Reminisce
A year ago TODAY I started my journey on the trail. I had started an adventure of a lifetime. Thinking back to that day is so surreal. I read my blog and can't believe that was me. Although I didn't make it to Canada I am glad that I went for it.
I find myself wanting to get back on the trail where I left off. I haven't convinced myself yet to commit. The feeling is there though. I am excited to follow some of the blogs from class of 2015.
I'm jealous of everyone starting their first thru hike this year on the PCT. You only get one first time haha. Good luck and happy trails to the class of 2015.
I still have my bear can if anyone would Like to borrow it. Just pay the shipping to send it back.
Showing posts with label PCT class of 2014. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PCT class of 2014. Show all posts
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Monday, September 8, 2014
The freakiest thing!
Do you believe??? In you know... The big man... No not that big man (God) the other one...
So I had just passed the mid point monument. My knee was hurting so bad I could barley stand to set up my tent at PCT mile 1327.42. So I got all set up, crawled into my tent and ate dinner. I was all by myself (of course) everyone I was hiking with was miles ahead. Steak toe and LowLander are Somewhere behind. So I was all cozy in my bag, sleeping really good.
I was woken up by the sound of sticks breaking (something walking) And the sound of a constant deep humming sound. It was a ways away from me. I was holding very still and breathing softly so I could listen... My heart wanted to jump out of my chest it was beating so hard.
It was getting closer! Facing north I was to the right of the trail. The sounds where coming from the south of me and further to the right. (Off the trail) I was still, very still as it got closer louder and loader. The pace was constant and so was the humming. It was heavy cause the sticks where breaking loudly. It was at least 20 feet away directly beside me...
I can feel every beat of my heart as I listen. I can hear the deafening sound of the blood pulsing through my head... A thousand things are flowing through my mind. A few of those thoughts. I have no weapons. My trekking poles are outside the tent. My knife is maybe 2" long. What the hell is that. I know it's walking on two legs. I know the sound of two legs on the ground I've heard my own foot steps for over 1000 miles. Humans and big foot are the only things I can think that walk on two feet.
The steps and breaking of sticks keeps on going and thankfully the going away from me now! I check my phone to see the time. 1:34 am. Oh come on! Hurry up sunrise so I can have light and get the hell out of here. The sound is getting further and further away. I finally exhale. What was that. I'm still having problems processing what the hell just happened. Then I heard a crashing sound off in the distance. Sounded like a tree falling. Then there was another. Then a loud scream/screeching sound and more crashing of trees and things breaking... Then it's quiet...
WHAT WAS THAT??? Seriously!!! WTF.
I am just glad it kept going. Why and I all by myself right now? Why was there no one else here to witness that with me. I'm not crazy. I know I am wide wake cause I wish I was sleeping and never heard anything that I just heard. I tell myself it's gone, it's fine, just go to sleep. Sunrise will be here when I open my eyes again.
I force my eyes shut and clear my mind.
Well there you go. The freakiest/scariest thing to happen on the trail. Well being followed by mountain lions while night hiking was pretty freaky too.
When I woke up to my 6 am alarm I had some business to take care of and a cat hole to dig. I went over to where I heard whatever it was pass by to see if I could see tracks. But I didn't notice anything.
Honestly I don't know what that was. Big Foot is the only thing I can think off. It wasn't a hiker cause it wasn't on the trail. It wasn't a bear it was on two feet. Cause think about the cadence of sounds when a dog walks on hard wood floor or the sound of a horse on asphalt. Then think about the sound of you make walking. The steps per minute is less. Really think about it. You could tell the difference.
So yes I believe now. I believe in big foot. Seriously. July 28, 2014 at 1:34am.
So that morning I walked less then 100 yards before my knee was in full fledge pain mode. I only had 6 miles to go. I was going to just keep going and not stop. I'm moving really slow but I kept going.
I finally arrive at the highway to hitch into Chester. I crossed the street. To check out the trail magic!
I ate a cookie and drank a soda. I found the register and left my final entry.
I had to get two separate hitches into Chester. I told the first guy about my Big Foot story. He said he believes. He has worked In these forests for 20 years. And has heard many stories.
I got into town and paid $15 to set up my tent in the RV park. I ate pizza across the street at the pizza factory! I love it. Called Jordan to let her know I was coming home. I thought about just showing up and surprising her. (I wish I would have done that.) but I want to talk to someone and validate my decision to quit and come home. I was still trying to decide which side of the line I was on. The side where I am quitting cause I'm being a pussy or the side where I'm quitting cause it's the right thing to do... I don't know. I don't want to quit now. I'm enjoying he trail again. Like I said in my last post. It's harder to quit than it is to keep going.
I sat around as I did my laundry. I decided to hobble up the street to the gas station. On the way back I ran into Lowlander who has just got into town. I brought him back to the camp ground. Where he set up for the night. I suggested we go to he bar close by. He said na at first. But then I said I'm buying. "Ok" so we went. It was cool. Heavy metal playing on the juke box. I put in a couple dollars and played some Pantera my fav from back in the day.
The bartender let us behind the bar to take a photo. We stayed at the bar for a while.
I slept pretty good. With a pretty good buzz going. I had to pee so much that night. I filled up my pee bottle and two other bottles I had in the tent. Haha.
I had decide that I was going to take the Amtrak train home. So I needed to get to Reno. So I'm going to take a bus from Chester to Suzanville then another bus to Reno.
They bus doesn't run today so I have to stay another night.
I was told I needed to go to the dentist office for something special??? So I went. And the gal there was so nice. She took my photo and gave me a gift certificate for $20 to use at this place called the Locker Room. Yea! More pizza! I ran into Dust bunny and Danger Spoon there. They offered to let me stay in the hotel with them! Sweet. Which is cool cause it's right across the street from where the bus is going to pick up at like 6 in the morning to take me to Suzanville.
We drank beers and watched cable. Danger and I went to sit in the hot tube. Oh the life.
So I the next day I caught the bus to Suzanville. I had to wait like 2 hours for the next bus to come. so I went to Starbucks to use the wifi. I'm trying to download the movie Noah I rented from ITunes (something to do on the trail) I ran out of time. But I did run into this sign on a truck.
Haha LA-Z-BOY.
I arrived in Reno. I only had a few blocks to go to get to the Amtraks but I have 4 hours till the train arrives. I left my pack at the bell desk in Harrahs. Time to drop a few dollars in the slots. I put a $5 in the .25 cent wheel of fortune. I played that $5 for about 45 min. I was up $39 at one point but just kept playing. Of course I lost it all. But I wasn't going to stop unless I won enough worth to stop playing.(open to interpretation) i walked around the huge car show that was going on. Reno is kind of cool.
The train!!!
Riding the train was nice. I think it was like 23 hours. I got to relax, reflect, recharge, and re... I don't know. It was nice. I could have flew for the same price. I just didn't want to mess with that noise. The train is so stress free it was the right move.
My pretty lady who came to pick me up... Oh so happy to see here.
THE END
Well the end of my journey. Not quite the end of my story. I still have to see how long it's going to take me to recover from this nonsense. (It's been over a month and I still hurt) I have my gear review to do. And I guess I could talk about what's next in my life. Like my Go zero to HERO project. And my next vacation I plan to go on, ect, ect, ect.
I miss you PCT. I miss my PCT friends, no not friends my PCT family. If any of you read his blog be sure to say hi and if your in Colorado you better hit me up!
Thank you for following my blog I appreciated those of you who commented. It was my favorite to get those emails. Telling me I have a new comment. I ended up with 18,000+ views. Anyone feel free to say hi sometime. Or ask questions. Cause I know some of your are future PCT thur hikers.
I don't know what your life is like or what your situation is. All I know is. You know all those things you've always wanted to do? You should GO DO THEM!
If Hiking the PCT is one of them don't let yourself make up excuses. Cause anything other than living the life of your dreams is a lame ass excuse.
