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So I just noticed that there's a blog feature on here. I keep a regular blogger blog, but was thinking I'd keep one about my preparation for my hoped 2011 thru-hike.
I've been thinking about it, and these are the different areas needing focus in the next year of preparation:

• Get my fitness level up.
• Education.
• Getting Sophie (my dog) in trail condition.
• Acquiring (and choosing) gear.
• Get the money.
• Prepping my body/mindset.
• Spiritual discipline and keeping my focus

...

15 days until Springer meets Red Cross.
Hope Springer is ready for me.

http://gallery.me.com/briankeithsmith#100031
Hiked the AT from Thomas Knob Shelter to the Wise Shelter

Heading toward Wise Shelter - trees down, muddy

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[New PRW posts]

Two nights ago, I camped out in a gorge ringed by a USFS service road, out of the wind and just six miles from Dicks Creek Gap. It was just me and a couple and their dog.

They stayed in their tent while I, after arriving in the evening on the back of a 13.4-mile trek, went about the series of necessary camp tasks that comes with hiking the AT: Get water, hang line for bear bag, change some clothes, set up tent and set up camp stove. Then make dinner, ...