This is a raining night in Georgia that is nothing new it rains here all the time. But hiking in the rain is different setting up your tent, cooking, and trying to sleep in your tent. Waking up the net morning packing up your wet gear and moving on hiking again for 10-12 hours a day. For 6 months everyday. Well that's me I will be hiking the Appalachian Trail. Some of you will say again, yes again.
I have learned a lot in the last 3 years of my backpacking life. I am not a hiker. I am a backpacker. I will carry all my needs on my back for 6 months. When I get home I will do some major downsizing. Who needs all this stuff. On Wednesday I will leave Springer Mountain the southern terminus of the Trail. 2,179 miles long Not including the walk to the shelters and to water sources and walking around town or to town. So it is many more miles.
Why? I say its just a training hike for me. I will do all the long distance trails I can find. I love the planning part. This year I will send myself food boxes to places that are hard to get resupplies. We will see how that works. Food is so far the heaviest part of my pack. It does go down in weight as soon as I eat. Then gets heavy again as soon as I get my resupplies. And all the towns are in gaps. Which mean I have to walk up and out to get back on the trail.
This year another thing I am doing different is I have support. I have a family of 40 women I have met through Facebook we are all hiking but at different times, We are called the Summit Sisters. And a very good friend is hiking with me. Susan Logue, she also has hiked part of the AT and knows how to live off the land. She has promised to cook me a squirrel dinner with wild onions and potatoes. We will see.
I have no doubt that she will cook it, I do have doubt if I will eat it.
I am more determined to hike the whole trail then ever before. There is so many wonderful trail all over the world. And this one will get me in shape to continue on. This is no dream. I have read one book on the AT. That did not inspire me to hike. Backpacking you have to live it, breathe it and just do it. Some go out to find something. I am going out well lets see. For me. Nature I love it.
I also feel fortunate to have hooked up with the Summit Sisters- an amazing support group. When I went out solo for a short hike last year, I was over-the-top anxious... can I do this, am I as good as that person wbo just passed me, how far is it to the shelter, can I dig into my past and find my camping skills.
ReplyDeleteThis year is different because of all the great gals. But it is also different because I have found my support group, and even more so because I found a good friend to backpack with. I may be able to cook the squirrel but Sweetspot is going to snare it.
This is not a walk in the woods, but rather a journey to where I can be me. Challenging myself with each new mountain and each new weather situation.
I know I will have the time of my life. The journey is the thing.
I am a lucky girl.
I think the summit sisters are an amazing group of women. I am so glad to proudly have the patch on my pack. I know I'm the only SOBO one but know I have several sisters that are just a call or text away. You're going to do amazing and I'll be making you a sign when I am through with my hike and adjusted back into civilization. I'm very proud of you and keep keeping that AT butt! <>< Wildtrout
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