As I was sorting through and organizing my hiking gear last night, referring to my packing list, then back to the gear, then to the list. Then I stopped and thought, 'Is this it? Is this really all I will need for my shelter, bed, clothing, water storage, food storage, first aid, kitchen for the next 5 months?' Another glance back at my list confirms that, yes, I do indeed have everything I need. It amazes me as to just how little space all these things take up relative to the things I have accumulated in my apartment over the past few years. Stuff. Who needs it? Not this guy for the next five months!
Prior to sorting through my gear I went out for a ten mile run; nothing out of the ordinary. Although not specifically training for races right now, I made it my goal to average sub-6 min/mile for the run. Sure enough, when I got done I had accomplished my goal: 10 miles in less than one hour. Then I started thinking about my mileage per day goal over the length of the trail. Twenty miles a day? If I can run 10 miles in less than an hour, how hard (or easy) is it going to be to do 20 miles over the course of 10-12 hours? Granted, I was running on flat, smooth ground, and wasn't carrying 30lbs on my back, but it still doesn't seem like it should take that long. I guess I will have lot's of time to stop and smell the chaparral, or something like that. Or perhaps I'll try to cover more ground than 20/day. Guess I'll just have to wait and see.
Only a few more days to go...
Only a few more days to go...
Here is a video I put together from a hike with a few friends the past weekend up to Munra Point in the Columbia River Gorge. Beautiful day for a hike!
What's the hurry? You'll smell more flowers at the more leisurely pace. Too slow, though and I guess there's a lot of wasted motion (i.e. more wear and tear on the joints.)
ReplyDeleteKen