More snow for Spokane

Hello fellow thru-hikers/family/friends/and creepers,
I've noticed that many of the other hikers have been updating their journals daily, so I figured it was about time for another update on mine. I do plan on keeping a journal daily while I'm on the trail, however I just don't feel like I have too much to say yet. There isn't a whole lot of new info to share since my last update, but I think I can ramble on for a few paragraphs ha.

So I'm still waiting on my thru-hike permit from the Pacific Crest Trail Association, although I know it must be on it's way because they did already charge me for it. Also coming with the thru-hike permit should be my permit to climb Mt. Whitney, which I am very excited about! I just sent in my application for entry to Canada, so hopefully they'll let me enter the their beautiful country without too much problem. I've somehow managed to keep a clear criminal history in my young and stupid years, unlike many of my friends ha! So there should be no reason I can't enter Canada, yay!

I've got about 85% of my gear so far, a few more trips to REI should do it. It's also probably about time to start building my resupply boxes, because I want to make sure that I don't forget anything. I really want to be prepared for everything, but I also don't want to drive my crazy thinking I missed something. I've always been pretty good at procrastinating and I'm definitely trying to avoid that while planning for this trip.

Lastly, I've been getting bombarded with questions about the trip from my family and friends. It's funny because I even had one friend try talk me out saying "No dude, you don't want that. You DON'T want to do that. That doesn't sound fun at all" haha, I just had to laugh and say sorry but I'm doing it. It's hard to explain to someone who is not like-minded, about why I want to do this. However, I do really enjoy being questioned about the little details from curious people. So far just about everyone I've talked is very excited and supportive of my decision.

It worries me a bit because we're still getting fresh snow here in Spokane and the temperature has been dipping into negative digits. I know know, it's still winter here, but I just hope the snow won't be too bad this year in California. I'm worried, I'm excited, I'm paranoid, and I'm anxious. Can't wait till I finally leave and just do it. As my fellow thru-hiker Brian G put it: "It's gonna be one bad ass summer!" Word.

Allow me to introduce myself...

Hello, you can call me Cody because I have no trail name yet. In fact, I really look forward to receiving the nickname that other hikers will come to know me by. I'm currently 23 years old, although when I hit the trail in late April, I will be 24. I'm quitting the full time job that I've had for the past 3 years, to spend my summer on an adventure that I've dreamt about for years. Some may think this is absolutely crazy, considering the economy is so bad and jobs are very hard to find right now, but this trail just matters to me so much more.

I've been planning on this trip for quite awhile now, so when I broke my ankle last summer, I didn't know if it would still be physically possible for me. However, after spending much of this winter skiing hard, I can now say my ankle feels great. It took quite awhile, but I'd have to say it's just about back to normal. I hope to avoid any similar mishaps with my dainty little ankles on the trail haha.

I've done quite a bit of backpacking in the past and I really enjoy it. If there's one thing about nature that I love more than anything, it's the mountains. I've grown up here in the Pacific Northwest surrounded by them my whole life. I spent years in Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts hiking and backpacking through the mountains in this area. Scouts has left me with a wealth of knowledge on life in the backcountry and I'm confident in my skills.

So now I'm in the thick of the insane amount of planning required to thru-hike the trail. There is just so much to do and I really don't want to overlook anything. Even though I'm a huge risk taker and slightly wreckless, the Scouts taught me to always "Be Prepared". And that's a little tough when you're trying to backpack ultra-light. But have no fear, I've done my research and determined that all this is perfectly within reason.

My last day of work is 2 months from today. Then I leave for the trail 6 days after that. I will be ready and I'm really super stoked! But for now, there is still 2 months of skiing in the beautiful mountains around my home. Time to enjoy the last of the Pacific Northwest powder, before heading into the sun of Southern California...