[at-l] Hiker in planning slump... What would or have you done in this sit...

[TrailR at aol.com]

Plan the hell out of your hike "mentally". Make sure your head will be in  
the hike. Don't have things hanging over you that need to be done at home while  
you are gone.  Read "The thruhiking papers", talk to thruhikers.  The  rest 
will work its way out. 
 
I over planned my 03 hike. I didn't need to do 90% of what I did. I had 40  
or so mail drops (didn't need most of them, food was plentiful along the 
trail),  I dried foods, but I got tired of them early, I planned meals I  never ate 
(hated them quick on the trail). So wing most of it. BUT BE MENTALLY  
PREPARED! Start slow & work into shape on the trail, that's what I did.  Screw a 
schedule... You won't keep it. Just outline an approximate schedule  for the folks 
back home, and update it from the trail. I had shoulder surgery 4  months 
before my hike, I couldn't fill my pack until I started my hike.
 

 
Get someone to help with the dehydrating if you  really need to do it. Have 
someone do it while you are on the trail too. It  makes people feel like they 
are part of your hike if they can send you  something, or do something for you. 
And RELAX... Read that book, get a  massage... Drink a beer... It's all good, 
because you'll be FINE once you hit  the trail.

 
Hotdog AT 03
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