The Ruck, What? The Ruck! It's a fun event.

THE RUCK!

A fun event!

It's a place to find out more about backpacking and be around like minded individuals.  There might be one in your area so check with "ALDHA"  the American Long Distance Hiker's Association!

I made a presentation board for when I talk at the Ruck.  I also want to share with people my research and how I came up with all of the things you need to do on your 2,658-mile hike.  What do you take?  What are the scary things you will face?  What is the fear factor?  How do you know you can make it to Canada?  How do you even start a hike like this?  What about income for 5 months?  These are all questions that you will have the answers to.  Lunch is provided also and snacks,  it will be a great day.  I love to learn,  even when I teach I learn.  You do have to have some time to prepare,  I am so glad I had a year.  I have my permit,  it is a little bit earlier than I wanted, had to change my flight too.  It's all good,  I am learning every day how to overcome the obstacles that life hands us,  the little ones and the big ones.  Think about if YOU would like to do something like this, make a plan, tell somebody,  Just do it, as the "Nike" motto says.  You can have your dreams come true but you have to start with a plan, a goal.  I read a book called "Crossing Antarctica", after reading that book I thought to myself "I can do something like that"?  Something impossible!  Something Spectacular!  And....You can!  Don't let anybody tell you no!  I just saw a guy on a video with no legs hiking the trail.  You just can never give up on your dreams.  Do you really want to be sitting on the couch when you are 60,70 or 80  and saying to yourself  "Oh, I wish I would have done that"!  No way, not me, not ever,  I will make my own dreams come true, thank you very much.  LIFE is so worth living.

So, what I am trying to say is this,  you can make a difference in your own life.  you can change, you can do this!  I believe we have the power to do amazing things and help people on our way also.   Hope you are inspired, let me know if you are,  that means I am doing something right.  Love YIPPEE!

PCT PERMIT DAY

TODAY IS PCT PERMIT DAY!

THIS IS WHEN YOU TRY TO GET A PERMIT WITH 2,500 OTHER PEOPLE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING!  YIKES!

I THOUGHT I HAD THE DAY ALL PICKED OUT, OOPS!

Well, today started out like any other day,  I woke up, took a shower, went downstairs to see the hubby and then I remembered I needed to get on the computer today at 10:30 am with the PCTA so I could apply for my permit.  I could never have dreamed up what the next 2 hours would hold for me.  First of all, it seemed like the system crashed with so many people trying to get on.  When I finally did get on, it dropped me 4 different times.  Good thing I am a patient person.  I kept trying,  I had 4 tabs open,  I called a friend.  I started to panic.  I looked at the PCT Class of 2017 and everyone was getting their permits,  why wasn't I getting one.  Finally, I got on and my date was gone,  there were only 2 dates left in April,  one after my original start date and one before.  I called a friend.  "What shall I do?"  I already have a plane ticket.  I took the earlier date.  I then called my airline.  Thank goodness I could exchange my ticket, plus a few dollars more and then I could make another airline reservation.  Most of the flights were booked except one that was a week earlier than my PCT Date and 3 weeks earlier than originally planned.  

Everything happens for a reason I believe so I booked it.  Now for the call to the hubby.  Hey, hubby,  I am leaving earlier than I thought,  I am packing sooner than planned,  yes, I know there is more snow in the mountains and more water in the rivers.  It all worked out.  It always does.  Great two more obstacles I overcame.  Getting better at this.  I am relieved that this is all over.  I started the day at 10:30 am and finished it about 3:00 pm.  Long Day.  I have a lot of work to do still,  too many to name.

I am looking forward to Sunny San Diego, my old home.  I am looking forward to seeing the beaches I used to surf at.  I am looking forward to eating fish tacos again.  I will be happy to see my friends, my college buddies,  my old roommates and my husbands family.  I miss them all.  If you ever want to hike the PCT, make your airline reservations after your permit date.  Also, get a big cup of coffee before you sit down to the computer.  Take the stress away and have a big deep breath.  It is all fun.

HAPPY CAMPER GIRL PCT GEAR

WHAT SHALL I WEAR?

CLOTHES DO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WHAT KINDS OF THINGS DO I PUT IN MY PACK?

PACK WITH GEAR IN IT.

A CUTE DESERT OUTFIT

COLD WEATHER LAYERS

MY FAVORITE TOYS

 BOOTS FOR THE HEAVY SNOW

MY PACK IS SHOWN HERE WITH GEAR INSIDE, SOME "SMART ONES" WATER BOTTLES, MY DESERT UMBRELLA FOR SHADE AND ALSO MY PEE RAG.

