Hike Planning

It's been 2 months since our last post, and a lot has happened. I made an announcement to my family at Christmas, which was very nerve-racking, since well, they were expecting a different sort of announcement. One that a married couple of a year and a half might usually make. They were all very receptive and curious and it went very well I think.

Now, Emily's parents, they're a bit more skeptical, for obvious reasons. 

They don't have the luxury that my parents have: I've already done something like this. Emily hasn't. Also, they aren't quite sure this is a smart thing to do, especially in these tough economic times, but they are being very supportive, and also very curious.

So, the planning. What goes into this? Well, for the last year+, we've been reading stories of past thru-hikers, from one of a couple who successfully completed it, to one of a man who hiked it in record time (this guy averaged something like 32 miles per day -wow). Here are some examples:

A to-do list, very important, for me at least.  It's got everything from setting up supply boxes to cancelling cable and internet to finding homes for the pets.  There's a lot to do!

Here are some other books we bought, but these will actually be carried on the trail (not all at once).  The databook covers the whole trail, listing everything from water supplies to road crossings.  The larger guidebooks, broken down into 3 sections (southern CA, northern CA, and OR&WA), have detailed maps and trail descriptions.

Although we've both been hiking for years, we still have stuff to buy for this long distance hike.  Here's our newest possession. Not the cat. That's Tigger, she's 13, and she's happy that we bought this GPS satellite messenger, so she (and our families) can follow our progress on the internet, and know that we're safe.

And here are 2 websites we've been using as resources:

http://www.pcta.org

http://www.trailforums.com/trail.cfm

-Chris

From Chris

This is a picture of us at the northern terminus of the Long Trail in July, a few days before our 1st year anniversary.  We decided to celebrate by spending 8 days in the Vermont wilderness.  One could say it was also some sort of a test, to see if an epic hike was even possible.  Well, I guess we passed.

I met Emily at an Arizona campground on May 1st of 2003, exactly 17 days before I began my solo hike of the Appalachian Trail.  Almost 5 1/2 years later, we are married and in the initial phases of planning this hike of the Pacific Crest Trail.  I can't believe it.  How lucky am I?  That she WANTS to do this.  I feel like I hit the jackpot.

Now, that being said, I am nervous, maybe even scared like she wrote in the first entry.  The PCT isn't the AT.  It's much different... much further away... more miles (almost 500 more)... higher elevations... we'll need an ice axe for part of it.  What, an ice axe?  Yep, and we've already talked to our friend Sean about teaching us the art of self-arrest.

Most on my mind though, is the trail coexistence.  Certainly, we won't be happy newlyweds for the entire hike, let's be realistic here.  There might be some tiffs, an argument or 2, some silence.  How will we deal?  And I hike faster than her.  She might resent me for walking too fast, I might feel the same way towards her because she doesn't.  Well, I honestly can say that I know that we can and will work through it, and it will make us a stronger couple.  For that I am excited.  And for this 6-month long hike with my wife I am excited!

The first of many

I guess it's official.  

Chris and I have been talking for months, years, about the possibility of dropping our grown-up lives and setting out on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT).  And now it's indelibly documented in cyberspace.  We are actively planning this great adventure.   As I write this on my desktop computer, cozy in my JP apartment, it's hard to imagine that this time next year we could be closing in on mile 2,650 with six months of hiking behind us, blistered feet and our lives on backs.  

We're scared.  And we can't wait. - Emily