Tomorrow, at 6:15 pm, I get on a one-way direct flight to Seattle. Six hours later I'll be, once again, in the state I now consider home. I've drifted away a few times, and I can't promise that this incurable wanderer won't ever wonder again, but for now - I can't wait to get back. I had to put off my Appalachian Trail hike once again, which was not an easy decision, but I'm very excited to start fresh in my favorite city and get on with my life.
Nothing that happens in your life is ever a waste. You always learn something and these past six months have tested my levels of compassion and forgiveness like they've never been tested before. It was also a nice cooling off period. A low-tech retreat in many ways. So all-in-all - no regrets. But...I'm done. I'm ready to move on and I'm full of ambition. I've got plenty of new goals and fresh ideas. I'm fully energized and feel like I can take on the world...as long as the world is green and maybe a little rainy. Seattle - here I come!
So This Is The Plan....
- Christine Sause
- Seattle, Washington, United States
- Alright...everyone who knows me, knows that I'm semi-nomadic. This can make keeping in touch difficult at times. Plus...sometimes I'd rather "sneak away" from the civilized world. :) A good friend had the wonderful idea of starting a blog...mostly meant for the people in my life that would like to keep some level of "tabs" on what I've been up to or just find out where in the country I currently am. And by checking in here, I'll know to get back to you...hence - keeping in touch! I'm also gonna talk about a bunch of hiker stuff and some foodie stuff, too - that might appeal to perfect strangers...so Welcome, whoever you are! Enjoy and leave me a note to say hello. :)
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Thursday, February 7, 2013
Bowing Out...For Now
Alright, I'm going to keep this short because, honestly, I'm a bit upset. I've finally come to the hard decision to put off my A.T. hike this year. Financially, it's just not going to happen. I had previously decided that, even though I wouldn't have enough set aside to make it all the way to Maine, I would just go as far as I could. The more I thought about that plan, the more sure I became that that's just not how I want to do this thing. I've been planning forever and I want to do it right. I know - Hike Your Own Hike - and I will. My way. When I can afford to. I'm not giving up, just facing realism. Oh well...one day...
Thursday, January 31, 2013
AWOL!
One of the main reasons I've always been drawn to this kind of hike, has been the availability of experiences and adventures, that aren't all in the woods. I'm really looking forward to checking out a bunch of small towns that I would probably never go to otherwise. But you never know whats gonna happen or where you're gonna be on any given day - and that freedom really appeals to me- so I don't want to plan more than a day or two out. Therefore - all of this highlighting was fun but who knows where I'll stop and what I'll see?
One other thing the book has already done for me - make me doubt my decision to not bring a phone. This is not a wilderness hike. Many people around me will have a phone to use in an emergency situation. How can I be so sure? Because most people these days have nice, small phones with good internet access and a nice camera. If my phone was like that I would take it too - but it's not - and none of those things mean enough to me to shell out that money right now. Having said all of that...I may bring a phone anyway. When getting into or near a town, it will save be MUCH time and energy, to be able to call ahead to hostels, etc. vs. walking/hitching to each one. Some of these hostels will even come and pick you up at the trail if you're going to spend the night with them. I've also heard that phones make life SO much easier, if you've found some buddies to hike with, but then want to do your own things while in town. Meet back up later with a phone call or two.
Of course, it will also be much easier to place the occasional family/friend call. I was gonna figure this out with phones at hostels/etc. - but having my own phone will speed it up. And lets not forget the #1 reason for carrying a cell phone on the AT - shelter pizza delivery! Actually possible in a few places! :)
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Why I Love the Appalachian Trail
Friday, January 25, 2013
High Point Loop
Well, doing what I can to get ready, but Mother Nature is doing nothing to help! I went out for a short hike today with a relatively full pack, but only lasted about an hour. NJ is in the middle of a record low week. Today was 22 degrees, but with the wind chill, high humidity and snow flurries, it sure felt a lot colder. But I sucked it up and braved the cold...more for Cork than for me. He lives to hike!
I decided to head over to Holmdel Park, as they have a bunch of short, connecting trails that I could pretty easily bail out of when it got too cold, but also some great incline/decline sections that really get you sweating, no matter what the temperature is. I pulled out my little park map and started on the Cross Country Trail. Well that turned out to be exactly what it is named (duh!) - a path for cross country runners - and as it stayed flat and never entered the woods, I got bored pretty quickly. So I jumped onto the High Point Loop and that worked out perfectly.