You need many things when you cross the desert,  mostly water.  You have to plan and research everything because you have to find the lightest option or your feet will feel the weight .  So if you have two shirts you like, get the scale out, weigh them both, take the lighter one.  Do this with each piece of gear, even a bic lighter.  I never knew that they came in these little itty bitty ones.  You even have to weigh your underwear.  I know it sounds funny but you have to think in ounces and grams.  16 ounces make a pound,  it is easy to get there pretty fast.  Pounds are felt on your feet and your back.  I do not want any injuries so I am precautions and weigh everything.  That is why I even cut my toothbrush in half and also am using some powdered toothpaste.  I am sure some of this will change by the time April rolls around.  I have changed so much already after careful research.  

I got my bear canister yesterday.  I could not get that thing open.  Now I know how frustrated a bear feels.  Finally, I got it figured out.  It weighs 2 pounds 9 oz.  That is a lot of weight but it is a law that you have to carry one through Yosemite.  I like to abide by the law so I ordered one.  I have some clothes shown here that I will be wearing.  One is a pink ghost whisperer jacket.  It is super warm and super lightweight.  I have tested it in the worst of conditions,  I will have to put on my rain jacket if it snows or rains over the top of it.  I will be wearing trail runners,  I have boots just in case of super heavy snow.  I really just have to see what Mother Nature will provide out on the trail.  I hope she will be nice to me.  I try to be nice to her.  I know a pee rag sounds gross but you have to go potty and when you do, clean up that little drip.  You have it on the outside of your pack because 1.  it is easy to get to and 2.  it bleaches itself out with the sun and becomes germ-free.  I like that idea.

Getting the gear for a trip like this is fun,  it is expensive to buy some stuff so you have to buy it over time, for me that was a year of planning.  some gear is cheap, like a head net for bugs, just 3.99.  You can make your own meals too and then re-hydrate them.  There are lots of used gear places too.  I like to use E-bay sometimes and also Amazon.  I have been adding sponsors for my trip,  great company's who are helping me out.  I appreciate everyone who is helping me on this journey.  It is awesome to know I have friends and readers who are enjoying this whole journey.  So thank you for listening.

YIPPEE

WHAT DREAMS ARE MADE OUT OF.

WHAT ARE DREAMS MADE OF MIG?

DREAM BIG! DREAM A LOT!  DREAM AND THEN DREAM SOME MORE!

  I LOVE TO DREAM,  DAYDREAM OR WHATEVER.  I LOVE TO THINK OF THE "WHAT IF'S".  WHAT IF I TRAVELEd AROUND THE WORLD,  What if I set sail and didn't ever come back.  Would my family miss me,  probably!  I would miss my family, my dog, my mom very much.  I really love my family.  But why oh why do you want to leave?  Well, that's a hard one.  I guess I have some gypsy blood in me.  I like to be on a road, or on the grass,  I love to look up at the clouds and wonder things.  I like to escape from reality sometimes.  I like to be alone too.  Sometimes this hurts people's feelings,  I'm sorry but it is just something I can't help.  I was made this way,  I like to ramble and move and see things and eat new food and visit new places and talk to people.  People are so darn interesting,  everybody has a story.

  I do not have an unlimited source of income.  I am an artist,  sometimes a starving artist,  but I try hard and that counts for something.  I make life beautiful,  I paint life on canvas and paper,  I try to see all the good, the beautiful things.  I love to paint.  It makes me feel alive.  Soooo,  I set out on an adventure,  a real one,  to hike the Pacific Crest Trail,  Yea, that one!  I will paint from it.  I will also experience things that the trail is trying to teach me.  I am open to that.  I love to laugh and to cry to because it cleanses me.  I want to be open to new things and to feel the fresh air on my face and the strength in my legs as I climb.  Yea,  I know it will be hard,  I am definitely anticipating that.  But it's all okay, I will survive.

 So, what are dreams made of these days?  Well,  I am making boxes, Boxes you say?  yes!  I am making my re-supply boxes.  I get to put junk in there that I think I may want to eat.  I also get to put in supplies, gear and a bunch of other cool stuff.  The only problem is that I am taking over the living room, the kitchen, and the dining room table.  It's not my fault,  I need the room.  It's also fun!

