DAYS 3-7

DAYS 4-7:

DAY 3:

4-26-2013

"Shower & Laundry"... shower water hardly running. I did laundry with my hands which did not seem to help. Lol. I met up with Boo Boo (trail angel), TK (trail angel), Atlas, Lion King, and Girlscout. My site (#32) is apparently the party site full of famous thru-hikers. Looks like I ended up in a cool spot! I got free beer and burgers from angels Boo Boo and TK. Loads of fun!!!!!!

DAY 4:

4-27-13

Kick Off... party; light up frisbee; bonfire

DAY 5:

4-28-13

Kick Off... nap, chili with Terry and Joe Anderson

DAY 6:

4-29-13

Kick Off... fallen tree, hike out from mile 20

Difficult day... it was hard getting back into the groove of things after 4 days of partying at the kick off; went 18 miles; very hot outside; pushed self to keep going; camped near a spring; slept great; moon was so bright I thought someone was shining a flashlight in my tent; felt exhausted during the day and felt incredibly peaceful and content at night around the campfire. 

DAY 7:

4-30-2013

Woke up late at around 8:00am; didn't chug a liter of water before hiking out and did not stretch; rough start because I was going up hill most of the day. Hot. Trail transitioned from desert to pine forest... sooo nice! Made it to Mount Laguna after about 7 miles. Decided to stay here in a hotel for the night with my hiking buddies Emily, Rocks, and Beav. Just ate lunch... burger, fries, and peach cobler... YUMMY! Also just took a shower... great but the water got cold. I am currently waiting for the water to heat up again so I can wash the conditioner out of my hair, take a bath, and shave my legs. The hotel has a laundry machine; I am washing all of my clothing right now. Woohoo! It's nice to finally feel clean! Trail angel Terry Anderson just drove by and said hello. She is an awesome person. I'm really glad I saw her. I also ran into Billy Goat here. I'm loving this hike and the community that comes with it. 

Day 2

DAY 2:

Woke up at our site surrounded by poison ivy at Hauser Creek and packed everything up. Our group ate breakfast (granola) and had a stretching circle. Each person performed their favorite stretch and everyone else copied. We all headed up the trail around the same time. I feel an instant bond with everyone I meet. The comradery between backpackers, trail angels, and towns folk is AMAZING! I am reminded of the comradery I experienced in the military; the only difference is that I am with hippies. :) I left Hauser Creek at mile 15 and walked a fairly easy 5 miles into the Lake Morena Campground. Apparently I am very fast. I am extremely slow going up hill due to hip and back pain. However I think this helps me conserve my energy because I start flying down the trail when I get to the top of wherever I'm going while everyone else is exhausted and out of breath. I suppose I am a tortoise instead of a hare. I arrived to Lake Morena early, set up my tent, and went to a convenient store a mile down the road. I later met up with "my group"... Ruth, Dave, Greg, Beads, and Cookie Monster. I also met a famous thru-hiker named Billy Goat. He is older. I was so star struck that I practically jumped on him. He didn't mind. Haha. I ate lots of good food including warm banana bread that trail angels Tom and Darlene gave me and a yummy hot dog from a different trail angel- I forget his name. I also drank lots of milk and beer... both items that aren't on the trail. The kick off is one giant party. I feel like I belong. It's an incredible feeling knowing beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where I am meant to be. It's kismet! I also lightened my pack weight by about 10 pounds. I had a 28 pound pack EXCLUDING water and food weight. I got my pack down to about 18 pounds. This weight should be much more manageable, especially once I am in the mountains where I will encounter inclines, snow, and altitude changes. I'm not sure when I fell asleep, but I slept like a baby! Life is great! 

Day 1

DAY 1:

Surreal! So much talk, planning, and dreaming... now it's finally here! I can't believe I am here. I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to pursue this adventure. I've met so many amazing people within the course of just one day and over 15 miles: 

Girlscout (Pea Hicks): trail angel who picked me up from the airport and drove me to Campo. 

