update: starting January 1

Cross-posted to Cowgirl in New England


I'm not sure how many people are in on this -- November was a bad time to suggest starting, what with NaNoWriMo and all. And now the holidays are upon us.

But we did decide that instead of keeping separate tallies, we're going to count as a group. So each person's individual daily total will be added to collective mileage. This will accomplish two things:

1. Make it possible to finish the Pacific Crest trail in only a year or two

2. Make sure the slower walkers don't get left behind to straggle in by themselves. I know this discouraged several people last time.

2a. Also, people will be able to join whenever they want to.

I need to track down maps and locate or write an appropriate widget. Shouldn't be too much work if I can find time to do it in the next couple of weeks.

Day 30

I haven't calibrated the pedometer for distance yet, so I've been tracking steps. Average stay-around-the-house days are about 3,300; days when I run errands are between 5,000 and 6,000 steps. (And I typed "words" first instead of "steps." Talk about dreaming!)

I was going to set a goal for myself for December of 6,000 steps a day -- a bit more than my max, but doable, without too much stress, and because I do have so many stay at home days, a definite net increase in activity. My bout with bronchitis is making that take a back seat -- I might aim to start around December 15, but we'll see how I'm feeling.

Sometime this week, I'll total active vs. passive days and post my best guess for mileage so far.

Day 17

I'm at 32 miles for the month. I'm pretty sure I have more than that but I forgot to write down a couple of days. Oh well.

I looked at options for making a trail map for us, but haven't had time to work on it yet. Maybe after NaNo.

Day 7 -- how are we doing?

I'm at 16.2 miles for the first week. How's everybody else?

different way to count?

I had an idea the other day.

One of the problems we ran into with the AT is that we all have significantly different paces, from at least two people who had to really work to get a mile, to people knocking off 6 or 7 miles a day easily. So I was wondering whether it would work better to total everybody's mileage and move ourselves along the trail at a collective pace? We'd still keep track of our individual miles however we wanted to, but the group would all stay together.

What do you think?

Day 4, and I hope others are off to a better start

Day 1 was spent between my sewing machine and my computer -- and no matter how much I use my foot pedal for sewing, I don't think that counts for walking. Distance: 0

Day 2, I dug out my pedometer and clipped it to my waistband. Despite the fact that I made a trip to the store, at the end of the day, it said I'd only done about 150 steps -- which is equal to 5 trips up and down our staircase. Hmm. Distance: 0.5 mile

Day 3, I tried the pedometer on a different pair of pants -- and lost it. No clue where it got to. Had to do a couple of errands, so I know I got off my duff, anyway. Distance: 0.25 mile

Day 4, still no idea where the pedometer is. Walking limited to up and down the stairs and out to the mailbox. Got a decent word count, though. Distance: 0

I have to go to the store tomorrow anyway. Maybe I'll see whether they have pedometers.

How's everyone else doing?

Hey walkers! Let's get to walking again!

We'll be starting a new round on November 1, hiking Vermont's 273-mile Long Trail. This will give us time to get into shape while we decide on a longer trail. I was thinking of the the Pacific Crest Trail -- any other suggestions? Something in another country would be cool.

The Green Mountain Club website describes the Long Trail this way:

"Hiking the entire 273 miles of the Long Trail from the Massachusetts to the Canadian border, is a unique and wonderful experience. People of all ages and backgrounds can be found amongst the list of Long Trail end to enders. Many do it in one hike, taking anywhere from 20 to 30 days. Still others take 20 years to complete the 273 mile trek. Most hikers hike from shelter to shelter stringing together many hiking days at a time. Others complete the trail by taking only day hikes. There is no prescribed mode for doing it, only that you cover the entire length of the trail on foot."

Here's a pointer to a map from 1917 :) I hope I can find a better one, or at least a description with mileage!

Day 962, Tuesday 6 July 2010

Finished!

July: 24 miles
Year: 424.1 miles
AT total: 2168.2 (2167.1 to end of trail)
AT remaining: 0!!!!

/me dances happy dance around the campfire

Day 954, Monday June 28 2010

June miles: 92.5
Year: 397.6
AT total: 2141.7
AT remaining: 25.4

Almost there!!!!!!

Day 938, Saturday, June 12, 2010

June miles: 41.1
Year: 346.2
AT total: 2090.3
AT remaining: 76.8

Still on target to finish over the Fourth of July weekend. Gotta figure out a special hike for that!

Day 933, Monday, June 7, 2010

June miles: 25
May miles: 102.6
Year: 310.3
AT total: 2074.2
AT remaining: 92.9

Still I push onward through the wilderness, alone. Tonight I'll be at Chairback Gap. Maybe I'll run into some other hikers there. The silence is starting to get to me...

Day 818, Sunday, May 23, 2010

May miles: 70.4
Year: 275.1
AT total: 2014
AT remaining: 153.1

Plodding onward. I'm in Maine now -- almost to Caratunk, Maine, to be precise. Still on target to finish in early July.

