Date: 2013-01-24
To: There are mountains to climb :0)
Miles today: 0.0

It's been a really good week! I've settled into my new place and my new job for the next eleven and a half weeks. I can't believe it!!! 79 days from today I will be on the trail! I still have so much to do but things are coming together nicely to insure my departure from Springer Mountain on April 14th! :0) I landed two PRN jobs today that will give me all the extra work I will need to meet all of my financial needs. This is huge! My travel position is lucrative but I needed to make more for a comfortable trek and for a financial cushion when I return and do what ever it is that I decide to do:0) It's going to be very busy these next 21/2 months with 50-60 hour weeks plus workouts, but I am thankful for the work!!!    Now....I have a little problem that has been bothering me for about 4-5 weeks >:0( Back pain!!!!! I, unfortunately, was born with a very unstable lower back. I have spina bifida occulta and a significant spondylolisthesis....Huh? Well, I inherited my mama's back. Spina bifida occulta is where a part of one of the vertebrae does not form. And a Spondylolisthisis is where the vertebrae is translated forward upon the other. In essence...my back is very susceptible to injury. Lifting patients at work doesn't bode well for this kind of back issue. I've had back pain in the past but, the weird thing is that what really helped it was putting my backpack on and heading out for a weekend trip with my friends! Strengthening your core is SO important for preventing back injury or for recovering from one, and carrying a backpack makes you engage your core pretty much all of the time! So.... I need to hit the trail but, unfortunately, I won't be able to do that until April 14th!!! In the meantime, I'm going to really work on my core strengthening! If any of you are having any back pain I would definitely recommend a good core strengthening program :0)   As far as gear goes, I'm awaiting the arrival of my Verbatim mobile keyboard...anxiously :0) I've also been kicking around the idea of changing my water filtration system, but I'm not sure. I've seen alot of posts and read a lot of really positive reviews for the Sawyer water filtration system. It's about 7-8 ounces lighter than my Katahdin hiker pro. Can anyone out there offer any advice on this??? In addition, I had previously posted that I was sending my Lighthearted solo tent back to Judy Gross (owner of the co.) to have all of the tabs where the stakes and tension cords are located...to reinforce them so that the tent will last the six months (I'm hard on my tent during packing when it's cold and wet). I thought it was going to cost me $50-$75. But, nope!!!! Judy is awesome! She told me to send it to her with just the return postage!! This made me very happy and is my first trail magic :0)   I've also gotten several posts on my guest book offering support, trail magic, and help along the trail!!! This is a huge thing for a solo hiker who will definitely need, if nothing else, moral support and encouragement to keep trekking north! :0) To all of those who have offered...thank you so much! I have noted all of your emails and will definitely be in touch with you while I'm on the trail:0) The AT is truly an amazing community with past and present thru hikers communicating with and helping eachother on their journey....It's so awesome!!! Well, I have a 10 hour day tomorrow and a workout so I need to get some rest. Definitely many mountains to climb even before I set out from Springer, but even these remaining weeks are all about the journey :0)