Hiking on the PCT- Donner Lake, California 40 minutes from Reno
Training for this Camino has allowed me to get out and explore the beautiful area I live in even more than usual. I live in the high desert of Reno, Nevada in the middle of an amazing outdoor playground! After college in Michigan I moved out west to be close to ski resorts and my family in California. Now that I’m not a full-time elementary school teacher anymore I have a flexible schedule and more time to explore.
Next Saturday I will start the walk up the Pyrenees Mountains in southwestern France in the village of St. Jean Pied de Port. Luckily, the summit I will be climbing is approximately the same elevation as my neighborhood in Reno. Granted, it’s going to be a steep climb but I hope since I’ve been training at elevation (and above) my cardio strength will be there.
In addition to hiking, I’ve cross-trained by going to my local Jazzercise studio. Dancing my way to become strong for the Camino has been the highlight of my training. I feel like the core strength and flexibility I’ve gained will help me carry my eighteen pound pack for hours a day for almost six weeks.
I would like to thank my family, friends, and Jazzercise instructors for helping me prepare for this trip. Here are a few pictures from my training hikes this past year:
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and “The Road to Hana”
Hunter Creek Trail to the waterfall in Reno
Cross Peak above Reno with my boys
Yosemite National Park
Chico, California
San Francisco
Our Neighborhood, Steamboat Ditch Trail, and Downtown Reno
Lake Tahoe
Mt. Rose (Elevation 10, 776 ft) and Jones-Whites Creek in Reno
Donner Trail Tunnels
So in less than 24 hours I’m going to click my heels and be off to Madrid. I’m feeling beyond blessed and fortunate right now. It just hit me a couple of days ago that being away from my husband and boys for a month and a half may be difficult. My parents have a new tablet so they can follow this blog and we can stay in touch via Facebook Messenger and Whatsapp when we have wifi (pronounced weefee in Spain). I’ve chosen not to pay AT&T the big bucks for an international plan. If we REALLY need a phone, my walking buddy Pam will have one that is activated.
I will update this blog as often as I can because I want to share with you as well as have a journal to look back on for myself. There will be times I won’t have wifi or when I’m too busy recovering from the day or living in the moment to post updates. If you click the little blue “Follow” button and enter your email address you will get an email notification when I make a post and it is FREE.
I hope you enjoy reading! Hasta luego.