The Journey Begins

January 10, 2019

If you’ve read my About page, you’ll know that I started this blog almost a year ago. Yet this is my first post.

Yeah, not a great track record so far.

I didn’t go on a single real hike in 2018, and only the occasional short walk. Too busy with building the house and family emergencies.

However, I was able to find most of my gear in storage, figured out what I’m gonna need to replace (most of it unfortunately), and even worked on updating my hiking wardrobe.

But, its a new year and I am committed (and slightly terrified that I won’t be ready) and so I have actually finally started training.

So here we go!

I found this little trail journal recently and fell in love with it. I love journalling (shocking, I know) and like to keep records of my hikes, etc.

Today’s entry:

1-10-19

“No challenge is too big for you.”

Gosh it seems like it might be at this time. My legs are weak! They hurt! How can I think I’ll be able to backpack for 3 straight weeks by next year?

By pushing myself and never giving up! I got this! No challenge is too big for me!

Training:

Daily walks: I’ve started my daily walks in the hills near my house. So far, I’m keeping it short, just around a mile or so. I’m not fatiguing my muscles yet, just trying to get my knees used to the ups and downs. I also have been very conscious about using the correct muscles every time I go up or down the garden stairs between the trailer we’re living in and the house we’re building. I’ve had arthritis in my knees for long enough now that I compensate with other muscles when doing stairs and my quads have suffered. And I’ve made a point that every time I go to stand in front of the wood stove to warm up, I’ll do a set of calf raises. As the mile route starts to get too easy, I’ll add on length to where I’m going at least 2 miles every day and then as that gets easier, I’ll add in speed and carrying weight. Eventually my goal is to be able to do a 3 mile hour with a pack on daily.

Weekly hikes: haven’t started these yet, but my goal is to go on hikes each week ranging in the 3-5 mile range to start with. One, so I can take the kids with me, and two, because that’s all I (and they) will be able to handle at first. As we all start out, I’m imagining these outings will take the better part of a day. I could push myself, but then I might not be able to walk the next day, and when you’ve got a house to build, that’s not a good idea. Eventually, we’ll all get stronger and we’ll be able to do the hikes faster and easier. Then we’ll look for longer hikes to do weekly. Eventually, my goal is to be able to easily do 5-10 mile hikes every week.

Monthly outings: as the months progress, I want to then focus on longer hikes once a month, and eventually a few shorter backpacking trips. By late summer we’re hoping to be finished with our house and I can shift my focus to longer trips. My goal by the end of summer/early fall is to go on a week long trip. I haven’t been on one of those since I was a teenager! But this one will depend entirely on timing issues with the house.

So there you have it. The official real start to my Journey to the Tahoe Rim Trail.

Thanks for joining me on the journey!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton

-MamaBear