Count down to the John Muir Trail 7/28/24
The hours are dissapearing, my start date feels like its been inching towards me as i'm moving through time towards it. Matter of fact it is, my start has moved from the 8th to the 6th to the 1st of August.
Because I'm hiking alone, I have the freedom to make these kinds of changes at my own discretion and though I'm not out there yet, I can already basque in the glory and solitariness of that freedom, however lonely or empowering.
I've set aside my set of clothes, one shirt, one pair of lined shorts, two pairs of socks and a hat. So that they're clean and easy to find the night before my departure, they won't be clean for very long.
My cotton button down hiking shirt, which I found as a thrift store last month already has the outline of my backpack straps bleached into the fabric from my first time hiking in it. I've fallen sentimental to that navy blue striped shirt, when you go through really vivid experiences with only one shirt that tends to happen.
I added some seam grip to my shoes yesterday to protect the exposed threads from abrasion at the recommendation of Dan Durston, the famous prolific pack and tent maker. As I go through my pack I see only the shadow of my inspirations. Each piece of gear, I've come aware of by studying the practices of my favorite hikers. John Z, Glen Van Peski, Scott Williamson, Ray Jardine, Kerouac.
Its funny, I'm so thrilled to get out there and hike, and to document the journey, but sometimes it feels like the goal isn't grand enough, like anyone could go out and hike the JMT, somehow making it less grandesque and alluring.
This only motivates me to go out and seek more engaging experiences, like the PCT thru and the AZT. These trails have a higher barrier to entry and the rewards of completing them, I imagine are greater. I'm careful however, not to underestimate the difficulty and achievment of completing the JMT, It's still the longest toughest trail I'll have ever hiked and I'll be doing it at a very fast pace.
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