Section A ; Campo - Warner Springs

Well, we have finished the the first section of the hike. It was short. It was challenging.

It was beautiful. The most challenging terrain in the first section was Hauser Canyon. It came on the first day (elaborate later) - it kicked our asses. We are still overpacking food and water, but we are getting a little more aggressive and carrying less. I don't need many breaks from walkin, although I do enjoy them. The food is not so great, except for the constant flow of peanut butter to my mouth. 

Kitchen creek ... yep, soaked my feet in the cold spring on a very hot day.  Then met Boomer and Hector for some trail magic.  They had chocolate covered coffee beans.  

Pictures really cannot justify the arid prairie leading into Warner springs. Or the majestic rise of a mountain.  Or the remote oak lined spring fed creek ... that is just there.

I am using an alcohol stove and have almost caught my tent on fire twice.  I have not started reading yet. I eat 1,000 calories and go right to bed (for the first couple of days, at least). I am always dead tired once the day is over.  And the thru-hiker hobble is always lingering once we hit around 18 miles.  Just keep smiling.

I am doing my yoga stretches when i can in the morning, and always at night. It really is helping a lot. I can tell the difference in the days I stretch, and the days I don't. Once I got comfortable and acclimated, I was able to start meditating (once or twice). It has helped, although very intense along with most of my thoughts out here.

Stayed in Warner springs for a zero plus a night.  They have natural hot springs.  I slept naked, and it was great.  

The trip so far...

Ailments:

• Chafing (like crazy); both fabric and inner leg on inner leg. I have pictures.
• Heat rash
• Rolled my ankle 3 times on the first day. Have not again since.
• Minor sunburn on the top of my ears.
• Sore pads on the feet.

Things on my mind (may be intense or serious):

• We really take a lot of things for granted don't we?  I have been thinking about chairs and dogs.  
• I have been thinking a lot about my Grandpa.  How he has affected my life in various ways and things I want to carry forward. My Grandpa always was the most social Man.  Always cared about the best interest of everyone, and making sure everyone was comfortable. Easy breezy, loved to laugh. And I am very fortunate for the things I still remember.  I am still very fortunate to have experienced such a relationship with him.  
• And Jillian. How we take such things for granted.  Did I lose the one thing in my life that I could never replace. How I still remember very vividly a smile, a kiss on the back of the neck, early morning calls just to say good morning, or even how we used to blow each other kisses.  Could I truly Love someone and do the things did.
• Immaturity / Maturity - What do they both mean to me? 
• How much my internal self concept has changed after the first couple months of my relationship with Jillian.  What changed? 

• It's very funny how we can associate such stupid things as picking up your feet and walking poles to life.  Do I really walk through life dragging my feet?  Yes.  Over and over in my mind ... "If you're going to do it, do it right. Just do it right, Jerry.  Always living with loose ends."

More thoughts:

• So far I have ditched about 10 lbs. of pack weight.
• From the first second I stepped foot on the trail I knew - If I finish this thing, it has nothing to do with me, Paul, Tom ... and it has everything to do with luck. We're lucky that we have met such amazing and experienced people. They have passed on their trail and gear knowledge without thinking twice about it. We're lucky it's only been 80 degrees, and not 100 degrees going through the Chaparral. And we're very lucky we haven't been injured yet.
• I've lost 8lbs.
• I have lost my glasses, broke my sunglasses, lost my spork and a replacement spoon. 
• Tom and Paul are very quick. I miss coffee.

I will post pics later.  I may change the format of this, too. What's important to me I guess you may not care about.

Lots of Oatmeal

Monday...11.50p:

OK, so I leave Thursday morning at 6.45am. Wrapping up my job priorities, personal life, and preparing for the hike has very much been a challenge to me. Fun, but fun like I'd like to pull my hair out.

I think about it, whatt's funny, I'm going to be coming back and be in a better position than how I left - credit cards are paid off and closed; I pulled my credit report and found collections, now paid; applied for my student loans; sold everything - bed, TV, my sweet Volvo, donated most of my clothes; will come back to very a organized financial sitch; overall I feel very good about everything. Set up a place to live, coming back to money, and if I finish in time Moosejaw may hold my job for me. No guarantees, but just knowing that I feel good. Like my hard work is appreciated. Love it!

Still though, I feel very nervous for the outcome of everything. I have listed what I'd like to get out of the trip, but I realize that there really is some investment in finishing. I don't think about what ifs, that's not me. However, I am hoping that what is driving me now, will be there. If there is one thing about me that I know - I don't give up, I get bored. That was me before. This trip really symbolizes so much for my inner change. Among other things, planning, Courage, learning, purpose, and God come to mind initially.

I started to think about everyone I'm going to miss: my buddies Rob, Ian, and Cass. My peeps at work. And most of all my Grandma, and my brothers Matthew and Andrew, along with the rest of my family. I know I'll be better for this though. I'll be a better everything for this.

To live with fear and not be afraid is the final test of maturity - Edward Weeks

The Pacific Crest Trail - an overview

Taken from PCTA.org -

Zigzagging its way from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) boasts the greatest elevation changes of any of America's National Scenic Trails, allowing it to pass through six out of seven of North America's ecozones including high and low desert, old-growth forest and artic-alpine country. Indeed, the PCT is a trail of diversity and extremes. From scorching desert valleys in Southern California to rain forests in the Pacific Northwest, the PCT offers hikers and equestrians a unique, varied experience.

On Friday, April 24 Tom Medeima, the sweetheart Paul Zuber and myself will be starting our 2658 mile adventure. I'll most likely cry at least 57% of the time. And I'm sure that Paul and Tom will be making fun of each other ... well, the whole time.

We plan to follow most of Ray Jardine's 5 month Itinerary he laid out. This will bring us home roughly Sept 17 (ish). Jardine has some really great info in his book "The PCT hiker's handbook." Big "propers" to sweet Ray.

He talks about pack weight, gear, food, training, water, etc. Good stuff. He also spoke a little about the meaning of why people do something of this magnitude. He put it most eloquently when he said "It is a return to nature, and quite possibly a journey in search of what parts of ourselves might lie within it's deserts, forests, and far flung mountains."

Simple. And sounds and about right. More to come.