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.

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Pictures From the Sierras







4 comments:

DANYELIA said...

OMG Jesse the picture from before you left to how you look now is CRAZY!!! you look so different

Neal and Su said...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESSE!
WOW! You've walked over 1000 miles. That is awesome!
To quote a 1970's phrase...
"KEEP ON TRUCKIN!"

Hayley said...

Sooo...looks like I dont get to call you "big man" anymore! Craaaazy pictures!!

I wanted to tell you happy happy happy birthday... I hope you find some way to celebrate!

Also, I think I showed you this quote before, its from Christopher McCandless- but its such a good one and so exactly what you're doing...I wanted you to read it again!
"...the sea's only gifts are harsh blows and, occasionally, the chance to feel strong. Now, I don't know much about the sea, but I do know that that's the way it is here. And I also know how important it is in life not necessarily to be strong but to feel strong, to measure yourself at least once, to find yourself at least once in the most ancient of human conditions, facing blind, deaf stone alone, with nothing to help you but your own hands and your own head..."
Remember when you were worried about only making it one day?...I hope your success in this journey helps you see how much you are truly capable of. You just have to take the jump and do it!

One more thing, Milo has turned into an AMAZING swimmer. Its crazy- he loooooves it! He will even leap in from the side of the pool. Literally leap - full force. Sometimes his toys sink to the bottom and he will put his head under the water to "look" for them. Its hilarious. :)

Lindsay said...

ok that beard has got to be half your body weight now! i really hope you keep it when you return so i can use some of those beard jokes from knocked up!