5 Months before start - Training, researching, worrying

I just realized today that it is about five months before I will be starting my adventure on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Five months.
It is both a long time and a short time away.

It's been a long time preparing my body.
I have been walking EVERY DAY for the last seven years.
Walking before work.
Walking during my lunch break.
Walking on weekends and on holidays and vacations.
Walking up steps, hills and along wooded trails.

Enchanted sun rise out on the trail

The trail around Oak Lake as the sun rises.

This year, I have averaged 14 miles per day; half the distance of a good day on the trail.
I am happy with my progress.

This morning I followed my normal weekend "walking routine":
I arose early (very early) and walked on the treadmill for two hours.
I set the speed at 3.7 miles per hour on a slope of six degrees.
By the end of my work out, I am drenched with sweat.

I take a short break and remove my shoes and socks.
My feet feel hot to the touch!

After my feet cool off, I put on a new pair of socks and switch to my trail runners.
I grab my pack and hiking poles and head out to meet my walking buddies.
I am fortunate to have friends who like to walk on weekends, rain or shine.
We meet just as it gets light and head for the trails near Lake Sawyer.
My walking buddies have a good pace, and we cover just over six miles in the next two hours.

By 9 AM I will have walked my fourteen miles.

The trail was flooded this morning. I am getting used to walking in wet shoes.

But five months until the start of my PCT hike is a short time as well.

I still need to get the rest of my gear: a light-weight warm jacket, rain pants, and windbreaker.
I need to decide where my resupply towns will be.
I need to determine where to send food, and where to buy it.
I need to decide on my start date.
I need to get food and pack / label boxes.

There are permits to obtain, a plane ticket to buy, and lists / reminders to make.
I need to have my wife take over paying the bills and helping with my blog.

So many things yet to do.

Five months.

Building Momentum

Total Miles walked today (6/15): about 15.2

The walking buddies are back together again! Hip, hip, hooray!
It has been a long time since all three of us walked together, and it felt good.
I love hearing all of the conversation again, and the stories, and funny comments about life.

It put a smile on my face and a bounce in my stride.

Patti had on her new hiking boots, and everyone arrived with full packs, all their gear and a lot of enthusiasm. If someone was watching us, I suspect they'd think we were out for a long trip into the back country!

Debbie told us about a hike she took last week up to Taylor Mountain, which is located between Hobart and highway 18. I will probably make this one of my exploratory day hikes in the near future.

Patti asked what my plans were for the Pacific Crest Trail hike, since I had been hinting that I might move it forward a year. Previously I had said that I would try it in 2016, but with all the training and preparation, I think I will be ready next year. So, 2015 it is.

Of course, that spawned a lot of conversation. Patti and Debbie both want to hike a portion of the trail with me. However, it now hinges on where I will be on the trail. They suggested perhaps walking with me northward from the Bridge of the Gods, but that would mean hiking sometime around the first week in September. The weather in Washington in September can often turn rainy. Patti suggested walking from Stehekin to Canada, which would be fun, but it would take at least five days, and the weather could be a real factor. I suggested that perhaps they meet me somewhere in Oregon, so that we could hike during the month of August. That seemed to be the best suggestion, but they wondered how they would get down there (say, to Crater Lake). Perhaps Valorie would be willing to shuttle them there and do a road trip as we made our way north?

Our walk today was up the main trail that follows the old railroad track.

Hiking up the main trail near Lake Sawyer

We then headed up the "big" hill. The hill is not really big, but it is one of the few areas on our walk that gets our hearts pumping. I then took everyone along a trail that I walked yesterday. Patti was completely turned around; Debbie, I think, was pleased to be walking a different path for a change.

Patti and Debbie with all their gear.

 The weather was cloudy at the start of our walk, but then turned misty.

Low clouds and mist filled the air. Bridget didn't even seem to notice!

As I headed home from our walk, I thought, gee, I have a lot of planning to do!
I need to figure out where to send myself food, how much will I need, get boxes, and actually start putting this plan in motion. It seems early, but actually it is less than eleven months before I start!

I am building momentum toward a great adventure!

