I’ve always been the person to enjoy the planning process nearly as much as the actual journey. I’m always planning the next adventure, and the one after that, and more than likely the one I’d like to take in three year’s time. It’s just such a part of the thrill. Dreaming, and researching, full of pure anticipation. And planning for the Appalachian Trail is no exception to the enjoyment.

40 days remain until my Appalachian Trail start date. Since I last stopped and took stock, there were 60 days remaining. A lot has happened in the past nearly three weeks, but also not a lot. 20 days ago, I was still spending all free time researching and shopping and making certain the purchases I made would be the best possible choices. Now, I am getting over a week-long sinus infection and taking things slow.

It’s Getting Real

I have just three more days of work left before my last day at my retail job. It feels thrilling to be quitting – but also terrifying to know I will have no source of income for the foreseeable future. Everything is up to my savings account from here on out. I’ve read accounts of thru-hikers who made it over a thousand miles on the trail and yet had to give up due to their savings running out before anticipated.

I feel I planned and saved well enough that this particular fear will not be my case, but it’s still a legitimate fear.

Before my biggest concern was finding the perfect camera to take on the trail. Something light-weight and compact, but also high-powered full of the tech that will create the highest quality images. It was quite a checklist. And I’m so thrilled I was able to find the camera in stock and it’s currently sitting beside me as I type this. After acquiring the camera, it seems like everything else is a little more simple.

I also upgraded my very scratched and shattered Samsung S8 phone, found and broke in the pair of hiking boots I will start the trail with, and – for the moment – my shopping is complete.

Three more days of work, then Christmas, then New Years. Then only 28 days will remain until looking upon the rock arch at the approach trail to the A.T. These next couple of weeks are going to fly by, and I will feel simultaneously under and over prepared. Planning for the Appalachian Trail feels like about 95% of my focus at any given time, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.

A few things I want to focus on in the final 39 days days of preparation of planning for the Appalachian Trail:

I want to continue cooking and dehydrating as many backpacking meals as possible, adding a few new recipes to our repertoire to avoid boredom on the trail.

There is still no plan as to how to actually get to Georgia. That is a big one to solve.

I don’t want to over do the mailing myself boxes while on the trail, but I know I want to at least have 6-10 for the trail. All filled with the meals currently being prepped, some with summer gear to swap out, some with other misc goodies. Still have a lot to plan with those, but luckily my mom is willing to actually do the mailing of said boxes when the times come.

I want to do more research on cold weather survival. What happens if all water sources are completely frozen? How to discover and treat hypothermia and frostbite. How to warm up in dire situations. Pretty much anything that may help ease discomfort and add more confidence.

I also want to get more familiar with different shelters and towns and such the first few hundred miles of the trail. I know there’s no point in planning each stop because so many things can change while on the trail. But it will give me a sense of comfort and confidence to at least be familiar with my options to create a loose plan. That’s part of my habit of over-planning, but I personally like being over prepared than under.

Appreciation

And mostly I want to slow down and truly appreciate a few things while I can. Warm clean sheets straight out of the dryer. A steaming hot bubble bath filled with epsom salts to soothe my fatigued muscles after a long day. Sharing dinner and conversation with my family. I have seemingly endless comforts as of now, and I want to be sure I don’t take them for granted.

I hope to do the same when I’m actually on the trail. Slow down and appreciate what it is I’m doing. Appreciate where I am. Acknowledge the accomplishments being made. At no other time in my life will I get to live life in the same way. Waking up with the birds, with lungs full of fresh air. Enjoying coffee with the sunrise. The anticipation of what will be experiences throughout the day.

As much as I’m looking forward to finally getting onto the trail, I am enjoying the planning for the Appalachian Trail process thoroughly as well.