I think it's time.

I've had several journals and blogs in my life. One of them still exists online; I haven't updated it in quite some time. That one is more for recording of stresses at this point; it has figured in heavily to a couple of unfortunate times in my life, and going there now feels somewhat like I'm disturbing it, as though stirring it up might release things below the surface.

I had an idea today while I was walking. I told a friend not that long ago that it seemed like it might be time for me to start doing some hiking. After all, I've done all this survival and minimalist training; it seems kind of silly to have done all of that if I'm not going to use it for something.

To that end, I've started making plans for a spring trip to Sweden, to hang out with Toby. I'll be going right after the spring solstice so I'll miss the 24 hour midnight, but that's just the way it works out with timing; another year I'll get there in midwinter.

I'm also developing an idea in my head having to do with the Appalachian Mountain Club.

The AMC got its start in 1876, presumably by a bunch of people who liked being outdoors; it's not hard to imagine a bunch of Victorian era explorer types charging up mountains puffing on pipes. They've been working towards encouraging people to get outdoors and experience nature ever since; they also try to preserve land, increase education, etc. They sound like a lovely bunch of people.

In 1957 some members decided that they were going to form a club within their club for people who had climbed "all" the 4000+ ft peaks within their purview. This has developed into a few different lists over the years, but the main one seems to be the White Mountains list, which includes 48 peaks higher than 4000 ft within the White Mountains in New Hampshire. (This is important: there's one peak in the White Mountains in Maine, but it's not included on the list).

48 seems like a good, round number. It seems like an attainable number. Attainable, say, in a year.

If I do this, it will take a fair amount of planning. All of these peaks are at least 2 hours drive from where I live, and some are 3. They're clustered together in such a way that it makes sense to do some at the same time and others alone; some are probably summitable in winter and some are probably much more difficult. To do some clusters, it might be nice to stay overnight. And, if at all possible, I want to bring Zoe along (dogs can be recognized as part of the 4000 club too!).

And if I do it, I'll blog about it. Write down my thoughts and experiences for posterity. Everyone else has a blog... I just haven't had anything interesting to blog about yet.

My start date will be March 21, 2012, the spring equinox. Within the year following that date I will summit all 48 New Hampshire 4000+ mountains on the AMC's list. Time between then and now will be spent planning and preparing. I may even climb a few peaks to get ready- Katahdin in Maine, or some others, just to get ready; but the list will be done within that time frame. I should be able to work around my schedule at work; I don't think I'll be able to keep up an actual "one mountain per week" schedule, but I'll try to stay close to it, to keep an even pace as much as I can.

I think it's a good plan, and a good goal. :)