Preparation

How do you prepare for something that is completely different than life as of now?

I was discussing my future plans with a friend, and I realized preparation is hard. I don't know how I can possibly fully prepare myself for 5 months of a life that is completely different than the life I know.

My bed, no longer a mattress, but air and a sleeping bag

My kitchen, no longer a room, but a compact container

My bathroom, no longer private, but a hole 6 inches deep with no walls

You can say, "duh Shelly, that is what you signed up for" and that is true, but the closer the trail gets the more I realize how different it is. I have moved from place to place before, my beds have changed, my kitchen has shrunk, and it has been unfamiliar, but I always had something to lean back on. 

 I could call my family to speak about their lives, television to learn about life in a different place, and food, ice cream is universal. 

I have used these crutches in many ways. I have eaten more ice cream in Duluth than I care to admit. I call my family and friends to catch up on life all the time. Facebook is always there. 

For this trip, most of my crutches will be gone. Granted, I can still call or write my friends. I will be walking with Emily, who is a great friend. I am excited for this, but I will be disconnecting from the world as I know it. Or at least distancing myself from it. How do I prepare for that?

So far my preparation could be broken down into three categories of preparation: physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Physically:

How do you train for mountains and elevation changes in the midwest? The highest point in Minnesota is around 2,000 ft. That is the beginning elevation of the trail. #midwestproblems

Luckily Duluth has trails that go on for days. The Superior Hiking Trail is right near my home. I have found this to be great practice. I can walk on these and just get used to having a pack on my back and the feel of the trail on my feet. If I don't have time to go on a longer hike, I found that running up and down the hills of Duluth has been helpful.

Emily has a couple more mountains to climb near her in Montana, but she also has school. She has been running and hiking as well. Getting used to the gear and the idea of trail life.

Food is also a physical requirement. Emily did a great post about the food prep we have been doing!

Mentally:

I feel like I have been eating and breathing PCT knowledge for the longest time now. I have spent countless nights up late reading gear reviews and permit forms. In an effort to prepare to the best of my ability, I have tried to answer every question I can think of. Yogi's Guide book was a great help in helping me understand the basics of the PCT. It is a crash course in PCT knowledge. After that, blogs on blogs on blogs. Hearing from people that have experienced it is very helpful. Everyone has a different experience, so taking the pieces of information from all their experiences and trying to make it my own has been a journey. One review will say I live by this way of hiking, and another will discount it. The biggest lesson I learned is that you have to hike your own hike. Gain the basic knowledge, and then just listen to your body after that.

Emotionally:

Part of me thinks there is no real way to completely prepare for the range of emotions I will have. I have compared it to becoming a teenager again. Having this whole range of emotions that I have never really felt. From completely desolate to euphoric.

That being said, I have done my best. I have tried to prepare my family and friends as well. Letting them know of the plans, and help them gain the information necessary to understand this adventure. I have tried to prepare mentally and physically which helps emotionally.

I feel like emotionally just being open to what happens is what I find the most important. Understanding I am not in complete control, but I have to react to situations as they come.

This is where it has been so helpful to have someone to walk with. Emily has been a baller in helping me feel comfortable. By planning and just talking it all through together makes the journey of preparation a little less overwhelming.

"The best preparation for tomorrow, is to do your best today." -H. Jackson Brown

I find this quote comforting. Preparation has been going on for more than a half of a year now, and even though the gear is all in (or mostly) I still feel unprepared at times. I have hiked many miles to prepare. I have all my permits. What more could I need?

The answer is, there is always more. There always will be. I can't possibly completely prepare myself for everything, but that is part of the journey. It is a journey I am more than excited to begin. I think of preparation as I do of the actual PCT.

All I can do is just keep putting one foot in front of the other, and see where it takes me.