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:
Take care, wish me luck and keep reading!
Shashee
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