Day 802, Friday, May 7, 2010

May miles: 22.6
Year: 227.3
AT total: 1966.2
AT remaining: 200.9

Day 794, Friday, April 30, 2010

April miles: 82
AT this year: 286.7
AT total: 1943.6
AT remaining: 223.5

Day 792, wednesday, April 28, 2010

April miles: 75.9
AT this year: 280.6
AT total: 1937.5
AT remaining: 229.6

Day 783, Monday, April 19, 2010

Just checking in. I just discovered I finished the Trail on March 31, so that means I must have been wandering lost in the Maine woods since then.

Monday was spent leaning into and bailing out the hot tub, so not a lot of miles or steps there.

Steps: 3532 for 1.89 miles

YTD miles: 276.87
Virtual Walk Miles: 2320.47
AT Miles: 2167 (at terminus)
Extra Miles wandering the Maine woods since March 31: 55.65

I think I'll follow Val to the International AT. I need to figure out how to change the spreadsheet to properly reflect the change. My passport is still good, it looks like a lovely trail, and the weather should be good.

Day 782, Sunday April 18, 2010

April: 47.6
Year to date: 252.3
AT to date: 1909.2
AT remaining: 257.9

Some photos Neil took of the AT in New York

Day 774, Saturday April 10, 2010

I swear the world's against me. Stil getting over my bad back and now my neck is shot. Didn't quite make the minimum for the week :P.

Steps: 19668
PED Miles: 8.36
Non-PED Miles: 8
Total Miles: 16.36
YTD Total: 251.83
AT Total: 2094.08
Virtual Walk Total: 2155.74

Day 767, Saturday 3 April 2010

I need to remember to update more often. I confuse myself when I leave it too long.

I'm through the Presidentials now, spending the night in Gorham, NH. A good place to find a warm bed, a good meal, and a shower, not necessarily in that order :D

April: 10.2
March: 65
Year at end of March: 204.7
Year to date: 214.9
AT at end of March: 1861.6
AT to date: 1871.8

Day 753, Saturday March 20, 2010

Steps: 43029
PED Miles: 18.3
Non-PED Miles: 5.75
Total Miles: 24.05
YTD Total: 221.34
AT Total: 2063.59
Virtual Walk Total: 2125.25

Working at the animal shelter, Wii Resort, errands, and long, short, and medium walks to make up the steps. A lot more of them are actual walking now that the weather is improved.

Day 752 -- Friday, March 19, 2010

March: 43.3
Year: 183
AT: 1839.9

I have reached the Presidential Range -- looks like I stayed in Madison Springs Hut last night. This is the area where Neil and I often hike. Familiar territory!

Day 749 -- Tuesday, March 16, 2010

I'm still trudging along. Just updated the spreadsheet, so I thought I'd stop in and say hello.

YTD miles: 175.85

AT miles: 2121.63

Just checked the chart, and it looks like I have 45 miles to go. Wow! Hard to believe I'm almost done with the trail.

Day 746, Saturday March 13 2010

Steps: 22479
PED Miles: 9.56
Non-PED Miles: 10.5
Total Miles: 20.06
YTD Total: 197.29
AT Total: 2039.54
Virtual Walk Total: 2101.2

Not a good start to the week because I was very worn down, but despite the cold, I managed a couple walks, errands, laundry, and of course, bashing Miis out of my way :).

Day 740, Sunday March 6 2010

March: 18.5
Year: 158.2
AT: 1815.1

At current pace, my spreadsheet projects that I'll reach Mt. Katahdin some time over the July 4th long weekend. Wooohooo!

Day 739, Saturday March 6

Forgot to post the weekly as well, but still trucking.

Steps: 28867
PED Miles: 12.27
Non-PED Miles: 13.75
Total Miles: 26.02
YTD Total: 177.23
AT Total: 2019.48
Virtual Walk Total: 2081.14

Hmm, going on the length of 2175, I'm actually getting close. This week I got my miles doing errands, long walks, Wii Resort, laundry, short walks, and a lot of roller skating at a rink (1.5 hours). This was a good week for mileage, but I did have two days that were below 2.5...and several way higher than it.

Day 737, Thursday March 4

Lots of walking on the cruise pushed my per-day average up to 2.5 miles for February, and the cruise got March off to a good start. We did 2 miles by sea kayak, adding a whole new mode of exercise transportation. It was good wet fun *g*

March: 12
February: 68.7
Year: 151.7
AT: 1808.6

Day 726, Saturday February 21

Nice going, Margaret!

I've been forgetting to post my updates.

February: 50.5
Year: 121.5
AT: 1778.4

I'm averaging 2.4 miles per day so far this month, as compared to not quite 2 in January. At this pace, my spreadsheet projects I'll finish around August 1. Hopefully the pace will pick up a bit before then!

Day 725, Saturday February 20

Steps: 33437
PED Miles: 14.21
Non-PED Miles: 6
Total Miles: 20.21
YTD Total: 131.91
AT Total: 1974.16
Virtual Walk Total: 2035.82

Exceeded my minimum for the week, though things started sinking toward the end, largely because I got too busy combined with the weather tanking again.

My mileage is a combination of jogging in the house, WII Resort (same MII zombie invasion :)), bouncing, and walking.