Yes any excuse is a lame ass excuse. This time last year. I didn't have the money to hike the PCT. I didn't own a single piece of hiking gear that I took on the trail. I didn't know about resupply boxes, i sure ass hell couldn't hike 20 miles in one day. (I had only hiked 9 miles in one day when I decided I was going to do the PCT.) I didn't know anything about tents, packs, sleeping bags, water filters, cooking stoves, down jackets, and what... Toe socks aren't those for girls? I still decided I was going to do it.
Decide to do it! And everything will work itself out. Even though I didn't finish. I'm so glad that I tried. I spent over $10k when on the trail and was pretty much broke in the end I was going to keep going and figure it out. I knew injury would be the only thing that would take me off the trail. And it got me but you can't be scared to fail... Oh I love ranting haha.
Next: dude my feet still hurt. What the heck am I going to do now? I have no home, no job... Maybe I'll become a professional archer. even though I've never shot a real bow before. It sounds like a good idea....
- Posted from my iPhone
So I had just passed the mid point monument. My knee was hurting so bad I could barley stand to set up my tent at PCT mile 1327.42. So I got all set up, crawled into my tent and ate dinner. I was all by myself (of course) everyone I was hiking with was miles ahead. Steak toe and LowLander are Somewhere behind. So I was all cozy in my bag, sleeping really good.
I was woken up by the sound of sticks breaking (something walking) And the sound of a constant deep humming sound. It was a ways away from me. I was holding very still and breathing softly so I could listen... My heart wanted to jump out of my chest it was beating so hard.
It was getting closer! Facing north I was to the right of the trail. The sounds where coming from the south of me and further to the right. (Off the trail) I was still, very still as it got closer louder and loader. The pace was constant and so was the humming. It was heavy cause the sticks where breaking loudly. It was at least 20 feet away directly beside me...
I can feel every beat of my heart as I listen. I can hear the deafening sound of the blood pulsing through my head... A thousand things are flowing through my mind. A few of those thoughts. I have no weapons. My trekking poles are outside the tent. My knife is maybe 2" long. What the hell is that. I know it's walking on two legs. I know the sound of two legs on the ground I've heard my own foot steps for over 1000 miles. Humans and big foot are the only things I can think that walk on two feet.
The steps and breaking of sticks keeps on going and thankfully the going away from me now! I check my phone to see the time. 1:34 am. Oh come on! Hurry up sunrise so I can have light and get the hell out of here. The sound is getting further and further away. I finally exhale. What was that. I'm still having problems processing what the hell just happened. Then I heard a crashing sound off in the distance. Sounded like a tree falling. Then there was another. Then a loud scream/screeching sound and more crashing of trees and things breaking... Then it's quiet...
WHAT WAS THAT??? Seriously!!! WTF.
I am just glad it kept going. Why and I all by myself right now? Why was there no one else here to witness that with me. I'm not crazy. I know I am wide wake cause I wish I was sleeping and never heard anything that I just heard. I tell myself it's gone, it's fine, just go to sleep. Sunrise will be here when I open my eyes again.
I force my eyes shut and clear my mind.
Well there you go. The freakiest/scariest thing to happen on the trail. Well being followed by mountain lions while night hiking was pretty freaky too.
When I woke up to my 6 am alarm I had some business to take care of and a cat hole to dig. I went over to where I heard whatever it was pass by to see if I could see tracks. But I didn't notice anything.
Honestly I don't know what that was. Big Foot is the only thing I can think off. It wasn't a hiker cause it wasn't on the trail. It wasn't a bear it was on two feet. Cause think about the cadence of sounds when a dog walks on hard wood floor or the sound of a horse on asphalt. Then think about the sound of you make walking. The steps per minute is less. Really think about it. You could tell the difference.
So yes I believe now. I believe in big foot. Seriously. July 28, 2014 at 1:34am.
So that morning I walked less then 100 yards before my knee was in full fledge pain mode. I only had 6 miles to go. I was going to just keep going and not stop. I'm moving really slow but I kept going.
I finally arrive at the highway to hitch into Chester. I crossed the street. To check out the trail magic!
I ate a cookie and drank a soda. I found the register and left my final entry.
I had to get two separate hitches into Chester. I told the first guy about my Big Foot story. He said he believes. He has worked In these forests for 20 years. And has heard many stories.
I got into town and paid $15 to set up my tent in the RV park. I ate pizza across the street at the pizza factory! I love it. Called Jordan to let her know I was coming home. I thought about just showing up and surprising her. (I wish I would have done that.) but I want to talk to someone and validate my decision to quit and come home. I was still trying to decide which side of the line I was on. The side where I am quitting cause I'm being a pussy or the side where I'm quitting cause it's the right thing to do... I don't know. I don't want to quit now. I'm enjoying he trail again. Like I said in my last post. It's harder to quit than it is to keep going.
I sat around as I did my laundry. I decided to hobble up the street to the gas station. On the way back I ran into Lowlander who has just got into town. I brought him back to the camp ground. Where he set up for the night. I suggested we go to he bar close by. He said na at first. But then I said I'm buying. "Ok" so we went. It was cool. Heavy metal playing on the juke box. I put in a couple dollars and played some Pantera my fav from back in the day.
The bartender let us behind the bar to take a photo. We stayed at the bar for a while.
I slept pretty good. With a pretty good buzz going. I had to pee so much that night. I filled up my pee bottle and two other bottles I had in the tent. Haha.
I had decide that I was going to take the Amtrak train home. So I needed to get to Reno. So I'm going to take a bus from Chester to Suzanville then another bus to Reno.
They bus doesn't run today so I have to stay another night.
I was told I needed to go to the dentist office for something special??? So I went. And the gal there was so nice. She took my photo and gave me a gift certificate for $20 to use at this place called the Locker Room. Yea! More pizza! I ran into Dust bunny and Danger Spoon there. They offered to let me stay in the hotel with them! Sweet. Which is cool cause it's right across the street from where the bus is going to pick up at like 6 in the morning to take me to Suzanville.
We drank beers and watched cable. Danger and I went to sit in the hot tube. Oh the life.
So I the next day I caught the bus to Suzanville. I had to wait like 2 hours for the next bus to come. so I went to Starbucks to use the wifi. I'm trying to download the movie Noah I rented from ITunes (something to do on the trail) I ran out of time. But I did run into this sign on a truck.
Haha LA-Z-BOY.
I arrived in Reno. I only had a few blocks to go to get to the Amtraks but I have 4 hours till the train arrives. I left my pack at the bell desk in Harrahs. Time to drop a few dollars in the slots. I put a $5 in the .25 cent wheel of fortune. I played that $5 for about 45 min. I was up $39 at one point but just kept playing. Of course I lost it all. But I wasn't going to stop unless I won enough worth to stop playing.(open to interpretation) i walked around the huge car show that was going on. Reno is kind of cool.
The train!!!
Riding the train was nice. I think it was like 23 hours. I got to relax, reflect, recharge, and re... I don't know. It was nice. I could have flew for the same price. I just didn't want to mess with that noise. The train is so stress free it was the right move.
My pretty lady who came to pick me up... Oh so happy to see here.
THE END
Well the end of my journey. Not quite the end of my story. I still have to see how long it's going to take me to recover from this nonsense. (It's been over a month and I still hurt) I have my gear review to do. And I guess I could talk about what's next in my life. Like my Go zero to HERO project. And my next vacation I plan to go on, ect, ect, ect.
I miss you PCT. I miss my PCT friends, no not friends my PCT family. If any of you read his blog be sure to say hi and if your in Colorado you better hit me up!
Thank you for following my blog I appreciated those of you who commented. It was my favorite to get those emails. Telling me I have a new comment. I ended up with 18,000+ views. Anyone feel free to say hi sometime. Or ask questions. Cause I know some of your are future PCT thur hikers.
I don't know what your life is like or what your situation is. All I know is. You know all those things you've always wanted to do? You should GO DO THEM!
If Hiking the PCT is one of them don't let yourself make up excuses. Cause anything other than living the life of your dreams is a lame ass excuse.
