Its really coming down to it. I have a week left before I arrive at the AZDPCTKO (Annual Zero Day Pacific Crest Trail Kick Off) which is located at Lake Morena, 20 miles north of the Mexican border. My parents are dropping me off to the kick off (thanks mom/dad!) and they may stay til the evening and say good bye. The kick off party is considered a must if your starting the PCT in the ideal time of year which is considered right NOW and that is why I am going. They inform you about the water levels, the fire report, and the snow report. They help your organize your gear, check your strategies, and most importantly, introduce you to your fellow northbound through hikers.
At this point, I am definitely nervous. I am not going to lie about that because I think its pretty normal. There are so many unknowns. There are so many strategies. There are so many people who have done it without types of gear which some people call essential. My mom likes to joke that i'm preparing for my backpacking Ph.D. due to the logistics and research. I wonder if any masters thesis has ever been based on a backpacking trip.
This weekend, Lindsey and I are going camping in SLO at Morro Bay Strand State Park. Hopefully we will have a beach site and there won't be loud spring breakers like we encountered in Big Sur. Car camping sounds so simple and docile compared to this backpacking.
I have already spent about $3,000 on gear/food and to know that its only a fraction of the $ that will be spent kind of scares me.
I walked 15 miles to Santa Monica and back on concrete in shitty shoes and that wasnt too bad. I was definitely exhausted when I got back but I know its just going to take a few weeks to really get in shape to the point that walking 20 miles will be ok and 25-30 miles will be the real challenge.
I realized today that my iphone will actually act as a terrific GPS because there is an iphone app made for the PCT. At least that means I won't get lost...
At this point I was not planning on bringing a wind breaker because I have a rain jacket...I'm not sure if this is a good idea or not but the wind breaker folds up really small so I might change my mind about it since I seem to have a good deal of extra space in my bag which I am happy about.
There are still a few major things that I need to accomplish before I leave. For instance, shipping myself my food boxes (all 15) which have a lot of my homemade food, which some candy bars inserted. The shipping alone will be around $300.
I still need to figure out how I will send my IceAxe to myself, and possibly the additional long sleeve shirt (shouldnt be a problem). I just hope that everything gets exactly where it needs to go on time, which means I need to send resupply package number one real soon.
This image of the trail is haunting to me for a few reasons:
1. Its more beautiful than any ordinary path I have ever seen.
2. It does not show you where its going
3. What if i cross this beautiful place but I am in agony over some foot injury and cannot enjoy it.
I will be looking out for it.
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