Greg: backpacker who also spent the night at Giscout's. Greg started the trail 1.5 hours before me, but we still met up later. He and I have become hiking buddies. He is one of the members at tonight's campsite. 

Ruth & Dave: couple from Colorado who gave me a ride to the trail head. They're so nice and our personalities are in sync. I hiked with them and Greg for a while. They are two of the members at tonight's campsite.

Jordan & Broc: a cute couple from Ohio I think. I thought Jordan was wearing a Purple Bee bandana, but she wasn't. She is really sweet. They are two of the members at tonight's campsite.

Gigi & ???: They are two of the members at tonight's campsite. I don't know them well but they were at the trail head with me earlier. 

Judith, Gabby, & Kylie: three women I met on separate occasions. I believe they are all friends. Judith is from New Zealand. Gabby is German. Kylie is younger and has dread locks. 

These folks are becoming my trail family as we keep running into each other and are camping together. :)

The hike was beautiful today. I did 15 miles. The weather was hot in the day and became very overcast and cool around 4:00pm. It is still cold and drizzling. I love it! My right hip has been killing me... Grrrrr. It's okay though; I am pushing onward. My pack weight is manageable, however I still have too much stuff even after I mailed some things home this morning. I'm feeling extremely sleepy. Good night! :)

Why?!?!?

Written on April 23, 2013

I just boarded my flight to San Diego, CA. I am sitting in a very uncomfortable airplane seat; however I am next to the window and the middle seat in my row is empty. Yay! Finally, with my phone set to "airplane mode," I now have a moment to update my blog.

I have been asked numerous questions about this quest of mine. One of the most asked questions I get asked is "Why?!?!?".  There are numerous reasons which have inspired me and paved the way for me to decide to walk the PCT. The short answer is I simply want to walk a long and breathtaking distance. I am at a crossroads in life, where getting back to the basics and challenging myself is simply something I have to do.

The long answer as to why on Earth I have the desire to walk from Mexico to Canada is that virtually all aspects of my life were crumbling to pieces: my health, my state of mind, my social life, my career, my personal development... ALL of these were suffering. It dawned on me one day that everything I was doing in life wasn't working. I needed drastic change if I hoped for different results. I decided to try the opposite of how I had been living over the last few years. Being outdoors, getting my hands dirty, challenging myself mentally and physically, and being self reliant seemed like a great place to start.

I went on small camping trips and day hikes at first. The more time I spent outdoors camping and hiking, the better I began to feel about everything in life. My physical health improved- I lost weight, my appetite got healthier, muscles all over my body began to strengthen, and I got off nearly all my prescription medications. My state of mind changed for the better too. My social anxieties lessened the more I got outside, and I began reconnecting with dear friends in all different settings. My career dilemma hasn't completely worked itself out yet; however I am now gaining a clearer sense of who I am and what I want to do with my life.  I was simply in the wrong career field. My personal development was stagnant as I was unhappy and felt like my life was out of control, where I was the victim. The clear headedness gained since I began my new backpacking hobby has helped me realize I am only a victim if I allow myself to be one. With such positive and healthy results, how could I not want to backpack as much as possible?

Prior to my backpacking, I was also living my life to please and take care of everyone around me while I stopped taking care of myself and my best interests. This contributed greatly to my unhappiness. Backpacking has helped liberate me from this. I don't have the time or energy to worry about anything or anyone else other than myself when I am on the trail surviving. The boundaries are drawn clearly in the sand: I take care of me and you take care of you. 'Nuff said.

Hopefully this jumbled mess of explanations as to why I want to thru-hike the PCT makes some kind of sense. There are so many reasons why I want to hike this trail... because I want to, because I can, because why not, and because its good for me! :)

My plane has landed in San Diego and I am waiting for my gear to come out at baggage claim. Once I have my gear, I am meeting a trail angel named 'Girlscout'. He will pick me up, give me lodging for the night, and drive me around tomorrow so I may complete last minute errands. He will then drive me out to Campo, CA where I will walk north 20 miles to Lake Morena for the ADZPCTKO (Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off). And yep, HIS trail name is Girlscout! I am about to have my first trail angel/PCT volunteer moment. I'm so excited!

