Greetings to all of you, the faithful readers of my blog, friends, and family!
I have been slowly counting down the days that would mark the one year anniversary of my departure from the Mexican border at Campo. Today is that day! As I look back on that day, I recall the mixed sense of optimism, energy, and anxiety I had during the drive with Obie from San Diego. I had no idea of how my journey would go. I certainly didn’t expect to partially injure my ankle as I jumped from the PCT monument at the border. Those of you who followed my blog definitely capitalized on joining me on the greatest adventure of my life; an alien march of 157 days that traversed the most amazing scenery on the planet.
It was only a few days before began my walk that I carved out a little piece of property on the internet at www.jerseyfresh.net. I didn’t know at the time if I would have the energy, resolve, and electronic capability of typing up my adventures from the trail, all on my iPhone. I didn’t know that it would consume a couple hours a day, every day, rain or shine, shivering or melting, and tired or just plain exhausted. Your encouragement not only helped me to continue in the actual walk, but also in persevering in writing the best stories I could.
The blog surpassed even my own expectations. As of this moment, my blog has been visited 18, 721 times! The blog visits continue, currently averaging about 30 visits per day! You helped to make it a success!
I am excited to let you know that I AM in the process of turning my blog into a published piece of work. The process is very, very, very slow. My book will be a lot more detailed than the blog, and it will be crushingly long, mimicking the crushingly long walk. The process is involved, but I am intent on doing the best quality work I can. I have written 104 pages thus far, and since I am only on Day 34, the average length of a ‘book day’ is 2.94 pages. It may take a while, but hang in there! I am planning on writing more furiously this summer. I hope to keep pace with writing speed on par with my walking speed in 2010. I hope it’s a story worth sharing and not the ultimate display of narcissism.
I am attaching a ‘teaser’ of the forthcoming book in a separate blog post “Teaser: Day One, 365 days later.” If you like the ‘teaser,’ you’ll love the book. Somehow, Day 1 did not make it to my blog- so, actually, you’re reading it for the first time. It’s long, but I hope you enjoy it! Please let me know what you think!
Be well and please, stay in touch!
ind!e a.k.a jerseyfresh
Dorohyj Danyle!
super great about putting your PC trail blog into a book – can hardly wait to get it and read it!
In the meantime – I am stupid or dumb or both – how do I get to the Teaser?
Would you please give me instructions or point me in the right direction where to find the blog?
DYAKUYU z hory (i na dolynu)!;)
Dopa
Hi Dora- The ‘teaser’ is “Day 1: 365 Days Later.” It should be delivered right to your email. It’s also right on the blog site http://www.jerseyfresh.net. I am so excited that you are so excited!
I got super excited when I saw the words “indie’s Adventures …” in my inbox! Now, I can’t wait to read the teaser!
Kimberly- It has been over 6 months since you have seen those words. I hope you like the LONG first pages of my story…..
Hi Indie. It’s me, Tim from Badden Powell. I arbitrary decided to come to your site today and discovered that you have two new posts. I see that you’re on day 34 of your book. That means you’re done writing about the day you got to meet my friend and my brother and I. The three of us have gone up there together every year since 2005 (Kent has been going up there since high school). If wildland firefighting doesn’t interfere this year, I hope to go up there again in early June.
At the rate you’re going, you’ll probably write as many as 450 pages for your book, assuming it doesn’t have any pictures.
Tim- It’s always great to hear from you!!!! Is Jeff your brother? I didn’t know. You two were up there with Kent. When are you planning on going up there again? I am a bit envious that you’ll get to hike up there. It’s not quite so easy to get to that kind of scenery where i am. i mean, we have the ocean and some great gorgeous mountains called the Catskills- but the trees and the snow up there!
You’re a wildland firefighter, huh? that’s great. be careful out there. i actually own a vintage Pulaski tool that a 78 year old hotshot in Tennessee gave me. i actually lived in Grand Junction, near Storm King Mountain, where some firefighters got trapped in a canyon. be careful out there, tim!
You are 100% right about the length of my book- 450 is about it, not including pix. it’s as long as my hike!
Are you still subscribed to jerseyfresh.net? my posts should arrive in your email if you are….. there will be more as this goes along….
i’d be happy to send you Day 30. give me some time to do a second draft. That’s the day that i met you guys!
Yes, he is my brother. We usually go up there sometime during the first 2 weeks of June. We also like to go up to Mt. Baldy near Cajun Pass, Mt. San Jacinto, as well as Kearsage and Bishop Pass. Badden Powell is always our first trip of the summer obviously since it always has the least snow and the quickest to melt.
It’s cool that you own a pulaski. As for wildland firefighting, all I have to do is pass the pack test, which consists of walking 3 miles while carrying 45 pounds in 45 minutes or less. I’m sure I can pass that.
It be nice if you sent us a rough draft of that day, plus any additional pics of us that you may have took.
Hey Daniel!
I just randomly decided to check your site today and saw that you are publishing a book! How awesome is that!!!
Several years in grad school together and I never knew that you are such a good writer. Loved the teaser…look forward to getting the book…
Inge
Daniel,
I just checked back to see the news about the book. ‘Can’t wait to read it! In the meantime, please don’t remove jerseyfresh.net. I’ve read it start-to-finish and refer back to it on a regular basis, picking up your travels in various places. For me, reading your daily posts and viewing the awesome photos is a great way to temporarily escape the grind of everyday life.
Bob- Thank you so much for your comment. Even though you wrote your comment two weeks ago, i read it as soon as you sent it. It gave me a great case of the goosebumps. I read it to my mom, and the same thing. It is so amazing to hear that it STILL inspires, 20,055 hits later. Your comment gave me a great sense of encouragement. I plan to leave my blog alive, and the book project continues. I just finished day 42- 132 pages in…….
Hi Indie!
Great to hear that the book is happening! Your blog is great, and I admire your committment — taking two hours every day on the trail to write your journal cannot be easy.
I am returning to WA in late Sept to finish the last sections from Stevens Pass, which is why I returned to your blog — to get info to help us decide whether we (I and 3 friends) should take the Glacier Peak detour or the old PCT. I think we will take the old route but allow an extra day …
Good luck with your book!
Walking Flower