I decided to do some training in the snow for my "PCT" Trip next year.  I have almost all of my gear so why not?  I backpacked up to a beautiful lake and up to "Roman Nose" with lots of Alpine trees.  I climbed High and I added weight to my pack around 23 pounds.  I was wearing my trail running shoes and wanted to see how they perform in the snow.  I found out that they slide.  Not good!  I used my trekking poles and balanced  much better.  I saw a waterfall and met the cutest turtle.  It was a good hike and I learn more about my equipment everyday.  I am an ultra-lite back packing girl now and weight is so important.  I weigh everything down to the last ounce.  I will do another hike tomorrow, most likely around 5 miles or so.  Everyday I see beauty.

Great Sponsors on my PCT journey

Putting in the miles every day, getting ready for my PCT trip..  I picked up another really cool Sponsor,  "Stick Pic"  is going to be sponsoring me and letting me me use their product to take pictures along the trail.  The product clips to your trekking pole,  Sweet!  Also "Sisters on the Fly"  will be sponsoring me which is  an amazing organization involving women and vintage travel trailers and adventures all over this wonderful world.  Please check them out on the web.  It is great to have a wonderful support group.  I am never really alone out there with over 7,000 women cheering me on.  I am trying to put in 10 miles or so a day if my feet don't act up.  I will be putting in 20-30 miles a day out on the trail.  Please join in on the fun!  Happy Hiking, Love Mig

There is something that happens when you camp.  You get to have a lot of "Think" time.  You get to ponder life's questions about age, living life, friends, love,  aging parents, past struggles, failures, what to do and where to go next.  Life is a journey, sometimes a long one, sometimes too short.  It is when I am outside that I get a glimpse into real life.  I get to see more clearly, to take on the world and to focus on what really matters.  There is this space where it all comes together for this one instance.  I love that about life,  I love that I get a glimpse into the real world for a brief moment.   When I am out backpacking alone,  I feel God's presence,  I feel one with nature,  I sort things out in my mind.  I get clear.  Clear of the stuff.  I am soon going to take a life adventure and hike the PCT.  It is going to be tough,  tougher than I ever dreamed.  I will seriously be alone in the wild, with strange sounds and cries in the night.  I will thirst as never experienced before,  I will hunger as never before too.  I will peel the layers of the onion and strip everything of myself except the basics.  Why do this?  Because something inside of me cries out to, something inside of me wants that thin line, something about this makes me feel alive.  I do not understand all of it and perhaps I never will but I still must do it.  Kind of like the last "Hoorah" because I can.  I hope you go on this journey with me.  It will be exciting for sure.  Something I cannot plan for.  Oh sure,  I can plan the pack and the food and the re-supply boxes but I cannot plan for the change in my head or the thoughts of survival or the expectations of myself.  I only know that I must face myself and I do not mean the person in the mirror.  Sure I have questions but I am a seeker and want to know the answers of life's questions. What better way than to take on a challenge and hike the Pacific Crest Trail from Mexico to Canada,  2,664 miles.  It will be an a Happy Camper Girl Adventure!  Come join me and let the fun begin.

This is all of my gear as I make my spreadsheet and inventory list for the PCT hike next year.  I am ready,  I have done all of my research.  This is the best equipment I have found out there for my needs.  Remember to "Hike your own Hike"  having said that.  This is what works for me.  I am so glad you are with me on this journey and learning as I learn.  This is all from about 4 months of solid research, everyday immersing myself in books and lectures and classes and studying.  I am here to share it with you.  This is a slow process of trying all different kinds of products, lightweight products.  My base weight keeps on getting lower.  I am a Happy Camper Girl!

Becoming an ultralite backpacker

I have my final four  which is my tent, my backpack, my sleeping pad and my sleeping bag.  I have compared weight and I have cut ounces as much as possible.  It really is an "Art"  this whole ultra-lite thing.  I have been hiking about 60-70 miles a week getting prepared to go on my PCT hike.  I have been trying to eat well.  Emphasis on "Trying".  I try on my pack everyday and also look at all of my personal items along with the ten essentials and ask myself "How can I cut some more weight"?  It really is addicting.  Today I poured my powdered toothpaste inside of a zip lock container so I would not have to take the whole bottle.  I also trimmed a few zippers and left some stuff sacks at home.  I have pulled tags off of my sleeping bag and changed hats about a million times.  I have worn clothing out in the rain and snow to "Prove"  that it really is waterproof.  The list goes on and on.  It is becoming an obsession.  I keep on reading the same books over and over.  I also just got the new Backpacking Magazine about new gear.  Maybe I will change my final four again.  My favorite companies are still  Patagonia, REI, and Western Mountaineering.  I also like backcountrygear.com.

I am going to be learning how to go "Stove-less" and make a lot of meals with a dehydrator.  I already learned how to make a alcohol stove with a pepsi can and/or cat food can.  This is great,  don't you just love learning?  I sure do.  For me it is like school for your hobby.  I love to read and research.

Some disappointment is normal.

Poop!  ordered my tent but one pole came  broken,  No worries,  Big Agnes to the rescue to fix it!  Sometimes life holds disappointments,  deal with it and move on.  It is a quick fix.  I love my new tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1.  It is really roomy and I can also put my backpack inside of it.  Yesterday I went walking with my pack and 27 pounds of weight.  the next morning (today)  My shoulder was soar and also my right foot was soar, so guess what,  the shoes go back and so does the pack.  No room to have any soreness with just the little trek I did. I want to get everything perfect before I go on the trip.  Yes,  I am a perfectionist but I am also a person who does not want any real pain  on the trip, especially when I could have avoided it.  Make sense?  Low weight = less pain and no pain= a happier me.                                                                                                                           

THE DOUBTS AND FEARS THAT PLAGUE MY MIND!

Can I do this?  What happens if a bear comes to visit me?  What if I get bit by a snake?  What if a rat eats one of my backpack straps?  What happens if I fail at my first Ice Arrest?  What If? What If?

Guess I will find out Huh?  I am getting more prepared everyday.  I plan, I read, I look at my checkbook,  I sell stuff in order to buy stuff,  I ask questions, I attend classes and believe me a whole lot more.  I will be ready.

You cannot even think about the "What If's" because 80 % or more of that worry or anxiety will never ever happen.  I will have to take it as it comes.  Oh! and what about the beauty, the wild flowers, the talks and walks with my travel buddy, what of that?

I am the excited type,  you know the type A personality that always sits in the front row,  the one you want to hang out with but they have too many friends.  Well let me tell you,  we really only have a few close friends and we really really like to be alone,  we need that time to replenish ourselves.  I like to be alone, sometimes for days and days.  I need it.  Sometimes my personality is too much for even me.

I think the road and nature calms me,  I like to be like that.  I like to wander around and look at pretty things when I backpack.  I like the "think" time.  I also like to take pictures of beautiful things.  I hope you go on this journey with me and follow the trail and the pictures.  What is life for if not to share.  Thanks in advance.  It's going to be all good.