding the exact or preliminary location of those drops, and finally reaching the point where I quit wondering what I¢ve forgotten. Like most other activities by the time I leave anything forgotten would not be major.Most of my friends and other acquaintances who learn of my upcoming hike tend to ask all the usual questions. For those of you to whom I have not had these discussions I submit this journal entry for you.My guess is that if you had the opportunity to see me in person or talk on the phone these questions would have been asked so here are the questions and answers...and a few other thoughts.Question 1: Are you going alone?Well that's a yes and a no. How about that? Technically I will be by myself as no friends are going with me for the long haul. That is except for Dan who is driving me to Georgia and is hiking the first 5 miles to Len Foote Lodge where we will spend the night at this unique, hike-in only lodge. We will enjoy good food and scenery and the next day Dan will head south back to his car and home while I head north toward Maine. (At Len Foote I'm still over 4 miles from Springer Mountain the official beginning of the AT.) In 2014 my hike will take me to Harpers Ferry, WVA and where I will start again in 2015 to finish my journey to Maine/ Mt. Katahdin. And then I can check off the most dreamed about item on my bucket list. Along the way I will be accompanied by the hikers who comprise "The Appalachian Trail"! Together we will provide one another camaraderie, fellowship and assistance when needed. In other words I will not be alone. I do however, expect and look forward to long stretches of solitude and gatherings with other hikers at campsites, shelters and trail towns.It has been a long WAIT to this point and I'm anxious to get going. And now I'm anxiously making final preparations with just 8 weeks to launch.Question 2: Are you taking a gun?Even my non-hunting friends are asking this one. No doubt my ancestors who traversed the Appalachians in the 1700's carried them as they came to and from Kentucky. They needed them, however, for protection from enemies of the wild animal kind and the human kind. Nowadays, folks think I need one for the black bears who inhabit the woods through which I will hike. And even a few in regards to protection for ¢bad guys¢ on the trail. Well if I'm lucky enough to even see a bear I hope to be able to shoot a good photo or two of it before it scampers away from me the intruder. Besides all that...I've studied equipment and planned to lighten WEIGHT so why would I tote a heavy piece of metal in the off chance I could even get it unpacked to use it. As for as the ¢bad guys¢ I count on them not being hikers. The standard procedure is to camp one or more miles from any road crossing. And, like the bears if a human kind of bad guy approaches me that gun would be deep in my pack. All precautions will be used to stay clear of strangers acting odd.Actually both questions are asked with good intentions for my health, safety, and welfare. And I appreciate the good thoughts and prayers that will be said on my behalf.One friend, Tim, did ask the best question. And Tim does not hike. He saw a KET show on the subject. He asked: what are your plans for protection against ticks? You see these itty bitty bugs may be the most dangerous and annoying critters on the AT. I hope to be well covered with protection. And lastly WEIGHT is the hot topic among hikers as it is also with the cycling community of which I've been most familiar with much longer. My thoughts on this matter are also cycling based..."it's not the bike it's the bod(y)". To that end it's much cheaper and about as effective to loose lbs at my waist vs worrying too much about ounces off gear weight. My focus in this regard is on compactness - easy to pack, to fit in my pack, and easy to grab out when needed. For example, I recently changed out my fleece jacket for a primaloft one that packs into its own pocket.Psalm 27: 14