I have to do…. math? I was an outdoor rec major for a reason! Who would think hiking for 5 months would require so much math. I am currently working on getting all of my food prepared ahead of time (note:—-> 5 days till I leave!) so I am a little frazzled at the moment, trying to calculate ingredients for 200 breakfasts, 200 lunches, and 200 dinners. It is a very daunting task, but I am determined to get this done in order to make for a more relaxing hike. By doing this I am avoiding weekly grocery trips in town. I like the idea of going into town as little as possible – really only for the biweekly resupply because I don’t have a lot of money to spend on restaurants and hotels. Plus, I am doing this to be outdoors. I think I will enjoy some rest days in the wilderness. I imagine camping by rivers or lakes for 1-2 days and swimming and getting clean while I rest my tired feet and legs. Most days will be spent waking to the soft light of dawn and hitting the trail, resting when necessary and even napping if I feel like it. I am starting the trail going about 10 miles per day but will work my way up to 20-25 making about 10 hours of hiking. I am determined to go at my own pace though, because this is about having fun – not about pushing myself beyond my limits. This is going to be an enjoyable and beautiful long hike through the mountains, deserts, and valleys. I often feel as though I have missed too many sunrises and sunsets being indoors all the time, now I will have the chance to see them every day for 5 months. This is one thing I am most excited for… I love to watch the sky and the land change colors as the sunlight begins and ends each day.

Everyone keeps asking me if I am excited, and I am very much so. But I have so many thoughts and emotions flooding me that I usually feel overwhelmed by them and can’t seem to filter through them before a new flood of emotions come. I think once I get on the trail my mind will calm and life will finally simplify and quiet down so that I may hear the trees flowing in the wind and the sound of my breathe as I take each step. Life is incredible, and I am so happy to be blessed with a healthy mind and body to take me to the places I want to go and gives me a vessel through which to feel joy. I am almost there… just keep swimming 🙂 I am so close!