Alpine Bomber

Eight days ago my mom told me that either I have a job by the 27th, or I take her credit card, get the gear I need to replace the things that broke last year and be on the Appalachian Trail by then. So, completely unexpectedly, I find myself running around like a chicken with its head cut off (much like last year) trying to get everything set up for me to be able to leave my entire life (even my name) behind for 6 more months, all within 10 days. It’s surprisingly easier to say goodbye this year. I guess I’ve had one foot on the trail all winter, just missing the utopia that the trail can be if you let it. I couldn't seem to shake the uneasy feeling of a job left unfinished.
It’s going to be a completely different experience this year, and I’m beyond ready to hit the mountain running. I’ll be hiking alone this year, but surrounded by people because I’m going northbound. Last summer I southbounded with Deadfall and my puppy. Instead of tenting I’ll be hammocking, and good thing, too, considering I’m supposed to expect to see at least 30 people every day in the beginning as a nobo. I’m not sure I can even name 30 sobos from last year. Last year I had all the wrong gear and almost no hiking experience. This year I’m going to be somewhat of a veteran- what Speed Demon and Trainwreck were to me and Deadfall last year- handing out tips about mayo and peanut butter in Rice Sides and snagging work-for-stays. I’m actually going to journal this year too. I bought a voice recorder so I can journal while I hike instead of pretending I’ll have the energy to do anything except cook and sleep when I get to camp. I know what to expect this year, and I know what I’m doing. I have all the right gear this time. Same trail, different world.
Anyway, I’m starting at Springer, heading north to Vermont, and then where the LT and the AT split, I’m say some goodbyes and take the LT up to Canada. I’ll have completed my section hike of the AT, and thru-hiked the LT. Time/weather permitting I’ll hitch over to Katahdin and conquer the mountain that I barely summited last summer, and either flip-flop thru-hike or then hitch down to the Notch and just play there for a day. I’m hoping Deadfall will come up for Katahdin and the Notch. We both felt that we didn’t own those two sections the first time around. He’s drove up from richmond to say goodbye a few days ago. The bad goodbyes are all over except worst of all, my dog. He’s staying with my parents this time around. I’m going to miss the **** out of that dog, but this is something I need to do for myself, and it’s not going to happen if I bring him.

Today is my last day to get everything set. It's down to the nitty gritty: making some treats to go in the 5 mail drops I had time to plan, locating that missing camera battery in my room, some last minute modifications of my hammock, cleaning the jet boil one more time, typing up a gear list for some interested tumblr followers, stocking the ipod with new music, and re-learning to organize my pack with a hammock instead of a tent. Oh, and buying food for the first leg of the trip. I leave at 7 AM tomorrow to drive to Georgia. See y'all on the trail!