One Weigh Ticket: July 2016

The last couple weeks have been busy. With my impending departure only a few days away, both Kylie and I have been hustling and bustling.

3 months ago, my countdown spreadsheet commenced with Buy custom gear. This included my pack, shelter, and quilt. Today, the only items left are Submit time sheets, Set up vacation response, and Print water reports.

Last week, we raided our local Fred Meyer grocer in search of junk food.

We succeeded

Kylie and I then proceeded to sort through the 40 lbs of food, placing precise quantities into each resupply box. About halfway through, we developed a system whereby I could easily and efficiently communicate an item's quantity for each box. Since the boxes were all lined up in order I would simply say, "Cherry PopTarts: one-zero-one...one-one-zero. Honey Buns: one-one-zero...one-one-zero." And she would then place that many Cherry PopTarts and Honey Buns in each box.

Mutually exclusive robots

Gathering all of the small items for the resupply boxes was tedious indeed. I'm thankful for the amount of time I was able to put into planning what to put into each box. I've likely included much more than the average hiker, but I will sleep well knowing that I can restock my first aid kit (for example) at any of my 5 resupplies.

Any of my leftover supplies will be donated to the community hiker box (take a penny, leave a penny). I'm sure someone will be glad to come upon extra bandages or triple antibiotic.

I understand that the background is horrible

After putting the food into odor resistant bags, the small items were sorted into freezer bags. Everything was double-checked (especially the maps) before heading to the local UPS distribution center for the final goodbye.

The ratty one in the back is not mine

I have neither the time nor desire to share how unnecessarily complicated it was to ship fuel canisters via UPS. I will only say that it is possible.

I found that 12" cube boxes were the perfect size. The ones I bought at UPS have the ability to fold down into 8" high boxes. Note that the colorful tape is to make them easier to ID for whoever is helping me at the resupply locations. Popular resorts could easily be holding on to 100 boxes waiting for their hikers. I also wrote my last name in the bottom left corner of each side.

It certainly feels strange being so close to the start of something which was once so far in the future. I feel anxious, excited, and ready.

But most of all I feel curious.

How will I react to being without my people for so long? What if there's a trail closure? What if half of the food in my resupply box is stale?

All of the things I cannot program into my spreadsheets are all of things that occupy my mind the most. I know that I am as prepared as I wanted to be, all that's left to do is hike 439.3 miles.

One Weigh Ticket

Thursday, July 14, 2016

7/14/2016: Final Preparations

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

7/13/2016: Gear List