If you've already contributed to our Feeding America virtual food drive -- thank you! You're the reason we've already reached over 60% of our $2104 fundraising goal!! :) If you haven't yet contributed to Feeding America, then please consider doing so.
We continue to prepare for our upcoming JMT hike. Though, since this was my pay-your-taxes-month, new gear purchases will have to wait until April. We still need: one ultralight sleeping bag, one water filter, plane tickets (I won't buy those until June), food resupply (I won't buy those items until July), and updated clothing for the girls (which I won't buy until the last possible second, since Alex and Sage tend to outgrow things quickly). I will post a full gear list, with candid reviews of each item, after we return from the JMT in September.
One thing I recently realized -- most of this blog won't be created until after we return from California! Unlike in Spain on the Camino, I won't have cell reception every day on the John Muir Trail. Therefore, I'll keep a paper journal while we hike, take a slew of photos, and blog each day after we come back. There will be a full report of our trip with plenty of details about every aspect of our adventure, but it will all be posted after-the-fact.
I hope everyone is handling the weather. I woke up to over a foot of heavy snow in my driveway this morning...and it's the first day of spring! Gotta love living in the Whites.
Thursday, March 20, 2014
Monday, March 3, 2014
Resupply and Zero Days
We're hiking the JMT to raise money for Feeding America; we're just over halfway to our $2104 goal. Please help if you can -- every cent goes directing to Feeding America, and your donation is tax-deductible.
We've booked our reservations at Red's Meadow Resort, Vermilion Valley Resort, and Muir Trail Ranch. We'll spend two evenings and a zero day in each of these locations. I'm not sure we'll need that many rest days, but I'm sure we'll enjoy that many rest days. Part of the fun of thru-hiking is hanging out with other hikers, and I can't think of anything more enjoyable than three backpack-less days of R&R with PCT and JMT folks. Plus, all three resorts look wonderful and I'm sure the girls and I will love staying at each.
As for resupply -- we'll send a bucket to Muir Trail Ranch...and I've booked an on-trail resupply with Dee Berner of Sequoia Kings Pack Trains. This is a pricey option, but Dee has a solid reputation and years of experience. If I was doing this solo, then I could manage hiking from Muir Trail Ranch to Whitney without needing a resupply at all...but with two kids, I definitely need a resupply option. I can't carry ten days worth of food for myself and the girls during the southern half of the JMT. We COULD leave the trail and hike down to Onion Valley to resupply, but that's a detour of 18 miles roundtrip, and we'd lose at least a day...hence my decision to book a resupply date/arrangement with Dee. I enjoyed speaking with her on the phone and I'm grateful for her service -- this is well worth the price, for now my kids and I will not have to labor under the weight of too-full backpacks during the last half of our trip.
We continue to hike weekly for training. No photos for today's post, though -- our last hike was five miles of hills close to our home. We had to do this instead of going up a mountain since the temperatures were below zero (F) and the wind speeds were dangerously high. Hope to hike something substantial this Friday. Once June rolls around, we'll hike mountains at least twice a week with full JMT packs until we leave for California.
We've booked our reservations at Red's Meadow Resort, Vermilion Valley Resort, and Muir Trail Ranch. We'll spend two evenings and a zero day in each of these locations. I'm not sure we'll need that many rest days, but I'm sure we'll enjoy that many rest days. Part of the fun of thru-hiking is hanging out with other hikers, and I can't think of anything more enjoyable than three backpack-less days of R&R with PCT and JMT folks. Plus, all three resorts look wonderful and I'm sure the girls and I will love staying at each.
As for resupply -- we'll send a bucket to Muir Trail Ranch...and I've booked an on-trail resupply with Dee Berner of Sequoia Kings Pack Trains. This is a pricey option, but Dee has a solid reputation and years of experience. If I was doing this solo, then I could manage hiking from Muir Trail Ranch to Whitney without needing a resupply at all...but with two kids, I definitely need a resupply option. I can't carry ten days worth of food for myself and the girls during the southern half of the JMT. We COULD leave the trail and hike down to Onion Valley to resupply, but that's a detour of 18 miles roundtrip, and we'd lose at least a day...hence my decision to book a resupply date/arrangement with Dee. I enjoyed speaking with her on the phone and I'm grateful for her service -- this is well worth the price, for now my kids and I will not have to labor under the weight of too-full backpacks during the last half of our trip.