Day 718, Saturday February 13

Another week gone by. Almost made my minimum today, but missed by just under .5 miles. Caught another cold when I hadn't ditched the previous one. Still, progress is progress. And just looked up the total length, which is 2,178. I'm probably only a couple months off :).

Steps: 28958
PED Miles: 12.32
Non-PED Miles: 4.7
Total Miles: 17.02
YTD Total: 111.7
AT Total: 1953.95
Virtual Walk Total: 2015.61

Miles generated by jogging in the house, bouncing w/exercises, errands, walks around the neighborhood, and Wii Resort.

Day 711, Saturday February 6

I'm having trouble keeping up, so I'm going to try doing a summary every week. I was supposed to post this last night :p.

Steps: 27466
PED Miles: 11.68
Non-PED Miles: 6.7
Total Miles: 18.38
YTD Total: 94.68
AT Total: 1936.93
Virtual Walk Total: 1998.59

I managed a mix of walking, Wii Resort, Laundry, bouncing, Pacing, jogging in the house, and errands. Amazing how the steps add up if you choose to jog in place when waiting for the tea kettle :).

Day 709, Wednesday February 3, 2010

And the month is off to a good start. Can I keep it up?

February: 8.7
year to date: 79.7 miles
AT total: 1736.6

Day 706, Sunday January 31, 2010

January: 71 miles
AT total: 1727.9

Didn't quite make the goal. Plodding along.

Day 702, Wednesday January 27, 2010

As of the 27th:

January: 64.9 miles
AT total: 1721.8

My spreadsheet projects 75 miles for the month, and 185 days to the finish.

Day 696, Thursday January 21 2010

4.2 miles yesterday walking and exercise bike.


January: 51.6 miles
AT total: 1708.5

Day 695, January 20, 2010

I've finally got the spreadsheet caught up.

2009 numbers:
2009 miles: 1065.92
AT Miles: 1945.78
Virtual Walk Miles: 2043.6

For 2010, through Wednesday, Jan 20:

YTD Miles: 38.15

AT Miles: 1983.95

Virtual Walk: 2081.75

Off to look up where I am on the trail...

Day 694, Tuesday 19 January 2010

4.2 miles, most of it on the exercise bike. Legs are sure tired from the snowshoeing. But I have broken 1700 miles! Only 465 miles remaining. I can do this.

January: 44.7 miles
AT total: 1700.6

Day 693, Monday 18 January 2010

Some nice snowshoeing over the weekend up in the White Mountains.

January: 40.5 miles
AT total: 1697.4

Looks like if I push on, I can spend the night at the Winturri Shelter. What an appropriate name, even if it's spelled wrong.

Day 687, Wednesday 13 January 2010

January: 29.4 miles
AT total: 1686.3

Only 14 more miles to 1700! I'm gonna make it!

Day 684, Sunday 10 January 2010

I think about 6.4 since last post.


January: 23.5 miles
AT total: 1680.4

Day 681, Thursday January 7

Steps: 5931
PED Miles: 2.52
Non-PED Miles: 0
Total Miles: 2.52
YTD Total: 21.54
AT Total: 1863.79
Virtual Walk Total: 1925.45

Short walk and rebounding. Have fallen off the Wii Fit wagon again. Too tired.

How's everyone else doing? Still walking?

Day 680, Wednesday January 6

Steps: 6537
PED Miles: 2.78
Non-PED Miles: 0
Total Miles: 2.78
YTD Total: 19.02
AT Total: 1861.27
Virtual Walk Total: 1922.93

No walking or Wii today, but I did rebound a lot :).

Day 679, Tuesday January 5

Steps: 2018
PED Miles: 0.86
Non-PED Miles: 1.3
Total Miles: 2.16
YTD Total: 16.24
AT Total: 1858.49
Virtual Walk Total: 1920.15

After a good start, the day ran away from me. No walk, no Wii Fit, only errand walking and 26 minutes on Wii Resort while trying to keep warm :).

Day 678, Monday January 4

Steps: 6258
PED Miles: 2.66
Non-PED Miles: 2
Total Miles: 4.66
YTD Total: 14.08
AT Total: 1856.33
Virtual Walk Total: 1917.99

Short walk plus Wii Fit and Wii Resort. The Showdown on the swordplay is like being attacked by a zombie horde of fencers and really gets the blood pumping :). I use it to warm up.

Day 677, Sunday January 3

Steps: 5865
PED Miles: 2.49
Non-PED Miles: 1.75
Total Miles: 4.24
YTD Total: 9.42
AT Total: 1851.67
Virtual Walk Total: 1913.33

Almost long walk (very muddy so cut short) and Wii Fit

Anyone else still walking? Val says I'm getting close to the end of the trail :).

Day 676, Saturday January 2

I know it's been forever. I'll try to do better this year :).

Steps: 6208
PED Miles: 2.64
Non-PED Miles: 0.25
Total Miles: 2.89
YTD Total: 5.18
AT Total: 1847.43
Virtual Walk Total: 1909.09

Long walk (the first since snowmageddon, and Wii Fit)