So I have all of these maps and zip lock baggies that I have to organize into compartments and put into special boxes with dates and names.  It is a long process.  I have to put my name on the box in just a certain way or it will not get delivered,  I have to send it to myself somewhere along the trail and then I have to wait for it to arrive at just the right time so I can open my mouth and shove in the food.  Doesn't that sound like fun?  Well, it is.  I can't think of anything else I would rather be doing except drinking margaritas on a beach in Mexico while it snows here outside.  OH well,  That's life.

My dream and it is a big one, is to finish the trail by Sept 15th, leaving April 16th Easter.  It's a big dream to walk 2,658 miles into Canada.  It's a dream to eat tons of chocolate and not get fat.  I will consume over 6,000 calories a day in food, doesn't that sound wonderful?  I think so!  So today your homework is to THINK OF YOUR DREAM!  Think big,  What do you want to do with your life?  Don't waste it!

YUMMY FOOD!

Food at home

The food I eat on the trail will not be like the food I eat at home, therefore, I have to plan.  I am in the process of deciding what to eat, mostly energy bars, breakfast bars, protein bars, lots of water, electrolyte drinks, and as many dehydrated veggies as I can get in me.  Some of it will taste good like the Idahoan potatoes, some will taste bad like the squeeze oatmeal in a tube.  I am researching all different web pages including the Paleo secret foods.  You are suppose to eat between 5,000 and 6,000 calories a day.  That sounds pretty darn good to me because I love Pizza, however,  you can't just eat a bunch of crap and pizza and sugar,  you have to have some green stuff so you will feel good on the tallest of mountains.  I want to feel good and I want my body to like me.  I want to be able to "Poop" well if you know what I mean.  So I will miss my home-made quiches and spaghetti sauces and home-made garlic bread etc.  I am watching what other hikers are bringing too.  Thank goodness there are stores around.  I will do a few re-supply boxes and a few gear boxes when the weather turns.  I love food so this should be a fun month to plan.  Happy Hiking!  YIPPEE

JANUARY 2017 I'M STILL OUT HIKING!

BABY IT"S COLD OUTSIDE.

It's January... and boy oh boy it's cold outside.  I backpacked 14 miles yesterday with 20 pounds on my back.  It was my personal best.  I didn't wear enough layers on my legs and I got a little bit of Frost nip.  It took me a while to de-thaw so to speak.  Lesson learned.  I am happy when I am outside.  I solve problems in my mind when I am walking.  I heal relationships and sort things out.  I love it when I am walking and I remember old memories of good times.  I get to re-live my childhood all over again.  I also think about the world and the environment and how I would like to change things so we have a better world for our kids and their kids.  Being outside gives me peace unless of course, it is a big hill, then I have to concentrate on my steps and my breath and my energy level.  You have to listen to your body, it tells you if you are low on energy (Grab a cliff bar), it tells you if you are really cold or really tired.   I learned yesterday that when my body said I was cold, I should have put another layer on my legs, I didn't,  I am paying the price. 

Let me tell you what I see and Hear.

I see beauty all around me,  There are snow covered mountains with big chunks of the fluffy stuff on every branch.  When the wind blows, it topples all down, sometimes on you if you aren't careful.  I love it outside.  The animals in the farm land get all frisky.  They play and hop and jump around and run.  The cow's moo and I moo back.  The dogs wag their tail.  Some come chasing after me,  I have my trekking poles ready just in case.It is a really beautiful world and I am very thankful to be outside doing this.   You hear every noise, sometimes you can hear pots and pans when people are cooking.  Your ears get very keen.  You smell smoke from chimneys far away.  You feel a car is close even if you don't see it.  You kind of become like an animal in a way.  You know when something is out of place. 

News:

Yesterday I got my "YOGI" books and half-mile maps to help me find out where I am going on the PCT.  Great information for those of you that want to hike some day.   I am learning every day about the trail.  I have my plane ticket already,  and yes, I am very excited.

Family:

You have to have your family behind you when you do something like this.  It is really good to know that they support me especially when you have to devote so many hours to hiking every day and there is laundry on the couch.

Emotions:

It's a scary thing this trek,  I just found out one more thing about the desert, it's called "Valley Fever".  One more danger to be aware of.  It is inside of the dirt and wind when you are walking.  One more obstacle to overcome.   Life is full of them.  I am glad I can conquer them one at a time.  I know I have the power to do this, I certainly have the drive or I would not be in this kind of weather for this many miles.  I do have this internal joy flowing through my veins,  I almost cry sometimes because I am overwhelmed.  It is a beautiful world, thanks for letting me share it.