A bit about the hikers...

Here is a primer on the hikers, incase you dont already know them in another capacity:
Jenna was born and raised in the Berkshires, Massachusetts, while Tom is a west coast Seattle boy at heart. They met at Green Mountain College, in Poultney Vermont, where Jenna studied Fine Art and Graphic Design, and Thomas pursued Environmental Studies and Philosophy. Jenna graduated in 2009, and Tom is projected to graduate this spring (2010) pending the completion of his Honors Thesis. Jenna has spent the past 6 months since graduation working as a "host" at the John C. Campbell Folk School in Brasstown, North Carolina. After the hike, she is excited to devote more time to creating her personal artwork and marketing her craft. Tom is on the fence about pursuing either law school, or a masters in philosophy (and maybe this time in the woods will help him decide).

Tom loves: Albert Camus, cats, Otterpop frozen treats, potato chips, "Risk", chopping wood, cooking, and contemplating. Jenna loves: knitting and other fibers activities, ee cummings, riding her bike, crafting, yoga and jogging, peanut butter M&Ms, and baking. 

Naturally, they also both love to hike. Some of Tom's most memorable hiking adventures have been a week-long trip in the Adirondacks' High Peaks Region, multi-day backpacking trips in the Olympic National Park in Washington, and a particularly cold, snowy, and wet weekend trip in the Alpine Lakes region of the Adirondacks with Jenna. Some of Jenna's most exciting hiking trips come from the summer she spent exploring the western national parks (Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Tetons, Arches, Zion, Canyonlands, Grand Canyon, and Bryce Canyon)- her favorites being a long hike between all of the Arches, a hike in a river in Zion, and a 2-day excursion into the Grand Canyon (complete with 130 degree heat).

Tom is excited about this hike because he thinks it will be something that will push him to his extremes and put him outside of his comfort zone. He is hoping to see some of the most beautiful landscapes in the entire world, and he is excited to be hiking with someone he loves. Not everyday can you hike 2,700 miles- and this might be the only chance he gets. Jenna is excited by the prospect of accomplishing something so monumental (more people have hiked Mount Everest than have hiked the Pacific Crest Trail). Having both finished their education (at least for the time being), they are excited to have a large goal and something to do with their time that doesnt involve immediately joining the corporate workforce. They are also excited: to wear the same clothes everyday, discover new ways to prepare the same old foods, live outside the reaches of Facebook, and to have the adventure of their lives.

While they are overwhelmed by the excitment of planning the hike, the are also being constantly humbled by the books they read (they love to read). Hearing about other's experiences makes they terribly aware of their fears on this trip. For Tom, these fears include snakes and lightening. Jenna is worried about hiking in extensive amounts of snow, and equipment failures. They feel their best defenses against these things are knowledge and flexibility (of plans, not bodies). Tom also thinks his trekking poles will be a great help while beating down snakes. He would like to reinforce that he is terribly affraid of rattle snakes (but Jenna is confident they will encounter few, and if they do, she will protect him).

Up until they leave for their hike, they will be training, reading, and hiking like crazy. In February, Jenna is heading back to Massachusetts to teach skiing for the remainder of the season. Tom will remain in Washington, where he will work tirelessly on his Honors Thesis. One of Tom's favorite activities is reading blogs (specifically about alcohol stoves, gear, and the Seattle Seahawks), and when they reunite in May for Tom's graduation, they will be so full of hiking related knowledge and itching to get onto the trail, it will be all they can do to keep from heading out early.