PCT Bound – Canadian Style

Great news!!! 

I have a quiz night coming up and I’m so excited. August 11th at the Thornhill pub. 7pm. 

If you’d like to register a team email janine_kraft@outlook.com.  Cost is $20.00 per person with the winning team winning their cover back. There’s door prizes, food and drink specials and lots of fun to be had!!!

Thanks to Thornhill pub for hosting me and the riverboat days society for registering this as an official riverboat days event!!!!

Check out my FB for updates and the event page: www.facebook.com/janinepct

It came, it came….it finally came!!!! My quote and design for my PCT swag. 

I’m offering both T-Shirts and Hoodies…summer and winter wear. Look at me thinking ahead 😜

There’s 6 different coloured t-shirts in sizes S-2XL, those are $20.00ea.

I’m also offering black hoodies, sizes S-XL for $40.00ea.

I am willing to mail orders as well, but will need to add $5.00 to accommodate shipping. 

All net proceeds go to my hike and if need be I can order more shirts. Thank you so much for your continued support. 

I love you guys xoxo

-J

Here we are; 286 days out.

And apparently I’m incapable of sharing my feelings on FB live without busting into tears, so I’ll try here instead! 😉

I’m overwhelmed with how much there is still left to do, but even more overwhelmed by the support I’ve received, both financially and emotionally.

First off, I want to say ‘thanks’ to those who contributed a few bucks here and there to my Go fund me page….having to save  $15,000 in less than a year is my biggest challenge, you folks are helping alleviate some of the cost.  Support is always welcome, my goFundMe page link is:

gf.me/u/4rmmc

(And if for some reason this link is a dud, you can find the hyperlink at the top of my home page). 

The most amazing thing for me though is how my normal, everyday walks have turned into so much more.  Everyday, I wave dozens of times…some people I know well, some I’ve met since I began my regimen, and some I still have no idea who you are!  KEEP THOSE WAVES COMING!!!  Truly. If I see you wave, I WILL wave back or at least manage a smile while I try to decide whether that wave was for me or someone else…I’ve embarrassed myself more than once! 😉

To the following supporters, your unwavering support, means so much:

Geier Waste (Glenn, Stu, Robbie and the rest of the crew….you guys are FABULOUS!).  these guys wave, honk, make absolute asses of themselves to show their support for me everyday.  THANK YOU!!!!

Glenn especially, I look forward to the morning drive-bys. I never know what shit you’re going to pull. Thank you for being a ham, you in particular start my day off right!

To MacCarthy GM, daily waves from any of the following: sales manager Justin, sales consultant Brandon, service manager John, advisor Bonnie, detailer Dale, the courtesy drivers, service advisor Sami, parts advisor Sean, marketing manager Tamara, receptionist Amy, finance managers Renita and Sharalyn, General manager Joey, even owner Gary…..THANK YOU!!!!  Having you guys ask questions, drive by with waves, chirp me on social media or via text, share my posts….all of it, thank you!!!  You guys are an awesome example of corporate responsibility, I’m humbled to be a client of such a great business!  Not only did you outfit me with a kickass truck so I can get my fun on, but you continue to support me daily just by your encouragement. 

To Chuck at Waste Management, thank you

The crew at Progressive Ventures, thanks for the love. 

Jamie and Holly hill of set zero surveying for their honks and waves. 

Keith and Wilma, my HELO sponsors. 

To Jas, Morgan, James and the rest of the maintenance crew at City of Terrace, thank you!!!!

To Bobby at Prevost, thank you for your genuine interest in my crazy!  I for sure will be posting as much as I can on the trail…you still need to take me fishing!

To Kelly at Johnny’s Welding for your shares, hugs, honks and smiles……thank you

To Silvertip signs and EB Horsman….thank you for the morning waves and ‘hello’s’

To Danielle, Shannon, Tanya, Chris Simms, Kelly (AQCS), Tina, Derrick, Jordan, Adam, Melanie, Nick, Cara, Simone, Molly, Angela, Paul, Jerry Lozinski,  Becky, Bevan, the morning ladies at Copperside on HWY 16 W, Trevor Gibson at Ken’s Marine, Tracy,  Dave, Carl and the countless others that take time out to wave each morning, you make my walks easier and more awesome just by your little contributions.  Roger at DHL (I miss you), Scott and Brandon at Telus and the terminal express employee who delivers to Kens marine around 7:15a. 

This hike wouldn’t be anywhere as special to me without you guys. Some of you started as complete strangers, but have fast become friends and an integral part of my day.  When my desire to be pounding the pavement isn’t there at the start of my walk, you being there cheering me on everyday as I train turns it right around by the end of my morning routine.  From the bottom of my heart….truly, THANK YOU!!!

See you F$%&ING awesome people tomorrow <3

-J

 

 

This past weekend our trade show was in town.  Having been in media for several years, I’ve done my share of booth watching and glad handing.  This time was different.  I had so many valuable conversations with people I don’t even know about my hike plans. I might’ve spent more time talking about my hike than the booths I was representing. The word is spreading.  I have to thank each and every one of you supporters for spreading the word and flying my flag.  You’re all amazing.

This upcoming weekend from 10-5 at the Terrace Arena sportsplex is a health and wellness fair.  Yours Truly will be there with my hike sponsor Keith Vandenbroek of Helo.  Come by, say hi, and ask all the questions you’d like.  Looking forward to seeing you there 🙂

So, here i am, less than a year out.  It’s hard to put down exactly how i’m feeling; it’s a myriad of emotion.  Truly!