We continue to hike weekly for training. No photos for today's post, though -- our last hike was five miles of hills close to our home. We had to do this instead of going up a mountain since the temperatures were below zero (F) and the wind speeds were dangerously high. Hope to hike something substantial this Friday. Once June rolls around, we'll hike mountains at least twice a week with full JMT packs until we leave for California.
Monday, February 24, 2014
Resupply Options
I now have an itinerary! We will happily make use of Reds Meadow Resort, Muir Trail Ranch, and (hopefully) Vermilion Valley Resort (I haven't yet received confirmation of our reservation). I've also been in touch with Dee from Berners' Pack Outfits. What a nice lady! I enjoyed speaking with her and I look forward to meeting her on the trail about halfway between Muir Trail Ranch and Whitney. Yes, I know, that's a pricey collection of rest stops and resupply options...but this is our 2014 vacation, and I want the girls and I to have fun. Having a bed every so often during the first half of our journey will be nice -- and not having to lug ten days worth of food for three people will be wonderful!
I'm planning on a maximum of 23 days on the trail. That should be more than enough time to get from Yosemite to Whitney, barring injury or illness. The girls are tough and experienced, and they now regularly beat adult book time on hikes here in the Whites. I've sketched a conservative plan with an average of ten miles a day, so I think we should be fine in terms of not overdoing it.
Meantime, here in snowy New Hampshire, we're back to hiking once a week (my leg seems to be completely healed!). Here's a photo from our latest trek. It's the girls being goofy on Mt. Crawford (click here for the full trip report).
More next week. In the meantime, please donate to Feeding America!
I'm planning on a maximum of 23 days on the trail. That should be more than enough time to get from Yosemite to Whitney, barring injury or illness. The girls are tough and experienced, and they now regularly beat adult book time on hikes here in the Whites. I've sketched a conservative plan with an average of ten miles a day, so I think we should be fine in terms of not overdoing it.
Meantime, here in snowy New Hampshire, we're back to hiking once a week (my leg seems to be completely healed!). Here's a photo from our latest trek. It's the girls being goofy on Mt. Crawford (click here for the full trip report).
More next week. In the meantime, please donate to Feeding America!
Friday, February 21, 2014
PERMITS!
PERMITS!!
We have our permits!!!
Alex, Sage, and I will hike the John Muir Trail in August. Let the official planning begin!
First, a reminder -- if you haven't already, please donate to Feeding America, our nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization! Feeding America is a nonprofit charity with a 98% efficiency rating. It is not affiliated with any religion, and it ranked #4 on Forbes Magazine's 50 Top Charities for 2013.
Second, a note on gear. I've decided to do a gear list, accompanied by a review, after we return from California. This means I won't discuss gear before we leave, with the exception of the few pieces I've already mentioned in previous posts. Why take the time to discuss gear we haven't yet put to the test? It seems more wise, not to mention efficient, to list and discuss everything after we return. I will tell you this right now, though -- our gear will be ultralight.
Now that I have the permits, I can plan a (flexible) itinerary and arrange resupply. I also need to look into the possibility of blogging day-by-day, as I was able to do on the Camino. Since there probably won't be much cell reception in the high Sierras, I may have to keep a paper journal and blog after-the-fact, when we return. Even if the latter's the case, I will still probably be able to send a quick picture and note once or twice.
More information coming soon! Woo-hoo, can't wait!
We have our permits!!!
Alex, Sage, and I will hike the John Muir Trail in August. Let the official planning begin!
First, a reminder -- if you haven't already, please donate to Feeding America, our nation's largest domestic hunger-relief organization! Feeding America is a nonprofit charity with a 98% efficiency rating. It is not affiliated with any religion, and it ranked #4 on Forbes Magazine's 50 Top Charities for 2013.
Second, a note on gear. I've decided to do a gear list, accompanied by a review, after we return from California. This means I won't discuss gear before we leave, with the exception of the few pieces I've already mentioned in previous posts. Why take the time to discuss gear we haven't yet put to the test? It seems more wise, not to mention efficient, to list and discuss everything after we return. I will tell you this right now, though -- our gear will be ultralight.
