AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Weeks Thirty, Thirty-One, and Thirty-Two

Weeks: October 20 - November 11 (22 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 20.25
Miles Hiked (October): 5.25
Miles Hiked (November): 15.00
Miked Hiked (October Goal): 30
Miked Hiked (November Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 188.20

Pounds Lost: 0.2
Percentage to Next Milestone: 46%
Pounds Lost (Total):  19.8
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Weeks): 1
Nights Camped (Total): 6
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 1

Honestly, I swear this isn't turning into a "every three weeks" kind of thing. That's how it has worked out the past two times, I know, but I have every intention to be back next week. Hopefully with a better weight loss total than a scant 0.2 pounds. I suppose a small loss is better than no loss (or a gain).

However, the big story of these three weeks isn't the weight loss, but rather the shakedown hike Erin and I did out at Forest Glen. For the first (and almost surely last) time this year I camped outdoors using only what I could carry on my back. Personally I think it went pretty well, despite the fact that I'm still sore in places from the hike. I was able to prove that I could go multiple miles in one hike with the pack on my back. I had trouble sleeping, but it wasn't because I was too cold. My bag, liner, and marmot vest kept me plenty warm overnight. All in all I'm still a bit too tentative going down hills (particularly hills with slick leaves and slick clay mud), but I'm feeling better about my ability to endure the awfulness of those first weeks on the trail next Spring.

The big shakedown hike took up over half of my total hiking for the period. The rest was split between a few places. The biggest hike of note was at Marengo Ridge, where I completed the full hike from my hiking book now that the snow and ice were gone. I was happy that every hill on that trail, plus the 100 or so steps at Apple River Canyon that I hiked later in the day, were done without stopping until the top.

A cold front has settled in across the United States, and things feel like winter here in northern Illinois. We haven't had any appreciable snow yet, so there's still some time for hiking that doesn't involve being prepared for the white stuff. This weekend looks like it will be cold, but at least without too much of a chance for precipitation. Hopefully I'll be able to wipe out the other 15 miles in my monthly goal, and actually hit that monthly goal for once.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Twenty-Seven, Twenty-Eight, and Twenty-Nine

Weeks: September 29 - October 19 (21 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 13.51
Miles Hiked (October): 13.51
Miked Hiked (October Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 167.95

Pounds Lost: 1.8
Percentage to Next Milestone: 45.00%
Pounds Lost (Total):  19.6
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Alright, it's been three weeks, I've done a bit of hiking, and one monster of a web site has been released, meaning things return to normal. Or at least as normal as it usually is. Considering the extra hours, and a weekend of being at work and on call, I'm surprised I was able to lose weight during the period at all.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Twenty-Six

Weeks: September 22 - September 28 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 5.00
Miles Hiked (September): 17.69
Miked Hiked (September Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 154.44

Pounds Gained: 2.2
Percentage to Next Milestone: 36.00%
Pounds Lost (Total):  17.8
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

So this past week broke a string going back a ways of logged periods where I made weight progress. There was one major reason for this, which was that I worked long hours several days, and had to work an extra day on the weekend. The result was less hiking, more stress (and more stress eating), and just a lack of attention to the plan. I knew it was probably going to happen, and am not surprised that it did. In fact, I'm a little surprised it turned out as well as it did. The only thing I can do is do better. Things have returned to a certain level of normalcy at work, so I don't have an excuse this week.

Looking Towards the AT: Virgina Blues, Part 2 (Atkins to Daleville)

Section: Virginia, from Atkins to Troutville 
Region: South
Miles of trail: 181.3
Highlights: Dragonstooth, Audie Murphy Monument, Keffer Oak

Some of the sections of this feature almost write themselves. This is because of our familiarity with the section (The Smokies), a particularly interesting stretch of trail (Damascus to Atkins), or the importance of being first or last (Georgia). Other sections, however, are tougher to write about. The second segment of the Virginia portion of the AT, Atkins to Troutville, is one of those sections.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Twenty-Five

Weeks: September 16 - September 21 (6 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 4.13
Miles Hiked (September): 12.69
Miked Hiked (September Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 149.44

Pounds Lost: 2.4
Percentage to Next Milestone: 47.00%
Pounds Lost (Total):  20.0
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Another week, another steady move in the right direction. I got one good hike in, this time amid the pines and oaks of White Pines Forest State Park near Oregon, Illinois. Best of all, it included three evenings where I pushed past the dinner problem I frequently have. This was despite several days being long work days, and thus more challenging.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Twenty-Four

Weeks: September 9 - September 15 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 6.86
Miles Hiked (September): 8.56
Miked Hiked (September Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 145.31

Pounds Lost: 3.8
Percentage to Next Milestone: 35.00%
Pounds Lost (Total):  17.6
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

After several weeks without more than a mile or two of hiking, I get someone back to form in week twenty-five with over six miles. And unlike some of my recent hikes I hiked the roller coaster of a trail at Indian Lake County Park in Dane County, Wisconsin. Other than a hike up Forest Glen's infamous Hawk Hill in July, it was by far the toughest hike I've done since I got back from the southern Appalachians.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Twenty-Three

Weeks: September 3 - September 8 (6 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 1.7
Miles Hiked (September): 1.7
Miked Hiked (August Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 138.45

Pounds Lost: 2.4
Percentage to Next Milestone: 16.00%
Pounds Lost (Total):  13.8
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Week Twenty-Four was a rather ho-hum week. After a tough week of work, I took the weekend pretty easy, but did get out to hike Sunday afternoon. Although not a difficult hike, it was a pleasant hike at Schaumburg's Spring Valley Nature Preserve. Schaumburg and its residents should be proud of this park, as it is large for a city park, seems to be well kept, and has plenty of woods, prairies, and ponds to explore. My short hike only took me on a portion of the several trails available, and I'll definitely be going back there in the future. My plans for this weekend are still up in the air, but the weather looks like it will be a true fall weekend, with temperatures in the 60s during the day.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Weeks Twenty, Twenty-One, and Twenty-Two

