Resupply

From Table to "If It Fits, It Ships" Boxes. One more to mail to a friend where I'm taking a Zero day!

Success!

A True Story or "Why I didn't finish my hike in 2009"

This is a true story I just shared with AWOL of the famous The AT Guide.

I let the Trail beat me up in 2009 ... actually, I had a 'near death' experience at Devil's Racecourse Shelter in Maryland. My foot went into a hole, the rocks closed around my leg above my ankle, I dropped my toilet supplies, grabbed my leg and did a "Hap Ki Do" type roll, as I was in the process of grabbing my leg and rolling, I went 'out of body' and was watching myself from above about 20 feet or so, laying on the rocks with my leg broken at the shin, bones protruding and blood gushing into the hole where my shoe and foot were stuck. I went into the roll and the rocks released my ankle, allowing my foot and shoe to come out of the hole. The rocks then closed back onto themselves. I 'tested' the area looking for the 'trap' but wasn't willing to put too much pressure on the rocks. I never found the place again and I avoided the area. 

When I calmed down, I talked myself out of staying on the Trail.

This year's hiking plan was to hike with a friend so she could finish her AT Section hike and get her 2000 Miler Certificate from the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. As it turned out, she was told she had ruptured a disk and needed neck surgery. I am hoping she was able to arrange it and can join me on this hike. Because basically, I wouldn't be hiking if "we" had not planned to hike together. In the meantime, this "Half-A-Thru" has taken on a life of its own.  If I was planning to Half-A-Hike on my own, I'd probably hike from Maryland to Georgia or Georgia to Maryland.  [What I deem the 'easy' half.]

Right this minute, I'm obsessing and panicked over my mail drops. I finally got them boxed up and I'm 'missing' a mail drop because I consolidated a couple and I'm having to change one. I'm just not into "pricey" hostel stays. I'm from the South. When we pay $77 plus tax for a room, it's a private room with a private bath.

Okay, deep breaths. Tomorrow I leave all my mail drop boxes here and drive to my Mom's in Baltimore ... on Saturday I get my wonderful massage from a Massage Therapist ... and then on the 4th of May, I head out from Gathland State Park.

Deep breaths ... hold ... exhale. Rinse and Repeat. Okay, hold the Rinse.

Psalm 119:133 Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me.

Changing Re-Supply Plans

Today I went to the Post Office and purchased the Stamps for "If It Fits It Ships" boxes. When I was rechecking my food and vitamins, I realized I'm going to have to change my UPS mail drop for a USPS drop farther along the Trail because I'm not staying at The Inn at The Long Trail in Killington, VT. Too pricey.

So I asked a quick question on WhiteBlaze and got a "check the Trail Guide" answer. I can't locate it in all these boxes and plastic bags of food. I just needed a quick response not Sarcasm. So I responded in kind. Now I have to re-write my schedule so I don't arrive in Hanover, NH, on a Sunday. I have to take a couple of Zeros or hike faster to get there on a Monday or a Friday ... Post Office hours are 8-11 AM on Saturday and I will be about 5 miles from town making it risky that I can rush to get there in time.

That box will have my Winter Gear in it ... And I did not want to have a Mail Drop in Hanover, but now the choices are Spend Money or change my schedule to Save Money. Why, you ask, does it make a difference. Hanover is the town "everyone" uses to mail their Winter Gear. Think a Post Office with hundreds of boxes all addressed to "AT Hiker" and mine lost among them.

The Trail either makes or breaks the Hiker. Right now, I'm stressing & thinking that I will NOT let the Trail take over My Hike! If I have to, I'll buy a couple pounds of Protein Drink, a box of PayDay candy bars and Night Hike if necessary! I will get past VT and all their expensive accommodations.

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Zero Day

I had great plans for hiking today and for spraying my hiking clothes with Permethrin.

Well, I had a Zero Day. I didn't stay up 'that' late, but my body needed sleep after being up all the night before and I didn't wake up until after 10 AM. And when I woke up, I was moving in "slow motion."

So, I did my laundry and decided to straighten my room and sort my clothes and move my Mail Drop boxes into my room ... and it's taken all day to do so. Not that there's that much, just a lot of distractions ... ACM Awards for one.

But that's okay. Because even if you're NOT on the Trail, a Zero Day can be a good day.

Let's see what tomorrow brings ...