More Visuals for the PCT

The maps above show the Pacific Crest Trail in greater detail. The green pushpins indicate towns that are significant mile marks along the way. The distance between towns is usually between 70-110 miles.

The Pacific Crest Trail - A Map

For you visual people, I wanted to include a simple map of the PCT in its entirety.

It's Official

I have my framed photos hanging on the wall of a local restaurant. They are out for the public to see and are for sale. This is a first and hopefully it will generate some interest.

August Has Left The Building

I've spent the last two days digging frozen/granular snow from in front of the warehouse where my VW (August West) is stored. I had to clear a path about 60-70 feet long and wide enough for the bus to fit. My back is feeling it, but today I was able to get into the warehouse and start the bus. It started like a champ. I have to run it around town for a bit to make sure that it's still reliable enough to take across the country, but so far so good.

Seeing the bus was like seeing an old friend. I look forward to the travel west.

Food For Thought

One thing I learned from my last hike is that there's more places to buy food along the trail than I originally thought. Sarah had much greater flexibility in her resupply than I did because I was locked into going to certain places to pick up the food I mailed.
That being said, there are certain places where mailing oneself food is still a necessity. This time I have only 9 mail drops spaced out over the entire trail. The total number of days that I'm supplying with mail comes to about 40.
Here's some stats on what I'll carry and consume in that 40 days.
Pop Tarts - 160 which total 21 pounds
Potato Chips - 9 bags @ 6.5 pounds
Peanut Butter - 20.25 pounds total
M&M's - 9 bags @ 12 pounds total
Energy bars - 75 @ 15 pounds total
Lipton Rice meals - 40 @ 11.25 pounds total
Cheddar Crackers - 60 packs of 4 @ 7.9 pounds total
Jerky - 9 bags @ 2.3 pounds total
This total doesn't include other miscellaneous items - some candy bars, trail mix, and granola type bars. The total weight comes to 96.2 pounds. Again, I'll be splitting this up in 9 different packages along the trip.
The total calories for this 40 days comes to 205,765 or 5,144 per day.

Happily Unemployed

I up and quit my job. I was going to be leaving in a week and a half anyhow, but I wanted the extra time off. I won't be looking at another paycheck for 6 months. Fortunately I still have my tax return in my future.

Now I have to focus full time on taking care of all the details around planning my hike. Planning is not my forte, and details are gremlins to me. I have to think not just about the hike - where to send food and maps, but also think about other things like registering the VW now because the official time to register it will be while I'm still on the trail.

I recall the natural high I'd get when I was in grade school and I'd get out the last day for summer vacation. That trend carried right up through college when I was in my early 20's. It's a pattern that's hard to imagine doing without later in life. The 1-2 weeks of vacation most jobs offer is really only a tease. It's never enough for me.

I've been asked when I leave. I don't have a hard date set. I'll be heading out when I get everything done. I know that I'll be starting the trail on April 24. I'll be spending time with friends as I make my way to the Left Coast.

Fully Loaded and Half Cocked

I have finally found the right backpack for the next long-distance hike. I loaded it with every bit of gear I need to make sure it would actually all fit.

Here's the stats:

Base weight: about 21 pounds

With food and water: about 37 pounds

I'm including 2 quarts of water in this measurement, but there will be many sections where I carry twice that amount or more.

At present, the loaded weight is about one quarter of my body weight which is a reasonable amount to carry. As I loose weight the pack weight will creep up to about one third my weight which as a rule of thumb is about the most one should carry. I'm not quite sure how losing fat around my waist means that I should carry less in my pack, but that's the rule of thumb.

Life On The Farm

I'm farm sitting for Nate while he's in Texas with the Mrs. visiting her family. They go once a year about this time because when there's been nothing but cold and snow for months on end she gets homesick for the warmth and sun of Texas. Ironically it was snowing there last night. It was probably warmer here since it was raining.

Taking care of the farm entails feeding and providing water for all the animals - pigs, goats, rabbits, chickens, and cattle. The thing that requires the most time is milking one cow, Isabelle. It's not all that difficult, it just takes time. The most remarkable thing though is how hard it is to get the smell of "cow" off my hands afterward. I've washed them about 6 times now and need to try again.

A side note: The bulls name is Isabull.

Tired of Shoveling Snow

For those of you that aren't in NH, we are about 10 inches away from setting an all time record for the most inches of snow to fall in a winter. That means a lot of shoveling. I shoveled and used a snow blower for 7 hours yesterday. The banking beside the driveway is so high now that I had to knock it down a bit so the snow blower could get the snow over it. It's the first time this year I've resorted to using the snow blower. I don't want to pollute for what can be done by hand. But after pulling the snow off 2 roofs I had a 4-foot deep cone of snow in the driveway of packed snow.
Today I shoveled the roof of a large home with many dormers, valleys and a wraparound porch. It took me 6 solid hours of shoveling to remove the snow. I'm exhausted. I'd be OK if I don't have to do this again this winter.