New Adventures!

Welcome back and apologies for the late post. This last week has been a whole new game for us and we are now reporting from LAS VEGAS!

We have done a lot more preparation over the last week than I expected. We went to REI (which, if you don't have a membership yet, you should get one. You get discounts and money back at the end of the year!) We bought a really lightweight two person tent. It is called the 'Passage 2'. It is under 5 pounds and is made of great material! We also picked up some ground pads for those nights sleeping on granite.

We picked up a perfect first aid kit that has plenty of gauze and moleskin for those pesky blisters. Also, a headlamp for those nights we really need to pee in the dark, another bear canister, two lovely hats to protect from sun, sock liners, and an emergency whistle/flare light!

We also went to WinCo (the ultimate grocery store) and bought food for our trip and foods to practice with before the actual hike begins.

With all the purchases added up over the last few days, we have spent about $400. Not too shabby I'd say!

Today we also went on a hike just outside Vegas called Pine Creek. It was beautiful and a really easy hike. It was nice to see the beauty of green leafy plants in the desert. I'm really looking forward to many hikes in this desert environment to get us used to the dry conditions.

Next time I post I'll probably have either a wicked sunburn or a wicked tan!
JK

On Hiatus

We made it to Vegas safe and sound! It is beautiful out here and I cannot wait to hike some of these peaks as preparation for the JMT! Being completely honest, I have been eating terribly lately. With the travel snacks during travel, followed by the left over travel snacks as all day means of food, eating well hasn't been a priority.

Getting on to JMT business. Since we still have a long time until this hike and I'm working, plans have slowed down and almost stopped. Today we arranged the food we have so far into our bear vault which was so generously donated for our trip! It fits quite a bit a food and we are excited at the prospect of our other one coming in the mail soon. We also started arranging our bags.

No new purchases yet.

Still looking for our options and what we want to do for cache drops and shuttle work, but I feel like things are going to pan out just fine.

Happy note: California got precipitation! It may make us need to change some of our clothing options, but I'm alright with that!

Really nothing new today. Just thought that all of you constant readers were interested.

JK

PS, our nephew was helping us with packing today. I think he wants to come.

Just Breathe!

Good morning, afternoon or evening(whenever you are reading this) and welcome to another episode of I have no idea what I'm doing.

Panic is beginning to set in. I forgot to mention to all of you, that when we leave, this Wednesday for our summer adventure, we have to take everything with us that we might need (from May through September). We are doing not only the JMT, but hiking into the beautiful Eagle Cap Wilderness in Eastern Oregon. If you haven't been out into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest, you really need to! We are also working in Vegas for the next 8 weeks, followed by an exciting drive up Highway 1 and spending plenty of time with family!

We are obviously procrastinators and terrible planners since we really just started packing today.

We also have a rough pack on our backpacks too. We will be getting our bear canisters from an awesome gentleman in California who is letting us borrow them for this trip. I have to say, people who let strangers borrow things are my favorite. :)

This whole experience is more in depth than I thought it would be. I have been going over pages online and it's making me realize that this isn't just some little hiking trip. This is an excursion of epic proportions. My dad checks in with me occasionally to see how the planning is going and if I think I'll be healthy enough to do it. I know I am. I also know it's going to be a very difficult trek.

We have picked up a 30L dry bag to hold our toilet paper in as well as some water shoes and some portable oxygen just in case the altitude gets to us near the top of Whitney. Also, that cute little Hawaiian girl at the top, we have decided to make this more fun, she is going to be our mascot. Her name is Mahana. (If you know the story of Johnny Lingo, you'll appreciate the name). We are going to try to get our hula dancer in many of the pictures on the trail! Think of it as a Where's Waldo!

We also got our Sawer Filters in and are quite excited! Our crank powered flashlight is really lightweight and our striker and sharpener works really well already too!

We also decided to pick up a small mesh bag for washing things in the river without them getting washed away as well as a travel toothbrush. We grabbed some rubber balls to work through our tight muscles at the end of each day. Being a massage therapist works great for that, but I'm pretty sure at the end of the first few days, I won't want to do massage, I'll be too tired! These rubber balls work great for sore feet!

I'm getting really excited for this trail and I know Justin is too! But as for now, I'm going to let you stop reading and I'm going to get some dinner (made by Justin for not being a mom on mother's day)

Wednesday will come far too quickly,

JK

Planning! Supplies and Help Wanted!

Welcome back either noobs or vets! This last week has proven to be more than I bargained for when it came to planning. Realizing that this hike is only about three months from now has made us kick in to high gear to make sure we get the things for the hike in time! I'm guessing the anxiety and stess that accompanies this kind of adventure is normal. I have also noticed that since it is three months away, on my down times I tend to forget that I probably should be getting more things ready. My bad.

This week we have purchased Sawer Mini filtration devices. When we purchased them, they were only 13 a piece. The reason we got these over the popular Life Straws, is that these came with a back flush system which keeps them filtering longer.

I keep hearing about having trekking poles for the hike. I wasn't planning on getting them because I have hiked and backpacked before without them and didn't think they were necessary. Fortunately, my neighborhood has an event where they get all the things they don't want and it all gets picked up and taken to charities or the trash. I drove past a pile today and there were perfectly sized trekking poles for me: FOR FREE! I really hope these poles end up being worth the nothing I spent. Haha. Actually, I hope they just don't become bothersome on the JMT.

I have seen a few lists online for things to have and not to have for the JMT. I have looked at a few of them and so many lists tell you to get specific high end brands to have a quality trip. I must say, with all the hikes I have done, my shoes and bag have done amazing and they aren't super expensive. We got a Osprey(popular brand) bag for Justin at a surplus military/pawn shop. It was only $100, which is a steal. It didn't even have worn spots on it. Great condition! Plus, we got military(lightweight and down packed) bag for Justin for cheap too! I have had one of these bags for years and it has been better to me than any other sleeping bag!

We still need to get our bear canisters. Any suggestions on from who or where for the best prices? Anyone willing to give theirs up for some new hikers? Is there a page for hikers to trade gear around for different trips so people don't have to spend so much money? Also, anybody have suggestions for cashe drops and shuttle plans. I haven't found good information online.

Lastly, on this preparation journey, I have tried eating better than normal. But of course, when you try, something comes up. Justin turns 24 today! We had a party! We went to BWW and then played Mt. Dew and Red Bull pong. Totally worth it, but I've felt it in a bad way. Just throwing it out there that you don't have to be perfect with the eating healthy part in preparation, just try! (Do I know what I'm talking about with diet? Probably not, but it's my blog so I'll say what I want!)

For now,
JK