Less Than 100 Days to Go

Unlock my phone, open the tools folder, and click the countdown app again. We launch our Pacific Crest Trail journey on March 13th. As the countdown refreshes, I am officially less than 100 days away from the dream of a lifetime.

In an instant, a wave of emotions and thoughts wash over me. Before I know it, I am standing in a flooded pool of my own making. Everywhere I look, I see questions, doubts, joy, nerves, anxiety, fear, and excitement. Perhaps you can relate to some of the items below.

Did I buy the right gear? I read all the blogs, talked to the men and women at REI for hours, trail-tested everything, watched countless YouTube videos, and practiced carrying food and water in Yosemite, but what if I am missing something or bought the wrong thing?

Do I have enough money for this thing? I have been saving for months, paying off credit cards, plotting a financial plan for those debts that won’t go away, made a budget, and planned for five months without a job, but what happens if I run out of money?

What if my body fails me? I’ve purchased great shoes, practiced carrying a heavy pack, tried to center my thoughts on the realization that my body will hurt in places I can’t imagine, purchased the first-aid kit, and learned a few things about “wilderness survival,” but what happens if my body fails me?