My Facebook Status

Before I hit the road and the trail on Saturday, I plan on posting the following I wrote while fantasizing about the AT during a work conference.

I'm in the woods, I'm on the trail
Tryin to make big miles, but keeping it real
So leave a note, write on my wall
I'll be back soon, before you can feel the cold of fall
My obsession is calling, has become a part of what's me
I'm on the trail
I'm in the woods
I'm hiking the AT

Almost Time to Go

Today is my last day of work. Tomorrow is my 49th Birthday. Saturday morning I head to Harpers Ferry and hit the Appalachian Trail for a one week solo section hike. I am as ready as I will ever be. I have prepared and planned. My plans always remain flexible and I hope my planning has been sufficient.

My pack will weigh in around 30 lbs. It feels pretty good on my back and hips and I think I will be able to tote it as many miles as I need each day.

My foot continues to hurt, but stretching and exercises along with vitamin I should keep me going.

At the very least, I want to make it to Pine Grove Furnace Park and the AT Museum. If all goes well I will make it to Boiling Springs and then back to Micheaux to stay in a Hostel and get my shuttle back to my car.

I am phyched and ready to finish up this last day of work...

Home Stretch

Less then a week until I turn 49 and hit the AT for a week of solo hiking North from Harpers Ferry.

I'm as ready as I'm going to be and ready to go.

More Training Hikes, Both Big and Small

Since my last entry, I have done three more training hikes. Two with full pack and another just to put some miles in and take Ginger on a long walk.

After Hurricane Irene arrived, the parks were supposedly a mess, but I needed to get back out there to see how my foot could handle multiple days of hiking.

I headed to Patapsco and hiked down from the park and ride, circled around a bit, avoiding the dead falls, got caught by the rangers, who just shooed me away and headed back to the van. It was probably just a 3 miler or so, but a good hike.

The next Saturday, September 3rd, I was itching to see if I could do some big miles. I was up at 0500 and headed to The AT near Fredrick, MD. I parked at the trail head and hit the trail at 0700. I took numerous side trails, to check out various shelters, camps and a Hostel I hope to stay at and did an out and back. My calculations were I did 18.5 miles in 9 Hrs 55 minutes. There were some breaks in there that slow the overall pace down, but I was satisfied with the progress. My foot hurt throughout, but I found out that a little rest and stretching helped a lot during the hike. It was Labor Day weekend, so I saw quite a few weekenders and had some nice chats with some of them.

This Friday, September 9th, Ginger and I headed to Patapsco to do another 5 miler. I didn't bring my full pack, but just wanted to get some more miles in. Ginger got to chase a few deer and the rain held off until we were doing our last half mile. I was soaked throughout from sweat anyway, but it was a good hike.

So this week I head to San Diego for work and I already have a hike scoped out if I get the time and then one more week in the office before I hit the AT for a Section Hike. I am ready to see what it is like.

Jefe