Socks, socks, socks. 

Posted by James on March 14, 2015
Posted in: PCT. 3 Comments

March 13

Day 3
PCT Mile 37.13 Long Creek
The crunch of my boots on the sand and gravel chips away at the tension in my soul. A quicken heartbeat lightly thumps in my ears as I crest another ridge.  Another beautiful vista, while not newly discovered by me, presents itself for the first time as if to say, “We have been waiting for you.”  This is the way life used to be.  This is the way life should be.  – Me
The windmills were churning like giant boat screws as if trying to push the earth.  The wind was howling today.  Which actually worked out for the best, else it would have been a scorcher.
Today was a great day.  My new socks are a miracle.  I wore the Injinji socks today and what a difference.  While one of my hotspots turned into a blister today, I had zero other feet problems (other than them being fantastically sore.)  I believe the hotspot from the last two days turned into a blister today simply because the pressure on my feet, and not due to rubbing.  It was already injured.
Austin dropped me off at Lake Morena around 7:40 this morning.  It was later than I wanted to start, but it was definitely nice to go home for a night and get my feet issues resolved.   It was also nice to see the hubby, Austin, Chris and Simon (my dog).
As I hit the trail, I could immediately tell a difference in my feet.  Firstly, they weren’t soaked with sweat within the first ten minutes.  Secondly, there was no rubbing!
2 miles came very easily at which point I ran across someone back packing with his dog. Pleasantries were exchanged.  I moved along.
At mile 23, I witnessed a red tailed hawk pluck a mouse out of a field.  The red tailed hawk was having a great day!  The mouse, well, not so much.  Perspective is everything.
At mile 26 I came to a camp ground, the name of which escapes me and Im too tired to look it up.  It had water and a restroom.  Perfect spot for lunch.  I had thai noodles.  They were very tasty.
After finishing up lunch, I made my way to the 8 freeway where my good friend Eric hid a little cache for me last week.  Fortunately it was easy to find!   It was a couple of sweets (which were delicious) a small badger carved in stone, and a card.   Im really glad I was alone at this point, but I started to cry.  And I don’t  mean a tear or two,  I mean a full on tear duct gully washer.   Up to this point, I haven’t been hugely emotional leaving for this trip.  I had kept it all bottled up since I knew it would just make it that much more difficult for everyone seeing me go.  Today I let that go.
After a few minutes I composed myself and moved on.  Miles seemed to cover quickly and with relative ease.  Most of my soreness has subsided aside from my left shoulder and my feet.   My feet I can understand, they are taking the brunt of the work.  My shoulder I will have to do some fab 5 exercises to get worked out.
Today I seemed to be really in tune with the trail  I saw a lot of small trash items on the trail.  First I saw a button,  Quicksilver brand.  Next I saw 4 different brand cigarette butts with 20 feet of each other.    The next item and the most bizarre was at mile 31, I saw a babies shoe.  And not on the trail, off to the side about 6 feet.  And the last thing I saw was a pair of sunglasses.  I picked those up.
I suspected they may belong to Connor.
I made my own water today for the first time!  I busted out my sawyer squeeze filter and pulled water from a creek.  Nifty.  It was cold and refreshing.
Around 230, it started to get hot and I was pulling some hills.  The winds of course had died down a bit at this point and I was sweating up a storm,  Drink drink drink.   Around 3 I took a break and looked at the map to decide on a camp site for the evening.  I could have just as easily camped where I was.  It was beautiful.  However, I wanted to get more miles in.  So I decided on a camp site around mile 36.
Around mile 34 I saw Connor on an opposing ridge line.  I guesstimated  he was about a mile away.  I thought to myself, I wonder where he’s  camping.    About 10 minutes later I saw Lets Party.  She was roughly a quarter mile ahead of me.  I called out to her and she heard me, but couldn’t  spot me for the brush.
Within a few minutes I had caught up with her.  She told me she was planning to camp near a creek mile 37ish.   Further than I wanted to go.  We negotiated, and she won out.   We hiked together the rest of the way.   We round the bend, and I see Connor setting up his tent.  He was happy to have his sunglasses back.
We all made camp, ate dinner (mine consisted of miso soup, I am so not hungry) and told stories.  I regaled my many adventures at Burning Man.  Neither have been, but I think we may have some burner virgins in the near future.
Today, I dug hiking.   Tomorrow, I should roll into Mount Laguna for my first resupply!
Until then.