For starters, i’m just as excited as I’ve ever been, just more anxious.  At this point, the dehydration is going well, same with the vacuum sealing.  i took an updated inventory last weekend and know I have roughly 100 dinners and 75 lunches to put together.  Breakfast is pretty much done with the exception of vacuum sealing more milk, granola, oatmeal and pancake mix.  But that involves math, and at this point, I’d rather not.

The one thing that could hinder my leaving next April 9th is finances.  I NEED to raise $15,000 or i can’t go.  Plain and simple.  I need sponsorships both personal and businesses and I need to fundraise.  I’m planning a couple quiz nights, an information session with an entry fee, and talking to everybody and anybody who will listen about what it is i’m doing.  If you’re at all interested in sponsoring me, email me at janine_kraft@outlook.com, please include ‘PCT sponsorship’ or the like in your subject line so I don’t delete it thinking it’s spam.

tonight, Scott and I are going camping together.  He’s already packed and ready to go…so am I…when I get off work that is lol.  I didn’t complain about working Good Friday, given its a stat and I wasn’t prepared to lose hours when I’m in ‘make money’ mode.  The future of my hike depends on me being willing to be alone in a quite office today for several hours.  Plus time and a half pay is very much welcome 🙂

Every morning, i still walk and every sunday i pack the bag and hike an insane amount of kilometres.  The other day I did a challenge with my tracker and completed a NYC simulated 26.2 mile marathon in 3 days with my steps.  Things like this keep me focused when the pain is intense a quarter of the way through my sunday trek, I remember what it is I’m training or.  Doesn’t dull the pain, just reminds me I have a purpose and a goal to work towards.  It makes this whole process feel a little less daunting.

Thank you again for reading this blog.  it’s important that you stay connected and supportive of what i’m doing.  So I very much appreciate you following, subscribing, reading etc.  It’s because of your support that I will succeed!

Even as I write it, it feels surreal.

This journey has been 3 years, 1 month and 11 days.  But I know I’ll carry this through my lifetime.

Starting was the hardest part believe it or not.  The finish was easy.  So easy in fact, it almost feels like my goal hasn’t been reached yet.  But I think that’s key, I still have the motivation to keep going, which means I have the motivation to KEEP IT OFF!

There was a part of me, but a rather significant one that had very mixed emotions about seeing the number on the scale yesterday; 139.8.  It meant the end of an incredible goal and the start of an incredible accomplishment…so why wasn’t I thrilled?  Why was I sobbing when I told my husband?  Thinking a lot about it, I feel a very emotional attachment to the heavier Janine, still beautiful, but someone who went through a lot.  I’m afraid she’s going away. I’m afraid saying goodbye to her means I’m someone else…and I don’t want to be.  How do I not be different but still feel excited to be smaller by 100lbs because it’s a HUGE accomplishment.  I don’t even know how to feel fully happy.  It’s weird, I can’t explain it and I certainly can’t attach a reason to it.  So I’ll just say ‘it just is’ and right now how I feel is ‘enough’.

I’m not finished yet either, I feel another 10lbs is realistic, but I’ll keep the same creed I had when I started…..I’ll play this whole goal by how I feel…pound by pound, I’ll evaluate.  And I’ll know when I feel my best and my happiest.

Thank you again for being here with me through it.  I know I did the work, but you continuously pushed me to keep going and be my best self.  Now I’ll tell you the same.  If your goal is weight loss, PCT Hiking, quitting whatever vice you have, going back to school, buying a house, etc……just do it with you in mind.  Keep true to yourself.  That’s when those ‘little wins’ feel like monumental victories!

 

It feels like forever since I last wrote.  Not intentional of course, just been out and about pretty much every weekend camping and getting used to solitude.

I bought a truck three weeks ago and since then it’s been pretty much damn near impossible to get me out of it….I’m usually travelling up some mountain road somewhere tracking down my next camping spot.  With this truck I can officially get into Pine Lake right now….a little sketchy at times, but totally doable.  The truck has 4 x 4 and studded tires, and if that wasn’t enough I also have chains!  No stopping me this summer!

I’m officially 14 months away from hiking.  it is really coming up fast.  I’m feeling pretty good about it.  Still lots to do this year including learning ice axe and crampon usage, learn how to self arrest should I be falling down some slick slope, complete my thru-hiking course and learn how to fly fish.  I also need to do a wilderness first aid course in amongst all the camping and dehydrating food.  By summer, I’ll need to have my menu’s somewhat built so Scott can send my food to me next April.  This also means I need to take an updated inventory and I’ll need to replenish what I’ve taken from my food for my camping trips this winter.  Now that I write about everything still to do I’m a little overwhelmed.

I’m 2 pounds away from my weight loss goal which I’ve been maintaining by running in the mornings now that I have a desk job.  It’s hard to stay physical when you’re chained to a wooden table 7 hours per day.  If my day really sucks, I’ll run again in the evenings.  I have my set routes that I love, but may have to start finding more challenging spots.  I’ve started parking my truck either at 7km on West Kalum FS road and walking back to the highway and back to the truck or vice versa.  Come Spring, I’ll do the same walk to Pine Lake from the Highway with my gear and camp out for a few days here and there!  I really am stoked at my progress and excited to see how the next several months pan out in regards to my goals.

As always your support and belief in my dream is amazing.  Thank you so much for being by my side through this entire planning process.  Having people on my side for this makes it feel less scary, like somehow you’ll be beside me on the PCT next april.  I’m glad you’re here -XO

-J