Lake Sawyer Park and Trails

Total Training Miles walked today (6/14): 21.5 miles
Total Miles walked last week (6/9 - 6/13): 73.6 miles

Lake Sawyer offers an amazing number of walking trails. It is one of my favorite places to walk.
It has a lot to offer: lakes, streams, wildlife, views of Mount Rainier, and easy access.

There is a fairly accurate map of the trail system, created mostly for the biking community, but very helpful for those like me who enjoy walking. A link to a printable map is offered from the Evergreen Mountain Bike Alliance web page, or click here for the map.

Today I parked in the parking lot just off of the Lake Sawyer Road SE. The road and parking lot is about 100 yards south of SE 312th street. It is not well marked, so look carefully. If you are heading north and get to the Lake Sawyer Elementary school, you have gone too far.

The trail to Lake Sawyer is about 1/3 mile, and then it is a short walk to the lake.

Start of the trail to Lake Sawyer Park

During the summer there is good swimming and folks like to fish from the shore. If you follow the road around the lake, you will pass by Frog Lake (on the right). Just after Frog Lake you will notice a trail heading up the hill. It leads up to an unpaved road used by Palmer Coking Coal. About half of the trails are on Palmer land, and you need to stop by their office in Black Diamond and get a permission card. It is good for one year and allows you access to all of the trails.

On my walk today, I detoured over to Oak Lake. This lake is fed by runoff and the water table. There is no entrance or exit streams. Several weeks ago, the lake was so full that the trail was under ten feet of water. Today was no exception. It will probably be another month before the trail circling the lake can be used again.

Oak Lake is still flooded.

 There are lovely fields of foxgloves growing near Oak Lake.

Field of Foxgloves

 I chose to return to Lake Sawyer and then walked the periphery of the trail system. I even followed a few of the trails at the far north end of the trail system before returning to the trail that follows the old train track that led to the Black Diamond coal mines many years ago.

Main trail that follows the path of the old train track leading to Black Diamond

On the way, I noticed that someone was camping in the woods. Their tent was set up on top of a large rock.

Tent in the woods.

The main trail led me to a spur trail that eventually led me back to Lake Sawyer and my car. I spent just over two hours on the trail today, and saw several folks walking their dogs and a few having fun on their bikes.

If you want some new trail adventures, check out the Lake Sawyer trails!

Of Fear and Failure

Total training miles today: 15.6

When planning to walk the Pacific Crest Trail, many decisions need to be made.
What do I need? What do I want? What can I do without?

Many of the choices made are the result of my fears.

Am I afraid of losing the trail? Yes I am.
So I bring maps, I download apps for my phone which work with GPS to locate me on the trail.
I read detailed handbooks describing the twists and turns of the path. I take a compass to tell me which direction I am headed, and hopefully can orient my map to understand my location. I use Google Earth to look a the landscape from above. I try to memorize the lay of the land. These things help me meet my fears head on. But it is still there, lurking in my mind, whispering in my dreams.

Am I afraid of being alone in the wilderness at night? Yes I am.
So I read about others who have made this journey. The fear is only because of the unknown. I will come to realize that those "demons in the dark" are just the deer seeking food or salt; that the bear in the wild is just as frightened of me, and I can keep my food away by following a few simple rules; that the cougar is a solitary creature that has much easier prey to consider. The spiders and snakes and bugs are kept away at night by the screen of my tent. I bring along a tent with good netting. And, as I become accustomed to the sounds of the night, perhaps I will camp without it.

Am I afraid of the elements, of wind, rain, snow, and desert sun? Yes I am.
I understand the power of storms. I understand that I am accustomed to regulated temperatures and dry quarters. One of the challenges of living outdoors is to experience living in the wild and successfully becoming a part of it. There will be days of extreme heat. So I plan to bring an umbrella, carry more water, pay attention to my body and stop when it's too hot to continue. Perhaps I will hike at night, using a headlamp to find my way, or maybe find the light of the moon will reveal the path. I have practiced carrying large quantities of water. It is heavy. Did I say HEAVY? Yes, but I know I can do it. Rain and snow also make the trek difficult. So I bring effective rain gear to keep me warm & dray;  I use my umbrella and have a tent that is made from lightweight Cuban fiber.

