Arriving San Diego 25 March 2016 on Amtrak. Then P.C.T. Thru-Hike Begins 26 March. C.U. Nobo.

Six month's from tonight I will be trying to sleep. Six month's tomorrow morning on 26 March I begin my walk Nobo with eyes on the prize of Manning Park before Labor Day Weekend 2016.

I am reminded by HotRod who was on the PCT this year; "Plans change on the trail." 

For the unplan-able there are no plans for which I know. 

For everything else I am learning what I'll need besides resolution. 

Right now I am working on how long a toothbrush handle I can function with. I also (please forgive me on this) am practicing to see how little T.P./A.P./toilet paper I will be able to get by with or without. I'll use the smallest tube of toothpaste available. I will probably get extended wear contacts. My titanium spork/foon is fun to eat with. My head lamp works well. I still need to buy a new phone although, I'll wait on that until a few months before trail time. I have a Sony Cyber-shot that I'll be using on-trail. Other equipment is still awaiting my purchase.

My Brooks Cascadia's number's nine and ten are great now. Now that I have learned the tight fit of my shoes that I've mentioned in past posts is due to my sodium intake. To solve this I now eat only unprocessed food. Not a paleo diet. Just one of meats I smoke or roast whole, as well as meatloaf made with lentils as well as turkey and beef. Carrots, broccoli, kale, sweet and baking potatoes, and all kings of fresh veggies in season.
Chocolate and peanut butter is my reward; as is once a week I eat a double meat, double cheese with Serrano's and Jalapeno's on it from Lota Burger for inspiration of the day when I eat at the Mickie D's, Subway, and Del Taco near the Best Western and Cajon Pass.

My training pack has 23, 16.9 ounce water bottles in it which equals roughly 24 pounds. I haven't weighed my pack yet though; it's my boyhood Kelty D-something or the other from 1979. The shoulder straps were comfortable for this morning's walk however, this pack no longer has a waist belt and from this alone I'm glad I will be using a ULA pack.

I chickened out on drinking from the Arkansas River this morning although, that test will be necessary and forthright in coming. It's just that I've lived in Tulsa for most of my life and I remember learning of our industrial and oil boom days. Je me souviens. I also remember a bout with giardia in 1978 and water filtering will be a must for me. I have my aquamira ready although, I will be using a Sawyer full size. At 3.5 ounces a lifesaver.

I have enjoyed this year's blogs from the P.C.T hikers as much as each of the past two years that I've read. My respect goes out to them.

Please contact me with any ideas you would like to share and thank you for following my blog.
Tonight I sleep on the floor in celebration of six month's from tonight.
I bid you peace.
C.U. Nobo '16. Hans

P.S. Please mention my name and blog when contacting any of the 4 groups for whom I am walking the P.C.T. You'll find their names on the header above.