#7 - A Walk In The Park...

So here we are, about to set foot on the Appalachian trail (AT) – one of the foundation ideas for this trip and something that we have anticipated for almost 2 years.   I wanted to write a pre-hike blog in comparison to a later to come post-hike blog because I’m realizing how much I have romanticized the actuality of the trek – not only the pack-in camping, but backpacking on the East coast in general.  I don’t think we had a full grasp on the difference in weather between the west coast and the east coast.  I definitely don’t remember reading much about it being hot as sh*t with sauna like humidity causing you to drip with sweat from literally every part of your body, or the likelihood of rain and thunderstorms on a regular basis.  

Shannon and Amanda heading into the store with
daunting thunderstorm moving in overhead 

When the idea of this trip was first formulating it originated with thoughts of a long stretch of backpacking (we were originally thinking about 2 weeks on the AT), and then the length of time traveling around to visit friends and family and several National Parks sort of fell in line with that.  Now that we are about to actually do this, and now that we have fully experienced what this east coast weather is all about (hot and humid, oh ya … and the bugs!), we are taking this on as more of a personal challenge.  Fortunately, we have narrowed our time on the trail down to 5 days, and we will be sharing the glorious experience with our friends Chris and Amanda, and their dog Roxy!  So, tomorrow morning at 5:30am three extraordinary women (Shannon, Amanda and I) will pack up our car and drive about 6 ½ hours to Ashby Gap, Virginia, where we will strap on our backpacks (about 40lbs each) and head out into the wilderness – RAARRRRRR!!!  

Our provisions 

We will hike and set up camp Tuesday and Wednesday, and then Thursday morning Amanda’s husband and their canine companion will meet us on the trail where we will all continue on together until Sunday afternoon.  Despite the record breaking heat, the 60% chance of thunderstorms on Wednesday and Thursday with humidity levels at 74%, and the numerous bugs we will encounter (ticks being my least favorite bug on the planet), we are doing this!  I’m really not trying to make it sound horrible - I will say that there is still part of me that is excited about taking it on … or we’re just plain crazy, or stupid, or we’ll be off the trail in a few hours, or we’re just stupid-crazy-bad ass … Wish us luck!  HERE WE GO!!