Counting down the hours. . . final prep.

My Dad, Todd Miller and I got together tonight and wrapped up the final prep. For anyone who may have someone on this trip we put all of our final plans down on paper and even put in GPS coordinates where to find us. Posted here. Click the link to see details. Not sure if you can see this to zoom in or not but I will be sending out an email copy to the group.

I have a copy of Google Earth installed which is all kinds of fun. If you have it installed you can see details about the Georgia section and see pictures that other hikers have uploaded about the shelters and views etc. http://stewartholt.csoft.net/AT-Georgia.kmz If you don't have it installed do that first then click the link and it will autopopulate the information for you. . . . zoom in and you're good to go.

This is the week!!!

We are in the final days of preparation before our exciting section hike adventure begins. Tonight as the rain pattered down on the roof I enjoyed a few last days of dry, cool convenience. Next week will be a full week of roughing it. I cannot even begin to tell you how excited I am. I have been thinking of doing this for several years. In light of my daughter's passing the thoughts going through my mind are of the constant need to climb Heavenward. I will live out my dreams and climb spiritually closer to my Father in Heaven and my baby girl this week. Tonight as I prepared my gear I took the photograph of Kathryn's hand in mine (that you see below in black and white) and wrote the following on the back:

"Sweetest Kathryn,
I bring this small photograph of you with me to keep you near me. I bring you because you will be my motivation. You are my Heavenward Climb. I will love you forever. I will make it home to you and will bring your brothers and sisters and mother. Shine your peaceful light on our home. May we always remember you."

If I am successful, I will exit the Appalachian Trail at Unicoi Gap. I will geocache the photo inside 2 zip locks capture my GPS location and see if I can't retrieve it when I pick up where I left off in a year or two.

Today we met with the participants in the hike to finalize as many details as possible. There are 4 adults and 3 older teenage boys in our group. We got together and went over a gear checklist. This was very revealing. Each person had to weigh their packs and decide if they had all the gear needed. I helped each person make a list of things not in the pack and evaluated the amount and types of food. They were surprisingly well suited with only minor adjustments. We discussed departure times and options. We also discussed trail access and travel itineraries. It was very productive. I will be getting together with Todd Miller tomorrow to look at all the final stuff and we are taking off on Saturday the 6th.

I have too much stuff. Take a look. Time to whittle it down and eliminate some of the luxuries.