Weeks: August 11 - September 2 (23 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 2.2
Miles Hiked (August): 11.4
Miles Hiked, (August Goal): 40
Miles Hiked (September): 0.0
Miked Hiked (August Goal): 30

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 134.55

Pounds Lost: 2.2
Percentage to Next Milestone: 4.00%
Pounds Lost (Total):  11.4
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

In terms of hiking, August was a lost month. After a slow start with 9.2 miles after the first two weekends, I only hiked another 2.2 miles the rest of the month. Part of this was because of being busy with other things, but the biggest reason for my failure to hit the goal was due to a case of poison ivy. This mess robbed me of any desire to go hiking, particularly on trails that weren't paved or wide paths devoid of hazards like poison ivy.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Weeks Seventeen, Eighteen, and Nineteen

Weeks: July 21 - August 10 (21 Days)
Miles Hiked (Total Period): 21.25
Miles Hiked (July): 37.35
Miles Hiked, (July Goal): 40

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 134.55

Pounds Lost: 3.2
Percentage to Next Milestone: 86.79%
Pounds Lost (Total):  9.2
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

I've got a new scale, so the training plan recaps are worth posting again. As you can see, the past three weeks were mostly a success. No, I didn't get to 40, but for the second consecutive month I set a personal monthly record, this time with over 37 miles in July. Although August has been a little light so far, I did hit 7.4 miles on one hike this past Sunday, which is one step closer to the elusive eight miles in one hike. And on top of all that, I am down 3.2 pounds.

Nature in All its Forms at Allerton Park

On a recent weekend, I hiked at Allerton Park near Monticello, Illinois. Once the property of a wealthy family, Allerton Park was donated to the University of Illinois in 1946. The university runs the mansion as a retreat center, and the gardens, woods, and prairies around it as a park and nature preserve. Despite living about an hour or less from it at various times in my life, this was the first time I actually visited the place. It won't be the last time I visit.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Sixteen

Weeks: July 15 - July 20 (6 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 8.0
Miles Hiked (July): 25.30
Miles Hiked, (July Goal): 40

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 113.30

Pounds Lost: N/A
Percentage to Next Milestone: N/A
Pounds Lost (Total):  6.0
Weekly Goal Met: N/A
Nights Camped (Weeks): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

I won't be including weight loss/gain info during these recaps for at least the next couple of weeks. This isn't to hide bad results (although I suspect there would have been a reverse this week after last week's positive result). Rather, it is a broken scale that is preventing me from giving results. I went to change the battery, and the one of the connectors that attaches to the 9V battery snapped off with the battery. So until I get a new scale, I won't be able to record my weight progress (or lack thereof).

Looking towards the AT: Damascus, VA to Atkins, VA

Section: Virginia, from Damascus to Atkins 
Region: South
Miles of trail: 75
Highlights: Virginia Creeper Trail, Mt. Rogers, Grayson Highlands State Park, Konnarock Crew HQ,

Reading through the Appalachian Trail Thru-hikers Companion (2014 ed), several highlights stood out. I actually have been reading through the book and literally highlighting points of interest, and this 75 mile stretch has not disappointed. 

Unlike my brother, I tend not to have an encyclopedic knowledge of the AT - not that I'm not excited, of course, I just tend to be more of an experiential learner. I will remember something once I've done it. Through the first push in Virginia from Damascus to Atkins, I can say that I've experienced part of the Appalachian Trail first-hand. 

A Long Way Yet to Go

My camera has a tendency to flatten images, yet clearly here you can see the incline to reach this point on the AT.

Wisconsin, Illinois, doesn't matter. These hikes I've done this Spring and Summer have been the minor leagues. Heck, many not even that. Perhaps the Rookie League, or Little League. Tee-ball even, if I'm being honest about Moraine Hills State Park.

This realization hit me about halfway up the Slaughter Creek Trail. The trail, which is almost 3 miles long, goes from the edge of Lake Winfield Scott up to a junction with the Appalachian Trail near its approach to the summit of Blood Mountain. As such, it's pretty much uphill the entire way. Despite taking frequent breaks, my legs were beginning to feel tired from the uphill grind. I moved at a snail's pace, and yet I struggled mightily to get up to those white blazes, where a slackening of the difficulty was promised by the hiking book.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan: Weeks Twelve, Thirteen, Fourteen, and Fifteen

Weeks: June 17 - July 14 (28 Days)
Miles Hiked (June 17-30): 15.25
Miles Hiked (June): 30.50
Miles Hiked, (June Goal): 40
Miles Hiked (July 1-14): 17.3
Miles Hiked (July): 17.30
Miles Hiked, (July Goal): 40

Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 105.30

Pounds Lost: 3.4
Percentage to Next Milestone: 56.60%
Pounds Lost (Total):  6.0
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Weeks): 3
Nights Camped (Total): 5
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

As you can see from the title of this post, I didn't keep up with my weekly recaps. This was due in large part to failing to do official weigh-ins on either Monday or Tuesday, preparing for a vacation in early July, and actually going on that vacation. However, that trip is finished, I'm back on a pretty regular schedule, and it's time to get these back on track. And things almost entirely to that vacation, things are looking pretty good.

Daily Journal: June 29, 2014

Location: Schaumburg, IL
Miles Hiked Today: 5.0
Weather: Muggy, Storms on the Way

Sometimes the best thing is to just take it slow. It's a well-worn strategy of mine when I have several miles of rough hiking to go, and my energy is zapped. I tend to do this by counting my steps, and adhering to strict stops for breaks. Eventually I'll probably bump it up to landmarks or amounts of time between breaks, but for now steps will suffice. Sure, this way hurts my mph average, but I don't really care when it comes to going up and down the trails that go to truly great places. If I wanted to do nothing but beef up my MPH average, I'd spend all my time at Illinois Beach, Moraine Hills, or Cuba Marsh. But come next year I won't be walking on these "hiker highways", I'll be hiking the Appalachian Trail. The only way I can begin to get ready for that is going on trails with roots, rocks, and inclines galore.