1 part hiking, 2 parts humility

Posted by James on March 13, 2015
Posted in: PCT. Tagged: , . 1 Comment

March 12, Day 2

PCT Mile 20, Lake Morena

After a reasonably good nights sleep, I woke up at 630.  Feeling like mom was waking me for my first day of school, I rolled over and said just 10 more minutes.  Just before 7, I looked at my watched (which happens to have several features including a thermometer), 48 degrees.  Chilly, but not unbearable.

I stretched a bit.  Hmmm, not terribly sore.  My feet were a little different story.  I had two hot spots and a decent sized blister on my ring toe (like your ring finger, but on your foot).  I massaged my feet, and decided I would tape the two hot spots before hitting the trail today.

I crawled out of my bag and changed back into my hiking clothes.  Yay dirty clothes.  They had a definite aroma to them, but I have smelled considerably worse.  After dressing I proceeded to break down camp.  I contemplated eating but my appetite just wasn’t there.  I did a little house keeping, brushed my teeth, took a few swigs of water, and pulled out my leukocyte tape.  It’s fantastic tape.  Its one of the few tapes that will stick to wet skin.  I cut strips about 2 inches long and covered the two how spots on either heel.  I didn’t bother to tape the ring toe since I couldn’t imagine it would do any good.

By 7:45, I was ready to go.  I was about to throw on my backpack, when I remembered, “Shit, sunscreen”.  It was already a bright sunny day and knew I would be cooked without it.  The problem was, it was in a bag at the bottom of my backpack.  Mental note, pack your toiletries at the top of your bag.  After unpacking my bag, applying sunscreen, and repacking I was ready to go.

Hauser Creek is set in a canyon.  On either side, the canyon walls jut up about 1000 feet.  Yesterday on my decent into I noticed the switchbacks on the opposing side and knew I would have a decent climb in the morning.  Hitting the trail, the climb out was around 2.5 miles.   Normally an easy climb for me.  Normally, I’m not carrying a 42 pound pack.  The hike out was slow and arduous.  By the time I was out of the canyon, my feet were letting me know they weren’t happy.

I walked through some beautiful country.  I observed all manner of animal tracks.  Horse, coyote, and I believe even a bobcat print.  Speaking of coyotes, I have never seen so much coyote dung. It’s all over the trail.  And judging by its composition, there is no shortage of rabbits.

Right before starting my decent, my feet were on fire.  I stopped for about 10 minutes and took my socks and shoes off to let my feet dry and have a break.  The hotspots had only gotten slightly worse, however a new one was developing on the outside of my right foot.  I can only assume my gait changed causing this new one to crop up.   I thought I should tape it, but again, dreaded the idea of unpacking my bag.  Another mental note.  Create a food care kit that is easy to put my hands on to avoid future laziness.

After drying my feet out, I put my shoes on and proceeded to descend the remaining mile and a half into Lake Morena.  By the time I hit the parking lot of the lake/camp ground, I can only assume I looked as if I were 80 based on the way I was hobbling.  At this point I put my ego aside and decided I needed to make a change in the very least to my socks.  I have hiked many, many miles in my sock/shoe combination.  I can only assume the increased mileage and pack weight have resulted in this combination no longer being a winner for me.

So once I had used the restroom (hooray a real toiled!) I texted Austin and asked if he was busy this afternoon.  Fortunately he had a break in his client schedule so he was able to come pick me up at Lake Morena.  I came home and dropped my pack.  Once Brian got home we rolled down to REI.  I picked up two types of socks to give a whirl.  One is a toe sock that separates each toe.  the other is a dual layer sock.  Both socks should relieve a decent amount of friction.

So, definitely outside my plan, I’ve already had to make a gear change.  On the plus side, I live in San Diego, therefore the trek into town wasn’t a huge deal.  Initially, I was embarrassed by having to call for assistance on Day 2. But, I would rather get my feet dialed in with what works early, and avoid many miles of blistered feet.  I also swapped out a few pieces of gear I didn’t need or want.  Funny how hiking a few miles will make you rethink certain gear selections.

