One is the loneliest number

Almost Awesome is going to be "solo-hiking" for the next few days as Possum has to be with family due to a medical evident.  No need to worry though because she will be hiking with some friends we made on the AT in '12.  "Pile of Dudes" are great guys and we are excited Almost awesome is going to carry on for the next 5 days, even though she is going to miss Possum something aweful! Thanks to the amazing trail community, especially Girl Scout, Scout and Frodo for being the best trail angels and getting Possum to San Diego.

Let's begin at the border

The APE Team at the beginning of the PCT on a chilly morning. Yes, behind that corrugated metal wall is indeed Mexico!

We had a beautiful day to hike with temps in the mid 70's. It made 20 miles without a water source very doable! The desert is gorgeous so far. Looking forward to tomorrow.

The night before we begin

We are laying in our tarp waiting for sleep. Tomorrow morning we start at the border of Mexico to hike to Canada. How can we sleep? It has been a great transition, but we can't wait to be submerged into trail life!

PCT Class of 2014

The class of 2014 at the PCT Kick Off!

It is the largest attempting class on record!

We also ran into some friends from the Appalahian Trail in 2012 that are also hiking the PCT! A great surprise!

WallE, Johnny Rocket, Blue Sky, and Knife (Pronounced "neef")

Wet welcome

When planning for the PCT most of our research informed us that southern California is dry, very dry. We were expecting very few days of rain this season especially due to the drought conditions this year....

Well, the first night of the kickoff located 20 miles from the border we had high wind gusts and lots of rain! We got more wet than we did on any night we had on the AT. This was a great reminder that nature defies all expectations!

Possum is shaking out out tarp this morning.

Snow it goes.

We are so excited to be heading toward the trail and the kick off party for the PCT! We have stocked up on great memories of snow for our entrance into the desert. We got to experience so many great things, especially for two southerners!  Such as.....

Nordic skiing

backcountry skiing

snow shoeing

Dress up pizza dinner

Learning about environmental changes

Enjoying the off-season in Crested Butte

Getting a travel outfit from the free box in Telluride

And now we are road tripping through the dessert and will be at kick-off this evening!

Thanks to our dear friends the Noodleheads for being such great hosts!!!

Heading south..... And a little to the west

 We are heading out this morning from Gothic and it has been INCREDIBLE!  We will be renting a car in Gunnison and making the trip to Southern California and the start of the pct.  We are excited and unsure because seriously can you really be positive that you haven't forgotten something critical even though you have gone through your pack 11 times?   Oh well, the trail shall provide! But just to make sure I'm going to go through my pack again.

Farewell Knoxville

We successfully left Knoxville to travel to the start of the PCT, but there is no better way to train for desert hiking than for us to stop off in Colorado and play in the snow for 10 days with our friends the Noodleheads.

Here we are snowshoeing 3 miles in to the hut where we are staying, in a place called Gothic, outside of Crested Butte. It felt surreal to be in such a beautiful, wild, and wintery place after taking allergy medicine and being in airports the same day.

Possum has never been in Colorado or any snow like this...I think he likes it!Here is the Noodlehead's winter home where we are ecstatic guests.

Each morning we get to enjoy the view of Gothic Mountain through the window at the kitchen table. It feels like another world in comparison to our southern scenery.

We went for our first cross-country ski! It had snowed 10 inches the day before we arrived so we were able to enjoy untouched snow. The snow depth is currently at 58" but spring is coming fast! 

Getting acclimated to the altitude was tricky but the main change is the slower pace and relaxation that solitude provides in a place only accessible by foot. We are cognitively having to tell ourselves to slow down and enjoy and stop checking what is next on the list to accomplish. This place is a sanctuary and we are so grateful to be here before we embark on such a rigorous adventure.

Brown bagging it

The count down is on! One week before we fly out to Colorado to visit our friends the Noodleheads and then make our way to the California /Mexico border to start hiking the PCT!!!

We finished getting our gear yesterday at River Sports and can't wait to put it to the test! Almost Awesome was so excited she could not wait and inflated her new sleep pad in our very small car on the way home (let's just say it created a few blind spots).

Just get to the pint

We are busy getting everything ready to leave in 9 days but we had to take a break to enjoy our last Pint Night at River Sports before we head out! It was a great gathering of people out to enjoy the beautiful weather, local business, and tasty brews.

While we were there Possum had to pick up some Seam Grip. I don't know if you have seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding but if you have, think of the father and his Windex and you have Possum and his Seam Grip! It is his tool of choice and the cure for what ails him...I think he is crazy!