2663: Counting down---13 days until San Diego!

With 13 days before we hop on the plane for San Diego, we find ourselves swamped with tons of little things that all of a sudden are essential to our survival on the trail. We recently booked flights from La Crosse, WI to San Diego, CA on April 20, 2011. We keep questioning ourselves as to why we have chose once again to live together in tight--very tight--quarters for another summer. I expect to be annoyed within the first hour on the plane with excessive questioning from Adam--Are we there yet? May I eat all the GORP? Why am I already tired? From San Diego, we plan to take a bus to El Cajon where we will spend a night in a hotel and grab our last-minute items before we hit the trail. On Thursday April 21st, Adam and I will take a bus to Campo, CA (the Southern terminus of the PCT) where we will begin hiking north.

The last few days, we have been putting together our bounce box, grocery shopping, and organizing our gear. The bounce box is a USPS flat-rate box that contains extra gear, phone and camera chargers, and food supplements that we will send ahead to our next resupply point. Traditionally, PCT thru-hikers have sent the majority of their food ahead to post offices in towns along the trail. Due to convenience and cost issues, we felt it would better to support local communities along the trail and resupply as we go--we may end up eating Kraft singles and Oscar Mayer bologna for weeks on end.

After months of planning and preparation, we are finally closing in on our departure. We are looking forward to spending our last few days with friends and family. In addition, Adam and I will enjoy our last days apart from each other in our own beds and personal space. As you can see, we are living in the smallest tent known to man for the next 4-5 months. It will be interesting, smelly, and we will survive....