My 30 plus year love affair ...

After securing my morning caffeine fix and wandering through the rows of farm fresh produce, meats and crafts at the Greensboro Farmer's Curb Market, I spent the remainder of this past Saturday morning at my favorite place to shop.  Since I hate shopping in general that is saying a lot!  I have been a member and loyal customer at REI for over half of my life.  Originally and for a long time, this shopping was only through paper catalogs and then online orders.  I didn't live anywhere near an actual REI storefront until just recently.  Like a kid in a candy store, I LOVE walking into REI.

They have one of the best shopping experiences I could ever hope for - camping gear, paddling gear, climbing gear, backpacking equipment and the list goes on and on.  Every kind of outdoor product, gadget, clothing or footwear you could ever need ... or in my case want.

I continue to make lists and revise what gear is I will include for my upcoming thru-hike.  Part of the problem is one of cost vs. weight.  I already own quite a bit of existing equipment that would be adequate for this trip.  However some of the items are a lot heavier than new models.  Items in this category include stove, water filter, and shelter.  I'll tackle shelter in today's post.

About 2 months ago I purchased an Eno Double Deluxe hammock.  In June I received an Eno Profly Hammock Rain Tarp as a birthday gift.  I've had a chance to use these on several weekend camping trips this summer and both are great products.  Staff at REI are always very helpful, but never pushy.  I worked with Drew to examine the Hennessy Hammock Ultralite Backer Asym Zip. We had the whole thing laid out on the floor checking length, attachment points and quality of materials and zip up netting.  After more thought, I decided against it - it wasn't quite long enough for my height and the weight limit was less than my 1/8th of a ton. The asymmetric design of the tarp didn't seem like it would provide enough shelter in a storm.  The hammock I returned is heavier and wider than I'll need for just myself, so I got the Eno SingleNest Hammock in Khaki/Olive.  The tarp is smaller in size and about the same weight as the Eno HouseFly Rain Tarp that will provide more cover and hopefully keep me drier during strong thunderstorms.

Other recent purchases from REI include:  REI Convertible Sahara Pants ; REI Flash 62 Pack ; Therm-A-Rest Z-Seat Pad ; MSR Mini Ground Hog Stakes ; REI Carbon Power Lock Trekking Poles ; Sierra Ridge merino wool / synthetic shirt ; Snow Peak Trek 1400 Titanium Cookset ; Big Agnes Pack Cover and Sierra Designs Hurricane Rain Pants.

With a one year, 100% money back guarantee, I will continue loving REI for the second half of my life!  If something wears out, breaks or just doesn't live up to expectations - that's right, I'll ship it back in the next trail town and have a replacement waiting for me.

Don't have the time or money to go crazy shopping at REI like I did?  Not ready for an adventure of your own?  Check out others as they pursue their outdoor passions at REI Blogs.

With September almost here and the temperatures hopefully cooling a bit, I plan to get out on the weekends and test new and existing gear and work out food ideas and recipes for the trail. 

Stay tuned!

I think I can, I think I can ... ??

So, I'm back to the first of Zach Davis' questions from his book, Appalachian Trials, Why Am I hiking the Appalachian Trail? The questions Zach poses are what he believes are key to surviving the 6 month journey along the Appalachian Trail when your spirit is low, your mind is weak, and your body is screaming in pain. Knowing why you chose to venture into the woods and walk may well determine whether you choose to continue or instead drop off and head back to civilization and the comforts of home.

Here is my list of reasons for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail:

• Because I can (or at least I think I can)
• Why not? … more on that later …
• To get into the best shape of my life
• Because I will be 56 years old in 2016 - the same age that my grandmother died!
• If not now, when?
• Because I can afford it and I can choose to make the time for it.
• Because when I’m in nature, I feel the closest to God.
• Because I have family and friends to encourage and support me.
• To prepare for other exciting adventure that await just around the corner.
• To prove to myself that I can do it.
• Because I have only one wild & precious life to live. - From The Summer Day by Mary Oliver.
• Because experiences matter SO much more than things.
• Because computers, technology, and sitting all day in ‘the chair’ is slowing killing me.
• Because I don’t stop often enough to smell the flowers.
• To be an example to others on how to ‘just do it’ and follow your dreams.
• To prove the naysayers wrong and to stand up to all the reasons against doing it.

I hope to commit these reasons to memory and be able to draw upon them when: I get stuck in a rut; I am hopelessly lost; I have walked for days in the rain; I have barely survived a night of sub-freezing temperatures; I am running down from a bald to escape a lightning storm; I can't stand another day of oatmeal for breakfast; or for whatever other reason, I find myself questioning the purpose of this crazy adventure.

More on the other 2 questions, 

'When I thru-hike the Appalachian Trail I will ...' and

'If I give up on the Appalachian Trail I will ...' 

in future posts.

Who is The Other One?

I’m a 55 year old single dad with one daughter who is in college.  She is quite an independent (and amazing) Argonaut. She is leaving next week to study for a semester in Europe.

 ( photo of us in Iceland under the  Seljalandsfoss waterfall )

We have both traveled together quite a bit outside the U.S. and now she is heading out on her own educational and cultural adventure. I am SO happy for her ... and jealous!!

I am an IT professional working as a contractor, but I don’t expect my work contract to be renewed at the end of the year, so I am planning this hike regardless of my employment status in early 2016. I will sell everything except what I can fit into my Honda Civic, vacate my apartment and hopefully be able to drive South to spend some time with my father and brothers. Training will continue until Spring and include: bicycling, walking, hiking, Paleo/Primal fitness exercises, and backpacking. After I finish with work I'll have a chance to generally get my life downsized, organized and ready for the trail.