Having a nice warm shower, and getting to sleep in my own bed one more night are only bonuses.

Lessons learned today.  Don’t let your ego get in the way.  I need to stop more often and let my feet dry.  And finally, tape hot spots immediately when they develop.

All in all a good day.  The plan tomorrow is to leave the house early and be on the trail by 7am.

First day done!

Posted by James on March 12, 2015
Posted in: PCT. 4 Comments

March 11, Day 1

Hauser Creek, PCT mile 15.4

Today was a full day.  I woke up at 5:30 this morning after having not slept much.  I got up and headed to the shower,  While I was waiting for the water to warm up, I stretched really big and immediately felt my back slip out.  Im sure I used a variety of expletives, but needless to say that is the last thing I needed to happen today.  Fortunately quite a bit of panic, 30 minutes of back massage and Brian playing at home chiropractor, it slipped back in.  Lets hope it holds for awhile.

By 730 Keith Tate Scott and Eric arrived at the house, to accompany Brian Austin Chris and I to the trail head.  We parked about 200 yards away and walked to the monument.

Several photos were taken and we all exchanged goodbyes.  Tate asked, “so are you leaving first our are we?”  Knowing I was on the verge of tears I asked them to leave first.  I loitered at the monument for a few minutes and took a couple selfies.  Once they were all loaded up and about to drive off, I started my walk.   I watched them drive off into the distance as I covered the first quarter mile of my hike.

The miles in the morning came easy.  Around 11,  I caught up with a section hiker named Connor.  He had started late the day before and was taking it easy.  He’s from Austin and taking a break from PreMed to hike the trail.  We hiked together for roughly a half hour.  he stopped for a short break and I kept going.  Around noon I stopped for lunch and he passed me.  We continued to play leap frog for the rest of the afternoon.

Around 2 I caught up with Lou Lou Brown, trailname “Lets party”  She was fun.  Shes from Oregon, and has the cutest little Jack Russel with her, with the trail name “Bottoms Up”  Lets party and Bottoms up thru hiked the ECT in 2013.   I didnt know what the ECT was.  Apparently its the Appalacian trail on crack.  It goes from the Florida Keys all the way to Newfoundland!  Bad ass!

We chatted for a few minutes and then carried on.  

As i said earlier, the morning miles came easy.  I put down almost 8 miles before lunch.   After lunch was another matter.   Around mile 11 I began struggling.  My hips, feet, back, shoulders…. well basically everything was sore…  I also started to get several hot spots on my feet.  So I stopped for a few and let my feet dry out and rest.  Around mile 14 the trail is a decently steep downgrade.  This really lit my feet up.  I managed to hobble in to where I intended to camp today around 5pm. 

Shortly after Connor and Lets Party arrived.  Done for the day we all decided to camp together.  Im sure they are in their tents right now, wishing I would stop typing on my rather noisey keyboard. LOL

All in all the trail is everything I expected it to be and more.  I didnt think I would meet people so soon, but it has definitely been nice to have people to talk to.

The weather today was great. I started in avout 60 degree weather and it stayed overcast all day, which kept the temperature down. 

I am going to be very sore tomorrow, so may cut my hiking day a little short.  We will see what tomorow brings!!

 

I guess it’s time to go

Posted by James on March 10, 2015
Posted in: Uncategorized. 2 Comments

1 day to go!

I woke up this morning and made my usual pot of coffee.  While it was brewing I reached into the cabinet to retrieve my favorite coffee cup.  As I pulled the cup out of the cabinet, I noticed a long crack in the side.  Between Chris and myself, we have way to many mugs in the cabinet.  He’s predominantly a Starbucks mug collector.  Not unlike others, I collect coffee cups from different journeys I’ve been on.

I have the cup I picked up right before completing my first half Ironman.  I have a cup I picked up from a Piper Cub fly-in I attended with my good friend Jeff Coffman.  My cupboard is lined with several such memories.  And then there was my favorite, may it rest in almost pieces.  It’s a tacky little mug with a picture of a bull elk on both sides as well as pictures of pine cones circling the rim.  But it’s where I picked it up I remember so fondly.

I picked it up in Yosemite, the day before a small group of friends started our hike of Half Dome.  Rather fitting in its cliché.  It breaks the morning before I leave for my most grand adventure to date, as if to say, “out with the old, and in with the new.”