Daily Journal: June 28, 2014

Location: Madison, WI
Miles Hiked Today: 8.5
Weather: Variable Cloudiness, Warm

So it is unlikely that I am going to reach my June hiking goal. Sure, it's possible that I could pull off 14.5 miles tomorrow, or even pull off a last second hike on Monday to accomplish it. However, the prospects are pretty slim. Because I had two weeks with poor hiking totals, it forced an unrealistic expectation for this weekend. Thus, my highest total for a day this year (8.5) comes up looking like a failure.

Looking Towards the AT: Tennessee and North Carolina Between the D's

Section: Tennessee and North Carolina Between the Ds*.
Region: South
Miles of trail: 225.6
Highlights: Hot Springs, NC, Max Patch, Roan Mountain and it's related balds, Overmountain Shelter, Lake Watauga, Laurel Falls

AT marker in Hot Springs, NC. The trail along the town's sidewalks are marked with this symbol.

So you're at Davenport Gap on the northeast end of Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Now what? Is it time to give up, considering you've just been through one of the most scenic places in the Eastern United States? Of course not!

Daily Journal: June 18, 2014

Location: Schaumburg, IL
Miles Hiked Today: 0
Weather: Occasional Thunderstorms

Of all the things that I may encounter out on the trail, thunderstorms are probably one my least anticipated. Watching and listening to the thunderstorms rumbling through the suburbs has me thinking about this threat that is much more likely than other typical fears, such as bear attacks or life threatening snake encounters. It's not so much the rain (although that can be annoying when warm and deadly when cold), or the chance of encountering high winds, tornadoes, and hail. Those are things to worry about, but not as much as the threat of lightning when hiking through areas high above the other places around.

It's just one of those things all hikers have to deal with. Granted, hiking the Appalachian Trail isn't exactly like hiking in the Rockies or the High Sierra, where dozens or even hundreds of miles may be above treeline. Many of the areas along the AT are shrouded in the relative safety of the forest. Still, there are plenty of meadows, clearings, road crossings, and other exposed places where lightning could be a threat. Guess I'll just have to be observant, and be careful.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Eleven

Week: June 9 - June 16 (8 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 2.75
Miles Hiked (June): 15.25
Miles Hiked, (June Goal): 40
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 72.75
Pounds Gained: 0.4
Percentage to Next Milestone: 24.53%
Pounds Lost (Total):  2.6
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

As anticipated, this week didn't turn out too hot. I only got 2.75 miles in on Saturday, and nothing in on Sunday. Despite an OK week, the weekend tanked the week as a whole, more than washing it out. This week will likely not be much better, although I do hope to get more miles in.

At least it wasn't worse. If I can hold my ground this week, I've got some good opportunities to get back on track the during the following weeks. Next weekend will be a hiking focused one, and after that will be a week full of hiking and camping in early July. From there things will really pick up, as the margin for error has been effectively eliminated. As mediocre as this week was, I know I can return to the successes of the previous week. I just have to keep hiking.

Daily Journal: June 14, 2014

Location: Ridge Farm, IL
Miles Hiked Today: 2.75
Weather: Mostly Clear

I visited one of my favorite places at Forest Glen County Preserve today, albeit a favorite place that I forget about pretty much every time. It's at the tip of the Beech Loop along the Crab Tree Trail. Here there is a bench overlooking the end of a ridge above a confluence of ravines. The distance from the top to the bottom isn't great, just a few dozen feet (if that).

Daily Journal: June 12, 2014

Location: Schaumburg, IL
Miles Hiked Today: 0
Weather: Partly Cloudy

There is no doubt that I live in the middle of the developed maze that is Chicagoland. From the parking lot of my large apartment complex you can see several concrete, steel, and glass office buildings that can be found in northeast Schaumburg. Just down the road from where I live (and where I work, which is also visible from my parking lot) is Woodfield Mall, the Northwest Suburbs closest thing to a tourist attraction (besides Medieval Times, which is just down I-90 on the opposite side of town). At night the sky is alight with the glow of the buildings and streetlights. Off to the east you can hear the engines of the jets taking off from or landing at O'Hare.

Daily Journal: June 11, 2014

Location: Schaumburg, IL
Miles Hiked Today: 0
Weather: Cloudy

With the awfulness of this past winter, I am curious to see how this summer will play out. So far we've not had any overly oppressive summer days here in Northern Illinois. Granted, the worst of it rarely happens until July and August, but many years it can get oppressively warm in May and June here.

Daily Journal: June 10, 2014

Note: Andrew here. From now until we begin our hike next spring, I'll be keeping a short daily journal about preparations, recent hiking experiences, and just general thoughts about hiking. Few of these will be too long, and some will have pictures. You don't have to read every one, and we're not going to foist 'em all on you on Tumblr, Twitter,  or Facebook.  However, it will be a good way to keep my writing muscles in shape. I'll still be writing the weekly AT Hiking Training Plan posts, and we'll still have our usual irregular features, but this way there'll be something here every day.

Location: Schaumburg, IL
Miles Hiked Today: 0
Weather: Cool, Rainy

Tuesday evenings can be be tough ones. Not as bad as Monday, but still bad. Even then, none of the evenings are bad in a real sense. More of in a sense that they are pretty far away from the weekend. The memories of the fern shrouded trails and stunning vistas at Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo, Wisconsin are still quite fresh, but there are still more days left this week than not before I can hike again.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Ten

Rock Formation atop East Bluff at Devil's Lake State Park

Week: June 2 - June 8 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 11.40
Miles Hiked (June): 12.50
Miles Hiked, (June Goal): 40
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 70.00
Pounds Lost: 1.0
Percentage to Next Milestone: 28.30%
Pounds Lost (Total):  3.0
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

OK, now we can call it a positive trend. For the third measured period in a row (and second week in a row), I've gone the right direction on the scale. On top of that, I hit my first weekend with more than 10 miles of hiking, and finally hit an eight mile day. It truly was a good week.