Stay tuned,
Shashee

Welcome to Shashee Trails!

Hello Friends & Family,

I will be writing this blog, "Shashee Trails," over the next few months while I attempt to hike a very long trail. This blog is not my personal diary; rather it is intended to be an account of my overall backpacking experience, and a way for me to remain connected to all of you. I will submit entries as often as possible. I hope you will follow my blog as I follow the trail. 

I had some small spinal procedures done today; my legs are currently numb and the PCT is just around the bend. I fly from Texas to California in just 4 days to trek the 2,665 mile long Pacific Crest Trail... I can't believe the time has come for me to set out on my adventure! I'm a little nervous, but I am mostly excited to see what is to come. I'm not sure how long I'll last on the trail... a week or two? A month? The entire trail? My primary goal is to attempt to hike the PCT. I am interested to see how far I can make it. As time has passed during my preparations, more and more of me wants to thru-hike the PCT. I am trying to keep a clear head and an open mind as to where this journey will take me. I am also trying to not have too many expectations, but I do expect to learn A LOT about myself such as my strengths, weaknesses, abilities to function under different stressors, etc. I hope to emerge from the trail a better, more centered person. 

For my readers who are foreign to the world of backpacking, here are some things for you to know:

-PCT stands for the Pacific Crest Trail.

-The PCT is roughly 2,665 miles long. The trail extends from the Mexi-Cali border into Manning Park, British Columbia- Canada.

-I estimate it will take about 6 months for me to complete the trail, assuming I can physically and mentally survive and stick to the trail as long as the weather permits me to do so.

-A thru-hiker is a backpacker who plans to traverse a long trail within one season.

-A section-hiker is a backpacker who will hike one section of the trail in one season, another section in another season, and so forth until they have walked the entire length of the trail.

-A day-hiker is a backpacker who goes on very short backpacking trips. 

-I have only backpacked on shorter trips. We shall see if I become a section-hiker or a thru-hiker on the PCT.

-A trail angel is a person sympathetic to the cause of helping backpackers complete the PCT. Trail angels volunteer their time, money, and homes by performing random acts of kindness such as bringing water to backpackers, offering rides to towns, grocery stores, post offices, and airports from the trail, inviting backpackers into their homes for showers and home cooked meals, etc.

-I am traveling on this journey solo. When I say solo, I mean I do not have a designated hiking parter or group. I will however, be surrounded by other thru-hikers, day-hikers, and trail angels. While I will be alone at times, much of the time I will find company in the presence of PCT friends who will become my trail family. 

-Yes, I am staying in a tent. Yes, I am going without showers and bubble baths.  Yes, I will have a limited and chronically dirty wardrobe.  Yes, I am a little bit crazy... but we already knew that. Ha!

-To read about the trail, visit

Pacific Crest Trail Association:  www.pcta.org

Planning a Hike:  http://www.trailspace.com/articles/planning-thru-hike-3.html.

-To watch a great two part video about the trail, visit:

Part I:  http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5AXhlHoNxo8&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3D5AXhlHoNxo8

Part II:  http://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=relmfu&v=vm1ITR7m78o

***FOLLOW ME ON GOOGLE EARTH IN REAL TIME AS I TREK THE PCT***

I have a SPOT Messenger Personal Locator Safety Beacon. I am sharing my location information with you. Click on the link below to see where I am and trace my real-time steps when I'm on the trail! :) Just follow this link to see my location updates. If the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it to your browser's address bar: 

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0eoD7kpfJ6gvqxbsgdFbg0q11kLv1RAJQ

Take care, wish me luck and keep reading!

Shashee