Here is a glimpse into my current routine:
5am ish- wake up and start morning chores. I take Roxy potty, grab our food bag (which is usually hung several yards away in a tree so that bears don't get to it), and make breakfast for both Roxy and me. Some people get bored of eating the same thing day after day, but I love having granola with milk every day. I was very lucky to have a very generous donation from Our Daily Eats and Bob's Red Mill to make this breakfast routine possible. Roxy usually eats about a cup of Merrick's backcountry dry kibble mixed with water in the morning. After breakfast we pack up and get on the trail.
Granola with milk = best breakfast ever.
6:30 ish- hiking begins. Sometimes it is uphill, sometimes it is downhill, but no matter what it is always beautiful. Along the way we usually stop about every 2 hours for water and a short rest. Water comes straight from mountain springs and usually doesn't even need to be filtered. The views are gorgeous and the the weather is always outstanding in the mornings. While walking everything is peaceful. My mind is clear and there is no stress or worry.
This all day. It's not possible to be unhappy in a world this beautiful.
12:30 ish- lunch time. I've been very spoiled as far as food is concerned along the trail. My lunch typically consists of hard cheese courtesy of my mom (a luxury along the trail) and flax seed crackers courtesy of Foods Alive. Like I've said before, this trip would not have been possible without the generosity of the amazing people who donated food to keep me going. With no income while on the trail, relying on the kindness of strangers has been hugely important.
Flax seed crackers from Foods Alive are the best!
1:30 ish- back on the trail. After lunch we usually slow down significantly. The summer heat is rough on Roxy and after stuffing myself with a delicious lunch it becomes a little more difficult to maintain a quick pace. We amble along and try to get in a few more miles before finding a place to camp.
4:30 ish- time to find home for the night. Usually we try to sleep in shelters, which are really just three-sided structures meant to keep hikers protected from the rain. These shelters are spaced about every ten miles along the Appalachian Trail, so it is pretty easy to find one when we are ready to end the day. The shelters are a gathering place for thru-hikers, weekenders, Boy Scouts and the occasional truly homeless person. Despite the odd assortment of misfits that the shelters attract, I've yet to meet anyone creepy or off-putting on the trail.
Typical shelter. This one was built in the 1930's and was rather run down, but it is still nice to have a roof over your head when it rains overnight.
My evenings consist of cooking a hot meal, writing in my journal, reading books on my kindle, and occasionally socializing with the other people at the shelters. Before bed I hang my food a good distance from the shelter, and then cuddle up with Roxy in my sleeping bag. I don't have to worry about bills, deadlines, Facebook drama, or anything else. I couldn't imagine a better way to live. I have about 1,900 miles left to hike, and I want to make this lifestyle last as long as possible.
Dinner: Bob's Red Mill cous cous with Harmony House dehydrated veggies. I have so much good food on the trail that I'm really not craving any "real" food. This is pretty similar to what I would be eating at home so I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything.
No comments:
Post a Comment