Yes any excuse is a lame ass excuse. This time last year. I didn't have the money to hike the PCT. I didn't own a single piece of hiking gear that I took on the trail. I didn't know about resupply boxes, i sure ass hell couldn't hike 20 miles in one day. (I had only hiked 9 miles in one day when I decided I was going to do the PCT.) I didn't know anything about tents, packs, sleeping bags, water filters, cooking stoves, down jackets, and what... Toe socks aren't those for girls? I still decided I was going to do it.
Decide to do it! And everything will work itself out. Even though I didn't finish. I'm so glad that I tried. I spent over $10k when on the trail and was pretty much broke in the end I was going to keep going and figure it out. I knew injury would be the only thing that would take me off the trail. And it got me but you can't be scared to fail... Oh I love ranting haha.
Next: dude my feet still hurt. What the heck am I going to do now? I have no home, no job... Maybe I'll become a professional archer. even though I've never shot a real bow before. It sounds like a good idea....
- Posted from my iPhone
Monday, September 1, 2014
My Hike has come to an end...
Sorry I haven't posted in a long time.
I have been home now for a month. I left the trail on 7/28. There was a lot leading up to that point. I wanted to finish posting everyday. But it makes me sad when I think about being back on the trail. I didn't see the point to continue posting. But I guess I need to finish this.
I left off from the day we went into Truckee. Only two days from Sierra city. Heres some things that happened a long the way.
Saw this little hut along the way. I remember seeing a video Muk Muk had on her blog about this place. It looked really creepy in her video. It's pretty neat actually.
On the day we walked into Sierra city steal Toe and I where super motivated. Instead of our normal 5 miles and take a break we went 10 and then pushed 14 miles to get into town around 4pm Steal Toe was motivated by half gallon of chocolate milk he was going to drink when we get into town. I just wanted to be in town again. We got to where the trail meets the road. There were other hikers just leaving town. It was Hugs, Pockets, and Karaoke. They told us about all the drama that went down at the Red Moose last night. I guess Bob the owner kicked everyone off the property and no one was aloud to camp there anymore. So that's going to be awkward since I had to go there and get a package.
It was awesome at the little general store. Everyone was there eating free Ben and Jerry's ice cream. I guess power went out and they had to throw out the ice cream so they gave it to us!
So the church lets us camp in their yard so I went there to set up camp before it was to crowded. I got set up just in time.
Tent city.
Back at the store siting on the front porch.
Heres what Jordan got me for my birthday. Envelopes to open in every town with surprises inside. She is so amazing. What a good idea.
There was $15 inside for me to use at the store.
Below is a picture of all the food I got for $15. A huge amazing veggie burrito some everything bagels, Roman, cliff bars and some hot sauce.
The next morning. I went to the red moose and had breakfast. The owner Bob was not friendly. I didn't like him at all. His wife was super sweet though. I got my boxes and paid $5 for a shower. I washed my clothes at the store and hung out for a bit. We got everything all packed up and left at 4pm.
We are 4 days from Belden.
Skip ahead a little. I was 2 days from Belden and right away in the morning I was not having a good day. My left knee and shine splints was hurting. I kept trying to stretch it out. I took vitamin I. Didn't help. I was hiking slow. I came to a road crossing where I could hitch into Quincy. I told my friends I would meet them in Belden in a couple days I waited 3 hours till I was finally picked up by this really nice lady who had passed by over an hour ago and she felt bad for me since I was still there. Haha. The Quincy Laport road just has no traffic. There was tons of logger trucks. But only one car every half hour it seems.
She dropped me at the grocery store. I picked up a few things, went to subway for dinner and got a hotel room and had a nice night in the room resting and watching movies. I had planned to skip a head to Belden. I couldn't really afford to get further behind schedule. Plus I was enjoying hiking with Steal Toe and Lowlander.
The next day I caught a ride to Belden instantly. Actually before I even started to hitch. I met a guy in the gas station who offered to give me a ride. So I planned to take 2 more days off and hopefully my knee and shine splints would be better. Or at least manageable.
Arriving in Belden was cool there was a huge party about to go down that weekend. I ran into some more friends
Danger spoon, Cracker Jack, Dust Bunny and Cheese Burger. Some of us called the Braatens and Brenda came to pick a few of us up. I really liked her. She has a great since of humor. Her little haven was sweet to. It's like a little apartment off their house all set up for us hikers.
I had a box waiting with a note from Jordan.
I did my laundry again and spent the night in a nice little bed. Blister was also there so that was cool getting to see him again. He left early the next day.
Packed up my stuff and back to Belden. To check out this party/rave.
Some more Friends. Doc, karaoke, Pockets, Hugs and Didgeridoo.
That night was awesome. The music started at 7pm and went until 7am. The people that was putting on the rave let the PCT hikers in for free and let us go back into their campsite and gave us food and beers! It was sweet.
video is short and you can't really see anything. I should have taken another one but I didn't think it was going to turn out.
There was a bunch of us who slept just across the river from town and up above the rest stop there was a nice big flat area for us to camp. The music was so loud even with ear plugs in it didn't seem to help much. I was able to sleep pretty decent actually. I only woke up twice. The music was playing in my dreams haha.
The next day was shitty...
Look at all those tents!
So I was only 3 miles in and my knee started hurting pretty bad. I should have turned around and went back to Belden. But I would stop and rest and I would feel better for a little bit. I only went 18 miles. I left before Steal Toe and Lowlander. I expected they would catch me since I was going so slow. But they didn't.
The next day I went another 18 very painful miles. My knee is killing me. It's my IT band. I must have inflamed my bursa cause it keeps hurting after 3 days rest, vitamin I , ice and stretching. By far this was the worst most painful day on the trail. I walked sun up to sun down and barley got 18 miles. Every step is pain. So terrible I feel sick even thinking about it a month later. Nothing I could do but just keep hiking. I was a little sad to, I got to the midpoint monument and I was by myself. No one to celebrate with. It was bitter sweet. I was so happy to make it halfway...
but also sad cause I knew this was going to be the end when I get to Chester. I'm not going to be able to take a zero or two to feel better. This is going to take a week or more.
At this point it's harder to quit then it is to keep going...
Mentally I feel good and I'm happy. I want to keep hiking. Physically I'm breaking down. Even when I didn't hurt the miles where harder and harder to do. Instead of getting stronger I'm getting weaker. I don't know what going on. My body is calling it quits. I guess I better listen.
I camped a mile from the mid point monument.
The craziest/freakiest thing ever happen that night...
- Posted from my iPhone
Monday, May 5, 2014
Day 10. Eagle Rock!
Radom Campsite at 100 mark to Warner Springs
9.5 miles
Total miles 109.5
Woke up at 7a I didn't have enough water to make breakfast so I packed up and HappyMan and I made the quick trek to Barrel Springs. The impossible mile is now so easy. Got to love a what a little rest can do for the body.
There is many warnings for poison oak. Poison oak is weird I can't seem to figure it out. It seem to always look different. Oh well when in the the desert don't touch anything, thats all I know.
Here is one of those signs.
Finally at Barrel Springs it is such a nice little area it would have been a nice place to camp. Lots of trees and flat spots for camping. I filtered about 3 liters and made breakfast. It my favorite place that I've eaten breakfast so far. Steady was handing out dark chocolate I put it in my oatmeal it was so good.
Dan, Steady and FancyPants getting water from the spring.
Saw this lonely sign and wanted to give it some company.
Made it to Eagle Rock!!! I was so excited and happy to be here I have seen so many other peoples pictures. I was looking forward to this moment for almost a year. So I just had to ride the eagle.
We finally made it Warner Springs. We headed first over to the Post Office to get our boxes it was a mile walk from the PCT so that really sucked. It was super hot at this point and all I wanted to do was take my shoes off and take a shower and get my clothes washed. So Steady and Hornysbee had gotten a ride from the post office to the Community center but I was trying to figure out what I was going to do cause I had a resupply box here and a bounce box. Which is a box that I keep things that I may need along the trail like my shaver to shave my head, batteries, foot care stuff ect. So I decided to just come back to post office tomorrow and ship my bounce box ahead. So I went outside and I could find a ride to Community Center so I walked the mile carrying my pack, and two heavy boxes in this heat and my super sore feet... it was miserable to say the least. But I made it. And it was Finally time to take a shower I hadn't showered since Laguna.