Most of all, I am afraid of failure. Failure to achieve my goals and my dreams; failure to meet the challenge of the journey. So many things can go wrong, and, according to others, they WILL go wrong. But, others also give me hope. They say the trail provides. That often, in the seemingly most dire circumstances, answers come, help arrives, and the trail community provides.

I have to trust in this.
It is all that I can do.


Today, Patti and I walked a new trail. Not new in the sense that we had never walked it, but new in the sense that we had not gone that way for a long time. And Patti seemed to be very quiet today. At least that is what I perceived to be true. Or, maybe, as Patti said, "Gee, you are sure walking fast today!" Maybe it was me. I have a lot to consider. Next week Patti will not be walking. I trust that Debbie will join me, but it might be her weekend to work. The "unknown" starts whispering to my thoughts.

We crossed a small pool and the dogs enjoyed a drink. I'm not sure what was in the water, but Bridget lost her cookies and we both said, "eeeeewwww!" as she gobbled up something from the mess.

Bud and Bridget in the pool of water.

We hit the main trail and then headed to the ladder bridge over Ravensdale creek.
Bud lagged behind (or I walked too fast), and Patti kept pace with him.

Patti and Bud as we head towards the ladder bridge.

 Patti tossed a stick for Bridget as Bud swam across and drank his fill.

The ladder bridge crossing Ravensdale creek.

As we walked back, Patti commented that we might not be walking together as much this month. Often, Debbie goes camping on weekends. And Patti has company coming one weekend this month, and also won't be walking next weekend. I can only trust everything will work out.

Perfection?

Total walking miles Monday through Friday (5/26 - 5/30): 77.6
Total training miles today (5/31): about 16.1

The perfect morning for walking. What is it?
     1) I am healthy and fit, and I have friends to share the trail with me
     2) The weather is good. No, the weather is perfect: not too hot or cold. And definitely not raining.
     3) There are no bugs trying to eat us!
     4) We have a great place to walk and a beautiful world to admire.

We walked our "traditional" walk this morning, making a loop around the periphery of the Palmer Coking Coal property. We walked by Frog Lake. It was very pretty in the morning light. There were Yellow Flags growing and blooming in the lake.

Frog Lake with Yellow Flag blooming.

We walked by Lake Sawyer.
Bridget always has to swim after a stick thrown in the water.
Bud loved cooling off too.

Patti throws a stick for Bridget. Bud cools off and gets a drink.

 We walked through the woods. The ferns were beautiful (perfect) in the morning light.

Bob walking the trail with sword ferns on every side.

Mount Rainier was splendid (perfect) with the morning sun making the snow gleam.

Some say, however, that the greatest perfection is imperfection.
Because, if it was perfect, then there would be no room for something better.

Perhaps today really wasn't perfect after all.
We both miss having Debbie with us this weekend.
Perhaps next weekend will be more perfect?

Practice Makes Perfect

Total Training Miles Today (Sunday 5/18): 15.5 miles

If you do something over and over, you'll get better at it - practice makes perfect.

Patti surprised us this morning with the announcement that she had brought along some treats, and that we would be stopping along the way to have a warm beverage. The plan was for each of us to get out our stoves and boil a cup of water. She brought along hot chocolate and tea for our water. How fun!

In retrospect, today had to have been one of the funnest days of walking in a long time. The weather was just right. A few clouds, but breaks in the clouds with a bit of blue sky peeking out here and there. The temperature was just right too; not too cold so as to need a coat, but not so warm that it was uncomfortable while hiking. Birds were singing. Yes, lots of birds. I even commented at one point that the birds were really loud, if that is even possible!

Patti and Debbie both looked great. Patti sported a new hat, and Debbie looked great having just been to the hair stylist. Here they are, just before we set out on our walk.

Patti and Debbie

 We walked a few different trails at the start, but crossed Ravensdale Creek on the ladder bridge. The dogs always like this spot since they get to swim across. Bridget made a diving splash as she dove in to fetch a stick.

At the ladder bridge. Bud is in the water. He gets a drink by biting at the water!

Bridget hits the water chasing after a stick.

We followed Ravensdale Creek towards Lake Sawyer. Bud was moving more slowly today; I don't think he is feeling very well. However, Patti urged him on and he managed to stay with the pack.

Bud on the trail near Ravensdale Creek.

