Plans are worthless, but planning is essential.

In just over a week, Bob and I will embark on our thru-hike adventure. 

I’m fortunate that my employer offers personal leave. My team at work is VERY supportive and vested in my adventure. The team has spent the last few months getting ready to cover my responsibilities while I am off on our adventure. Both my employee personal leave and my team have been making such a positive impact on my ability to enjoy this thru-hike experience. I am eternally grateful to them!

There has been much to figure out regarding our home, but we’ve established the plans, done the work, and communicated with our family, friends, and neighbors. Our sweet dog will be very well cared for, and we’ll miss her. That will be hard.

With our youngest starting college last fall, our lives have pivoted to a different phase. This makes our adventure possible now. Our kids are our #1 fans. ❤️❤️❤️ Our parents, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc., are all excited and cheering us on. 

For many months, Bob and I have been going on long hikes carrying our packs. The training loads have evolved in weight and size as we finalize our gear choices for the journey ahead.

We’ve taken time off from our training due to the weather, a minor injury, and ‘regular’ life responsibilities. We are back at it and adding miles. While we have not gone on as many long hikes as we had intended, the preparation and miles raise our confidence for the first weeks of the PCT.

I’ve been taking the stairs at work (22 flights), both up and down (until security shut it down 😬.) Thanks to my supportive team at work, I didn’t get stuck in the stairwell. 🤩

Strength training, already in my routine, got switched up a bit to incorporate moves I’ve read about in books and also seen recommended online for thru-hikers, even moves recommended for “older” hikers.

It’s a tough question to answer with full confidence. How do you ever really know until you finally put yourself out there to do what you have worked toward for many months? Honestly, I have no idea. But I am willing to find out, I am excited to start,  and I am ‘ready’ to put my feet on the trail and see what it’s like.

Training hard (My first ever 0.5 selfie.)

Happy Trails,

Julie and Bob

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