Date: 2008-09-01
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I know I just entered a journal, but there are a few things I want to talk about that are not in any of my other prep journals so far. As I keep telling more and more people about my thru hike next year, I am asked all kinds of questions, so I thought I'd answer some of them here for your reading pleasure! Ok...here are some questions I can recall being asked:Why? My response at first is usually, why not! I have so many reasons why I can and should. I am young, healthy, single, no children, no mortgage, no debt, no car payment. If at any point in my life there is a time to say F it, I'm having an adventure, now is the time. If I never attempt this for whatever reason, I will absolutely regret this, and I hate regret. Well, what about work? Yeah...what ABOUT work! I love my job, but a job is a job. I will find another one when I return, or maybe my job will take me back if I decide I miss it. But if they don't, I am prepared to be jobless for a little while. I know the market sucks right now, but I can't stop my life because of a job. Money? Yes, I'll be saving enough dough to support this trip and any other bills I'll have to pay while I'm gone and also to support myself if I don't have a job when I return. Journal and Pics? Jonathan, a good hiking friend of mine has recently offered to take care of all of that for me. I will hand write my journals, tear out the pages and send them off to him. Lucky him for being able to be the first to read about my daily life! Also, he'll upload all my photos on his computer and post some up here for you cool cats to see. (Jonathan, I will owe you BIG time for this, I thank you in advance)Will you be carrying all your own stuff? Yes, I will be carrying my life on my back for 6 months, swapping out winter gear for summer gear along the way. My mom (she doesn't know this yet) will be in charge of sending me what I need when I need it. So, anything that will keep me alive, warm, dry, hydrated, and well-fed will be in my pack. I am hoping for no more than 35 pounds of weight to carry.Where do you go to the bathroom? Same place as the bears! Well, most shelters have a privy, or an out house type of deal. They are not pleasant, but they do the trick. Well how will you shower? Well, I'll be dirty most of the time. I plan to get a shower once a week. Yes, smelly I will be, but I hear ya get so used to it that you don't even smell yourself. Will you have a change of clothes? Yes. I plan to have a few pairs of socks, underwear, one set of clothes to hike in, one set of pj's, and the rest is to be determined. So, I'll be wearing the same smelly dirty clothes day in and day out. Cool! Are you taking a gun? HELL NO! Here are a few reasons why: It's frowned upon among hikers, I never shot a gun, I wouldn't want all that extra weight, I'd probably shoot myself accidentally in fumbling for it to fight off a bear, guns scare me, and more than likely I will not need one. The trail is pretty safe for the most part. Please don't offer me a gun, I don't want it. (yes, I've had a gun and shooting lessons offer!) How long will it take? Approximately 6 months. The only stipulation is that I summit Kathadin, the northern terminus, before it closes in mid October. What if you hate it, will you keep going? YES! I doubt I'll hate it, but I know i'll have bad days along with the good. I plan to finish it in one thru hike. Oh, Georgia in March, warm right? Nope, I'll have lots of really cold days and snow. It will even dip down into the teens at some points, YIKES!Ok, that's all I can think of for now. I hope this is helpful to any friends or family reading this. Enjoy!