Spring has arrived, it’s time to hit the road!

It’s just over a week until my feet hit the Harpers Ferry trail. I’ve been enjoying some very spring (almost summer) days of training lately, hence the title of this blog post. Yesterday it was 80 degrees, but this morning I woke up to this:

Yes, that’s SNOW! Which makes me consider packing some of my fears more (warmer layers). I know, I know, don’t keep your fears to yourself! However, as the start of my hike approaches, my brain begins to question almost every decision I have made in preparation for this trip. Do I have the right equipment? Did I do enough pre-hike training? Have I finished enough projects around the house to keep my house from imploding while I’m gone? Do I have any idea what I’m doing along the way?

Seriously, I know I’ll be fine once I start walking. All this chaos in my mind is nothing more than pre-hike jitters. In the meantime, I will finish the preparations, including calming my nerves, ha.

The birth of a journey

I don’t remember exactly when it first occurred to me to hike the Appalachian Trail. However, I clearly remember a conversation a hiking friend and I had while peak-hiking in the Adirondacks. We both agreed that anyone thinking about hiking the Appalachian Trail must be crazy and there was no chance in hell we would ever do that. A few years later, and with more hiking adventures such as becoming an ADK 46’er, completing the Cranberry Lake 50, and the Northville-Placid Trail, I’m now almost ready to embark on a thru-hike on the AT. Yes, I must be crazy, or that’s the look some people give me when they find out about my plan. It was perhaps over a year ago that I finally found the courage to announce to my wife that I was considering the idea. If his reaction had been the “you’re crazy” look, then maybe that would have been my way out. To my surprise, she didn’t even flinch, so maybe she still has both oars in the water.

Concerned citizens

It’s interesting (and comical) that friends and family have the exact same questions and concerns about my hike that other hikers have written about on their blogs. To answer some of those questions…

• Of course I will carry a firearm to protect myself… NO! Bear spray…NO! I am 62 years old and the less weight I have, the better. Second, I would be more likely to download any of those devices on myself, rather than any threats I might face. Besides, black bears are more afraid of me, right? GOOD?!
• Yes, sometimes you have to poop in the woods, after digging a suitable cat hole. Seriously, that’s how it works. You know the old saying: «Does a bear (hiker) shit in the woods?» And yes, I hope I have enough toilet paper left when Nature calls. If not, I hope to avoid cleaning with biting leaves (Google “poison ivy”).
• Will I be able to receive aid packages along the way? While this is a very generous offer, the logistics of shipping the mail seem like a headache. My wife may send me some resupply boxes, but the last thing I want is to have to accept 5 days worth of food when I already have almost the same amount. And how will I know what I want to eat, after some time on the road? I’ve heard stories of gagging at the sight of another (insert brand name here) bar.
• How many pairs of walking shoes will I wear? Four or five, I guess. Unless I decide to start walking barefoot, like a crazy friend of mine… you know who you are (Heidi!).
• How long will my trip take to complete? Five to six months, I hope. I want to «take it all in,» enjoy the trail towns, the wonderful people, and the freedom of hiking a long trail, but I don’t want to wake up to a foot of snow in the Smokies in November. Yes, I’m freaking out.
• Will I be hiking with a buddy or a group of other crazy fools? No, I’ll start this epic adventure alone, more or less. In fact, I will have a hiking companion; His name is Bartholomew Richard Fitzgerald-Smythe. Yes, you guessed it, none other than the legend, Mr. Peanut himself! Mr. P has already accompanied me on a few hiking trips, and even ventured to Utah National Parks last fall. It’s a long story to describe why I walk with him, so I’ll save it for later. He is a very good companion. He doesn’t steal my snacks, he never complains, and I never have to wait for him to make a pit stop. What more can I ask for? Something that would be nice is to be able to have a conversation with Mr. P when I’m feeling lonely. Sure, I can talk to him, but when he starts talking back to me, I may have to go off the rails and seek therapy (see the movie “Castaway,” starring Tom Hanks and his friend Wilson).

Preparation

Physical:

Since I retired at the beginning of January, I have had more time to get into better physical shape, in preparation for my walk. I’ve been going to the gym 4 or 5 times a week to play pickleball (I know, it’s not really trail training, but the way I play involves some «athletic» moves), high-intensity training classes (thanks to my wife talking me into this!), some laps in the pool, and spin classes. I’ve also been walking/hiking with a loaded backpack as much as the weather allows; some days it was too cold in downtown New York. Now that spring has arrived, although it’s only 35 degrees as I write this, I’ve cut back on the gym, mostly pickleball, and am getting out on the trail more. I try to remember to stretch my 62 year old legs as much as possible, but I currently have persistent discomfort in the back of my heel, which is worrying. I’m pretty sure it’s due to tight calf muscles causing a strain on the Achilles tendon. I hope to be able to resolve it over the next week or ten days.

Mental:

As I said before, my mind is a storm of pre-hike nonsense. I just have to focus and know that I can’t finish everything I want before my trip begins. And besides, I need something to do when I get back. I know meditation can really help calm the inner self, so maybe I’ll try some mental calisthenics too. I know I’m stubborn enough to keep going, even when all I really want to do is stop and go home. I usually take things to the end; That’s how I’m wired.

On the home front:

There is also a lot of work to do at home, before setting foot on the AT. I/have a long list of DIY projects to complete, to alleviate the guilt associated with having to leave the house for half the year. That said, I would have been working on this stuff anyway, just not at the current breakneck pace. In the next 2+ weeks, I hope to finish building a wood-frame awning roof over the garage doors (almost done!), finish adding a new bedroom, closet, and hallway in our «finished» basement, and screen the back porch (just started). Also, a lot of minor things, like teaching my wife how to operate the zero turn lawnmower. Fast forward to today, April 19. Most of the above items are almost finished, much to my relief! There are certainly things I won’t do, but my wife needs something to keep her busy, ha.

Gear

I plan to put everything together today/tomorrow, then do a shakedown overnight or two. I need to practice some trail skills, like setting up my shelter quickly, in case it ever starts raining on the trail (it only rains a little, right?). I need to practice my knots a little more. I need to treat my tent, hiking shoes, etc. with permethrin; I sent my hiking clothes to be professionally treated, especially after receiving my first (known) tick bite a few weeks ago. Fortunately, I noticed the little bastard within about 12 hours, due to pain in the side of my right knee, and did not suffer any lasting symptoms. Let’s hope the good mojo continues down the road.

Check the link below to see the equipment I plan to bring. Yes, there are a couple of luxury/scary items that I will probably send home at some point. The largest item on the bill is a camp chair. I knew I should never have sat in one! I figure if the weight of the chair starts to outweigh the benefit, then I’ll probably send it home to my wife when she joins me in Vermont sometime. Stay tuned for that.

Patrick M. Equipment List

I guess that sums things up. Stay tuned. I’ll try to be entertaining, insightful, and add some laughs to future trail blog posts. I hope I don’t fall too far (maybe I should wear a crash helmet?), or get hit in the eye (maybe I should wear safety glasses?).

Keep walking!

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.