Looking Towards the AT: Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Section: Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Region: South
Miles of trail: 70.1 
Highlights: Clingman's Dome, Spence Field, Charlie's Bunion, Mount Cammerer, Siler's Bald, bears, long periods in the rare spruce-fir zone of the southern Appalachians, salamanders

A bit more than 150 miles into the trail* hikers on the AT say goodbye to the Fontana Hilton, walk across the dam**, and go past a small sign welcoming you to the national park, with a white blaze on one of the posts telling you that you are heading the right direction. 

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Nine

Week: May 26 - June 1 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 4.10
Miles Hiked (May): 30.00
Miles Hiked, (May Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (June): 1.10
Miles Hiked, (June Goal): 40
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 58.60
Pounds Lost: 1.8
Percentage to Next Milestone: 18.87%
Pounds Lost (Total):  2.0
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

As much as I'd like to, I can't call this a second consecutive week of progress on the weight loss front. Sure, it's the second straight recorded period where I've lost weight. However, I did post an update for last week, despite not having an official weigh-in.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Eight

Week: May 19 - May 25 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 5.75
Miles Hiked (May): 27.00
Miles Hiked, (May Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 54.50
Pounds Lost: N/A
Percentage to Next Milestone: 0%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0.2
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Because I didn't get back to town until this morning, I did not weigh in on either the official Monday or fallback Tuesday slots, so the weight report will have to wait until next week. It probably wouldn't have been too good of a weigh in, what with another holiday weekend. However, it wasn't as bad as it could be, all things considered. I made some relatively responsible choices, and still got 5.75 miles of hiking in over two days. Not great, but not too bad.

This leaves me with one day left this month to get three miles. That should be hard to achieve, as I've hiked at least three miles almost every day that I've hiked this month. However, my hope is to get much more than that in.

Next year, at the bare minimum I'll need to hike eight miles a day. Actually, it will be more 15-20 miles a day, but especially early on eight miles is a reasonable floor for mileage. I've only hit eight miles a couple times over the past four years, and only once (The Cades Cove Loop Road) did I do it in one hike. It won't be a full simulation of the challenges I'll face, as I won't be hiking with a full pack, and the terrain will be a bit more forgiving than the Appalachians. However, it will still be a big step forward for me.

Looking towards the AT: North Carolina to Fontana

Note: Over the next year, we'll be sharing our thoughts on the sections of the Appalachian Trail that we will be walking next year. Only a few do we have any even remotely significant experience with, but we still have thoughts on them that we'd like to share. After we finish our hike, we'll be able to look back at these and see if we were pretty astute with our thoughts, or way off the trail. Although many of the sections are broken down by state, some (such as VA, NC, and TN) will be broken into smaller portions due to length of trail and special circumstances. Next up is North Carolina to Fontana Dam. 

Section: North Carolina (to Fontana Dam at the entrance of the Smokies)
Region: South
Miles of trail: 86.2 
Highlights: Standing Indian Mt, Winding Stair Gap, Wayah Bald, Wesser Bald, Nantahala River and Outdoor Center, Fontana Dam


I have a confession to make.

I know very little about the Appalachian Trail.

Oh, of course I know what it is and the general where, of course. I know the states it goes through, and the types of topography and ecosystems I'll be hiking through. Unlike Andrew, though, I just don't have the mind for memorizing information about the trail that I haven't experienced first hand. This means I have a whole lotta learnin' in the year ahead of me.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Seven

Week: May 12 - May 18 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 9.75
Miles Hiked (May): 21.25
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 48.75
Pounds Lost: 2.4
Percentage to Next Milestone: 0%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0.2
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

There must be something about odd numbered weeks, as they go better than my even number weeks. A lot of the success for this weekend was courtesy of the good weekend I had hiking. Without going overboard on my meals during the two days, I hiked almost ten miles. This total is my highest for the year, and the highest since last October. Because I hit that number, I'm sitting in a comfortable place for hitting my monthly hiking goal with four potential hiking days left in the month.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Six

Week: May 6 - May 11 (6 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 3.85
Miles Hiked (May): 11.5
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 30.25
Pounds Gained: 0.2
Percentage to Next Milestone: 0%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

So this wasn't as good of a result as I had hoped, especially after the previous week had been so good. However, it's not entirely bad. Despite the weekend being a light one for hiking* and including a trip home (always a potential problem) I effectively broke even. I made some good choices over the weekend, although clearly I have some room for improvement.

Why I'm Hiking the Appalachian Trail

I've been putting off this post for quite some time; not because I doubt my sincerity in hiking the Appalchian Trail, but because I wasn't sure how to accurately express why I felt I needed to complete this hike. I'll do the best I can.

There are the "easy" reasons - the ones that pop into my mind every time I think about writing this post. I'm young and not tied down; I crave adventure and want to be surrounded by nature. It's there, and frankly I don't have much else going on in my life.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Five

Week: April 29 - May 5 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 7.65
Miles Hiked (May): 7.65
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 26.40
Pounds Lost: 2.8
Percentage to Next Milestone: 0%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Now that is better.

Journal of the Smokies: 27th Birthday

Has it really been a month since I've turned 27 years old? I suppose so. It's funny how I've noticed time flying now, each year getting shorter and shorter as my relative sense of time expands. When I was a kid, days dragged on forever. Now, I actually have to utilize to-do lists or nothing gets done and I've wasted the day away. This is one of those lessons, I think, everyone learns but can't adequately be described until you yourself have experienced it.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan, Week Four

Week: April 22 - April 28 (7 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 7.34
Miles Hiked (April): 20
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 20
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 26.40
Pounds Gained: 5.8
Percentage to Next Milestone: 0%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

OK, so the first half of week four was the textbook definition of a bad week. Things just kind of fell apart, in large part to work stress, and I just got off track. I am pretty shocked that it went that bad, but apparently it did.

Looking Towards the AT: Georgia

View from atop Blood Mountain, highest point on AT in Georgia

Note: Over the next year, we'll be sharing our thoughts on the sections of the Appalachian Trail that we will be walking next year. Only a few do we have any even remotely significant experience with, but we still have thoughts on them that we'd like to share. After we finish our hike, we'll be able to look back at these and see if we were pretty astute with our thoughts, or way off the trail. Although many of the sections are broken down by state, some (such as VA, NC, and TN) will be broken into smaller portions due to length of trail and special circumstances. We begin with Georgia, the first state heading north.

