Suppose there was an overweight, horridly out-of-shape 36-year-old who took a weekend trip to the Olympic Peninsula. Further suppose that something about Olympic National Park, the way it has just a few roads barely scratching its surface, but lots of trails, trails of mysterious promise if only one was fit enough to hike them, has her thinking that it would be worth the work to lose 50 lbs. and get back in shape if only she could see something like this: [link]

Has the fat 36-year-old, a city dweller whose only camping experience was car camping as a child, completely taken leave of her senses in her dream of hiking the wilderness because it's THERE?

As an overweight, soon-to-be forty someone who is torturing herself with house porn on a regular basis by tramping over the hills of wealthy SF, solely to be able to hike the mountains you see in Lost, I completely understand. For whatever that's worth.

Camping is awesome. Giving yourself a reward for losing weight? Even better. Oh and if you lose that weight shucks you might need... new clothes? Oh and camping is awesome.

That sounds like a great way to get your fingers bitten.

All i could think about was those guys from DEAD LIKE ME playing shuffle board... waiting to escort a soul with the plague.

Camping is awesome. Giving yourself a reward for losing weight? Even better. Oh and if you lose that weight shucks you might need... new clothes? Oh and camping is awesome.

Just looking at the Park website, I can tell I'm going to need to learn a whole new vocabulary and way of thinking. My family's camping trips when I was little involved a pop-up camper pulled behind our pick-up and staying in lots of KOAs. I don't think I've ever slept in a tent before. I'm EXTREMELY weirded out by the concept of packing out used toilet paper.

But...those mountains are THERE, and I want to see them.

Wow, Lunch Lake is absolutely beautiful! I say go for it.

On Monday I am going to sign up for next year's Philly Triathlon. The worst that can happen is I pay the fee and don't end up participating. It will be good to have that as a goal, since I am Lazy McLazypants. I'm also McFrugalpants, so most likely I'll be doing a triathlon next year to avoid wasting my money.

Dman it, it's already after 2 am and I am not asleep! Good thing I don't have to wake up too early tomorrow. But since I am awake....

Happy Birthday, Polter-Cow!

Well the first step is read up. The more camping safety stuff you know the more you'll relax. Find friends interested or twist some arms. Next go camping somewhere not so difficult, gain familiarity and work from there. Waking up in the woods in the morning can be awesome, the fewer other campsites around you makes it even better.
My current goal is losing about 35lbs personally

shit. I just hit SEND. I think I was just inquiring about a position in Texas. I feel a little bit like a traitor. Damn my loyalty! I was a bit coy. Just putting out a feeler, since the position isn't announced yet.

Eeek.

um. Maybe some Prospect~ma?

Shit. How am I supposed to go to sleep now??? Was I too coy? Did I come off as a jerk? Ye Gads I haven't applied for a job in a long time.

Wait! I didn't apply... merely inquired about the soon to be open position.

much squiggly-ma to you as I head for bed. Night all

Thanks, d!

Prospect~ma to you, omnis! Also to me, as I finally e-mailed my first potential future wife.