Fist things first take these shoes off... oh That is heaven. haha dirty, dirty feet.
Zero Blisters baby! Want to know the secrets? Mesh shoes, Thin/light weight TOE SOCKS, and stopping immediately when you feel a hot spot, and wipe with alcohol wipe and apply a mole skin/duct tape/bandaid(which ever you got). and take off the shoes and socks from time to time. Also lacing your shoes properly is a big deal too. You don't want your foot sliding around in your shoe, but you also don't want it to tight So tricks I've learned help with this.
Iceman, Steady and me after our showers. Hanging out making dinner in the parking lot before setting up our tents. The showers where awesome. There are wooden shower stalls outside behind the building lol. The water was hot and the pressure was incredibly strong. So awesome. Felt so good to melt all the dirt off my body. I put my grey under armour shirt that I have been saving since I left colorado. It was nice and clean and still smelled like home.
Here is where home is for the night. There was a lot of other hikers that ended up camping here tonight. I went to sleep to the sound of sawing logs. (snoring curtsy of NatGeo thanks for that haha)
I have no intentions of waking up early and hiking I am taking a zero tomorrow and let my feet get better. (zero day means 0 miles hiked that day)
- Posted from my iPhone
9.5 miles
Total miles 109.5
Woke up at 7a I didn't have enough water to make breakfast so I packed up and HappyMan and I made the quick trek to Barrel Springs. The impossible mile is now so easy. Got to love a what a little rest can do for the body.
There is many warnings for poison oak. Poison oak is weird I can't seem to figure it out. It seem to always look different. Oh well when in the the desert don't touch anything, thats all I know.
Here is one of those signs.
Finally at Barrel Springs it is such a nice little area it would have been a nice place to camp. Lots of trees and flat spots for camping. I filtered about 3 liters and made breakfast. It my favorite place that I've eaten breakfast so far. Steady was handing out dark chocolate I put it in my oatmeal it was so good.
Dan, Steady and FancyPants getting water from the spring.
Saw this lonely sign and wanted to give it some company.
Made it to Eagle Rock!!! I was so excited and happy to be here I have seen so many other peoples pictures. I was looking forward to this moment for almost a year. So I just had to ride the eagle.
We finally made it Warner Springs. We headed first over to the Post Office to get our boxes it was a mile walk from the PCT so that really sucked. It was super hot at this point and all I wanted to do was take my shoes off and take a shower and get my clothes washed. So Steady and Hornysbee had gotten a ride from the post office to the Community center but I was trying to figure out what I was going to do cause I had a resupply box here and a bounce box. Which is a box that I keep things that I may need along the trail like my shaver to shave my head, batteries, foot care stuff ect. So I decided to just come back to post office tomorrow and ship my bounce box ahead. So I went outside and I could find a ride to Community Center so I walked the mile carrying my pack, and two heavy boxes in this heat and my super sore feet... it was miserable to say the least. But I made it. And it was Finally time to take a shower I hadn't showered since Laguna.
Fist things first take these shoes off... oh That is heaven. haha dirty, dirty feet.
Zero Blisters baby! Want to know the secrets? Mesh shoes, Thin/light weight TOE SOCKS, and stopping immediately when you feel a hot spot, and wipe with alcohol wipe and apply a mole skin/duct tape/bandaid(which ever you got). and take off the shoes and socks from time to time. Also lacing your shoes properly is a big deal too. You don't want your foot sliding around in your shoe, but you also don't want it to tight So tricks I've learned help with this.
Iceman, Steady and me after our showers. Hanging out making dinner in the parking lot before setting up our tents. The showers where awesome. There are wooden shower stalls outside behind the building lol. The water was hot and the pressure was incredibly strong. So awesome. Felt so good to melt all the dirt off my body. I put my grey under armour shirt that I have been saving since I left colorado. It was nice and clean and still smelled like home.
Here is where home is for the night. There was a lot of other hikers that ended up camping here tonight. I went to sleep to the sound of sawing logs. (snoring curtsy of NatGeo thanks for that haha)
I have no intentions of waking up early and hiking I am taking a zero tomorrow and let my feet get better. (zero day means 0 miles hiked that day)
- Posted from my iPhone
Day 9. Oh yes there will be pain
Searching for balance
Scissors Crossing to ?
First thing I got to say is: I've spent my first night sleeping under a bridge. So I can check that off my bucket list.
I was awaken by the sound of someone unzipping there tent as they proceeded to pee. awesome it's 4am now I can't sleep. So I tried to catch up on the blog and sent some texts to Jordan (she works nights) which was nice.
It was 7 by the time I hit the trail, the last to leave this time. I was able to fill up on water from the cache that was there. I have like 12 or 13 ish miles till I get to the 3rd gate water cache and it is going to be hot today with little to no shade the whole way.
So my very ambitious goal today is to go all the way to Warner Springs which is 32 miles. I know the energy, fitness and the drive is there to go the distance. I just don't know if my feet will hold up that far using the hike one hour rest 15 minute method that had gotten me to Scissors Crossing.
So right from the beginning there was a pretty good climb. We started down in this valley and climb to almost the top of the mountains and walk along the mountain on a trail cut into the side. Totally exposed no trees in sight dirt, rocks and ugly desertish bush. Maybe a cactus with a flower here and there. So I got 4 miles in took my first little break. I only got 2 miles more till my feet started hurting pretty intensely. I hobbled the last 6 to the water cache there was some shade provided by some slightly taller bushes. It was like oasis and a perfect place for a siesta. There was people sleeping under bushes all over the place it was pretty comical. I found me a bush and crawled under. I laid out my tent footprint and blew up my Thermarest Xtherm and I spent 2 hours here off my aching feet.
I was packing up my stuff when Happy Man came walking by. Happy Man! I hadn't seen him since kickoff. He was at Scout and Frodo's house the same time as me. He is really nice guy from Mexico. He took a short break and we both decided that we would walk together to Barrel springs with was 10 or so miles away. If we hurried we could make it before it got dark.
We came across Billy Goats Cave so I had to take a picture.
Here's Happy Man. It's a good fit on the name he's a super happy dude.
We walked along as the sun was getting closer and closer to setting. I couldn't walk any further I had to stop and rest my feet. the pain was so bad. I only had 3 more miles. after doing like 20 miles 3 should seem like no big deal, right? Happy man went on with out me. I sat down on the trail with my chair and pack under my legs for almost 30 minutes. I had to put on my head lamp and jacket cause the sun had already set. I wasn't going to sleep right in the middle of the trail so I had to march on to the next open space the resembled anything close to a campsite. 3 miles seemed impossible when every step was extreme shooting pains...
I hike with a very light and small step to reduce the pounding of the feet on the ground. 99 miles in a short amount of time has taken it's toll regardless of my efforts.
I kept checking my Halfmile app on my phone to see if somehow the mile was getting shorter. and I noticed I was exactly at mile 100!
I had just walked 100 miles of the PCT! I never thought I would actually be here. I just thought it was just something that I was just planning and talking about but never actually going to do.
I had found this a few steps later. It's a 100 made from rocks. At this moment I just realized I am here, I'm doing it and the pain was secondary to the joy and excitement I was feeling. I was falling into negative head space over the last few miles and I was alone in that moment of negative thinking. Seeing this reminded me why I'm out here and that this is the time of my life. Nothing great in life comes easy or free. There is a price to pay and Oh yes there will be pain. This is the test and pain is part of the price. Yeah it tests the body, but I think the biggest test is of my will to overcome the struggles and pain. Sometimes it takes an outside influence to snap you out of funk. This 100 was just what I needed when I needed it. I was going to walk the last 1.13 miles with a smile on my face and in good spirits despite the needles, razor blades, and fire I was walking on.
Guess what, The universe provided me with exactly what I needed twice now. I didn't have to walk the last mile, right around the corner was Happy Man with his tent set up and with just enough space for mine as well! So we camped on this nice sandy area blocked from any wind it was perfect. I was to beat to make dinner I can't even remember if I ate anything or not.
Blissful sleep...