Winter hikes are great for dogs, because with virtually no one else there, I never have any problem letting Cork off leash. Now I only do this because he is the BEST trail dog I've ever had and listens to a great variety of verbal commands almost without fail. He's pretty awesome. :) And it's SO much more enjoyable for both of us, as he can stop and sniff and then run to catch up - while I keep my steady pace and hands free in case of a fall. I often think, with all of that weaving around and back-and-forth running how many miles he does for my every one! He ALWAYS sleeps the whole drive home.
Nothing else very exciting is going on. I'm waiting, very impatiently, for my AWOL guide to come from Amazon. It should be here Tuesday...and I'll have devoured it by Wednesday. I actually first ordered the Official Trail Guide from the ATC website...but it never came. When I checked my bank records, they showed I was never charged, so I guess something got screwed up with the order. I was about to call them and re-order by phone, when I caught a White Blaze thread on the AWOL book. After a little research, I decided to try that one instead as everyone seems to recommend it. Once again...it would seem that things always happen for a reason!
Oh and I've added a countdown timer to the blog. Getting close!!!
I decided to head over to Holmdel Park, as they have a bunch of short, connecting trails that I could pretty easily bail out of when it got too cold, but also some great incline/decline sections that really get you sweating, no matter what the temperature is. I pulled out my little park map and started on the Cross Country Trail. Well that turned out to be exactly what it is named (duh!) - a path for cross country runners - and as it stayed flat and never entered the woods, I got bored pretty quickly. So I jumped onto the High Point Loop and that worked out perfectly.
Winter hikes are great for dogs, because with virtually no one else there, I never have any problem letting Cork off leash. Now I only do this because he is the BEST trail dog I've ever had and listens to a great variety of verbal commands almost without fail. He's pretty awesome. :) And it's SO much more enjoyable for both of us, as he can stop and sniff and then run to catch up - while I keep my steady pace and hands free in case of a fall. I often think, with all of that weaving around and back-and-forth running how many miles he does for my every one! He ALWAYS sleeps the whole drive home.
Nothing else very exciting is going on. I'm waiting, very impatiently, for my AWOL guide to come from Amazon. It should be here Tuesday...and I'll have devoured it by Wednesday. I actually first ordered the Official Trail Guide from the ATC website...but it never came. When I checked my bank records, they showed I was never charged, so I guess something got screwed up with the order. I was about to call them and re-order by phone, when I caught a White Blaze thread on the AWOL book. After a little research, I decided to try that one instead as everyone seems to recommend it. Once again...it would seem that things always happen for a reason!
Oh and I've added a countdown timer to the blog. Getting close!!!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
A.T. Thru Hikers (Trailer)
Havn't seen the movie yet...but the trailer is pretty cool. I love the girl who can't stop talking about food...I'd be her friend!
Monday, January 21, 2013
Ramanessin Trail
Just got back from a rather short but enjoyable hike. I found the Ramanessin section of Holmdel Park, which is divided from the main park area by Roberts Road and seems to be much less used. It's an undeveloped area consisting entirely of trails - double track, wrapping around old farming fields and occasionally becoming single track to cut through short stretches of woods and cross a few small brooks. One side trail, aptly named "Homestead", runs by what is left of several old buildings. From what I can guess they were a house, a barn, a small machine shed and a corn crib. Pretty cool old site. A little creepy seeing the old brass bed poking through the now-collapsed ceiling, though, probably standing in the bedroom right where it was left however many years ago.
In another spot, maybe a half mile or so from the homestead, I found another building - an old barn, but in much better shape than the first one. All of the windows were boarded and the doors nailed shut, but when I found a small crack to peek through - I could see a hole on the floor inside with light shining through. I pushed my way past the thorn bushes to the back of the building, and sure enough - it had been built on a hill and it was fairly easy to go under the barn here and pull myself up and through the hole. It's pretty rare, especially in New Jersey it seems, to find abandoned buildings that TONS of other people have already found. I have no delusions that I alone had figured out this "secret" entrance, but inside was trash and graffiti free. I only stayed for a minute, but it was a neat find.
Back to the hike itself...today was my first in awhile with a pack. I'm not too worried about being in "trail shape" before I leave - that'll happen as it happens, on the trail - but I would like to get in as many miles as I can before hand with some weight on my back, mostly to strengthen my ankles. I'm planning on starting the hike in my well-broken in mid-weight boots, but when I wear through those I'll buy trail runners and finish in them. So I'm doing some hiking now in trail runners and practicing mindful foot placement. It's so easy to "zone-out" and step on something that will break an ankle!
