Shakedown Hike

Back in August I took a trip to Colorado for a shakedown hike.  I took an open-ended trip to the Colorado Trail.  I had three weeks off from work, so my plan was to see how far I would get.  My plan was to also check out my preparations, and identify any weak spots.

I look so clean and optimistic at the start of the trail.

Bottom line up front, I made it 70 miles – This would be segments 1 through 5.  Officially, I came off trail due to blisters on my feet.  Unofficially, I had already learned what I needed to learn and, to be honest, the trail was a bit too isolated for my comfort at this stage of my journey. 

I saw this guy high up on the hill, while I was hiking the 6.25 (10K) road access to the trail.

So what did I learn?  I learned that I am OK with climbing an extended ascent at high altitude. 

Me, standing proudly, after a 7 mile (11.27km) long 2500+ foot (763m) ascent. This was not the highpoint of the trip, nor of that day. But it was a moment to take off the backpack. And then a thunderstorm rolled in.
My backpack, on the aforementioned ascent, as I pondered the life choices that lead me to voluntarily do this sort of activity.

I gained more confidence with sleeping alone in the woods. 

The places you will sleep in the wild!

I figured out how to manage the end-of-day chills I used to get.  (These were really cramps due to extreme loss of electrolytes during the day.)  I have a better understanding of what it will be like to hike the desert portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. 

Colorado. It’s a high desert.

I learned how to cat hole.  And I have found coping strategies to manage getting stuck in my head while hiking alone.  These are all good things to know!

But I also got a taste of what I am hoping to see next year, when I am on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Beautiful trails.
Beautiful sunsets.
And an occasional place to stop, enjoy the beauty around me, and take in the fact that I am out there doing something I have wanted to do for a long time.

At this point in time, I have registered with the PCT. I will get a registration time slot sometime the first week of November to select my start date for the PCT. In the meantime, I will start training and getting into better shape.

I will make another post regarding everything else going on in my life.

I hope you have enjoyed the pics and update.

#GenX #Retirement #RetirementPlanning #Adventure #GenerationX #Backpacking #SmallTown #SpartanburgSC #Spartanburg #RemoteWork #ReturnToOffice #ThruHike #ThruHikePlanning #hiking #travel #nature #gofundme #ColoradoTrail

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wlovett1

I'm just your basic GenX'er starting the retirement adventure planning process.

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