AT Soul-Searching

Today, 09/26/2019

It’s officially my last week up here in the Fraser Valley so I went on a solo hike to clear my head. I’ve been having trouble staying present because we have a big road trip coming up, and I cannot get my mind off wanting to prepare more for our SOBO Appalachian Trail thru-hike.

Van Life

John and I have been making some big purchases in hopes of winterizing our van a bit more, and we are very excited because we just ordered a Goal Zero power station and solar panel charger! I’ve been doing the van life thing for a year and a half without any sort of energy source so this is a HUGE upgrade. We are also preparing to add an extra layer of insulation to the van’s ceiling and window panel areas. We are planning on purchasing a small 30-watt heater and a 12-volt electric blanket as well.

Our Appalachian Trail hike is just over eight months away, and I am a little worried about having enough funds to make this happen. It doesn’t seem like the right time to be making big purchases or to be going on a monthlong road trip. I’ve also been so caught up in planning current events that I’ve temporarily set down my AT guidebook.

Trail Healing

I got off work a bit early today so I decided to take our nine-year-old dog on a nice lil five-mile stroll. I walked on a mostly flat, but mildly rocky path through the valley in the Fraser Experimental Forest. The hike overlooked the Continental Divide to the east and Byers Peak Wilderness to the west. It felt extra beautiful today because all of the aspen trees and willow bushes are changing to their fall colors. I saw so many different shades of yellow, orange, red, green, gray, and brown. People aren’t exaggerating when they call it “Colorful Colorado.”

Although I spend most of my time outside, I haven’t been able to get alone time on a trail in a few weeks. This walk reminded me to stay present because everything is about to be so new and exciting. Today I realized that I don’t need to worry about whether our thru-hike is going to happen or not because despite all of the change, we are still determined to 100% making it happen.

Rational Thoughts

We live so frugally that I know we will be able to make it through our road trip, pay bills, and still have an emergency fund leftover. I already have a job secured in Bend, and I am so focused on the AT that I know my future paychecks will be going toward saving more money and buying some new gear that I have my eye on.

I am such a strong-willed individual, and I have typically gone through with the things that I’ve committed myself to. I know that this Appalachian Trail hike is going to happen because my heart is already set on it, and it has been set on this goal for a long time.

I am so thankful that hiking brings me back to the present and allows me to work through my own personal issues. Consistently hitting the trail and spending time in the mountains has changed my life in so many ways, and I cannot wait to see how much more it continues to change my life when I am able to spend four to five months trekking from Maine to Georgia.

June 2020 cannot come soon enough, but for now, I will try to live in the moment and roll with the punches.