Feelings before leaving?

imported
#1

Hi all – it’s only 2 days until my JMT adventure. Granted, not as huge as an AT/PCT/CDT odyssey, but still a big trip (first solo trip for anywhere near that length of time, too).

Just curious about people’s feelings before leaving?

My pattern has been this: get REALLY excited as you realize it is only 3 WEEKS away, and that you’re really almost gone. Then scurry about doing last minute preparations. Then, once everything is essentially packed and it’s only DAYS away… start to feel in a dreamland, as if you’re not possibly leaving in a very short time – the trip feels ages away suddenly, but am feeling antsy…

So in the interests of keeping sane for the next 52 hours, anyone have any comments on what goes through their head in the time before leaving, when it’s about to become reality?

Sophie

Sophie

#2

I always get very excited when I first start planning a hike of several weeks, but that soon gives way to worries about leaving my business. Bedrock Bob invariably calls and chews me out about leaving for any period of time over 1 week. Last year, before leaving on a 30 day hike I felt the same daily anxiety and worries until the day or two before I left. Then, once on the plane I let it go and rarely thought of work 2000 miles away until I returned.

Round

#3

I’m leaving for the JMT next Friday. We’re planning a slow pace so it will be a nice three weeks. Generally speaking I get very excited during the initial planning phase and then get intermittently excited around cetain aspects of the planiing like buying equipment.

Then there’s the “what am I forgetting” worry and of course trying to extricate oneself from the demands of job family etc…

The last week can be pretty disruptive as the need to get all the fine details compete with my attention with regards to work. Right now I just want to read TJ all day but work is just way too busy for that.

See ya on the trail

jalanjalan

#4

We are leaving in 2 and a half weeks to hike from Tennessee to Maryland. I am so excited!! Yesterday was my last day of work and that was probably even more exciting!!
I am full of emotion though, one for leaving the job, as I am not returning, two, we are taking our youngest son to college the week before we go hiking, and three the big hike I have been planning for many years. It is shy of 1000 miles and the biggest hike we have done has been 50 miles. A great feeling!! I must say it is awesome!! I do worry about injury as we are not young but we have good vibes all the way. I do have a question though, what is JMT? To all of you leaving… HAVE A BLAST!! Peace, OZ

bktoOz

#5

I am so excited for all of you who are getting ready to hit the trail (which ever one you’ve chosen), and all I know is I can’t imagine your emotional level if I feel the way I already do with 6 months, 18 days, 1 hour, 13 min, 34 seconds left before my train leaves for Georgia! Enjoy this time, it’s rare we, as adults, get to feel like this once we’ve realized there is no Santa Claus!! Happy Hiking!

Michele

#6

JMT= John Muir Trail. 211 miles from Yosemite to Mt Whitney the highest peak in the contiguous US>

JalanJalan

#7

I’m headed to Georgia in the spring too. I already have the gear. I don’t think it’ll hit me until I give notice at work in January. I’m hoping I can take care of the last minute stuff ahead of time since I’m kind of prone to letting it worry me if I don’t. Let us know how your hike went after you’re done :slight_smile:

fuzz

#8

I get excited, I plan and plan and then about a week or less before the trip suddenly it all seems too overwhelming, not worth it, too many things to do, scared, what was I thinking? But I keep plugging along and getting those details done and soon you’re on a plane to some new place going “holy s***” - I think there’s a natural progression to those thoughts.

BB