Some thoughts before departure...

  • I am still not a vet, doctor, lawyer, dog trainer, cia agent, fbi agent or a navy seal so...walk
  • I am doing this for the challenge of course, and I hope to gain a confidence that comes with this type of endeavor. But also I hope to gain some new knowledge about the world and the truths that reside in it.
  • Am I walking to "find myself"? Or just to take a walk. You decide...and you'll probably be right.
  • I'm not in the best shape of my life, but I do have a lot of new great gear so....
  • After living with my parents the last 2 years, it makes perfect sense to walk 2650 miles - alone.
  • Yes there will be bears, cougars, rattlesnakes and scorpions both imagined and real along the way. I'm definitely more worried about those imagined.
  • Am I scared? Not as of yet, more of just a constantly increasing anticipation. But check back with me on the 3rd night in the desert.
  • I tried to keep my pack fairly light, but I definitely would not call it ultralight. Somehow when I added up all my ultralight gear and put it in my ultralight pack, I ended up with just slightly heavy.
  • My biggest concern for this trip is that I get too hungry somewhere along the way, my brain goes awol as it usually does when I get hungry and subsequently you never hear from me again...I'll try to eat frequently.
  • I am not Christopher McCandless. This is not Into the Wild.

Thursday, June 12, 2008

Kennedy frickin Meadows, Hell Yes

Day 41, Mile 702.8---No bears last night, and a good nights sleep was had. The two big climbs were easier then anticipated and we were past them by 1030ish. The rest of the day seemed to linger on, but the scenery got better and better as we neared the foot of the sierra's and KM. We hit the Kern river around 3 and it was great to know we were officially out of the desert. 702.8 miles and my body is looking forward to a few days rest and lots of food. My Mom sent approx 69lbs of food for the three of us for 3.5 days, that's 23lbs a piece-no problem. We got in to KM about 440, just in time to start a tab, pick up packages, sign up for dinner and get some much needed Gatorade. I washed my hands for dinner and the first time got the first layer off, the second time i think it was mostly clean. I looked in the mirror and found 7 bites across my forehead(if i don't watch out I'm gonna get a trail name like stegosaurus or something) and basically mud caked at my temples. Tomorrows shower can't come soon enough. I haven't even set up my tent yet so i should probably get on that. I also have to figure out where to put the 87lbs of stuff the parentos sent. Next three days are going to be spent eating, sitting, talking, and observing thru-hiker behavior at its best and sometimes worst. So now with cold Corona in hand, i will proceed with the tent set up. Thought of the day; my Mother knows how to take care of folks. Song of the day; there's an ice box where my heart used to beeee by Omarion? and lets get down to business to defeeat the hunnns, did they send me daawters when i asked for sonnnns, by the warrior guy/male love interest of Mulan in Mulan. Craving of the day; banana bread-satisfied when i opened one of my boxes from mi madre.

JWC on the PCT

1 comment:

Mom and Dad said...

Jesse-boy - I'm really loving the fact that you are enjoying all the food. But I gotta tell ya. I could not have done it without your Dad's superior packing skills and his muscles to help me get it to UPS. And he even took time off work! Your Dads quite a special guy you know, I think I'll keep him.

Love, Yo'Momma