BENEFITING: Tahoe Rim Trail Association
EVENT DATE: Aug 03, 2010
DEADLINE TO GIVE: Aug 10, 2010


HERE'S THE STORY:

UPDATE 2: I was forced to cancel my attempt on day 2 due to a knee injury. More here: http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=418715754863

UPDATE: On Aug 3, you can watch me travel around Lake Tahoe here: http://bit.ly/5DayTRT

Starting on August 3, 2010, I'm going to attempt a solo, un-resupplied, unassisted hike of the 180+ miles of the Tahoe RIm Trail in just 5 days. The trip typically takes around two weeks.

The morning of August 3, I plan to roll out of bed, grab my backpack and hike to the Tahoe Rim Trail from my home in Incline Village, NV, on the North Shore of Lake Tahoe. The ascent to the TRT trailhead alone is 4,000 vertical feet. From there, I plan to fastpack with no stops for food or assistance throughout the 180+ mile journey around the Lake. Five days later, I plan to walk back to my home (sore feet and all), the same way I left.

I'm hoping to raise money to assist the Tahoe Rim Trail (http://tahoerimtrail.org/) in their efforts to maintain and enhance the Tahoe Rim Trail and continue their community outreach programs. If you have a fiver that you can spare, send it this way.

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
Q: What are you going to eat?
A: All my food will be brought with me. Most people choose to leave a food cache or drop along the trail somewhere, but this means their hike has been assisted. I plan to make the trek unassisted meaning I pack it in, I pack it out. I'll be eating a variety of dry, bland, high carb, high protein foods during my 5-day stint. No burgers or fries here.

Q: Where will you sleep?
A: I'll be sleeping in an ultralight hammock every night. A tent is too heavy for this trip, so I'll be sleeping under the stars in the great Sierra Mountains.

Q: Won't you get eaten by a bear?
A: A valid question, but no. Bears in the Sierra Nevada Mountains are black bears. They'll probably stay pretty far away from me. However, they will be interested in my backpack full of food which means I have to hang my backpack from a tree with rope every night so my breakfast doesn't get poached.

Q: Won't you get lonely?
A: Probably. Want to join me?

Q: Will you have cell phone service?
A: Sometimes. I will have some sort of GPS tracking device so you can track my path around the Lake. Donors will get a special web URL to watch my progress. Makes you want to donate, doesn't it?

Q: What are you doing to train for this?
A: Nothing really. Next question.

Q: TRT in only 5 days--are you crazy?
A: My sources say 'yes'.