We're off!

The day is finally here. We've been planning for a whole year, anticipating this very moment. It's here...and we're off. We're so very excited, a little bit sad (we'll be gone for 9 days which is a long time to be away from our families), and just a touch nervous. With the exception of Amanda, none of us have really done any backpacking. We've camped, day hiked, fished, and have done all kinds of other activities in the great outdoors. It's going to be quite a learning experience as well as (hopefully) fun.

We keep reminding ourselves that lots of other ladies have done this or will do this. We met several attending the Fairbanks Hiking Club day hikes who were in their 60's and planning on hiking the Chilkoot. This summer, in fact, just a few weeks before us. A friend of Amanda's will be hiking the trail about 3 weeks after we get back.

I gave Arthur a big hug before I left. There were tears in my eyes. As excited as I was to leave, I was also a little sad. I knew the boys were in great hands (Robinson had taken a week off to watch them), but leaving was a little difficult nevertheless. I'm not sure exactly what Arthur was thinking watching me go. Was it as difficult for him?

The car was crammed full with four backpacks full of gear. Whose idea was it to travel without a Sherpa, anyway?