The most important map

There are quite a few descriptions that people might use if asked to describe me, but there are a few that will never make that list, even by accident. For instance I doubt anyone would even try to link me and the word “organized”. And I definitely fall short on such things as “detail oriented” and “a planner”. My usual method for packing for a trip is to start stuffing things in a bag roughly two hours before have to board whatever transportation method I am using. Considering this, I usually don’t leave anything I really need behind. It is usually the small things that I can easily pick up somewhere along the way, or simply replace with a little bit of creativity. I tend to approach most of my life in this spontaneous manner, and usually it works well for me. On those occasions I actually try to plan ahead … well let’s just say planning and I really don’t get along well. My inner MacGyver rebels I guess.

Thus one of the true challenges for me as I am preparing for this adventure is all the future planning that is inherent in the trip. I am trying to keep it to a minimum, so I don’t implode, but there are some things that simply cannot be avoided. Minor details like how I am going to get to the starting point, or where I am going to get pesky things like food, or what to bring. Fortunately I have had ample help in most of those departments, so will most likely survive without having to eat any fellow hikers. But, and this is actually from personal experience, I can’t do my normal packing method on this trip. Not only do I have to ensure I pack things for the best distribution of weight, but I also have to be sure I can actually FIND what I packed again, while having a fair chance of putting it back in the same place. For some this is par for the course in EVERYTHING they do. For me it is like learning a foreign language.

So today, I gathered all my piles of goodies together in one fairly spacious spot, and packed everything the way I intend to do it on the trail. To make sure I can REMEMBER where I packed everything, I went so far as made a MAP of my pack, and an inventory list based on WHERE it was packed. I suspect one of two things will happen on the trail. I will either get very used to this current arrangement, to the point where I will be able to find just what I need in the darkest of night even sand flashlight, or it will drive me nuts and I will slip back into “I know it is here somewhere” mode. I guess that will be part of my personal challenge.

The fully packed pack is a bit heavier than I was aiming for, but that is the price I pay for being a photography and blogging junkie. Removing all the gadgets that I need to take all the photos I want and make multiple blog posts a week would probably make the weight much closer to the ideal Possibly even less), but then half the reason I am going on this adventure would be removed. I figure I can lower the weight quite a bit if I simply remove all food, water, and clothing. One has to have their priorities straight after all!!

TWELVE days and counting!! If my dreams are any indication, I have a nice mixture of excitement and nerves building. Can barely wait to get to that first “Why the !@# am I doing this again?” point. That will mean we have actually started and my poor tortured body hasn’t yet adjusted to the extra person I am now carrying up and down hills.

THE INVENTORY: