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.

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.

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.

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.

Wintertime Hiking Blues

According to weather.com, it's 15 degrees here in Vermilion County, Illinois. Besides the fact it has been dark for six hours, it is far too cold for me to hike right now. I suppose I could go somewhere south and west, where the weather would be warmer. However, that would take money, something which I don't have.

I got new hiking shoes for Christmas, and I'm curious about how well they'll perform. Because it has been somewhat snowy at times since then, and because I just plain hate dealing with ice, I've yet to try them out. Unless the weather turns unseasonably warm, it looks like I'll have to wait until March before I put them to use on a trail.

I think it goes without saying that I won't be stepping off at Springer (or Katahdin) this year. Even if some generous benefactor were to avail themselves of the donation button on the right side of this page and fund a trip, I'm not at all in shape, or have the logistics figured out to a point where I could do this. On the other hand, if someone has $20,000 burning a hole in their pocket, I could probably find it in me to get started by late March or April. Considering my current situation, I can't imagine getting it together for 2014 either. Of course, 2014 is a year away, so a lot can happen.

Regardless of what happens, or where I may end up a year from now, I will be getting out on those trails this year. Although I'm scrapping January, I'm setting a goal of ten miles for February, and fifteen miles for March. I'd like to think these goals are incredibly conservative, but considering how badly I failed my goal in 4Q 2012 (6 miles or so out of 30), I figure I've got to be realistic. I'll be keeping you abreast of my progress, so stay tuned.

Although the weather may have curtailed my hiking, it hasn't been erased from my mind. Just today, I saw the word "swag", and instead of thinking of crap you get at parties or conventions, I thought of low spot on the Appalachian Trail in Georgia called the Swag of the Blue Ridge. From what I can gather, swag is an old-timey term for a gap between two lofty peaks, and for some reason it has stuck with me. Hopefully, I'll be able to check out this particular swag, sooner rather than later. For now, I have to be content re-reading the books I have on the Appalachian Trail and hiking, following the interactive map at appalachiantrail.org, and marking the time until Spring.