Getting Down to Crunch Time and We’re Getting Pumped

Thirteen days! Ooh boy.  Deep breaths, now. Let’s do this.

We’ve been busy, folks.

Raiding  Sam’s Club for snacks, taking advantage of local supermarkets deals, and we’ve been bringing all of gear pieces together and finding their homes in our packs.  Our clothes are sprayed with Permethrin and we’re super-gluing Velcro pieces to the back of our shoes. All is well, as it can be, for one chapter of our lives to end and this new chapter to begin.

It’s amazing how much food you pack for a seven day box. Now double it, to make a two-person seven-day box. Holy cow! A couple boxes are for less days but it’s an unknown area for our hiking pace out there. Worse case scenario is we pick up a little bit more stuff. I’ve heard of sitting on your suitcase to fit more stuff, but never have I ever had to sit on a two-person mail drop box to get it to look like a normal sized box.

The planned mail drops are the following: NOC (NC), Fontana Dam (NC), Bland (VA), Harpers Ferry (WV), Caratunk (ME), and Monson (ME). The main reason why I chose those locations is that I heard that there are limited resupply options.

Moral Support Is Key for Success

J.J. was able to reconnect with his closest friends to find some guidance and moral support. I’ve been pretty fortunate with my social group. Only recently my anxieties and nerves have been bubbling up past my excitement. I understand it’s natural for it to happen because it’s a huge life change, and I know it will ease off once we are established on trail. Today’s goal was accomplished: I just finished packing those boxes and just need to address them.

A pre-trail gear video will be produced soon and it might be a combo video since a lot of our gear is the same kind. We are by no means ultralight but I believe it will work for us. Most items are not the heaviest options. If we find that we have to replace something, we will and it won’t be a problem.

See You on the Trail Soon

Every day I load up Instagram and I see hikers starting their journeys north. At first, the same green monster from last year pops up then it gets snuffed out because I remember it’s our year too. I got Springer fever and the only prescription is more cowbe (just kidding) to get out there and start hiking.

Affiliate Disclosure

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any product or service you purchase using the links in the articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price as they would otherwise, and your purchase helps to support The Trek's ongoing goal to serve you quality backpacking advice and information. Thanks for your support!

To learn more, please visit the About This Site page.

What Do You Think?