Changing Dreams into Reality - more about JMT

I just love dreaming and making plans; I get immersed in my imagination of what it would be, could be like if only...  But then it often happens that when it comes to realizing a dream something stops me and all remains in the realm of my fantasy life. 

When I started dreaming of JMT my head was full of images of me with a pack on the trail, snapping pictures, climbing hills, gaping at mountain peaks, and sleeping under the stars. I read trail reports, studied maps, planned our meals and sweated over gear selection. All the time I worried that maybe this time again I wouldn't follow all the way through and this trek would become yet another unrealized dream. But this time was different; almost seamlessly my fantasy turned into reality, and before I knew it we were on the trail getting out of Yosemite Valley shamelessly bragging in front of Half Dome hikers about our 220+ mile trek (hey, they asked, so we bragged).

When my dream got cut short, I felt sad but at the same time I knew I had an amazing experience behind me, much better than what my imagination could have ever provided. It is often like that - reality is much grander than any fantasy, we just need to make that step into the real world.

But then life had another surprise for me. It seems that we do not have to leave for Poland for the services for my brother in law till mid August. This gives me just enough time to hopefully complete the trek, and if not, at least to spend more time in these magnificent mountains. After a long talk with my family, and I have to say they were not only supportive but actually pushed me more than a little to go back to the mountains, I decided to go for it. I will start where we had left the trail, which will add some miles to the trek but then I think I can skip the last resupply. I just need to carry a few more days of food with me.

My teen has decided to stay behind though, which means I will be doing the second half of the trek solo. Having company would be nice but I think I can manage on my own. I think... I hope... :)

So here I am, packing again, this time with confidence of knowing what I need and what can stay behind. BTW, I am proud to say there was only one piece of gear we truly did not need on the trail, gaiters and that there was nothing we forgot. 

I am reworking my itinerary realizing that, like with the old one, I will have to be flexible and will be adjusting my daily mileage depending on trail conditions (they just had a major cloud burst with flash floods at Whitney, ouch) and on how I am feeling. 

I can't wait to be out there again. I can't wait to chat with other hikers and make new, even if short lived, friendships. It is so much better than anything my imagination can provide. I cannot wait to make it real again.

I will be posting my progress via SPOT device on Facebook. This is unfortunately one way connection and since the second half of the trail is practically cell coverage free, I won't be able to see what you guys are up to. I'll catch up when I am back. 

In my dream about the JMT trek during my breast cancer surgery, I was not able to finish the trail because the anesthesia wore off just before I reached Mount Whitney summit. I found it ironic that in real life I was not able complete that trek either but now it seems the sun has not set yet on the dream finishing my JMT.