Author: memoriesaheadmilesbehind

I’m currently on a 9-day work stretch. Those of you who understand, that’s a lot of flying with nothing more than a 24 hour FAA break in between day 6 and 7. During that 24 break at home I did laundry, I repacked my food bag, I had a chat with HilaryU and caught up with my dad and a few other friends on the phone. I also squeezed in a few miscellaneous household chores, applied for my Canadian Entry Permit, I packed my backpack — again — and weighed it, again — and I slept somewhere in the middle of all of that. (Sidebar: backpack weighs in at 30 lbs with food and water to get me through Section A, to Warner Springs. I’m really happy about that number.)

Now with all that being said 24 hours flew by and I’m back at work. In 14 days my new job will be hike, eat, sleep…. repeat. Sounds simple enough but the greater challenge will be the endurance. While in my head I have a target end date that end date requires 160 days of hike, eat, sleep. Averaging 17 miles per day I’d like be touching Monument 78 at the Canadian Border on August 31, 2018.

Is it possible? Yes. Can I do it? I sure hope so. Lately I’ve been asked how my training has been going. The common answer is this: it really hasn’t been happening. The prep work has been never ending but I have hiked with and without my pack. I’ve walked many days of my overnights with no water and no snacks. And guess what… the idea of challenging myself to thru hike the PCT is still unimaginable. I still cannot grasp the thought of I AM DOING THIS until it happens. And then I will cry 🙂 The long answer is: I know what I’m capable of. I know how my body responds under certain pressures. AND I know I’m committed. There’s no other plan in my life right now other than this. This hike, this journey and this experience.

My hiker legs will come in the first 2 weeks. Those first 14 days will define how my body will adapt to the endless stress of carrying 30+ pounds on my back for days on end. I am hopeful and optimistic. I am determined and I am resilient.

So here’s to 14 days out!!!! And the first 14 days in! Love you all!

2.28.2018

As my sinuses battled my head, my head battled my PCT plan.  Although being sick for a few days can be a drag the couch time provided a chance for me to go through backpacking books and websites for trail recipes.  Amazon was practically my online dating boyfriend for the past few days.  I saw a lot of him but he only left packages of dried food and not flowers.

This morning, I tried out my recipe for Cranberry Rice. Super simple, just a few ingredients and a cold-soak in water for a few hours (or overnight) and TADA! Breakfast! I was pretty happy with it.  It tastes like rice pudding! If you want the recipe let me know.

I’ve been asked many questions about my trail diet and how I’ll be handling my resupply.  It thought it would be best to compile a list of the basics.  Many of you have expressed interest in sending packages and I couldn’t be more thrilled.  Most of the things listed here are pretty straight forward but what seems to matter most is variety.  Trying to plan for an appetite 5 months down the road is daunting enough.  Knowing I could eat ramen noodles daily if my plan falters somewhere, even worse.  So the recipes come in handy, hence the cold-soak rice for breakfast today.  Broccoli Cheese Soup Mix with Idaho Potatoes? Sure. Ramen with Tuna, probably.  The most hilarious (yet exciting) find…. dehydrated Frijoles.  (Mom, probably nowhere near as good as yours but these could make for an awesome burrito on the trail.)

I’ve updated my list of town stops as well but keep in mind I’ll probably update it again.  I know I can’t plan everything and that plans can change but I still need some type of plan.  I wouldn’t consider myself a Type A personality…. maybe more of a B+…. if you’ve ever tried to figure out which you one are and you can relate, let me know.  With that being said, I know there are towns I want to stop in and towns that some of you would like to meet me in.  I’m 100% open to having the best experience out there and sharing this journey already has truthfully been a delight. SO the opportunity to see a friendly face in an unfamilar place might just be epic!

Goodnight for now.  Tomorrow will probably be another post about my food boxes…. but I promise in 24 days when I’m on the trail all of this will come full circle.  Oh yeah, and before I forget to ask, has anyone else ever heard about using cornstarch for chaffing????  Just curious!!!

And also, trying to tidy up my house for a 5 month adventure isn’t the easiest thing I’ve ever done but its enlighting.  Try it sometime, you’d be surprised how much you can live without.

• Dried fruits
• Nuts
• Tortillas
• Almond/Peanut Butter
• Instant rice
• Instant noodles
• Small/thin pastas
• Couscous
• Dried Veggies
• Soup mixes
• Drink mixes
• Tuna pouches
• Hard salami
• Instant hot meals
• Breakfast bars
• Granola
• Dry cereal
• Powered milk
• Jerky
• Energy bars
• Energy chews and gels
• Ramen noodles
• Instant soups and sauces
• Instant stuffing
• Instant potatoes
• Honey packets
• Hummas packets—Cost Plus
• Laughing Cow & Babybel Cheese
• Fruit and veggie puree pouches
• Cheese or Peanut butter sandwich crackers
• Chips and crackers

Just in case you want to know where I have found a few interesting food ideas, heres a few links to check out:

wildernessdining.com
dirtygourmet.com
backpackers.com
freshoffthegrid.com
wildbackpacker.com