As we near the date of departure, now less than 6 weeks away, we are spending time trying to exorcise the demons of doubt that creep in to our minds during short moments of sanity.
First, we practiced loading our packs to see how loaded down our mule team would be. We were pleasantly surprised. My pack weighed 10 pounds less than I expected. With just a few sundry items left to pack, it weighed in at 25 lbs. Jen’s weighed in at 22. We will do some readjusting to even it out a little, maybe mine at 30 lbs and hers at 20. In any case, that is about 20 lbs less than I was thinking we might have to carry.
Then we put the pads and bags out on the floor and tried to sleep on them through the night. Jen made it til 2:30. She said she gave up because there is too much light in our living room. I managed to 3:00 before heading back to the comfort of the bed. That being said, the pads work great. They are self inflating pads. You just open the valve and lay them out and in a few minutes they are 90% inflated. You blow in the valve two or three times and you have a nice sleeping pad. They were surprisingly comfy.
Third, we took a trip up the mountain to try our stove out on the trail. We hiked 2 ½ miles up a snow packed trail, stopped and made a pan of red chile, poured it over some fritos and had frito pie, hot on the trail. The two pictures are of Jen making the red chile.
The trail was 5 miles up and down. We hiked for 3 hours and 15 minutes. We walked from 7500 feet up to 8900 feet where we ate. That is 1400 feet gain in elevation for 2 ½ miles in distance. The first day’s hike on the trail is 2500 feet gain in elevation. However we have 8.8 miles to do it. See how a trail hiker thinks?
We hiked 5 miles in 3 hours, we should be able to do 9 miles in 7 hours. See how a trail hiker plans?
We came home and slept in our nice comfy bed. On the AT we will sleep on the ground and get up in the morning and start another 10 mile day. See how a trail hiker dreams?
First, we practiced loading our packs to see how loaded down our mule team would be. We were pleasantly surprised. My pack weighed 10 pounds less than I expected. With just a few sundry items left to pack, it weighed in at 25 lbs. Jen’s weighed in at 22. We will do some readjusting to even it out a little, maybe mine at 30 lbs and hers at 20. In any case, that is about 20 lbs less than I was thinking we might have to carry.
Then we put the pads and bags out on the floor and tried to sleep on them through the night. Jen made it til 2:30. She said she gave up because there is too much light in our living room. I managed to 3:00 before heading back to the comfort of the bed. That being said, the pads work great. They are self inflating pads. You just open the valve and lay them out and in a few minutes they are 90% inflated. You blow in the valve two or three times and you have a nice sleeping pad. They were surprisingly comfy.
Third, we took a trip up the mountain to try our stove out on the trail. We hiked 2 ½ miles up a snow packed trail, stopped and made a pan of red chile, poured it over some fritos and had frito pie, hot on the trail. The two pictures are of Jen making the red chile.
The trail was 5 miles up and down. We hiked for 3 hours and 15 minutes. We walked from 7500 feet up to 8900 feet where we ate. That is 1400 feet gain in elevation for 2 ½ miles in distance. The first day’s hike on the trail is 2500 feet gain in elevation. However we have 8.8 miles to do it. See how a trail hiker thinks?
We hiked 5 miles in 3 hours, we should be able to do 9 miles in 7 hours. See how a trail hiker plans?
We came home and slept in our nice comfy bed. On the AT we will sleep on the ground and get up in the morning and start another 10 mile day. See how a trail hiker dreams?
2 comments:
I have no doubt that you will accomplish it. Plus I am planning to see you in New York so you have to make it. :) I love you both!
Sarah
have you found any one to take the cat yet??
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