I currently have a couple of goals. First, I am going back to hike the section of the Pacific Northwest Trail I bailed out on last summer. To make that hike easier, I’d planned to do several shorter hikes in the interim. I’m hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from Chinook Pass to Stampede Pass in late July, and I wanted to challenge myself with some long day hikes and one or two overnight hikes before then. Unfortunately, family obligations and other things – including my own sloth & indifference – have meant I’ve not gone on a single overnight hike, and I’ve had a hard time pushing myself to do much of anything.

I know I can do little things to improve my chances of success this year. Taking a few minutes a day to do some core strength work or stretching goes a long way to avoid fatigue and injury on the trail. Today, I’ve decided to start a “What Have I Done Today?” reflection at the end of my day: each night, I want to reflect on what I’ve done that will pay dividends come August. Physical fitness will paly a big role, but I also need to plan. I haven’t thought much about my menu for August’s hike. I haven’t played much with my gear. These things count, too.