I finally hit an average of 4.0mph on the circuit (~2.75mi) that I walk. Geez. It took a while, but, I did it. I even beat the rain. 

I've found I like walking after dinner. This also has the knock on effect that I'm less lazy than if I just eat dinner (usually my only meal of the day), and that's been making life a bit more pleasant since I am up and cleaving, reading, writing, or even just watching the sunset. 

Next stage is to start doing the walk carrying weight. I recently bought a Durston Kakwa 55L ultralight hiking pack. I've yet to hike with it. I'm going to pack it with my normal stuff and start doing my circuit with that plus 3L of water. (I'm large and tend to need more water than most, so I prefer to carry 3L plus filtration when I'm hiking. 

This is all in preparation for my second attempt at summiting Mt. Katadin in August. Last year I attempted it on a whim with no prep whatsoever since a friend of mine was starting a SOBO (south bound) through-hike of the Appalachian Trail, and I gave him a ride to Maine. I got convinced by him and others that I should give it a shot. That was the hardest thing I've done, physically, in a decade. I was almost immobile for three days and sore for a week after. I didn't summit. I got about 2/3 the way up and broke treeline. I was running out of water and wouldn't have made it to the summit with what I had or had enough daylight left to make it down before dusk. There were over a dozen people who finished their attempts well after dark. That's kind of nuts, but, you gotta do what you gotta do since nearly no one was hiking up with a full pack. (Everyone was slack packing to the summit.) My friend and one of his buddies made it. 

Truth be told, I'm not sure I'll make it even though I'm on track to be nearly 60lbs lighter and in better shape. But, I am still going to attempt it because that's what I decided to do last year. So, screw it. I'm a do it. I'm not competing with anyone but myself and I'd rather not give in to my fear. I've done too much of that the last half of my life. I'm kinda tired of letting my laziness get the best of doing hard, but worthwhile, things. 

#randomthoughts #grownostr #plebchain #hiking #mtkatadin #appalachiantrail #preparation #dohardthings #dontbelazy #thebeavergoesoverthemountain