I am getting ready for the hike tomorrow.  I have all my food parcels make up, pack is loaded and I my walking stick is primed.  I got a fresh Primo water bottle, the five gallon one, for the cats, and they are set up with 15 days of food.  They will be fine except when I get back I'm sure that Bones will dial 911 about the strange man nosing around while Socks and Attica tries to do a tag-team routine on me with folding chairs down their trunks and all.   It will be a moment or two before they realize that I'm the one that leaves them food out and then it will be, "Ok, proceed.  You may feed us now."

The pack is still heavier than I wanted but it will get lighter on a daily basis.  I went for the bare minimum of a hammock, with tree straps, An emergency tarp that will also double as a fly.  A change of clothes, thermos incase it gets chilly at night, a sleeping bag insert to use as a cover, cooking paraphernalia, toilet paraphernalia, a machete, and the essential electronics, (cell phone with back up battery, solar cell, camera, GPS, lamps and spare batteries.

At 7 am I leave work, pick up Chuck, and we shall sally-forth towards Trammel Trailhead.  Chuck, who is my wing-man, will take possession of the truck at Trammel Trailhead and keep it for the next two weeks and then come pick my funky self up, (unless I make it to Cave Springs then I'm have a night at a B&B to scrub my funk off).  There maybe a good possibility that I might have to ride in the back of my own truck home.  That'll be ok, if the cops pull us over I'll swear Chuck carjacked me.

Below is a chart of where I should be on specific days.

(due to Blogger not supporting charts, I had to reformat.  The first number is the minnium, the second is the goal, and the third is the maximum)

Date
Sunday 10th

• 28.3 ~ JUNCTION OF ROADBED AND WEST TOWER ROAD
• 33.0 ~ BROAD GAP
• 35.4 ~ BULL BLUFF ~ 1600'

Monday 11th

• 33.0 ~ BROAD GAP
• 43.0 ~ ROCK BLUFF
• 48.7 ~ CREEK CROSSING

Tuesday 12th

• 38.0 ~ FS 600 CROSSING
• 54.6 ~ ROCKY TOP 1
• 59.1 ~ ROCK GARDEN

Wednesday 13th

• 43.0 ~ ROCK BLUFF
• 63.7 ~ FS 600 CROSSING
• 73.3 ~ SPRING CROSSING

Thursday 14th

• 48.7 ~ CREEK CROSSING
• 72.6 ~ 73.2 ~ 3 CAMPSITES 
• 85.3 ~ ZULU CANYON

Friday 15th

• 54.6 ~ ROCKY TOP 1
• 83.1 ~ SPRING CROSSING
• 98.5 ~ FS 518 CROSSING

Saturday 16th

• 58.4 ~ ROCKY TOP 2
• 93.3 ~ FS 515 CROSSING
• 110.3 ~ SPRING CROSSING

Sunday 17th

• 63.7 ~ FS 600 CROSSING
• 103.0 ~ ROAD BED CROSSING
• 124.4 ~ LAUREL SHELTER

Monday 18th

• 67.9 ~ SOUTH CHEAHA WILDERNESS BOUNDARY
• 114.0 ~ LOWER SHOAL SHELTER
• 134.7 ~ CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK SHELTER

Tuesday 19th

• 72.6 ~ 73.2 ~ 3 CAMPSITES
• 124.4 ~ LAUREL SHELTER
• 148.0 ~ DOUBLE SPRING CROSSING 

Wednesday 20th

• 78.0 ~ HERNANDEZ PEAK
• 134.7 ~ CHOCCOLOCCO CREEK SHELTER
• 161.1 ~ HIGH POINT TRAILHEAD / US 278 

Thursday 21st

• 83.1 ~ SPRING CROSSING 
• 145.0 ~ NORTH DUGGER MTN SHELTER
• 172.0 ~ SPRING CREEK SHELTER

Friday 22nd

• 88.5 ~ CAMPSITE
• 153.3 ~ CHIEF LADIGA RAIL TRAIL
• 181.3 ~ CAVE SPRING TRAILHEAD 

Saturday 23rd

• 93.3 ~ FS 515 CROSSING
• 161.1 ~ HIGH POINT TRAILHEAD / US 278

The minimum is taking a five mille a day pace while the maximum is taking a 12 mile a day pace.  I am not trying to run any "marathons" nor wear myself out, this is a vacation, but keep a good steady pace going and enjoy the wonders that the Pinhoti has to offer.  Also, by setting a maximum I don't run into the problem of getting into Cave Springs too soon. 
Regardless of where I am on Friday, the 22nd, I will stick my head out, so it will seem, and contact Chuck to let him know about where to come get me.

Oooo, I am soooo ready for this.