Butterflies on my pack

Timber Wolf and Deer In The Sighting Mirror

Much done with my packing this Gregory Massif backpack. Much collected and sorting done and not to over pack!!
I started reading agian, Aldo Leopold's A Sand County Almanac to calm my nervousness.
Keep on reassuring myself of the reasons I am doing this which also calms the nerves. Concentrating on all this planning assuage the vulnerability I will most certainly feel once I leave the road and and enter trail head as my boots dig in deep under my weight, to steady their load. 'There will be a shelter to head to', 'it all doesn't have to be done in one day'. 'I'm well organized'. 'If I can run 2 Montreal 1/2 Marathons, then I can do this'. There will be plenty of other Long Trailer thru hikers I'll run into. There is lots of photography to do.' Along with some great experiences   in my pack, this will the realization of long dreamed of adventure.

My first goal is to stop in at Waterbury and pick up the End to Ender's guide.
But, my first objective is Tilloston Camp, from Hazen's  Notch Rd./ Camp. A modest distance, but enough to gain my first legs. If the going is good, maybe even Devil's Gulch Shelter. Remembering that I haven't been in my 3/4 shank backpacking boots in a decade.