Tomorrow 1 mile to Barrel springs and 9 to Warner Springs where I have 2 resupply boxes awaiting my arrival.
Scissors Crossing to some random camp site after mile 100.
23.3 very painful miles
- Posted from my iPhone
Scissors Crossing to ?
First thing I got to say is: I've spent my first night sleeping under a bridge. So I can check that off my bucket list.
I was awaken by the sound of someone unzipping there tent as they proceeded to pee. awesome it's 4am now I can't sleep. So I tried to catch up on the blog and sent some texts to Jordan (she works nights) which was nice.
It was 7 by the time I hit the trail, the last to leave this time. I was able to fill up on water from the cache that was there. I have like 12 or 13 ish miles till I get to the 3rd gate water cache and it is going to be hot today with little to no shade the whole way.
So my very ambitious goal today is to go all the way to Warner Springs which is 32 miles. I know the energy, fitness and the drive is there to go the distance. I just don't know if my feet will hold up that far using the hike one hour rest 15 minute method that had gotten me to Scissors Crossing.
So right from the beginning there was a pretty good climb. We started down in this valley and climb to almost the top of the mountains and walk along the mountain on a trail cut into the side. Totally exposed no trees in sight dirt, rocks and ugly desertish bush. Maybe a cactus with a flower here and there. So I got 4 miles in took my first little break. I only got 2 miles more till my feet started hurting pretty intensely. I hobbled the last 6 to the water cache there was some shade provided by some slightly taller bushes. It was like oasis and a perfect place for a siesta. There was people sleeping under bushes all over the place it was pretty comical. I found me a bush and crawled under. I laid out my tent footprint and blew up my Thermarest Xtherm and I spent 2 hours here off my aching feet.
I was packing up my stuff when Happy Man came walking by. Happy Man! I hadn't seen him since kickoff. He was at Scout and Frodo's house the same time as me. He is really nice guy from Mexico. He took a short break and we both decided that we would walk together to Barrel springs with was 10 or so miles away. If we hurried we could make it before it got dark.
We came across Billy Goats Cave so I had to take a picture.
Here's Happy Man. It's a good fit on the name he's a super happy dude.
We walked along as the sun was getting closer and closer to setting. I couldn't walk any further I had to stop and rest my feet. the pain was so bad. I only had 3 more miles. after doing like 20 miles 3 should seem like no big deal, right? Happy man went on with out me. I sat down on the trail with my chair and pack under my legs for almost 30 minutes. I had to put on my head lamp and jacket cause the sun had already set. I wasn't going to sleep right in the middle of the trail so I had to march on to the next open space the resembled anything close to a campsite. 3 miles seemed impossible when every step was extreme shooting pains...
I hike with a very light and small step to reduce the pounding of the feet on the ground. 99 miles in a short amount of time has taken it's toll regardless of my efforts.
I kept checking my Halfmile app on my phone to see if somehow the mile was getting shorter. and I noticed I was exactly at mile 100!
I had just walked 100 miles of the PCT! I never thought I would actually be here. I just thought it was just something that I was just planning and talking about but never actually going to do.
I had found this a few steps later. It's a 100 made from rocks. At this moment I just realized I am here, I'm doing it and the pain was secondary to the joy and excitement I was feeling. I was falling into negative head space over the last few miles and I was alone in that moment of negative thinking. Seeing this reminded me why I'm out here and that this is the time of my life. Nothing great in life comes easy or free. There is a price to pay and Oh yes there will be pain. This is the test and pain is part of the price. Yeah it tests the body, but I think the biggest test is of my will to overcome the struggles and pain. Sometimes it takes an outside influence to snap you out of funk. This 100 was just what I needed when I needed it. I was going to walk the last 1.13 miles with a smile on my face and in good spirits despite the needles, razor blades, and fire I was walking on.
Guess what, The universe provided me with exactly what I needed twice now. I didn't have to walk the last mile, right around the corner was Happy Man with his tent set up and with just enough space for mine as well! So we camped on this nice sandy area blocked from any wind it was perfect. I was to beat to make dinner I can't even remember if I ate anything or not.
Blissful sleep...
Tomorrow 1 mile to Barrel springs and 9 to Warner Springs where I have 2 resupply boxes awaiting my arrival.
Scissors Crossing to some random camp site after mile 100.
23.3 very painful miles
- Posted from my iPhone
Sunday, March 2, 2014
51 days till my start date. Coming together
More Pieces to the puzzle...
Today in the mail I got a nice little surprise. Actually a couple surprises, well more like 4 surprises...
I Got 2 separate notices that I need to get a couple packages from the apartment office. It really is like Christmas, I don't know what going to be in the box till I open it. I have so much stuff coming in the mail these days. I'll have to wait till Monday and see what I got though since the office is closed Sunday.
I got my Dirty Girl Gators so that's exciting. Tired those on for size. a little loose around my ankle but I should be able to fix that. He's what color I picked out It's called Giardia hehe. don't drink that water.
Today in the mail I got a nice little surprise. Actually a couple surprises, well more like 4 surprises...
I Got 2 separate notices that I need to get a couple packages from the apartment office. It really is like Christmas, I don't know what going to be in the box till I open it. I have so much stuff coming in the mail these days. I'll have to wait till Monday and see what I got though since the office is closed Sunday.
I got my Dirty Girl Gators so that's exciting. Tired those on for size. a little loose around my ankle but I should be able to fix that. He's what color I picked out It's called Giardia hehe. don't drink that water.
I also got some really exciting news... My permit to enter Canada via the PCT was approved! Not like I was worried or anything ;)
So it looks like I can actually finish this thing, if I can walk that far.
I also decided on what shoes I'm going to try out. I went with Brooks Cascadia 9 they are Trail runners. Which seems to be ideal for the conditions one encounters on the PCT. According to prior PCT hikers trail runners are the way to go. The more Breathable the better. It's was funny going into the REI to try them on (which I did 3 times) I knew exactly what I wanted and 3 different sales people tried to sell me heavier duty Gortex Hiking boots. Each one of them had there own favorite boot that they thought I should be using on a hike like this. So really you have to know what you want. It's ok to feel like you know more than the sales person you pry done more research. Go in and just get what you came for.
So far so good. I like em! I did buy them a size and half bigger than normal. I tried on a pair 2 sizes to big and it just wasn't comfortable. The reason you get bigger is because your feet swell and and actully grow larger over time. Supposed to help in blister prevention as well. I've only had them on the tread mil so I can't wait to get a little dirt on them from the trail.
Tried on the Gators with the shoes. I had to take a picture cause it's the cleanest they will ever be...
I ordered my pack (Gegory Z65) a few weeks ago and had to send it back. It didn't fit. I measured my torso which is 17.5" which fit into the size small (up to 18") and medium (from 18") for the Gregory packs. I ordered the Small and it was way way to small of course. The only reason I even ordered the small instead of medium is The mediums where out of stock and because in the store I tried on a medium Gregory Contour pack and it almost seemed to big like I couldn't get the hip belt high enough on my hips. So maybe I'm screwed and fall into no mans land when it comes to my torso length and I won't be able to find the Goldilocks pack size/fit. (the baltoro is actually adjustable) Now the hurry up and wait game for them to get my return and ship out the other size.
On it's way are items like something to hold my iPhone to the stick pic. (stick pic is a little thing that goes on the end of a trekking pole and you can attach you camera) a Bluetooth folding keyboard for journal entries on the trail. a Buff, and Vivobarefoot ultra trail runner shoes/ my camp shoes/ river crossing shoes. Check these out on Amazon and some other things I can't think of right now.
I just got a new Iphone 5c as well. I chose the 5c over the 5s because the c gets better/stronger signal in the mountains/rual areas. It has something to do with with the design of the antenna and possibly plastic frame vs metal 5s frame. I can't be sure I'm not a cellular communications expert and I have not tested or compared the two. So don't take my word, do your own research. I compared the cameras and there is not a noticeable difference in quality. There is, but isn't. (not even to bother me any) I'll leave it at that.
By the end of the week I should have made up my mind on the tent. I also will order cook stove here pretty soon.
