Goodbye 2020, Hello Triple Crown...

…and also a decade since I hiked the PCT, and 12 years since the AT. Holy Toledo.

At any rate, I think I speak for most of the world when I say we won’t be missing 2020. Of course, a simple change of number due to a clock turn won’t really change anything… but the mental affirmation of turning 2020 “off” definitely doesn’t hurt, either.

With the vaccine on its way and things looking brighter, I’m hopeful that in three months time I will be able to depart for my journey north up the Continental Divide. Ben is still intent on joining for the duration, and for all The Dusty Camel fans out there, Camel said he'd like to join for a portion of Wyoming, getting us back on trail together — first time since 2017 when we hiked 400 of the 800 miles of the Arizona Trail.

Another update is that Ben and I’s friend, Chris, is planning to move back to California around then, and will be driving back from NY. So Ben and I will get our first “hitch” to the start of the trail! It’ll be a nice fun, relaxed, way to kick off our, not so relaxed, journey.

Even over the course of nearly a year, I’ve tinkered with my pack a little here and there, but for the most part all of my gear will remain the same as what I had packed for my 2020 hike. We actually still have more than enough packaged and sealed food, which has well more than a years shelf life, so we also have quite a bit of food to get us going as well.

All in all, the planning and prep is done, transportation arranged, and final start date will be decided in the coming months once I can gauge the snow levels in CO and northern NM. Want to make sure I give enough time to allow the snow to melt so we’re not trudging through knee high slush. But at the same time, it’s not like I am really keen on hanging around, I’ve already been waiting a full year. Not to mention the decade +.

Full steam ahead, fingers and toes crossed, nothing to do now but let the calendar pages turn.

WOO!