Cinco de Mayo!

So it looks like I'll be celebrating Cinco de Mayo 2009 as close to Mexico as you can be without actually being there.  After hoping for a May 4 departure date from the PCT trailhead in Campo, California, I'll be leaving now on Tuesday, May 5.  The reason for the change is so that I can get a California Campfire Permit on Monday, the first business day that I'll be in California.  That way I'll be able to cook for myself and not get in trouble for doi
 
This actually is going to work out great because getting a ride to the trailhead on Monday was going to be problematic, but not for Tuesday.  (Thanks Maloney!)  So now I'll have two days in San Diego to do all my last-minute gear checks, which will be nice. 
 
In other news, we've raised $3,724.96 so far, which will get me 372 miles up the trail which is right around Wrightwood, California, just northwest of Interstate 15.  If everything goes as planned, it should take me about 21 days of hiking to get to this point.  Y'all have been awesome to spread the word like you've been doing.  I've been getting donations and words of support from some unlikely places and it is great!
 
In still other news, I had an interview with my local paper today and that story should run soon...perhaps coinciding with my Tuesday departure.  For all of you not in the Mid-Willamette Valley, you'll be able to see it at http://www.democratherald.com/ whenever it is published.  I'll try to get it posted on my website, too.

REI

A hiker's paradise. REI has everything any lover of the outdoors could possibly want or need. Portland's REI is the Mecca with the equipment on hand and the knowledgeable staff to help you find the right stuff.

I got there at about 11:30 this morning and by the time I left at 3:30 I had picked out a pack, tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, GPS unit, and water filtration kit. Pretty much all of my big ticket items. The really great news is that when the manager at the store heard why I was doing the thru-hike of the PCT, she said that she would honor the sale prices that weren't supposed to kick in for a couple of days yet, saving me over $400! And Brian, one of the supervisors, definitely gets a shout-out for guiding me through all the choices that I had to make. But I've got a few more items to pick up on Friday. Should be fun.

So now I'm down to less than three days until my departure down to San Diego. If everything goes according to schedule, I'll have just finished my third day of hiking one week from now. Hard to believe.

Report from the Road

We woke up in North Platte, Nebraska, this morning after spending about 22 hours driving since we departed Arlington. Once upon a time we were going to attempt to go straight through, but I didn't sleep enough while being a passenger to pull it off safely. So a friend and former colleague donated a hotel room for us to use to recharge our batteries and continue the drive this morning (thanks Nancy!). We just crossed into the Mountain Time Zone about 30 minutes ago and it feels good to be getting close to home.

It's strange to think that this entire trip across the U.S. by car is only moderately (a few hundred miles) longer than the entire length of the Pacific Crest Trail! Even weirder to think that what will take me over 4 months to accomplish this summer is only taking us two days of driving...insane.

The next big step in preparation is probably going to be my favorite...paying a visit to the outdoor gear stores in Oregon, of which there are plenty! And if there was ever a good excuse to spend the extra dollars for good gear, this is it! :)

Thanks for the continued donations to this hike. We're up to around $3400 and it has all been raised through word-of-mouth. Y'all are amazing and keep spreading the word!

Next stop: Cheyenne

$2,234.96 and Rising

Within the last couple of days there has been an uptick in the number of donations coming in that has been very encouraging!  Right now we're sitting at 8.4% of my goal of $26,580.  With a bit of luck we'll get to the 10% mark today.  All it would take is another $423.04 worth of donations!  Considering the fact that there has been $550 donated so far today, I think it is doable, but certainly not a foregone conclusion.  I'm continuously encouraged by the generosity of people, especially in uncertain economic times!  Measured another way, this will get me about 223 miles down the trail at a fully funded level.  For those either familiar with the trail or looking at a map, that is about 50 miles south (on the trail) of Big Bear City in Southern California--almost directly east of Los Angeles in the San Bernardino Mountains.  Big Bear City is a major resupply point along the trail and it is here that I'm planning to take a day off to rest.
 
Before heading out of the DC area this Friday, I'm hoping to get something resembling a fundraising letter out to most folks in my email address book.  So far all the fundraising has been through word-of-mouth and individual appeals.  So if you get that email, please don't delete it!  In fact, do one better and send it to people you think might be interested in following me along the trail.
 
Thanks to all who have gotten involved so far...there are already too many of you to list here!
 
RJK

Going Away BBQ

Hey Everybody -
 
Tomorrow evening there will be a Going Away/Good Luck BBQ at my house, beginning at 6:30 p.m.  We're planning to supply the burgers and dogs, so if you come just bring your favorite beverage and you'll be good to go!
 
Any of you who are in the DC area and would like to come, please consider yourself welcome.
 
My address is
 
3518 13th Street North
Arlington, VA 22201
 

Business Cards

I just picked up my business cards from the printer and I'm pretty pleased with the way they turned out!  I'm planning to use them as a way to spread the word here in DC, in my home state of Oregon, along the trail, and all points between.  You'll probably end up getting one (or more) whether you want it or not...that way you can help me get folks involved!
 
RJK
 

My Website Has Been Updated

Hey Everyone!
 
Just letting anyone out there reading my Trail Blog that it went live today!  (Well, it's been live, but I haven't been keeping it updated.)  Consider this the first official post. 
 
I'm pretty satisfied with the website and Trail Blog so I don't think you should expect any other major changes on either of them in the coming days.  Just remember to pass the word about it along to friends and family.  As you can see, I've got a pretty ambitious fundraising goal and there is no way that I'll be able to accomplish it alone and I need everyone's help to make it happen.
 
A special shout out goes to the honor roll to the right of this post.  Y'all have been very generous and have helped me get this effort out of the starting gate.  For anyone keeping track, at my goal of $10/mile, we've raised enough funds to get me 126 miles down the trail!
 
I'll be posting some more info this week and maybe even today.  Thanks for reading and I look forward to providing updates from the trail throughout the journey!
 
RJK
 

---

Quick access to your favorite MSN content and Windows Live with Internet Explorer 8. Download FREE now!