Don't fort get to subscribe via email, or follow on journal Google+
Monday, February 24, 2014
57 days till my start date. TRAINING... lets GO!
Endurance Training and Injury Prevention
DISCLAIMER: Let me start by saying I'm not an expert on anything (except auto mechanics/fixing cars ;) I can't claim to be an expert on nutrition, health, fitness or injury prevention. I only know what I have learned from others. This is what I have practiced in my own life and found to work for me. I just wanted to share what I am doing, and if anyone planning on doing a long distance hike finds any of this info useful or entertaining then kudos. If NOT then please disregard.
Let me tell you the story behind how I have come to be where I am today. Nobody cares WHAT you do until they know WHY you do it... Right?
2010 was when I first got into hiking. Planning to do a 14er, Jordan and I started hiking Horsetooth Mountain as a way to train for our big hike of Mt. Elbert. The first few hikes where difficult we didn't even try to make it to the top our first 2 times (5 miles round trip). I think we maybe hiked like maybe 10 miles before we ended up hiking Mt.Elbert. Which was slow going but we made it to the top it was a 9 mile hike and It was a perfect day. (minus losing both big toe nails two days after. wish I had a picture to insert here haha) 2011 we hiked to Grey's peak and Torres peak both 14ers. I was so busy with my business I didn't hike at all in 2012. :(
Summer 2013 when I first heard about The PCT I knew I was going to hike the PCT in 2014 (at least I knew I wanted to). I wanted to hike a few more 14ers. I had just sold my business I had all the time in the world to hike. I went out hiking Horsetooth 2-4 times a week. and I had noticed that I was getting to the top without taking any breaks and it was getting easier (as you would expect) I had started to time myself. It was Taking me a little over an hour(1.25 - 1.1 hours) to reach the top. I started working out and training to see how fast I could do it. I started walking on the treadmill for 20 min. I would vary the incline from the steepest to less steeper if I was getting to winded. (very difficult for me to maintain the steepest incline for 20 min in the beginning) I noticed I was reaching the top of Horsetooth in an hour. I stopped eating meat, dairy, and eggs. The first month I lost almost 20lbs! and I was reaching the top of Horsetooth in 50-45 min. It was getting so easy I started jogging parts of the trail! I was using my small day pack with two 2L bladders filled with water for weight.
I think everyone knows when you do something repeatedly it gets easier. With Training and diet in a short amount of time I was able to get measurable results with everything I did. I wanted to be able to reach the top in 30 min. (which would require running the whole way) however I wasn't able to achieve my goal. Here's why:
One day on my way back down the trail as I was jogging downhill (w/about 10lbs pack) I started to noticed a dull pain in my knee behind my knee cap which started to turn into a louder and louder pain as I went on. If I would stop and rest it would go away and I could continue on my way, it would act up again if I had a hill to climb. I also noticed it while climbing stairs the day I had gone hiking. I didn't know what was going on. What I didn't know then I most likely had which is commonly referred to as "runners knee" I am assuming was from overuse. Later in that summer I hiked Mt. Democrat (14er), Hanging lake, Hiked to the Glacier, and many other trails by Horsetooth rock(all very short hikes) I slowed down a little and It didn't bother me to much more than slightly dull pain from time to time. I rested more in between hikes which seemed to help. Since I had started training for the PCT the last few months I haven't had any knee issues. Yea! BUT, last week I was doing my training routine (I'll get into that in a minute) and I was running at moderate (6.5mph) pace on the thread mil for 45 min straight (which I have never done/attempted before) the outside of my hip started hurting. I had to stop running 43 min and 50 secs into the run it was hurting so bad. I really wasn't that concerned, the pain was gone minutes after I stopped running (shows my ignorance to what my body was trying to tell me) Two days later I was going to run for 60 min. I had made it 27 minute into the workout and then the pain in the hip was back. aaaahhh WTF is going on here. I started doing research (Ok I Goggled it) and discovered it's an issue with my IT band was tight and hurting my Bursitis.(Goggle it) Which brings me to the conclusion of I need to figure out what the heck is going on. Am I doing something wrong? How can I prevent this and other issues from happening on the trail? I know I won't be running on the PCT. The only thing that is going to take me off the trail is severe injury. Until yesterday, "injury" meant a broken bone, torn ligament or whatever caused by some accident or from postholing. Postholing is when your walking on top of deepish snow and you suddenly break through the crust with one leg up to your knee or crouch haha. I never considered that I could injure myself by "overuse" or improper movement/Gait. I have just opened up a whole new world to explore.
Here is how I feel about training.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail...
I'm not even at the novice level when it comes to long distance hiking. Everything I know is what I have read and learned from others. I seem to hear the same thing over and over when it comes to training. Usually sounds something like this, "the only way to hike 20-30 miles day after day with a fully loaded pack is to actually hike with a fully loaded pack for 20-30 miles day after day". I agree Although (don't tell anyone) I don't quite agree with that mentality. To me, thinking that you aren't going to prepare your body at all before hand and are simply going to just get in shape mid- trail sounds like a lame excuse for not exercising. By saying you don't have time to exercise is the wrong answer. people make time for what is important to them. However I know you can come straight from the couch and thru hiked the PCT. I'm not saying it can't be done. But how many people have done that and failed/quit cause the physical demand was too overwhelming for the mental to compensate for long enough to get into shape? We'll never know cause we will never hear their story... Ok rant over ;)
Wow that was a long story time session sorry bout that. It's training time!
The last few months at the gym I was just kind of doing what I felt like doing no real plan I was following. I would do squats with 135lbs - 185lbs pretty low weight, leg press, lunges with 50lbs of weight, core workouts and once and a while some upper body stuff. Cardio was my main focus, I would spend 40 - 60 minutes doing cardio. Which I found to be quiet enjoyable on the machines being able to track my numbers, such as pace, distance and time. I found stair stepper to be the most difficult so I wanted to hit that the hardest. I basically just wanted to raise my fitness level, and endurance. Improve my bodies ability to use oxygen efficiently. I found an awesome article on long distance hiking, endurance training. Which I have adopted for the last two months prior to my start date. Real quick here is what I was doing for cardio before I came across this article:
Stairs 20 minutes 100-120+ floors
Walk at steepest incline 20 min 3.5mph (my target hiking pace)
Run treadmill for 20 min 6.5-6.9 mph
I would usually do stair stepper followed by walking or running, I have done all three only a couple times. (usually cause Jordan was finished with her workout before me and it was sauna time! desert training haha) It has been exciting to watch my fitness level increase. Never in my life have had cardio as my main focus and tracked my progress.
Here are my records I've been keeping from my previous workouts. Sometimes I forget to record my work outs that's where you get the multi-day gaps in my workouts. The numbers are not drastically different. But the ease at which I can do them is (wish I would have recorded my times from Nov. and early Dec. to get a better idea of where I came from):
For Valentines day one of the gifts from my Girlfriend was the March issue of Backpacker magazine. Towards the back there is an awesome article called "Go The Distance". It's pretty good. "Advice from the endurance pros" Talks about # 1. Physical - Preparing your body for the rigors of hiking long distance. A Story from Hal Koerner and Mike Wolfe completed the John Muir trail in 3 days 12 hours. 2. Mental - Get your head around the challenges of hiking hour after hour day after day. Story about Anish Completed the PCT in 60 days. 3. Strategy - Combine your physical and mental training to hike farther than ever before. Story about Matt Kirk completed AT (Appalachian trail) in 58 days. Also contained a workout plan by endurance coach and ultra runner Travis Macy he developed a workout plan to get you off the couch into the biggest hike of your life in 90 days.
Month 1: Build a base
Start slow, moderate your training if you feel rundown, gradually ramp up to the longer workouts. He tells you what to do every day of the week includes advice and why you do the workouts.
Best advice he gives on month 1 is "Don't sweat a missed day. Refocus, recommit, and keep going." Macy
I feel like I have a good base so I don't feel bad skipping month 1 and since I only have 2 months till I start my hike. I am doing the month 2 workout now.
