Hiking with Zoli



Happy Trails
Heart

Testing Video

This is my first successful attempt of embedding a YouTube video into my blog.  It is a video taken with my husband last year in Colorado. It is the first time we used the stick pick and took a video. We were both  new at videographing which is very evident by this video but that is why I like it so much. If we can do it anyone can.

Odds and Ends

Just 2 weeks from today I will be leaving for my PCT adventure.  Everything seems to be falling into place. Several friends have donated to my cause, , I can't thank you enough. I am attaching a picture of the wristbands and t-shirts we are selling. We have sold over 70 wristbands so far and 15 t-shirts. You can purchase them through this link: www.cpr-now.com once at the location click on Hike for Heart bar on the left. If you prefer you can make a donation directly to the AHA by clicking on this link http://www.startwalkingnow.org  The American Heart Association will also  have a link on their face book page to my site and they will post updates as well.

The donate button on this blog page will also allow you to make a donation to AHA or to me for my hike. A list of people who have contributed so far is listed on the donation page. I will try to keep this up to date but once I am on the trail it may be difficult. Many of you have asked about sending me packages. Since I do not know where I will be when, this is difficult. Also because weight is such a big factor on the trail I may not be able to use what you send. The better option is to donate to the hike or to the AHA instead. I have not figured out how to make it easier to make comments on this blog but you can always send an email to me directly by going to heartyhiking@gmail.com. I look forward to reading your emails and know they will be a source of encouragement.
Please check out the heart health facts page. I hope it will inspire others to start walking.
Happy Trails!

Heart

My Lucky Charm

Stefanie and Michael gave me this backpacking hiker charm as a going away present. I have attached it to my pack and will carry it with me on my hike. Thanks Stef and Mike

Heart-Full Thanks

Along the trail I will be going into towns to resupply. At various places there will be a register for PCT hikers to sign. Some hikers stamp their trail name. This is the stamp I will use thanks to Wired and Funhog. Wired designed it and under the direction of Funhog made it herself. I love the design. It means much more to me than one I would have made myself . My heart-full thanks to both Wired and Funhog.

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Testing out a new technique for adding photos

Leaving for the trail last week.

A close up shot

This was a difficult crossing. the water was very deep in the middle and the log was rotting but it held up to my weight and I made it across safely.
I was trying out a new technique that Wired told me about to improve the size and quality of the pictures taken with my iphone. They came out much better. Thanks again to Wired!

Hiking Lone Star one last time

Just got back from hking the Lone Star Trail again. Just under 100 miles. I hiked 20 miles a day for 5 days. This will be my last long hike until I leave. No blisters this time  - wahoo!

 Carolina Jasmine Vine in full bloom through-out the trail. The yellow flowers carpeted my path. So pretty...

So many pretty wild flowers...

Of course it wouldn't be Texas without a picture of the cattle. I also ran into a herd of wild pigs but they were out almost out of site before I could get the picture. You probably can't make them out but they are in the very back and center of this next pick (honest).

This week I will put togther my resupply boxes. I have been dehydrating food to bring and testing and trying different recipes. Here is some of the food I plan to put in my resupply boxes. From reading previous journals I have learned from other hikers your tastes  change and you get  tired of certain foods. It's best to have a lot of variety. I am not a fussy eater but I do want to make the calories count and eat a healthy diet. 

I will mix and match some of the dried foods above. I can rehydrate them in my small plastic  jar while I am walking. By dinnertime they will be rehydrated and all I have to do is add the spices and heat and eat! You don't actually cook on the trail. You heat up water and add it to dehydrated or freeze-dried foods. You fill up on fresh foods when you make it into town on resupply days.

It's all about variety

Drinks to bring, both hot and cold, including sports drinks to replace electrolytes

This is the cooking system I will be using to heat up water. All of the components fit inside in a nice, compact fashion. Total weight is 10 oz plus the weight of the fuel. A full canister of fuel will last me a 2 weeks and weights 6.7oz. It only takes 2 minutes to heat 3 cups of water!