Section: Georgia
Region: South
Miles of trail: 76.4 (Not counting ~9 miles along the approach trail from Amicalola Falls State Park)
Highlights: Springer Mountain, Blood Mountain, Neel's Gap

Hiking the Lists: The Forest Glen 3 in 1

Hike: #12
Title: The Forest Glen 3 in 1
Location: Forest Glen County Preserve, Vermilion County, Illinois
Hike List: Illinois
Difficulty: Mostly easy, although a couple climbs and descents are momentarily steep and it could be quite muddy at certain times of the year.
Duration of Hike: 1-2 hours

OK, so the "Forest Glen 3 in 1" is not an official title for this hike. However, it's a lot easier than calling it the "Willow Creek, Deer Meadow, and most of the Old Barn trails combined into one Hike"*. Although not the longest hike in the park (that's the River Ridge Backpack Trail)**, or most spectacular showcase of Forest Glen's natural beauty (Big Woods), this hike is a good sampler.

AT's AT 2015 Hiking Training Plan, Week Three

Skunk Cabbage at Forest Glen creating a blanket of green in a seep

Week: April 14 - April 21 (8 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 3.46
Miles Hiked (April): 12.66
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 20
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 19.16
Pounds Lost (Weeks 2 and 3): 0.6
Percentage to Next Milestone: 11.11%
Pounds Lost (Total):  1.2
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Well, I suppose this can be called a victory. I hiked almost 3.5 miles on a "Hiking the Lists" trail that I had planned on doing many times, but chickened out (or wasn't feeling fit enough to tackle). In addition, I lost some more weight, the second of two official weigh-ins in the new training plan period where I've gone down. Considering this came after Easter weekend, a time full of high calorie foods and riddled with candy, probably makes it better. Nevertheless, it's a small victory at best.

Hiking the Lists: Snake Road

Photo by Erin

Hike: #11
Title: Snake Road 
Location: LaRue-Pine Bluffs Natural Research Area, Shawnee National Forest
Hike List: Illinois
Difficulty: Mostly easy, although during spring and fall venomous snakes abound so be careful.
Duration of Hike: No more than a couple hours, depending on how many pictures you take.

Most of the geology of Illinois is dominated by glaciers. The expansive flatness of central Illinois is due to the work of ancient glaciers, as are the occasional ridges which are the remnants of terminal moraines from the glaciers. From Marengo Ridge and Volo Bog in the north, to the ridge that gave my hometown its name (Ridge Farm), the evidence is all around us.

AT's AT 2015 Hiking Training Plan, Week Two

Week: April 8 - April 14 (6 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 7.7
Miles Hiked (April): 9.2
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 16.7
Pounds Lost (Week): N/A
Percentage to Next Milestone: 5.67%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0.6
Weekly Goal Met: N/A
Nights Camped (Week): 1
Nights Camped (Total): 2
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

This week doesn't have a weight update, because I have yet to weigh in properly. I overslept Monday morning at my parents house on the way back from my weekend camping and hiking trip with Erin (more on that later). And as for today, I chose to come back in the morning instead of last night, so I wouldn't have to deal with the April snowfall. Because this is supposed to be a regular feature, I figured I would just do one without the weigh-in this week, and save it for next week's post.

Journal of the Smokies - The Road to Nowhere

Me at the far end of the tunnel on Lakeview Drvie in GSMNP. Photo by Erin

Some of America's national parks were not controversial to establish. Most of them, especially the western giants, were on land already owned by the federal government. Sure, there were some contentious battles over grandfathered leases and a whole mess that led to a uranium mine operating at the Grand Canyon for years after the park had been established around it. But in large part parks like Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier and Rocky Mountain did not involve a lot of displacement of inhabitants.

Journal of the Smokies: Forever Cold and Tired

So you maaay not have heard the news that I'm completely in love with my new camera. The trip to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park was a perfect opportunity to try out landscape shots, and I also had hoped for some killer wildlife shots (er...that is, great shots..not maneating wildlife). Although the wildlife photography didn't pan out for the most part I was able to get some practice with landscapes and flora in bloom. However, a trip to a National Park in spring wouldn't be complete with other nature activities; namely, camping.

We knew a rainy cold front was on it's way, but we were determined to spend the night outside at Elkmont Campground in the park. Elkmont is situated beautifully, and the prime location gives away it's former life as a resort location. Although it's built for standard car-camping the sites are set along a river, with with just enough space between sites that gives a comfortable enough illusion of privacy. We had picked two sites along the river, and, after dinner, started setting up for the night.

AT's AT 2015 Hiking Training Plan, Week One

Week: March 31 - April 7 (8 Days)
Miles Hiked (Week): 1.5
Miles Hiked (March): 7.5
Miles Hiked (April): 1.5
Miles Hiked, (March Goal): 10
Miles Hiked, (April Goal): 30
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 9.0
Pounds Lost (Week): 0.6
Percentage to Next Milestone: 5.67%
Pounds Lost (Total):  0.6
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 1
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

OK, sports fans, we're in for a tough slog over the next year. It's a marathon, not a sprint, after all. Which is fortunate, because I'm pretty sure I don't have the wind to do a sprint very well.

Appalachian Trail Expense Breakdown preliminary

I think one of the best ways to show we're serious about this hike will be to chronicle everything that goes into planning the journey. One of the biggest things, for me, is finances. Every month, or every major marker in donation/savings process, I'll make an expense report with gear bought and maybe findings on how much other hikers have spent on resupplies and the like.

