SCUBA.

Less work.

Throw 'em in a pot, boil for a couple days and throw a little bit of tobasco in for flavor...

and you get a much stabler, happier, and rested man.

Thank you everyone for your words and thoughts regarding my last entry.

what follows is rambling (and some focused) thoughts on the tobasco:

I've been putting a lot of thought into this pacific crest trail thing...I mean...a LOT of thought. I am hard lined on it. I haven't gotten a reply from dan--he's busy with his EMT course and hasn't been able to check email at the library so I'm not worried about it...

but solo or duo...I am SO there. I've got a pack picked out (gregory realist), a sleeping bag (north face cat's meow), movement rate and tentative resupply stops mapped out (thanks to Craig's PCT Planning program! Craig, you ROCK!), and I'm currently trying to decide if I want to go the solo tent route (the clark kelty), or "tarp it". Most of the PCT thru hikers seem to prefer tarps...but i dunno...

If Dan wants to go I'm sure we'll get a tent.

I downloaded a program to aid in calculating pack weight. (can't recall the url) Right now I'm looking at a base weight of oh...I'd say about 13 pounds, not including food or water. I'll be perfectly happy with a total average weight (including food and water) of 35 pounds. For longer treks between supply points I will be doing 40 to 45...I'm accustomed to carrying 50+ and doing four miles in about 45 minutes now...and that's with the entire weight on my shoulders. Of course, compared to the PCT...my route is flatter than a silver dollar.

I have ten months to train up a bit more...I'll be doing progressively longer and longer hikes every week, eventually doing back to back 20's on the weekend and ultimately be rucking every day come february. I figure I can offset my limited time during the week by just piling on weight. I already know I can do 7 miles @ 75 lbs in about 2 hours...
I have to worry about spinal compression though :) I'm short enough at 5'8".

I have ten months to refine my plan of attack...method of resupply/food/cooking/layover points/misc gear to be settled on... And to Mt. Whitney or not to Mt. Whitney...THAT is the question ;)

I'm stepping off from Campo, Mexico, mid may, 2003. I will reach Manning park in Canadasometime around late sep/early oct 2003. SO go ahead now and plan to be "sans Glen" during that time period :) I know, it's a long way off...but i should probably warn you all now so a) you don't think I committed sepeku, and b) you can find other things to occupy your time with...j/k.

Come may 2003 I am released from all of my obligations. My assetts will far outweigh (by thousands and thousands of dollars) any debts I will still have and I will only have one *possible* monthly bill which will only be at most around $50. I will have the perfect time of year, preperation, and I will be high on life and possibilities. I will be in the best physical and mental condition than I will have even been in my entire life. This hike will be both the celebration of my return and the party for what I will have already done. 

I just can't picture a more perfect opportunity to do something I will remember for my entire life. Right now I can't even imagine NOT doing it...the concept is so firmly entrenched in my mind and there are no foreseeable limitations. 

So ten months to plan. This should work. I am definitely scrapping Beijing (airfare would be like 1k! Can you believe that? I can get airfare from SF to beijing at that price!) but I may still do thailand and I KNOW that I am going to still do mainland japan...I will probably have vacation time that I can sell back to uncle sam too.

SO...yeah. I'm feeling rather high spirited right now. Mostly because of three things with a little tobasco. 

current mood:  chipper
current music: Neil Young _Weld(disc I)_ 
 
 

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