Month 2: Focus your effort
"This is the heavy-lifting month where both the volume and intensity are highest and the focus is on making big gains in fitness and strength." Macy says
Mondays: Rest
"Recovery Days Are Key" Macy
Tuesdays: Run 45 minutes (zone 2 moderate effort, can hold a conversation)
Wednesdays: Gym workout B:
Thursdays: run 60 minutes, completing four 5-minute intervals (zone 4 very strong effort, feels like a race) separated by 3 minutes of easy jogging.
Macy: "Intervals increase your heart rate and boost aerobic fitness. when your body adjusts to the higher intensity, it makes lower intensity feel easier."
Fridays: Gym work out C: your choice: an hour of yoga, pilates, Crossfit, or other cross-training.
Saturdays: Hike 80 minutes (zone 2-3, zone 3 strong effort, breathing hard)
Sundays: Long day: Hike 3.5 to 4 hours with a fully loaded pack on hilly terrain (zone 2)
Macy: "Doing the long day when your legs are a little tired simulates how your legs might feel on the second day after doing big miles."
I am glad that I started training and that I had pain in my hip. I really opened my eyes to overuse injuries. Which previously wasn't even a blip on my radar. As far as my hip pain I am going to stretch (which I never do) my IT bands (found tons of YouTube vids) really well and take it easy when I feel pain. As I was re-reading Yogis' book I happen to be in the training section a couple days ago and read about Bigfoot's story. When he hiked the AT he was in a lot of pain. And just before his PCT hike he went to physical therapist and learned his gait was all wrong. I found his YouTube videos Yogi mentions in her book and found them to be most informative. I suggest everyone planning to do a long distance hike to watch them.
Avoiding Overuse Injuries on a PCT Thruhike (Part 1)
- intro (very funny by the way, uh, huh)
Part 2
Avoiding Overuse Injuries on the PCT (Part 3)
- avoiding and managing injuries
Prior to my hip pain I never understood what "listen to what your body is saying to you". I get it now. Just one more piece of knowledge to help me walk the walk to Canada.
Feel free to comment (hikers let me know if this was useful) and don't forget to follow either by subscribing to email updates, RSS feed or follow on Google+, I'm going to start posting more often since It's getting closer to Day 1!
Coming next is shoes, more gear, food part 2 and training updates...
DISCLAIMER: Let me start by saying I'm not an expert on anything (except auto mechanics/fixing cars ;) I can't claim to be an expert on nutrition, health, fitness or injury prevention. I only know what I have learned from others. This is what I have practiced in my own life and found to work for me. I just wanted to share what I am doing, and if anyone planning on doing a long distance hike finds any of this info useful or entertaining then kudos. If NOT then please disregard.
Let me tell you the story behind how I have come to be where I am today. Nobody cares WHAT you do until they know WHY you do it... Right?
 |
| Statics of our Mt.Elbert hike on the way up |
 |
| View from Horsetooth rock of Fort Collins and my feet |
I think everyone knows when you do something repeatedly it gets easier. With Training and diet in a short amount of time I was able to get measurable results with everything I did. I wanted to be able to reach the top in 30 min. (which would require running the whole way) however I wasn't able to achieve my goal. Here's why:
One day on my way back down the trail as I was jogging downhill (w/about 10lbs pack) I started to noticed a dull pain in my knee behind my knee cap which started to turn into a louder and louder pain as I went on. If I would stop and rest it would go away and I could continue on my way, it would act up again if I had a hill to climb. I also noticed it while climbing stairs the day I had gone hiking. I didn't know what was going on. What I didn't know then I most likely had which is commonly referred to as "runners knee" I am assuming was from overuse. Later in that summer I hiked Mt. Democrat (14er), Hanging lake, Hiked to the Glacier, and many other trails by Horsetooth rock(all very short hikes) I slowed down a little and It didn't bother me to much more than slightly dull pain from time to time. I rested more in between hikes which seemed to help. Since I had started training for the PCT the last few months I haven't had any knee issues. Yea! BUT, last week I was doing my training routine (I'll get into that in a minute) and I was running at moderate (6.5mph) pace on the thread mil for 45 min straight (which I have never done/attempted before) the outside of my hip started hurting. I had to stop running 43 min and 50 secs into the run it was hurting so bad. I really wasn't that concerned, the pain was gone minutes after I stopped running (shows my ignorance to what my body was trying to tell me) Two days later I was going to run for 60 min. I had made it 27 minute into the workout and then the pain in the hip was back. aaaahhh WTF is going on here. I started doing research (Ok I Goggled it) and discovered it's an issue with my IT band was tight and hurting my Bursitis.(Goggle it) Which brings me to the conclusion of I need to figure out what the heck is going on. Am I doing something wrong? How can I prevent this and other issues from happening on the trail? I know I won't be running on the PCT. The only thing that is going to take me off the trail is severe injury. Until yesterday, "injury" meant a broken bone, torn ligament or whatever caused by some accident or from postholing. Postholing is when your walking on top of deepish snow and you suddenly break through the crust with one leg up to your knee or crouch haha. I never considered that I could injure myself by "overuse" or improper movement/Gait. I have just opened up a whole new world to explore.
Here is how I feel about training.
Failing to prepare is preparing to fail...
I'm not even at the novice level when it comes to long distance hiking. Everything I know is what I have read and learned from others. I seem to hear the same thing over and over when it comes to training. Usually sounds something like this, "the only way to hike 20-30 miles day after day with a fully loaded pack is to actually hike with a fully loaded pack for 20-30 miles day after day". I agree Although (don't tell anyone) I don't quite agree with that mentality. To me, thinking that you aren't going to prepare your body at all before hand and are simply going to just get in shape mid- trail sounds like a lame excuse for not exercising. By saying you don't have time to exercise is the wrong answer. people make time for what is important to them. However I know you can come straight from the couch and thru hiked the PCT. I'm not saying it can't be done. But how many people have done that and failed/quit cause the physical demand was too overwhelming for the mental to compensate for long enough to get into shape? We'll never know cause we will never hear their story... Ok rant over ;)
Wow that was a long story time session sorry bout that. It's training time!
The last few months at the gym I was just kind of doing what I felt like doing no real plan I was following. I would do squats with 135lbs - 185lbs pretty low weight, leg press, lunges with 50lbs of weight, core workouts and once and a while some upper body stuff. Cardio was my main focus, I would spend 40 - 60 minutes doing cardio. Which I found to be quiet enjoyable on the machines being able to track my numbers, such as pace, distance and time. I found stair stepper to be the most difficult so I wanted to hit that the hardest. I basically just wanted to raise my fitness level, and endurance. Improve my bodies ability to use oxygen efficiently. I found an awesome article on long distance hiking, endurance training. Which I have adopted for the last two months prior to my start date. Real quick here is what I was doing for cardio before I came across this article:
Stairs 20 minutes 100-120+ floors
Walk at steepest incline 20 min 3.5mph (my target hiking pace)
Run treadmill for 20 min 6.5-6.9 mph
I would usually do stair stepper followed by walking or running, I have done all three only a couple times. (usually cause Jordan was finished with her workout before me and it was sauna time! desert training haha) It has been exciting to watch my fitness level increase. Never in my life have had cardio as my main focus and tracked my progress.
Here are my records I've been keeping from my previous workouts. Sometimes I forget to record my work outs that's where you get the multi-day gaps in my workouts. The numbers are not drastically different. But the ease at which I can do them is (wish I would have recorded my times from Nov. and early Dec. to get a better idea of where I came from):
Month 1: Build a base
Start slow, moderate your training if you feel rundown, gradually ramp up to the longer workouts. He tells you what to do every day of the week includes advice and why you do the workouts.
Best advice he gives on month 1 is "Don't sweat a missed day. Refocus, recommit, and keep going." Macy
Month 2: Focus your effort
"This is the heavy-lifting month where both the volume and intensity are highest and the focus is on making big gains in fitness and strength." Macy says
Mondays: Rest
"Recovery Days Are Key" Macy
Tuesdays: Run 45 minutes (zone 2 moderate effort, can hold a conversation)
Wednesdays: Gym workout B:
- 2 minutes front crunches
- 2 minutes side crunches on each side
- 3x8 bench press (60% of single rep maxium)
- 3x10 dumbell curls
- 4x10 squats
Thursdays: run 60 minutes, completing four 5-minute intervals (zone 4 very strong effort, feels like a race) separated by 3 minutes of easy jogging.