I'm going to be completely up-front and honest here and it may get a little heavy, so bear with me. I'm pretty open about my struggle with mental illness, and the past 3 years I've been waging all out war with debilitating clinical depression. It's robbed me of a good chunk of my 20s, a decade that I'm under the impression is supposed to be filled with adventure and self-discovery. I spent most of my mid 20s tucked away under covers, wondering if it was really worth it getting through the day. (More on this when I write my "why I hike" post for the AT). It also left me stagnant in my career goals and now I'm left financially in a rut. However, if I'm going to do this hike and move on with my life, the time is now. It's next year or bust.*

Why I'm Hiking the Appalachian Trail

So why am I hiking the Appalachian Trail next year? Well, one reason is already apparent, as I want to hike to help raise money for a good cause. Naturally, it would be an opportunity to do something really worth writing about, so that is a good reason as well. And of course, the challenge of it all has an appeal, as does the idea of doing something that relatively few people have done.

Journal of the Smokies: Hiking Cade's Cove

I'm no stranger to Cade's Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. After I'd heard about Andrew's experience, I immediately knew I wanted to hike the 11 mile loop one day, too. After all, I'm a little sister and if we're good at anything it's wanting to do what big brothers do.

The first time I walked Cade's Cove was in November of 2012. I had just gotten through a traumatizing work experience and was still in emotional shambles over the ordeal. I needed a long walk to clear my head and get my body moving. A nice, serene hike around the 11 mile loop seemed to be a great idea, and although it took me 5 hours to complete and I was so sore that I ended up sleeping the rest of the day, it was just what my soul needed.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail for BECA

We've done it, guys! We've completed our goal! Oh, no, not the raising money part. I meant the choosing a cause to hike for part.

You see, most people want to raise money for a cause and then figure out a way to do it. Andrew and I, being the unconventional people we sometimes tend to be, have wanted to hike the AT for quite some time and knew that hiking the trail would be great exposure for one of the many causes we care about. Raising money for a charity also spurs us on to complete the trail because you just don't quit when people have financially invested in your success. Barring serious emergency, it means we don't give up.

AT's AT Hiking Training Plan: It Begins for Real

Instead of giving you an overview of weeks 9 and 10 of my Hiking Training Plan 3.0, this post marks another beginning. As announced last week, the authors of this blog will be hiking the Appalachian Trail from Georgia to Maine next year. As such, there is a now a tangible deadline for my hiking training plan. This means that things are about to get real.

Journal of the Smokies: A Lack of Hiking Experience

Note: Journal of the Smokies is a new feature on this blog. The Great Smoky Mountains is one of the jewels of the National Park System, and the park visited by the most people each year. It's also the most visited park by Andrew, and one of Erin's most frequently visited. From visits long past and recent we'll be sharing some of our thoughts and pictures. This will be a cross platform feature, as we'll be sharing pictures and short posts in the series on our Walk With Nature tumblr as well.

Since I began hiking in earnest again in October of 2010, I've hiked hundreds of miles in states from Virginia to California, and Florida to Michigan. I've hiked to the top of the highest points in Georgia and Tennessee, hiked all 600 steps at Amicalola Falls, and went to the top of Blood Mountain along the Applachian Trail. I've a hiked a lot of miles, but very few of those have been in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Announcing our 2015 Hike of the Appalachian Trail

We started this blog back in November of 2010 with the intention of it being one part of a journey towards walking the Appalachian Trail. As you can gather from our domain name (walkwithnature2012.com), our original goal was doing it in 2012. Unfortunately, an inability to get our schedules and responsibilities in line to make the six month trip resulted in that not happening. It also didn't happen in 2013, and it won't be happening this year. But next year? That's a different case.

Hikes around St. Louis - Rockwoods Reservation and Lone Elk State Park

Once in a great while, the stars align and I have a day off and the gas money to afford a trip out of the city, past suburbia, and into the wilderness. Or at least, as wild as I can get in one afternoon's drive. Since it also turned out to be a warm, sunny day I decided to set my sights on Rockwoods Reservation out by Wildwood, Missouri. Although fairly small, the reservation (ran by the Missouri Department of Conservation) offered a few trails and neat features such as a bird blind by the visitor's center; in the coming months, when plants start to bloom and the weather evens out, I imagine the reservation is a great place to see wildlife.

Back on the Trail at Forest Glen

Ever since I started my road back from pneumonia in January, March 15 was a major date on my calendar. Early on I decided this would be the date that I would finally get back on a trail after a hiatus that spanned almost four months. As day after day went by, and the snow kept falling and the temperatures kept struggling to get above freezing, I hoped I wouldn't get snowed out. Only deep snow, ice, or thunderstorms would keep from hiking. Fortunately, the weather turned out to be pretty great for hiking. The sun was shining, and the air was crisp, while not being too cold. If I didn't complete the hike, it wouldn't be the weather that was the factor.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0 - Week Eight Recap

Week: March 7 - March 13
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (March): 0
Miles Hiked, (March Goal): 10
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Minutes Walked: 70
Minutes Walked (Weekly Goal): 95 
Pounds Lost (Week): 2.8
Pounds Gained (Total):  2.0
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

After several weeks of trying to get back on track, I finally had a breakthrough of a week. By (mostly) keeping to my daily walking regimen and (mostly) keeping to my simple dinner plan, I was able to hit the elusive goal of not only breaking even, but actually losing weight. The fact that this came during another week of long nights at work and cold temperatures makes it that much sweeter.

NEW CAMERA MEANS NEW POSTS!

Sorry for the caps lock, dear and loyal readers. I just have extremely exciting news is all! As you may have noticed using context clues from the post title, I am the proud owner of a brand new camera. A Nikon D3200, a pretty standard entry level DSLR to be exact. And I. Am. In. Love. I've spent two days in the past week at the zoo trying out different modes (eventually sticking with auto-mode but still landing some pretty spectacular shots). I do wish there would be one last winter storm come through so I could get cardinals and otters in the snow, but I think just about everyone in the Midwest would come after me if I tried to appease Jack Frost. I can't blame them; it's time for Spring and soon it'll be prime time to head over the Missouri Botanical Garden and check out the budding flora.

Hiking the Lists #10

Hike: #10
Title: Sosebee Cove Nature Trail 
Location: Chattahoochee National Forest
Hike List: North Georgia
Difficulty: Easy. It's uphill for half of it, but it's so short that doesn't really matter.
Duration of Hike: Walking straight through would take maybe five to ten minutes. More if you take pictures or just want to experience the serenity of nature.

