Prepared?

Possibly. Perhaps. Maybe not. We'll see. The entire Pacific Crest Trail spans 2,650 miles between Mexico and Canada. That's like walking from Knoxville to Albuquerque and back. This is why we invented airplanes, because that's a long ways.

To answer the immediate questions, I am not carrying a gun, I do have moleskin, I am filtering my water, and I am growing my beard. It's 3-5 days from resupply to resupply, so imagine that I am going on a summer long worth of weekend trips.

The most difficult part will likely be the change of atmosphere. From humid to arid. The only arid climate I have been in the past was Vegas, but I remained well hydrated the entire time for that. I plan to follow a very similar path.

I have trained, mentally perhaps more than physically. Not in that I 've written down every point we will be at during the day. More in that nature that I realize I can only look ahead in 1-2 day windows in detail, 3-5 with blurred vision, and 5-10 with a hint of optimism pinched in there. I have, however, done my homework on what a rough sketch outline of the elements to be expected through different sections, and should have equipped myself with what's needed to get past them. If I haven't - I will learn it. I don't believe somebody can be fully prepared for this trip, I haven't even focused on the end, only the beginning. The beginning of something great. Mammoth by June 30th is the goal. And that's a goal that requires commitment.

Man Up - Brandon