At Lake Sawyer, we all stopped to boil some water. I pulled out my Caldera Cone and pop-can stove and set my one cup of water on the stove to boil. Patti gave me a package of hot chocolate mix, and after a few minutes the water was ready. It was really good as I sat on a rock by the lake. Thank you, Patti!

This was the first time for Patti and Debbie to try out their new JetBoil stoves.

Unfortunately, Debbie remembered that she had NOT bought a gas canister, because when she bought the stove at REI, her husband said that she should get the gas canister cheaper at Walmart. Well, that would have been a good plan had they stopped and bought one there.

Patti had never assembled her stove. But, with a little help, she got everything put together, and the stove roared to life. It quickly boiled two cups of water, to which she added a package of hot chocolate. Yes, one package of hot chocolate to two cups of water. It made for very weak hot chocolate.

Patti using her camping stove for the very first time.

Debbie sorted through her pack and found a perfect cup for her hot chocolate. Bridget wasn't sure what we were doing, and took the opportunity to sniff about hoping for a dogie treat.

Debbie with her pack, searching for a cup.
Bridget in her "begging" pose, hoping we were fixing something for her.

After enjoying, or in their case, NOT enjoying their beverage, we packed everything back up. On the way back, we heard these "clinking" and "clanking" noises. It was coming from Patti's pack, probably the result of packing the stove loosely allowing the components to jangle as she walked along.

Today was a great learning experience. And, it was FUN!

We learn by doing. 

Practice will make it perfect. 

I need a Crystal Ball

Total Walking Miles this past week (Monday 5/12 - Friday 5/16):  90.7 miles
Total Training Miles Today (Saturday 5/17): 15.7 miles

We changed our walking start time to 6, since it is getting light now by 5:30. Patti arrived shortly after I did, and her first words were, "What did you tell Brody about our hiking?" Brody is her boss, who works at Edward Jones Investments. I had been in the office earlier in the week reviewing my investments, and I had mentioned my desire of walking the Pacific Crest Trail. Of course, Patti has always talked about wanting to walk the trail. And, at that, Brody said, "Well, why don't you take a 5 month leave of absence?"

I wish I had a crystal ball and could see the future. I would be SO fun to hike he length of the trail with one or both of my hiking buddies. But, realistically, I know how difficult that would be. And scary. There are so many unknowns. Everyone thinks we are too old; that it's too late for us to do something that hard. On the other had, I read the stories of those walking the trail (even as I write this), and they are struggling, sure, but they are doing it. They are finding a way. And they are making memories of a lifetime!

We had a good walk today. We saw the herd of elk again... It's always fun to watch them. In addition, we saw a deer in the field. We call her "Our Deer Friend".

Our deer friend in the field beside the road.

We decided to walk the trail around Frog Lake, since we were fairly sure that the water level was low enough to walk on a mostly dry path. The forest was SO green as we headed to the lake. Bud was lagging a bit today, but managed to keep with us most of the time.

Trail to Frog Lake. Bud was lagging a bit, but managed to keep up.

 At Frog Lake, there are a pair of geese that must have a nest somewhere close by, because they kept making "honking" noises and refused to fly off as we walked along the lake.

Geese must have a nest somewhere close by.

I just love this spot on the trail. It looks out over Frog Lake. Just before I got here, a large bull frog jumped into the water, making a loud splash.

Yellow flag flowers growing around Frog Lake.

When we arrived at Lake Sawyer, we saw a mother duck and her little tiny ducklings. They were roaming in search of bugs.

Mother duck and her ducklings at Lake Sawyer. I noticed there is a beer bottle floating here as well.
Who would toss something like that into the lake?

 We talked a lot this morning about our hiking gear. On our way to the ladder bridge, we were attacked by very hungry and persistent mosquitoes. Debbie stopped to put on bug spray; Patti put on her coat and put up her hood. She kind of looks like "Little Red Riding Hood", don't you think?

Debbie, Bob and Patti at the ladder bridge.

We made our way back to the car, having spent almost exactly two hours on the trail. I announced to everyone that I plan to retire effective January 1, 2015. Of course, that led to wondering if I should try to walk the PCT next year. It gives me a lot to think about. How ready is ready? Is there a reason to rush into the BIG ONE? 

Oh, where is that crystal ball when it need it?