The Sosebee Cove Nature Trail is a short trail, so this will be a short entry. It's not difficult to walk, and is over almost as soon as it begins. When I walked it, it was still winter up in the mountains of North Georgia, so the large trees had no leaves, and the wildflowers were still a couple months away from blanketing the hill side.

Riding the Exercise Roller Coaster into Spring

It's currently about 115 degrees in my small third-story bedroom. The thing about these lovely old brick St. Louis homes is that while the rest of the house can be drafty as though Jack Frost was making himself at home on your couch, heat still rises.Downstairs, my roommates/landlords are probably wondering what the constant *thump* *thump* *thump* coming from above means as I try (and fail) to quietly exercise to my newest Jillian Michaels DVD. Tired and sweaty, I turn off the television.

I gave up in about 15 minutes.

This is the story of how I went from training to run my first half-marathon to where I am now - physically and emotionally tired in my journey to a healthier me. It's a problem many people face in their weight-loss and getting-fit goals, and it's something that's hurt me tremendously in the past. The last time I gave up so spectacularly, I gained 45 pounds in four or five months, then lived (miserably) with the extra weight and extra bad eating habits for the next year or so. Finally, during a trip to Yosemite National Park with Andrew in 2012, I got fed up and lost 30 pounds. That's great and all, but I still had goals to reach before the Epic Crash of 2011. And here I am now, struggling to bridge the gap between eating healthy and eating on a budget that is, without pity or hyperbole, below the national poverty level.

This is not an uncommon problem either. The sad reality is that economically it is more affordable and more available to eat nutritional garbage than it is to consume the most basic of nature's abundant food. Also, that garbage is, more often than not, quicker to make and eat for someone who doesn't have a lot of time to throw around. Growing up in a food desert that is rural Illinois during the winter, you'd think my unhealthy and sedentary habits were learned at home. Surprisingly, it was only into my adult life that I've had to deal with these issues (as a kid, I was scrawny, always on the go, and craving raw vegetables like my life depended on it), and maybe that's why I'm so ill-equipped for long term health despite all the reading and research I've done.

For instance, after my first major victory in re-claiming my health back in 2010 (5 days at the gym, it became my study spot), I decided I was at the point where, since I was happy with my weight and I had taken on two part time jobs on top of being a full time student, I could eat ALL the burritos I wanted. Oh Salsa Rico, you fickle beast. The weight spiked back up until said trip to Yosemite. So I started running. And I ran a half marathon last November! But then this impossibly long, harsh winter came like a lion that really hates exercise and I spent the majority of my time piled under blankets or eating fast food to or from work.

Why is it so hard to make this a lifestyle? It's important to note that in order to be successful, one must look at it as such; this is not a diet. This is not temporary. I don't get to stuff my face with yummy burgers and burritos and ice cream after I've worked out hard all week. It's the hardest lesson I'll ever have to learn, and my life may actually depend on it. I know my happiness will. It's not just about body image - it's about having energy, and strength, and an outlet for mind.

There is hope for me, though; through my retail job I've actually found a training plan that I MUST stick to in order for the company to pay an entrance fee for a 10K I'm running in April. I'll be strength training, working on my speed and power, and doing my darndest to stick to the paleo diet (you know, meat, fruits, and veggies, no bread). We'll see if that's the kick in the rear I need to get going and welcome Spring (and swimsuit season) in with less flabby open arms. Best of luck to you who are hoping to do the same - stick with it, you'll get there!

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week 7 Recap

Weeks: February 28 - March 6
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January/February): 0
Miles Hiked, (January/February Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Minutes Walked: 75
Minutes Walked (Weekly Goal): 80 
Pounds Gained (Weeks): 2.2 (1.2 + 1.0 correction for previous week)
Pounds Gained (Total):  4.8
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty good week.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week Six Recap

Weeks: February 21 - February 27
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January/February): 0
Miles Hiked, (January/February Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Minutes Walked: 12
Minutes Walked (Weekly Goal): 12 
Pounds Gained (Weeks): 1.0
Pounds Gained (Total):  2.8
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Another week, another result heading the wrong way. This is obviously not what I expected, but it is what it is. At least it isn't as bad as it was earlier in the week.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week 5 Recap

Weeks: February 14 - February 20
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January/February): 0
Miles Hiked, (January/February Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Gained (Weeks): 0.6
Pounds Gained (Total):  1.8
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

Eh, so it was another not so great week. However, I'm not quite so disappointed with this one. It was less than a pound, and this included a three day weekend in it. I improved over the course of the week from the high early on, so I'm not too concerned.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Weeks Three and Four

Weeks: January 31 - February 13
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January/February): 0
Miles Hiked, (January/February Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Gained (Weeks): 5.8
Pounds Gained (Total):  1.2
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

As I hinted to in my abbreviated entry from last week, things didn't go so well. Although I have some questions about whether or not the previous measurements were accurate (giving me a more optimistic weight than I expected), the fact is I didn't do so hot Super Bowl weekend. This, coupled with the continued cold weather keeping me trapped inside most days, has not helped.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week Three Recap

Due in part to not writing down the weight from my scale last Friday, I don't have an official number for this week. As such, this isn't much of an update, other than to say the Super Bowl was about as kind to my efforts as it was to the Denver Broncos.

Expect a normal post next week, where hopefully I won't have made it two bad weeks in a row.

Hiking the Lists #9 - Amicalola Falls Loop

Hike: #9
Title: Amicalola Falls Loop
Location: Amicalola Falls State Park
Hike List: North Georgia
Difficulty: Easy, then difficult, then hundreds of stairs, then a moderately easy walk back down hill
Duration of Hike: Two-three hours of hiking, depending upon how many pictures (and rest stops) you take. Be careful, a side trail can take you six months (one way) to finish.

