The Night Before

2663 miles. That's how far we plan on hiking, starting tomorrow.

It's 10:30 PM the night before we head out to Campo, CA -- the start of the trail. We're tired, we're anxious, and most importantly, we're all a little frustrated right now from trying to pack our bags completely with the food and the water and the everything and then finding out that the everything you just shoved into your pack is actually 38 lbs. And you have to hike with that tomorrow and then the day after that and so on.

Right now our main task should be getting sleep, but that's out the window. Instead, all of our time is dedicated to cutting down last minute weight. Do we really need the tuna packs? Probably not, it's 2.2 oz per pack and only 80 calories. Do I really need two journals? Maybe. Every piece of equipment we have is swirling around in our minds, ready to be analyzed and hastily cut from the list, only to be dragged back in due to necessity. It's frustrating to say the least, but I think it's also good to step back and look at the bigger picture here.

Tomorrow, we're not leaving for another country, and we're definitely not leaving Earth for Mars or some shit like that. We're driving only four hours away barely into another state. We're stopping at least every week for resupplies. Anyone reading this post can (and should) send goodies, indulgences, and happiness in a box to us along the way. The point is that everything can be changed as we go. Over time, each of us will figure out what items we really need, how much water we require per mile, and what kinds of food we enjoy eating. Nothing is set in stone, except for the path we'll be following. And due to fires, trail closures, and whatever else could possibly happen, even that isn't certain.

Going out tomorrow with a ridiculous pack loaded with 38 lbs of crap is fine. I think we just have to do our best to make the most of it, because this is the reality of our situation, and the only thing that can make this the biggest disaster on the planet is our perspectives.