Here is a picture of Mount Katahdin. It is located in Baxter State Park in central Maine. On its summit is the Northern terminus of the Appalachian Trail. There is our destination. 2174 miles of trail separate it from our starting place on the trail, Springer Mountain, Georgia.
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000 people will start the journey this spring intending to walk the entire distance before winter. Less than 400 will succeed, 12-13 percent. The odds are stacked heavily against us. As a matter of fact it is almost absurd that two 57 year olds who will turn 58 a month into the journey think they can succeed where so many so younger fail.
Jennifer thinks that we have to take the first step thinking of Katahdin. If we want to finish we have to keep that goal in mind. On the hard days, on the cold days, on the rainy days, we have to remember our destination is a mountain in Maine. For one as disciplined as she is that is probably a good strategy.
I, on the other hand, think the answer to success lies in keeping our thoughts on the journey. Enjoy the walk. Enjoy every day. Don’t spend too much time thinking of Katahdin, it is 6-7 months away. Think about the next place to buy a hamburger. It seems so much more relevant to say, “it is 28 miles to hamburger,” rather than “it is 1700 miles to Katahdin.”
But whether your thoughts are “keep focused on the end,” or “keep your eyes on the journey,” there are some important things to remember. 1.) Pare the pack. Keep the weight of the pack as low as possible. We are learning to be fanatical about what we plan to carry and what we plan to leave home. That reminds me of Hebrews 12:1-2. Look it up. Could the extra pounds be compared to the “Sin which so easily besets us” 2.) Pamper your feet. Those puppies have to carry us every step of the way. We need to keep them clean and dry.
We know that in the 2000+ miles we are bound to have rainy days. The questions are, “how can we run our stove in the rain,” and “how can we set up our tent in the rain and keep the inside dry?” It might help you to know that the tent itself is mainly mesh. It won’t hold out a drop of rain. It is made for ventilation when the weather turns warm. The rain is kept off by a rain fly.
Today I put the rain fly up first, then crawled underneath and put down the footprint, (the tarp that keeps the tent itself off of the ground) and then the tent. That worked great, in the living room, with no wind nor rain. The answer to the stove question is to carry another tarp of some kind to string up to cover the cooking area.
Option one. A sheet of plastic, cut from a roll, that weighs 8 oz but may not be strong enough to hold up for very long. It is free, I cut it off a roll in my garage.
Option two. A 6 x 8 silicone impregnated tarp sold for this purpose. It weighs 9.2 oz. It sells for $54.99.
Option three. A 6 x 8 Polyethylene Tarp. It weighs 13 oz. It sells for 3.99.
Option four. Just plan to eat cold foods on meals that must take place while it is raining.
Vote today! Which do you think is the right choice, and why?
Somewhere in the neighborhood of 3000 people will start the journey this spring intending to walk the entire distance before winter. Less than 400 will succeed, 12-13 percent. The odds are stacked heavily against us. As a matter of fact it is almost absurd that two 57 year olds who will turn 58 a month into the journey think they can succeed where so many so younger fail.
Jennifer thinks that we have to take the first step thinking of Katahdin. If we want to finish we have to keep that goal in mind. On the hard days, on the cold days, on the rainy days, we have to remember our destination is a mountain in Maine. For one as disciplined as she is that is probably a good strategy.
I, on the other hand, think the answer to success lies in keeping our thoughts on the journey. Enjoy the walk. Enjoy every day. Don’t spend too much time thinking of Katahdin, it is 6-7 months away. Think about the next place to buy a hamburger. It seems so much more relevant to say, “it is 28 miles to hamburger,” rather than “it is 1700 miles to Katahdin.”
But whether your thoughts are “keep focused on the end,” or “keep your eyes on the journey,” there are some important things to remember. 1.) Pare the pack. Keep the weight of the pack as low as possible. We are learning to be fanatical about what we plan to carry and what we plan to leave home. That reminds me of Hebrews 12:1-2. Look it up. Could the extra pounds be compared to the “Sin which so easily besets us” 2.) Pamper your feet. Those puppies have to carry us every step of the way. We need to keep them clean and dry.
We know that in the 2000+ miles we are bound to have rainy days. The questions are, “how can we run our stove in the rain,” and “how can we set up our tent in the rain and keep the inside dry?” It might help you to know that the tent itself is mainly mesh. It won’t hold out a drop of rain. It is made for ventilation when the weather turns warm. The rain is kept off by a rain fly.
Today I put the rain fly up first, then crawled underneath and put down the footprint, (the tarp that keeps the tent itself off of the ground) and then the tent. That worked great, in the living room, with no wind nor rain. The answer to the stove question is to carry another tarp of some kind to string up to cover the cooking area.
Option one. A sheet of plastic, cut from a roll, that weighs 8 oz but may not be strong enough to hold up for very long. It is free, I cut it off a roll in my garage.
Option two. A 6 x 8 silicone impregnated tarp sold for this purpose. It weighs 9.2 oz. It sells for $54.99.
Option three. A 6 x 8 Polyethylene Tarp. It weighs 13 oz. It sells for 3.99.
Option four. Just plan to eat cold foods on meals that must take place while it is raining.
Vote today! Which do you think is the right choice, and why?
9 comments:
I vote option 2.
Normally i woudld say try option 1 first, but you don't have that luxury. Option 4 is terrible because you won't want cold food on the rainy days. Option 3 seems good, but you make it sound like 4 oz of extra weight is the unacceptable. 55 bucks seems expensive, but spread out over 7 months, that's about 25 cents a day. 25 cents a day for hot food in the rain seems like a great option.
so I vote option 2
I also vote option 2. Best gear ==> highest probability of success? I would not "cheap out" on a "trip of a life-time".
-- Bill R.
I agree completely with Nathan - In fact I remember a conversation we have had in the past about computers - how we were always buying the less expensive model & then regretting it the next month - not really much money if you are going to be out 7 months.
Dave
Option 4..Enjoy the cold food..haha..Roger have you heard the same by the Great Jimmy Buffett. Cheeseburgers in Paradise? I thought of the song as I read that post. Have a great day. Brad
I vote for Option 1. Amy can cut and mail you a new one as the old one wears out. I know the cost is of no concern to a man of your great wealth but the 1.2 oz. that you will save will probably apeal to you.
Dan
hmmmm....i vote option 2 also...i think a hot meal at the end of the day would be essential (at least for me!) and by breaking it down per day the cost is minimal.
option 3 is much cheaper, but 3 plus ozs can make a difference! so go ahead & splurge!
only another week til you leave! i'm getting excited for you!
sue g
Option 2, you obviously have more dollars than sense anyway, so cough up the money and enjoy the journey.
with admiration,
Jim
I say get a 3 man tent where you can sit up in the rain and carry the extra 3 pounds since you are so light
One word for you: MRE. Is that a word? Okay it's an Acronymn. Would I be so bold to suggest that you burden yourself with the extra pounds of Govt. subsidized field chow? Nope - but inside each of those little brown bags of yumminess is a little nitrogen powered wafer which quickly and conveniently becomes a boiling/steaming hot heater for your little snacky chewys. The trick? Just add water. See how it works? Don't combat the elements - make them work for you instead. Price of 1 MRE - 6 bucks. Weight of 1 MRE heater? <1oz. Having hot chow in the middle of a relentless downpour w/out the hassle? Priceless.
Josh
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