So, like I said, I kept it short today. I was actually feeling great and would have gone much longer, if not for the 30 degree temp and wind. I know you people training in Minnesota call that a beautiful day - but I was cold! My knees were bothering me a bit too, but like I said I haven't carried much weight lately, and I hope that they too will get used to it.
Cork had a blast, as always. I will miss him most of all while on the AT but I know he'll have a great summer with my Uncle, who loves him very much. We met only one other person while out, a nice gentleman named Barry and his beautiful golden retriever, Daisy. We talked for probably 15 minutes or so and then were both so frozen we had to go our separate ways. Trail people...even on day hikes in NJ - can always find things and places in common. And Cork spent the time professing his love to the beautiful blonde - and trying (unsuccessfully) to become the father to her children. For those that don't know, he is a 12lb. rat terrier/chihuahua mix. He's usually pretty submissive and calm, but she WAS pretty.....
One last note - my sister Kelly, who lives in Colorado, told me she's going to try and meet me for a one week section somewhere along the way. I'm so excited! I'm really looking forward to doing this thing alone...but I welcome any friend who'd like to join me for a stretch. It will break things up very nicely and Kelly is awesome to hike with! She is also the one that I've entrusted to go through my storage unit in Colorado and send me everything that I might need. Hopefully we'll get that done soon, as most of my gear is still there and I'd like to have it here for training. I might also talk her into a mail drop or two, although I plan on going mostly unsupported. It would just be nice to get a package from home. :)
Anyway...enough for today. As the days creep by, closer and closer to April 1st, I get more and more excited. Georgia here I come!
In another spot, maybe a half mile or so from the homestead, I found another building - an old barn, but in much better shape than the first one. All of the windows were boarded and the doors nailed shut, but when I found a small crack to peek through - I could see a hole on the floor inside with light shining through. I pushed my way past the thorn bushes to the back of the building, and sure enough - it had been built on a hill and it was fairly easy to go under the barn here and pull myself up and through the hole. It's pretty rare, especially in New Jersey it seems, to find abandoned buildings that TONS of other people have already found. I have no delusions that I alone had figured out this "secret" entrance, but inside was trash and graffiti free. I only stayed for a minute, but it was a neat find.
Back to the hike itself...today was my first in awhile with a pack. I'm not too worried about being in "trail shape" before I leave - that'll happen as it happens, on the trail - but I would like to get in as many miles as I can before hand with some weight on my back, mostly to strengthen my ankles. I'm planning on starting the hike in my well-broken in mid-weight boots, but when I wear through those I'll buy trail runners and finish in them. So I'm doing some hiking now in trail runners and practicing mindful foot placement. It's so easy to "zone-out" and step on something that will break an ankle!
So, like I said, I kept it short today. I was actually feeling great and would have gone much longer, if not for the 30 degree temp and wind. I know you people training in Minnesota call that a beautiful day - but I was cold! My knees were bothering me a bit too, but like I said I haven't carried much weight lately, and I hope that they too will get used to it.
Cork had a blast, as always. I will miss him most of all while on the AT but I know he'll have a great summer with my Uncle, who loves him very much. We met only one other person while out, a nice gentleman named Barry and his beautiful golden retriever, Daisy. We talked for probably 15 minutes or so and then were both so frozen we had to go our separate ways. Trail people...even on day hikes in NJ - can always find things and places in common. And Cork spent the time professing his love to the beautiful blonde - and trying (unsuccessfully) to become the father to her children. For those that don't know, he is a 12lb. rat terrier/chihuahua mix. He's usually pretty submissive and calm, but she WAS pretty.....
One last note - my sister Kelly, who lives in Colorado, told me she's going to try and meet me for a one week section somewhere along the way. I'm so excited! I'm really looking forward to doing this thing alone...but I welcome any friend who'd like to join me for a stretch. It will break things up very nicely and Kelly is awesome to hike with! She is also the one that I've entrusted to go through my storage unit in Colorado and send me everything that I might need. Hopefully we'll get that done soon, as most of my gear is still there and I'd like to have it here for training. I might also talk her into a mail drop or two, although I plan on going mostly unsupported. It would just be nice to get a package from home. :)
Anyway...enough for today. As the days creep by, closer and closer to April 1st, I get more and more excited. Georgia here I come!
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