Six weeks left in Iowa!

Last night Tim and I gave a presentation on Long Distance Hiking at Luther College.  WheeHoo!

Speaking in front of a diverse group of people from the community and college about our hiking addiction was not something we had anticipated. 

It was fun, but scary...

Words literally find themselves stuck in my overly dry mouth as I look out into the crowd.  "How did I end up up here?!?" I ask myself.

It all stemmed from a feeling of guilt.

We love hiking, for months at a time when conditions permit.  But... you feel a little guilty out there in Nature, happier than any day in the "real world," doing nothing other than having the time of your life.  You think about the people back home slaving away at jobs they don't enjoy, eating unhealthy food, sitting on the couch or in front of a computer screen or a TV.  You think about these people and you feel a little selfish (even though you don't let it ruin your hiker high!)

Sooo, Tim and I decided that we wanted to dedicate our thru-hike of the PCT to a local non-profit, Northeast Iowa Food and Fitness Initiative.  NIFFI is an organization dedicated to "making our region a place where every day, all people have access to healthy, locally grown foods and abundant opportunities for physical activity in the places where we live, learn, work and play."  

Check out their website: http://www.iowafoodandfitness.org/site/aboutus.html

"Youth engagement is key to our success.  Eighteen high school-based Food & Fitness Teams actively work with their administrators, food service, wellness committees, and teachers to improve their school's food and fitness environment and policies.

Our strategies are to ensure that 1) School district policies & practices support healthy living of children, families and community members. 2) Local, health-promoting food is available and affordable in all communities, neighborhoods and institutions. 3) Communities have a built environment that supports abundant opportunities for physical activity and play."

For those of you who know Tim and I, you know that this is what we are all about!  Especially the abundant opportunities to play!  And of course, access to health-promoting food, is a topic you will often hear us talking about.

After talking with NIFFI, we decided that we would talk in the schools to inspire students (and everyone else!) to get outside and enjoy nature.  Thus, our first presentation on Long Distance Hiking last night!  I think they had us speak to college students first because they are an easier audience than 4th graders!  ;)



WE ARE REDICULOUSLY EXCITED FOR THE HIKE!

We have been busy getting our gear together and planning out resupply points.

ULA has generously agreed to repair our packs for free!  I carried the Conduit, and Tim the Ohm on our thru-hike of the CDT in 2010.  Awesome packs!

ProBar, our absolute favorite bar out there, has given us a prodeal!  Tim usually hates bars, but he loves ProBars.  It is because they are made from REAL food!  They source the finest all natural, real, wholesome, and organic ingredients from responsible growers to create food that is simply delicious and always Simply Real.

Check them out at http://theprobar.com/

Superfood Slam is my absolute favorite!   Koka Moka is a close second!

Keep Dreaming!