The last week has been somewhat of a whirlwind.  It’s been awash in tying up loose ends, and getting things I normally deal with set on autopilot for the next 5 months.  I’ve had dinners and lunches with several friends to catch up and at the same time say farewell for now.  Saturday was the culmination of such with a party put on at a local bar I tend to frequent.  It was truly great to see everyone.  Thank you for coming out if you read this.

Today, I took an extra long shower.  It will be a bit before I get to experience such a luxury again.  This evening is the last hoorah.  My closest friends are putting on an intimate dinner that I’m sure will be full of laughs, cocktails (just one for me) and a fair amount of waterworks (i.e. Don’t mind me, I have something in my eye…).  I’m sure my friend Keith has outdone himself.  He has always been one to put on grand affairs.  He keeps joking he want to have a squadron of B-52s do a fly over….

The last months have flown by!  I can’t believe it’s tomorrow!!  If you’re planning a journey of 2,663 miles does, does Laozi’s Proverb, “a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step”, still apply?  Of course, it does.  People have often asked how I able to complete some of the endurance events I’ve undertaken.  In a typical trite, “James” response, I say, “Well, I put one foot in front of the other, over and over, until I finish.”  I often receive a scornful look with such a response, but it’s the truth!  It’s not magic.

The answer they are looking for is more lengthy and complicated.  While I am not going to provide the lengthy and complicated answer today. I will say, every single endurance event I have ever participated in has been as much an exercise in mental fortitude, as it has in physical preparedness.

If the mind is willing, the body will follow.

The next post you read from me will be written from the Pacific Crest Trail!  See ya’ll on the flip side!

The Final Countdown

Posted by James on March 4, 2015
Posted in: Uncategorized. 5 Comments

7 days to go!

Today was a fantastic day.  This time next week, I will have said goodbye to my family and friends (who have affectionately been nicknamed the “cotton crew”).  I will have hiked my miles for the day, enjoyed dinner, and will hopefully be dozing off for my first nights sleep on the trail.   Time flies by!   The excitement is building, and the waves of anxiety are decreasing.   My first resupply box was mailed today.  I will meet up with it in 10 days at my first resupply stop.

My to do list is dwindling, and the majority of my remaining time will be spent in social interactions.  My dance card has filled up, and everyone wants to say bon voyage and get their final dose of James for the next 6 months.  It’s a bitter-sweet experience.

Today, we went up to see our very good friends Tony and Molli.  I have written about them previously and it’s always fantastic to catch up with them.  I will say it again, without them, I wouldn’t be where I am today.  We drove up early afternoon to spend the afternoon and evening with them.  They were a buzz with my upcoming adventure.  They also taught me a set of simple and fantastic exercises on the trail to alleviate many of the nagging pains I will likely encounter.

They also informed us of a journey they are going to embark on in the next few months.  They are planning to hike the Camino De Santiago in France and Spain!  I am SOOOOO happy for them.  The Camino has been on my list ever since I saw ” The Way” with Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez.  Starting in early June, they plan to spend 30 to 35 days covering the roughly 500 miles of the trail.  WHAT AN EXPERIENCE!  I cant wait to hear all about it!

While the PCT is a rustic, wilderness experience.  The Camino is a pilgrimage used by those of faith to hike to the shrine of the apostle St James the Great.  People from all walks of life do the hike for a variety of reasons.  The route takes pilgrims through many towns and villages.  The end of each day is generally met with a warm meal and a night in a hostel.   A vastly different experience from the PCT, but rewarding in differing ways.

I wish them the godspeed and safe travels on their journey.

For all the months of preparing, planning, and as my husband says, showing my inner Monica from Friends, my own pilgrimage is about to begin.  One with many challenges, cold nights, and aches and pains.  I have often questioned my sanity.  But I’m excited to get underway.

I am thankful for all of you who have taken the time to read my thoughts, and provide a quick note of encouragement.   In the coming weeks and months I hope to provide an account of my thoughts, emotions, hardships and challenges to provide you with a glimpse of what trail life is like.  I welcome the feedback, comments and critiques.  I do notice, and I appreciate it.  I hope I can continue to entertain and carry you along with me.

Now,  where did I put my backpack?