Some of the hikes in this series, particularly the ones in a certain state that rhymes with "thrillinois", are not the most interesting to write (or read) about. They may just be nice walks in the woods, or a sweaty tromp through prairie grasses. They can be a slog to get through, and often put this feature in jeopardy of getting behind.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0, Week Two

Week: January 24-30
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January): 0
Miles Hiked, (January Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Lost (Week): 1.4
Pounds Lost (Total):  4.6
Weekly Goal Met: No
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

It was a second week of declining weight, although not as good as the previous week. This was due in part to a minor bout of coughing, sneezing, and a runny nose, which was enough to put me out of work one day and left me feeling lazy. In addition, the below zero temperatures on Monday and Tuesday kept me holed up in my apartment, so I wasn't able to get out to Woodfield Mall (or anywhere else) to get my walking in. I suppose I could have walked for 10-12 minutes through my small apartment, but my downstairs neighbors would not have appreciated it.

I controlled my portions on most meals, and stayed away from excessive snacking. This played a big part in it still being a successful week. The good thing about being in as bad of shape as I am is that minor changes like this will have significant positive effects. Considering some of the poor food choices I made, that's a good thing, albeit one that won't last.

Beyond that, there isn't much else to report. Once again another week without hiking, but the clock continues to tick down until that will change. Super Bowl Sunday certainly won't help this week, but I'm still confident I can do OK this week. We'll just have to wait and see.

Take This Winter, Please, or When Andrew Caught Cabin Fever

I'm sure you've all been anticipating it, so here it is. Yep, It's my second annual post announcing my weariness of the winter. Unlike last year, this one seems justified, as for the first time in a while it's actually been a real winter. Here in northern Illinois, it was mostly cold from mid November through to Christmas, and it just got worse after Christmas. So far I've only sat through one truly major snowstorm (the one that dumped almost a foot on Central Illinois the first weekend of January), but there has been plenty of smaller snow events, and the temperatures and wind have been even worse.

Hiking Training Plan 3.0: Week One

Week: January 17-23
Miles Hiked (Week): 0
Miles Hiked (January): 0
Miles Hiked, (January Goal): 0
Miles Hiked (Yearly Total): 0
Pounds Lost (Week): 3.2
Pounds Lost (Total):  3.2
Weekly Goal Met: Yes
Nights Camped (Week): 0
Nights Camped (Total): 0
Nights Camped (Backpacking): 0

The first week back at the hiking training plan went pretty well, as I lost 3.2 pounds over the course of the week.* This was in part due to the fact that I had hit my calorie total two of the days last week. In addition, I began my exercise regimen again, which currently is limited to about ten minutes of walking two-three times a week, some limited exercises with dumbbells, and twenty minutes sessions of WiiSit**.

Hiking Training Plan: Getting Going Again

This picture of me was taken by Erin atop Blood Mountain. Not pictured was the strenuous hike to get there. Without a doubt this hike was the toughest I've ever attempted. And with good reason, as the hike from the parking lot to the summit of Blood Mountain (the third highest and highest on the AT in Georgia) was over 1,800 feet. It's one of my proudest hiking accomplishments to this day.

That hike also had significance because it came at the culmination of several months of my first informal hiking training plan. For months, I had hiked several miles, done plenty of other exercise besides hiking, and eaten slightly better (i.e. had some vegetables with those fries and cut out some snacks and weekday eating after 8:00). I was at my fittest weight I had been in a few years, and my vitals were all the best they had been for a while. Sure, the hike had kicked my butt, but I recovered quickly and was eager for even bigger hiking challenges.

Hiking Training Plan: Starting Over

So I'm back to square one with my hiking training plan. Why? Well, it didn't help that I missed the hiking goal for November, and was well on my way to getting a fat 0 miles hiked in December. On a related note, I gained back some (not all) of the weight that I had taken off during the previous months. Had it just been these reversals, I would have still needed to regroup and figure out a way to get back on track.

Then it happened. It started with what I thought was just a typical cold, something I'd endure for a couple days and get over. This time, however, it didn't go away after a few days. Instead, it started getting worse, to the point that I couldn't eat most things, couldn't sleep (couldn't even lie down), and couldn't do much but exist painfully. At one point I hit a 104.7 fever, although that crashed pretty quickly once I took some pain/fever medicine. Finally, after putting it off for too long, I went a local convenient care so I could get this taken care of, as it was ruining my holidays.

Some investigation and a chest x-ray later, I was on my way to the emergency room, as I had double pneumonia. Turns out had I put off getting treatment any longer that what I did, I could have really been in trouble. Fortunately, I had caught it in time so the really, really, bad stuff didn't happen, although I certainly was in bad shape already. They started pumping me full of antibiotics and fluids, and I started getting better.

I spent eight days in the hospital, completely wrecking what was left of the holiday season. I "celebrated" the New Year trying to get some sleep, not exactly what I had in mind. At least I was able to spend New Year's Day watching football, even if it was while sitting up in bed or in the chair in my hospital room.

Finally, I was able to breathe well enough without oxygen, my white blood cell count started returning to normal, and I started regaining enough strength to walk longer distances than just from my bed to the bathroom to the chair and back. This was good enough for me to go home, where the next stage of the recovery would begin.

It's now been over a week since I was discharged, and I am still recovering. I still have trouble sleeping, mainly because it still hurts to lay on my side. But I do sleep, which is an improvement over when I felt terrible. I've walked longer distances every day, and the past few days I've been traveling up and down the stairs of my parents house. Ever so slowly I'm gaining back energy and ability to walk longer distances and just live a normal life. Still, it will take time, as walking more than a hundred feet is still pretty taxing.

Because of that, I have no choice but to start from scratch with the hiking training plan. I'm still a little ways away from being able to walk for 10 minutes (the minimum amount of time I consider being a worthwhile amount of exercise). As such, I'll have to focus for now on hitting calorie goals, and rebuilding my strength. Naturally, I am suspending my hiking goals for January and February, and will also be scaling back my ambitions for much, if not the entire, year.

That being said, I am focused on seeing this through. I don't know when I'll be getting back on a trail (hopefully March, but we'll see), but I'll be glad when I do. Until then, I just need to focus on getting my strength back, and remain committed to following the plan. Hopefully you follow along with me.