I am ready to pull a sled 100 miles in Alaska in February.
Everything on my list is sitting happily in my sled. I am relieved to have that task completed. Without any liquid in my sled, which I may not have at any point -- I am bringing an extra insulated container for water and a couple of thermos containers just in case -- my sled weighs in around 26 pounds (with food). This seems sort of heavy to me, but I think I'm required to have 15 pounds of gear not including food. I will double check the rules today and think longer and harder about all the stuff I'm bringing. What really struck me while I was weighing my stuff was how much I now weigh. Wow, I am super talented at packing on pounds when not paying attention. I'm the heaviest I've been in many years. Luckily, my friend and I have declared March "booze-free" month and I'm pretty sure this will go far in, at least, making me feel deprived and self-righteous. That's what dieting is all about, no? Anyhow, it's remarkable that not only am I endeavoring to do a hard-core race without conventional "training," I am carrying extra needless weight to boot. Pretty silly.
My buddy Dave is loaning me his SPOT tracker and I think I will have a way to set it up so I can be tracked during Susitna. Everyone can look and laugh and say "ha ha ha she is only moving at 2 mph!!!" Or, "I wonder if she's really cold right now?" If I get an airplane ride back to wherever the airplanes go that should be pretty neat to watch on the SPOT tracker. (If you drop you get a plane ride!)
Conditions are presently looking good -- highs in the 20s lows above freezing. I'm actually pretty excited to test the limits of my mental fortitude. I think it's going to be a slog to end all slogs and I'm ready for it. If I've learned anything, it's that no matter how miserable these things are, they seem really fun in hindsight. So, to make for fun memories I have to trudge onward, one foot in front of the other until I reach some store in Point McKenzie, Alaska. I really hope to see northern lights and hope to get some good photos. I definitely plan to keep my fingers and toes.
I'll post more info on the SPOT tracking once Dave teaches me how the SPOT works tonight.
7 comments:
I can't wait to hear how it goes! You need to bring dogs to haul your sled. Maybe you can sneak them in your carry-on?
Good luck Danni! I'll be thinking about you and tracking you if I can figure it out!
Can you use your extra body weight to get to the total required amount of food? :)
There are special techniques used to photograph the northern lights. If you want photos, you might want to look into it. They include a tripod (oh joy! more weight).
I'm kinda jealous of your adventure. Good luck! :)
Good luck Danni - have a great time out there and enjoy the adventure!
Danni, you will be in my thoughts and in my heart. Go do it!
I give Olga's advice 2 thumbs up:
"GO DO IT!!"
I'll be thinking of you and sending good vibes your way and super-woman strength. I know it's in there.
You know, if they allowed "pacers" I'd be in there! (but only for u...)
good luck! have fun? I'm a little nervous for you b/c I don't want you to have to suffer just to have it be a good memory later. In some ways that's how June's birth story feels to me, though, so maybe in that weird way I can relate. It will all be worth it in the end.
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