Preparation

Quick Facts:

What I'm doing: Backpacking

Where: Pacific Crest Trail (PCT)

When:Start date April 19th

How Long? About 6 months

With whom?: My Best Friend Nick
 

Detailed Facts:

You may be wondering, "What is the Pacific Crest Trail?" Well friend, I'm glad you asked!
The PCT is a ~2600 mi trail that runs from the Mexican border of California up through Oregon, Washington, and into Canada. (see map below). You should definitely Google pictures so you can see how gorgeous it is.

PCT's official website: http://www.pcta.org/



























What have you done to prepare?

Here is a link to my gear list, nuff' said:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvehcgeBxbWrdEwxNkhkLUtyUFQ2blZNdWNZd21KWXc&usp=sharing

How will you get food?

Every week(ish) I will stop in at a town along the trail to resupply. Here is a link to the list of towns I will be stopping in and the approximate date that I will be there:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AvehcgeBxbWrdGgyTWVHNWJIdDUwb19QSXZodTBCNUE&usp=drive_web#gid=3

**This is subject to changes as I receive feedback from other hikers along the trail. I will update the list accordingly as I move along the trail.

***VERY IMPORTANT NOTE*** . . .Yes. You can definitely, absolutely, and without a doubt, mail me food. Please. Mail me food. Mail me brownies, cookies, snickers bars. Mail me cliff bars and pretzels and mixed nuts. Mail me raisins, dried apricots & apples & bananas. Mail me anything that is calorie-packed, in a lightweight package (so no glass jars please), and won't rot in my backpack. You will be automatically included on my list of favorite people. Auto. Maticallly.. . . If you are one of the beautiful people who want to send me a care package, please see my post titled 'Care Packages' for the full details of how as well as more ideas on what to send me v. what not to send me.

So now the big question: Why? 

Well, there are a lot of reasons. But they are simple ones.
I want to challenge my physical and emotional limits.
I want to know what it feels like to sleep under the stars, and wake up to the sun.
I want to get up everyday knowing my only obligation is to walk.
I want to know in what ways it I am weakest, and in what ways I am strongest.
I want to learn to trust my own instincts.
I want to clear my mind of negative thoughts.
I want to give myself time to heal old wounds.
I want to forgive the people in my life I am angry with.
I want to learn to forgive myself, to love myself.
I want to know what it is to be scared.
I want to know what it is to be empowered. . .in a way only six months of backpacking can.
I want to remember that everything is infinite; that I am no exception. 


So now that you know what I want, I ask you, "What do you want?"
This is me encouraging you to go for it. To be fearless.
We all have different dreams. This is on open invitation to do what you love.
If there is a will, there is a way.
I hope this blog brings you encouragement. 

Until next time
-Maddie