“Waiting”

-2 days to trail

(Palm Springs, CA)

I arrived in Palm Springs 5 days ago. It was my grandmother’s 84th birthday, and I wanted to see her before I leave for the Appalachian Trail. My mom flew down from WA for the week as well, so it was an opportunity to see both of them before starting the hike.

I was pleased to see that grandmother is doing a lot better than the last time I saw her, in the fall of last year. She was diagnosed with cancer several years back, and the whole family worries about her sometimes. But again, it was good to see her well and to have the opportunity to fatten up on big dinners before the trail.

The three weeks leading up to this trip to CA were overwhelming. Of course I was trying to train for the trail, but I was also moving out of my apartment, putting things in storage, renting out my work office, putting in notice in my other jobs, parking my car for the summer, saying goodbyes… there was a lot.

So landing here was a needed break. I was mostly able to rest and be with family over the last 4 days. I needed it more than I realized. Granted, my Garmin thinks I’m dead, based on my recent lack of exercise. But I know that will be resolved soon, once I’m on trail.

I’m in the airport at Palm Springs now–flying to Atlanta in about 20 minutes.

I won’t start the hike until Friday (two days from today), but I’ll land in Georgia tonight after a four-hour flight. I had planned to sleep in the airport in Atlanta, but changed plans yesterday. Now I’ll be getting picked up tonight at 9pm, then it’s a 2-hour drive to the Above the Clouds Hostel in Suches, Georgia. I’ll stay at the hostel tonight and tomorrow, then I’ll start the hike on Friday morning, or whenever I can get a ride to the approach trail.

The hike itself doesn’t actually start at the AT trailhead; rather, it’s 9 miles into a state park, if I’m not mistaken. But I’m planning that approach trail and to start the official AT on Friday, April 11.

I was going to start on April 1st, but 8 months ago I had a psychedelic vision that it was important to start just a bit later–on the 11th. So here we are.

I board my flight in just a few minutes. I’ll likely journal again tomorrow while I’m at the hostel and waiting for Friday.

Wormwood.