The nerves are really starting to get to me. I am less than a month from the start of my thru-hike and it seams like I am second guessing every choice I have made. Did I save enough cash? This is a big one. I have a little over $4,500 saved and all year told myself that would be fine. Now I keep thinking. "sure would be nice to have 5-6,000. My gear is another big one. I did my best to keep it light. I am not going out there with a 50lb pack. But with food and water my pack gets up to 30lbs. I was fine with this until now. Last month before I take off and I look at each item I am taking and almost instantly start looking for a lighter item. And it never fails that I find one that I did not see before. Am I taking enough. lol I am telling you if I don't get out of here soon I will end up taking the kitchen sink.
Trail etiquette is a big one for me. I snore. I am not going to lie some times I sound like a pig eating another pig alive. I plan to stay out of shelters and sleep in my tent to let other get sleep. But what about the smoky mountains? You must sleep in a shelter if there is room. I don't want to make friends out there just to have them hate me after the smokies because they could not get any sleep. Or hostels? I want to stay in hostels. I want to be a part of that. I can't wait to get to Neel gap and hang out with people.
I wish it was March 1 now so I could just get out there and get over the nerves. Sorry for the rant. I just needed to get it out. Anyone else second guessing now that your trip is getting closer and closer? Seem to start for me the second I could see my start date on the calendar.