Well, I’d say today went pretty well. From a few last arrivals in the mail to creating meals, I’d say this project is about 75% complete. I need a few more breakfast additions to 3 boxes and will follow up with essential toiletry items for all 14 boxes. They are labeled for their anticipated destinations. Feeling good about it!!!! For a little more detailed information on my PCT ReSupply town list click here.
Sooooo excited to find these at the local WalMart.
Just want to give a little public mention to someone who has continued to be a huge part of all these crazy preparations. None of this wouldn’t be possible without the endless support of my good friend KB. I know I’ve dragged you through hikes and travels where we both felt a little bit out of our comfort zone, but you’ve always believed in me and my abilities even when I didn’t. The laughter can only continue from here.
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:
Everyday the trail is on my mind. It’s clearly an obsession. I feel like sooner or later someone’s going to say “… enough already, quit talking about your hike!” Thankfully that isn’t the case. Daily, I’ve been inundated with questions and shared excitement. I can’t believe it’s right around the corner.
I’m definitely getting a case of the “nerves”. Two nights ago I spooked myself reading -again- about all the bad things that could happen on the PCT (mind you, just before I went to sleep). Nightmares did not ensue, but I awoke during the night and couldn’t get back to sleep. I moved myself into the entertainment room where I found solice in laying on the cold hard tiled floor on top of my camp sleeping pad and nestling in my quilt. It was my closest version of a created night on the trail. I’m expecting nights on the PCT where something will spook me. Nights when little creatures will make their attempt to find my food. Nights when rainstorms will hit constantly outside my tent. And nights where I just might be out there alone. The reality is, if I weren’t expecting any of those things to happen I’d be fooling myself and all of you.
I think the biggest challenge we fear is leaving our comfort zone. Day in and day out, we all have some routine. We see the same people, go to the same workplace and live in the same home. It’s all comforting in its own way and for most people, it’s enough. For others, it’s never enough. For me, I’m pretty darn content. I’ve learned that nothing in life is ever perfect. That no matter how much money I make, it doesn’t mean it will make me happy. And that just because I’m living, doesn’t mean I’m experiencing life. It’s so much bigger than we know. So being comfortable today is actually amazing, but it’s time for a change of scenery. After almost 18 years at the same company, I’m ready for a new adventure. Who knew it would be the PCT???? I’m hoping that breaking the creature comforts of my daily life I will learn what the next chapter holds for me. I’ve heard the PCT and thru hiking is a life changing experience, I want to know what that means for me. I’m so looking forward to the challenge, to break from the norm, to meet people and to push my body to great lengths. So, for those who think I’m running from something, I’m not. I’m chasing a dream.
So spooked or not, the countdown still continues. My bear canister arrived yesterday. I quickly slapped a sticker on it (Thank You JamieP). I’m testing one more style of Altra trail runners (Timps) this week to make a final decision on which shoes I will use for the duration of my hike. I picked up more boxes from the post office and will start packing them within the next few days. I’ve also cleaned out the two guest rooms in my house and placed things in storage as my new housemates will arrive in March.
We’ve slated March 22nd for my going away party. Location is The Tap in Boulder City, NV. Please bring Kleenex for the tears of laughter.
KLubs on a Long Dusty Walk 