Moving forward, one step at a time …

My hobbies are varied and include: apiculture (beekeeping), aquapoincs (combining aquaculture and hydroponics), beer and wine making, making fermented foods (Kombucha, sauerkraut, kimchi, sour pickles, chutneys, and home-cured olives), canning and preserving food,  knitting, and gardening.

                              

 

Even though my career as been mostly in technology, my education is science-based and includes a B.S. in Earth & Environmental Science and a M.S. in Environmental Education.  In 2010 I completed my Permaculture Design certification.

My First Backpacking Trip ...

I thought I'd share more about what led me to a decision to thru-hike the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.

It has been a lifetime of positive experiences in nature that has led me here.  Playing in the creek behind my house as a child, building tree forts in the woods.  Sleigh rides and tobogganing in the fields. Class II-V whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River near Ohiopyle State Park in Pennsylvania.

The story begins back in my youngest years and earliest memories.  My parents loved the outdoors and would take my brothers and I camping.  This was car camping in an old station wagon.  Coleman gas stoves and lanterns, old heavy canvas tents, and a wooden camp kitchen box were the equipment of the day.  Later my parents owned a camper where we would spend weekends throughout the summer in a campground in North Central Pennsylvania.

In June 1976, I participated in my first backpacking trip with a regional church camp, Pine Springs Camp that I had attended since I was a few years younger.  The destination was a section of the Appalachian Trail somewhere in the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia (sorry, but I don't remember the exact section we hiked - after all that was almost 40 years ago! ).  
This experience and others like it provided me with the foundation for a life long love of backpacking and the great outdoors.  You can just see my head and one leg ... I'm the tall one on the left side of the photo, black hat with feather.

Additional photos I took during the backpacking trip are below.  My brother helped me locate these images, which I took using a 35mm camera with real film and developed onto prints.  These old photos were scanned and digitized to share here.  Enjoy!!

Pre Thru-Hike Blogging ...

As some who have been interested in and moving towards a Paleo diet, I have been researching options for Paleo foods to eat during my thru-hike.  This has been extremely challenging, since most backpacking and trail food consists of lots of carbohydrates and sugars and are highly processed foods.  I have been working a lot this past week to reach out to potential Paleo food sponsors to help me in my effort to eat as much of a Paleo diet as is possible after starting my thru-hike.



I currently have positive responses from 5 great companies that are willing to support me with their products.  I have placed a rolling slide show on the right side of the blog to feature to give them the exposure they deserve.  I hope you will find links to their websites on my Epicurious tab and consider supporting them when you are needing great food for your hike or outing.

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

You can expect to see blog posts at least one a week from now until the start of my hike.

Posts will be centered around several different topics which I will rotate through to keep things interesting ...

1. Training - physical exercise including paleo fitness and primal movements, weekend backpacking trips for testing gear and food choices, and other efforts to get in better cardio vascular shape.
2. Food choices and nutrition - Paleo foods and recipes for homemade trail food.
3. Logistics - planning mail drops, personal decision about leaving life as I know it for 6 months, etc.
4. Gear selection - gear descriptions and choices, a list of gear I already own and will use, and other gear I need to purchase.

All Around the World ...

I created this blog on July 30 and added the Google Analytics the next day.  With only a little effort and a few emails sent to family, friends, and potential sponsors 
I have already had my blog viewed around the world.  Here is a map of the world from Google Analytics showing ( in blue ) the countries where I have had site visitors from.

Views from 23 Countries in just 4 days! The power of the Internet to reach people is just amazing.

If you are so inclined, share my blog with your friends and social media contacts!  I'm excited to share my adventure with the whole world.

Wrapping my head around a 2,000+ mile walk in the woods

It was a great weekend!  Not much on the physical preparation side of things.  I did get a couple of 4+ mile walks in around town.  My youngest brother made an unexpected visit from Southwest Florida for the long weekend.  On Saturday we traveled three hours North into Virginia for a concert and live music at Pocohontas State Park.  The venue was a beautiful outdoor amphitheater with lawn seating.  We enjoyed a very relaxing afternoon and evening.  

 While listening to great music from Peter Rowan, Jeff Austin & Friends and Dark Star Orchestra, I was able to read most of Appalachian Trials: A psychological and emotional guide to successfully thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail by Zach Davis (Badger), a 2011 thru-hiker   Twitter: @zrdavis Web: www.theGoodBadger.com  email: theGoodBadger@gmail.com

Zach provides good insight into what it takes from a mental/psychological perspective to endure six months of extremes in physical exertion and provides practical advice, humor, and a real sense of the struggles ahead. My take-away from this book:  answering several questions concerning my reasons for attempting something this crazy and having the answers memorized or somewhere written and handy in my pack for the day, somewhere along the trail when at a very low mental/psychological state I will need be able to answer the question, 'Why I am doing this?'.  Without a strong reason and compelling, convincing arguments for doing it, 3 in 4 thru-hikers will choose at some point along the way to leave their thru-hike and abandon their quest to finish what they started.  I want to be one of the 25% that succeed!

I will be working on compiling the answers to these questions and sharing the answers to each in a future post.

Questions:

• I am thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail because ...
• When I thru-hike the Appalachian Trail I will ...
• If I give up on the Appalachian Trail I will ...