Preparation, Changes & Panic

So, it’s very nearly go-time. Preparation is practically complete, changes have been made and panic is nearly under control. On Friday, my wife, Eileen, and I will drive from State College, PA to Greenville, SC to our son’s house. We’ll stage from there, keeping a close eye on the weather, and go when the time is right. Having done this last year, you’d think all would be cool, right?

Yeah, well. Today, my wife and I went grocery shopping for my first four days on trail as well as a resupply for the next four. That is one of the changes that I’ve made for 2022; carry less food and water, do a three-day look ahead every day with an eye on resupply. My son, Ted, will hike with me for four days to Hog Pen Gap. My first resupply will be staged in his truck.

But pushing our cart through the grocery store, I was surprisingly struck with a sense of panic; real, air-sucking panic. It fell on me as if I were standing under a waterfall. You’re going where? How long is the AT? Yo, you are way too old for this. Didn’t you just strain the MCL on your left knee? It was shocking.

Then, as I nervously stared at Starkist Chicken Creations trying to breathe and stay cool in front of my wife, in one of those serendipity moments, “Chaser” breezed right past us, focused on something in the middle of the aisle. Chaser is a friend from our town that I met last year at Stecoah Wolf Creek Hostel. Prior to hiking the AT last year, I had seen her and her husband, “Sober Goat,” many times at our church, but had never known who they were. That’s a story for a different day; I promise to tell it, but for now, I digress.

So, I called out to Chaser, and she responded in her down-home, energetic manner. She walked back to us and chatted on for a minute or so, recommended a few items, and then she was off to complete her own grocery business. As she pushed her cart down the aisle, it was as if she had let the air out of the balloon; I’m good, let’s go. Thank you.

An important part of my preparation are the changes; managing the amount of food and water I will carry is only one of several changes that I will make this year. My body will be a bit heavier to start, but my pack will be lighter. Not to worry, though, we all know that my weight will diminish, and early miles will be limited. While I’ve hiked less in preparation, I’ve worked out more so that my legs and core are stronger.

Make no mistake, climbing is hard, especially early in the hike. I have a plan for the first 200 miles, but as the saying goes, if you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans. Still, I have a plan. Overall, my plan is to average 14 miles per day. But to start, it will be less. But how much less? “Listening to your body” is an overused, under-adhered-to colloquialism. We’ll see.

Numerous friends have asked that since I quit my 2021 thru-hike attempt at Davenport Gap, will I start there this year. My preparation has never considered that type of change; this is about being a thru-hiker, not about saving a mere 240 miles. Besides, those are miles and places that I thoroughly enjoyed. Make some changes, complete my preparation, crank it up and do it again. Small steps heading north, let’s go.