Begin With a Notebook
Time to start tweaking my trail legs!
“It is only in walks that are a little too long that one has any new ideas.”
WHERE PLANS BECOME REALITY
Nothing like letting two years go by without a post. But in December, I started a new notebook and notebooks are where plans go to become reality.
My humble comp book never fails to hold all the ideas.
TBH, I wasn’t sure I wanted to blog again after two dormant years. But, looking back, I wish I’d blogged about the adventures I’ve had in the interim.
Like that second Benton Mackaye Trail thru hike (with U Turn! And bears!)*.
May 5, 2021.
And the three month, cross country trip in the van (with a reunion in Bend!).
My ongoing sketchbook practice (hoping to practice more and suck less!).
This is my second round of Austin Kleon’s 100 Day Practice More, Suck Less challenge. You can download this PDF here at his site and read more about the challenge. What do you want to suck less at?
Also, I hope this particular notebook will be useful to others.
Specifically, to other aspiring long distance hikers who’ve watched all the pretty YouTube videos, but who still have no idea how to plan for and get physically ready for this kind of adventure.
What kind of hike?
A Thru Hike of the Pacific Crest Trail!
My hiking partner, U-Turn, and I start May 11. Plenty of time to plan and to fill my notebook.
Late enough to give me both palpitations (the desert will be HOT and water is HEAVY and we will have to skedaddle if we aim to complete the thing, which we do) and relief (200+ inches of snow, so far, in the Sierra…maybe it will be mostly melted by the time we get there?).
Besides, that notebook, and, more importantly, what it is leading up to, has always been the gist of this blog…long distance hiking. That feels right. Like it makes me want to come back to this blog space and keep sharing the adventures.
And maybe some tips for doing this hiking thing successfully.
So, let’s make a plan!
Here’s what’s in the notebook so far. An itinerary for the next three months of planning and training (with links to be added as I get my old blogging legs under me again), followed by notes from the trail once the walking gets under way:
Permit acquisition and additional permits needed
Loose itinerary
Kindle and Audible Book lists
Lots of machinations about resupply—cold soak v. cooking; trials; where to ship boxes; what to put in them; how many days worth of food I’ll need in each box; shopping lists; where to send shoes; etc.
Travel arrangements (eliminating Amtrak within five minutes)
Random tips and questions I’ve gleaned from my own YouTube adventures
Gear (what’s a thru-hike plan without gear talk?)
Outfits for each section
Physical Preparation (Training, Nutrition, Supplementation)
Mental Preparation
I’m obsessed with upleveling my food game this time. I think it’s the best way to finish strong (and not addicted to Snickers and Fritos at the end).
And I still have half a notebook to go!
My buddy Brian at the WNC Nature Center.
*As for the bear encounter, I’m here to tell you that what you think will happen when a bear finds your Ursack is exactly right. He doesn’t know he can’t get in or even rip it off the tree. He discovers he can get in just enough to get a taste of your Fritos, and then there is no stopping him from turning the whole bag into a slimy, bear-spittled stew with zero salvage potential.
Ursack fail…though in fairness, they did replace it and I’m now committed to replacing my OpSac (Odor Proof Sack) every year.