Macy: "Intervals increase your heart rate and boost aerobic fitness. when your body adjusts to the higher intensity, it makes lower intensity feel easier."
Fridays: Gym work out C: your choice: an hour of yoga, pilates, Crossfit, or other cross-training.
Saturdays: Hike 80 minutes (zone 2-3, zone 3 strong effort, breathing hard)
Sundays: Long day: Hike 3.5 to 4 hours with a fully loaded pack on hilly terrain (zone 2)
Macy: "Doing the long day when your legs are a little tired simulates how your legs might feel on the second day after doing big miles."
I am glad that I started training and that I had pain in my hip. I really opened my eyes to overuse injuries. Which previously wasn't even a blip on my radar. As far as my hip pain I am going to stretch (which I never do) my IT bands (found tons of YouTube vids) really well and take it easy when I feel pain. As I was re-reading Yogis' book I happen to be in the training section a couple days ago and read about Bigfoot's story. When he hiked the AT he was in a lot of pain. And just before his PCT hike he went to physical therapist and learned his gait was all wrong. I found his YouTube videos Yogi mentions in her book and found them to be most informative. I suggest everyone planning to do a long distance hike to watch them.
Avoiding Overuse Injuries on a PCT Thruhike (Part 1)
- intro (very funny by the way, uh, huh)
Part 2
Avoiding Overuse Injuries on the PCT (Part 3)
- avoiding and managing injuries
Prior to my hip pain I never understood what "listen to what your body is saying to you". I get it now. Just one more piece of knowledge to help me walk the walk to Canada.
Feel free to comment (hikers let me know if this was useful) and don't forget to follow either by subscribing to email updates, RSS feed or follow on Google+, I'm going to start posting more often since It's getting closer to Day 1!
Coming next is shoes, more gear, food part 2 and training updates...
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| Hanging Lake |
Tuesday, January 14, 2014
97 days till my start date. It's OFFICIAL... I'm going!
It's finally real...
Ever since I have first heard about the PCT I have been intrigued. I wondered if it was actually something I could actually do. I have read many journals/blogs over the last year. I even followed a couple people the whole trail last year. Which is really cool by the way. It almost feels as if I have done the pct already. I started to develop this desire/want to hike the PCT so bad I wanted to just pack my stuff and go middle way through the year. But I want to do it "right". (start to finish/Mexico to Canada). The planning has made it feel more real as I invest time, money and effort if figuring out the logistics of the resupply boxes, gear and travel arrangements. Which brings me to my point... I just Booked my flight to San Diego!
As I entered all the information into my Rovia booking engine and selected one-way flight and pressed search. I could feel my heart rate increase.
just sitting here I could hear my heart beat at this point. I have booked many flights before and never have I had a physical response like this before haha.
Boom! only $98. So it's done, it feels real now. I am actually going to really do it. I have made up my mind a long time ago, but it's official now. I'm not turning back, I'm going to go and I am going to finish or Die trying! That's the warriors way.
It's Kind of funny to think that It was a hard decision to make weather or not I was actually going to Hike the PCT this year (2014). But the reality is that was the easiest part. The Hard part now is figuring out how much food to send myself on the the trial and when and where. Obviously I have many tools, great knowledgeable people and such to help me figure that out. It's still quite the task. Not to mention the hike itself... it's going to be interesting... I Can't wait!
Saturday, January 4, 2014
108 days till my start date. FOOD part 1.
Food Food Food!
Testing food, what could be better than that?
I'm very excited to start figuring out what food I'm going to be eating everyday on the trail. I'm going to try and make a lot of variety and test everything before I start going into mass production mode. 3-4 meals a day plus snacks for about 150ish days, that is a lot of food! I don't even have a clue as to what that much food even looks like. The plan is that I am going to be resupplying with maildrops cause I don't what to have to buy processed garage food, plus being vegan would pry make it harder to resupply in some smaller towns. So I am up for the challenge and this is part of the pre-journey, journey for me.
Dehydrator time!
I just got My new Nesco Dehydrator the other day. The very same day I had to run to the Sprouts Grocery store and pick up all the ingredients to make this Vegan Chili I've never had before just so I could dehydrate some and try it. Had fun making a short video as well.
A little video for your viewing pleasure.
The Results...
The Chili is really good, except for the corn. I knew I shouldn't have added corn. I think I would also add one can less of tomatoes and more Garlic and add more of the other spices I think I'll play with it a little. however It still was very good as is. Minus that stupid corn, it was just kind of chewy I didn't care for it being in there.
After dehydrating it I packed it in a ziplock and I was excited to taste it the following day... I was impressed it didn't taste any different. I boiled some water and added about 1.5 cups of water. The Beans where softer but still really good. I am so excited for this chili. I found a good recipe on the first shot. I would recommend this recipe to nonvegans as well it was some of the best I've ever had.
Recipe is called The best vegan chili in the world.
Recipe makes 8 servings
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 (15 ounce) can whole kernel corn
Chili recipe from allrecipes.com
I've been having all kinds of fun dehydrating all kinds of random stuff. I'm Going to try and make my own flax milk maybe soy milk and see how it dehydrates. I eat oatmeal everyday for breakfast and I would love to continue that on the trail as well. I buy bulk organic quick oats they are the best.
Here is my breakfast Oatmeal recipe if anyone wants to try it:
2/3 cup oats (or 1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Fruit of the day
4/3 cups of vanilla flax milk (or 1 cup if 1/2 cups oats)
microwave 2.5 min
add Crumbled pecons and honey! (I know some say honey isnt "vegan" but I don't care what others say honey comes from flowers and it's amazing ;)
Testing food, what could be better than that?
I'm very excited to start figuring out what food I'm going to be eating everyday on the trail. I'm going to try and make a lot of variety and test everything before I start going into mass production mode. 3-4 meals a day plus snacks for about 150ish days, that is a lot of food! I don't even have a clue as to what that much food even looks like. The plan is that I am going to be resupplying with maildrops cause I don't what to have to buy processed garage food, plus being vegan would pry make it harder to resupply in some smaller towns. So I am up for the challenge and this is part of the pre-journey, journey for me.
Dehydrator time!
A little video for your viewing pleasure.
The Results...
After dehydrating it I packed it in a ziplock and I was excited to taste it the following day... I was impressed it didn't taste any different. I boiled some water and added about 1.5 cups of water. The Beans where softer but still really good. I am so excited for this chili. I found a good recipe on the first shot. I would recommend this recipe to nonvegans as well it was some of the best I've ever had.
Recipe is called The best vegan chili in the world.
Recipe makes 8 servings
Ingredients
1 medium onion, chopped
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon ground cumin
2 tablespoons dried oregano
1 tablespoon salt
2 stalks celery, chopped
2 green bell peppers, chopped
2 jalapeno peppers, chopped
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 (4 ounce) cans chopped green chile peppers, drained
2 (12 ounce) packagesvegetarian burger crumbles
3 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, crushed
1/4 cup chili powder
1 tablespoon ground black pepper
1 (15 ounce) can kidney beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can garbanzo beans, drained
1 (15 ounce) can black beans
Directions
Chili recipe from allrecipes.com
I've been having all kinds of fun dehydrating all kinds of random stuff. I'm Going to try and make my own flax milk maybe soy milk and see how it dehydrates. I eat oatmeal everyday for breakfast and I would love to continue that on the trail as well. I buy bulk organic quick oats they are the best.
Here is my breakfast Oatmeal recipe if anyone wants to try it:
2/3 cup oats (or 1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp salt
Fruit of the day
4/3 cups of vanilla flax milk (or 1 cup if 1/2 cups oats)
microwave 2.5 min
add Crumbled pecons and honey! (I know some say honey isnt "vegan" but I don't care what others say honey comes from flowers and it's amazing ;)
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