Completely Normal Last Minute Preparations Prior To A Thru-Hike…Right?

I am writing this late at night on my laptop from my parents’ Appalachian farm. My black lab snoozes at my feet and I can hear owls hooting in the distance through the open door. I have one full day left at home then it is off to Harper’s Ferry and the Flip-Flop festival. Which is an event I almost wouldn’t have been able to attend but I am setting off a week later than planned. Everything happens for a reason right? But anyhow…here is how the last two…er…three…weeks have gone.

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I camped in a thunderstorm…on purpose.

During a short training hike at the Peaks of Otter a man randomly showed up out of the bushes, spotted my AT tag, and gave me $20. How awesome is it to receive magic before you even depart? Very. I practically skipped the remaining mile to the summit.

I minimalized my possessions, emptied out my apartment, and now everything I own is stored away.

Put in a leave for both of my jobs and worked my last days. I will be forever grateful to have managers and co-workers who support this little bout of insanity. I just hope they still welcome me back once I have morphed into full hiker trash.

Spending as much time with family and friends as possible before I leave.

I had to move my indoor cat out to the farm so it has been late nights staying up helping him become accustomed to the new surroundings.

Night hiking…on purpose.

Hectic last minute R.E.I. runs, online orders, and stressing over filling up that food bag for the first time.

I worked second-shift hours for YEARS so I’m trying to force my body into a somewhat normal sleeping pattern.

Hiking in the rain…on purpose. I was also clearing fallen brush from the farm’s four-wheeler trails. I used my trekking poles like chop-sticks to clear the smaller branches… that’s a normal thing? Right?

Packing, unpacking, adding, subtracting, and rearranging everything in my pack…repeatedly. I am at thirty pounds with full food and water…trying to cut it down a bit more. And yes…I’ll be rocking a fanny pack…

So it has been a very busy few weeks. However, it has been so nice not having to worry about two jobs and I can wake up to views like this with my morning coffee…

 

My next update will be from the trail! Say hello!