Now that I have the permits, I can plan a (flexible) itinerary and arrange resupply. I also need to look into the possibility of blogging day-by-day, as I was able to do on the Camino. Since there probably won't be much cell reception in the high Sierras, I may have to keep a paper journal and blog after-the-fact, when we return. Even if the latter's the case, I will still probably be able to send a quick picture and note once or twice.
More information coming soon! Woo-hoo, can't wait!
Monday, February 10, 2014
All healed! The hiking resumes...
Woo-hoo! My leg feels 100% better and we're back to hiking mountains! Yesterday, the girls and I revisited the Hancocks in New Hampshire. Click here for the trip report.
 |
| Alex and Sage on North Hancock |
Hopefully, I'll be able to secure our permits within the next ten days. After those permits are secured (cross your fingers for us!), this blog will quickly fill up with details, gear lists, etc.
Thursday, January 30, 2014
Happy Legs Are Here Again
SOON it will be time to kick this blog into full gear. Soon, oh so soon, it'll be time for us to apply for our permits. Once I have those permits confirmed, I will begin posting details of our upcoming hike. I fear if I post too much of anything beforehand, the gods will smite us for our arrogance and we won't get the permits we need! :)
In the meantime, here's a cut-and-paste from our main blog. I have..(had?)...Iliotibial Band Syndrome -- but my leg feels much better now, and the girls and I will soon ascend another peak. Hooray for the mending process!
*****
Woo-hoo! My leg feels fine and dandy. Had a visit with my local -- and most excellent -- sports med doc yesterday afternoon. All I need to do is keep doing what I've been doing these past few weeks -- mainly, stretching. He gave me a few new stretches to go with the old ones. He also told me I should use hiking poles on a regular basis, to slow the progression of arthritis.
Two days ago, I did a five-mile hike up and down some hills near my house. Yesterday, I walked a few flat miles and rode a stationary bike for half an hour. Nothing hurt. YES!
Monday, I'll head back into the woods and take on some mountain miles. A week from tomorrow, the girls and I will summit a peak or two.
It feels good to feel GOOD again.
In the meantime, here's a cut-and-paste from our main blog. I have..(had?)...Iliotibial Band Syndrome -- but my leg feels much better now, and the girls and I will soon ascend another peak. Hooray for the mending process!
*****
Woo-hoo! My leg feels fine and dandy. Had a visit with my local -- and most excellent -- sports med doc yesterday afternoon. All I need to do is keep doing what I've been doing these past few weeks -- mainly, stretching. He gave me a few new stretches to go with the old ones. He also told me I should use hiking poles on a regular basis, to slow the progression of arthritis.
Two days ago, I did a five-mile hike up and down some hills near my house. Yesterday, I walked a few flat miles and rode a stationary bike for half an hour. Nothing hurt. YES!
Monday, I'll head back into the woods and take on some mountain miles. A week from tomorrow, the girls and I will summit a peak or two.
It feels good to feel GOOD again.
Thursday, January 23, 2014
ZPacks 20 Degree Sleeping Bag
I'm continuing to NOT post much of anything on this blog until we've secured our permits, since I don't want to jinx our trip. I should be able to start filling this site with planning and gear purchase details by the end of February.
In the meantime, I've added one important item to our packing list. I finally broke down and bought an ultralight sleeping bag. The 20 Degree Bag from ZPacks (long version) is 1 pound, 2 ounces, and, according to every review I've read, performs extremely well in three-season temperatures.
The girls will need ultralight bags too, but that's a discussion for another day (when I have our permits).
My leg is doing much better, by the way. All the stretching helps tremendously. I plan on trying a small mountain (5 miles roundtrip with less than 2500 feet of elevation gain) by the end of this month. I think I might be completely back to normal by the end of February...we'll see.
In the meantime, I've added one important item to our packing list. I finally broke down and bought an ultralight sleeping bag. The 20 Degree Bag from ZPacks (long version) is 1 pound, 2 ounces, and, according to every review I've read, performs extremely well in three-season temperatures.
The girls will need ultralight bags too, but that's a discussion for another day (when I have our permits).
My leg is doing much better, by the way. All the stretching helps tremendously. I plan on trying a small mountain (5 miles roundtrip with less than 2500 feet of elevation gain) by the end of this month. I think I might be completely back to normal by the end of February...we'll see.
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