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I walked 4 miles today just to buy some coffee creamer. That's how I roll now! 
Pretty soon I'll probably start doing walks around the city with a full pack, because training can't just happen on the mountain.
The John Muir Trail is less than 6 months away...
Now it's getting real!
If approved, I'll head out on the JMT between August 31 and September 6!
(For those who don't know, there are a limited number of wilderness permits for any given day, in an effort to control foot traffic, reduce damage to trails, and reduce the impact to wildlife and wilderness. This also helps make potential search-and-rescue situations more manageable)
Another swing and a miss 
And you know what? I'm actually annoyed now.
Recreation.gov is happy to take your $10 every time you want to spin the wheel for a chance to step foot on a certain trailhead. It will never roll over to the next try. It will never be refunded. You could apply 20 times in a row, get denied 20 times in a row, and you'll give them $10 every time.
I really wanted JMT to be my first thru-hike, but I think it's shaping up to be Oregon Coast Trail now.
@killyourfm tough luck dude. Got backup plans?
@intrepidhero I could always go NOBO! Tougher and far less ideal, but those permits are easier to come by.
As for backup plans, well... it's a giant country. I'll figure something out!
@killyourfm that's the spirit! almost no end to the beautiful places to lose yourself in.
@killyourfm @intrepidhero
100%! Great places to lose yourself in the east, too!!
@RunRichRun @intrepidhero I'm wide open to suggestions!
@killyourfm @RunRichRun I didn't have anything in Nevada on my bucket list until this moment but Ruby Mountain wilderness just popped up in my feed. Lakes and mountains? Yes please!
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Crest_National_Recreation_Trail
@intrepidhero @killyourfm
Looks pretty awesome!
@killyourfm @intrepidhero
~End of Aug., early Sept.?
Long Trail, VT https://www.greenmountainclub.org/the-long-trail/
100 Mile Wilderness, ME (go all the way to Katahdin https://blog.hiiker.app/2023/02/27/hiking-the-100-mile-wilderness-of-the-appalachian-trail/
South on the AT from ~ ME-NH line to somewhere in VT (Killington =~200 miles) — covers the Presidentials and much of VT, beautiful, rugged sections https://traildistance.com/
Those are suggestions that will take ~10 days to 3+ weeks, depending on length. Nice weather that time of year (hotter as you go further south)
Keep us posted
@RunRichRun @intrepidhero Thanks for taking the time to share these, Rich, I appreciate you.
The Long Trail looks appealing (a long green tunnel? Yes please), and I love how organized the site's "About" section is, plus the fact that they *removed* camping fees. Awesome!
I'll keep you all posted for sure.
@killyourfm What's "NOBO"? Bummer about your application. Too many people that time of year in Yosemite anyway.
@elaterite @intrepidhero NOBO means Northbound, so hiking from the southern terminus to the northern one.
@killyourfm really sorry to hear this, man. I know how much you wanted to go. Maybe use it as an opportunity to go somewhere else though? It's one hell of a country that you live in with some incredible landscapes and areas.
@JoeRess Absolutely! There's no shortage of potentially amazing thru-hikes here.
@killyourfm RIOT!!!!
@killyourfm Argh, tough luck 
@killyourfm Booz Allen Hamilton Inc. and shareholders thank you very much for your patronage. (It's criminal that a private company runs that website.) https://archive.ph/SpzOj
@elaterite Well this is new information to me. Now I've graduated from annoyed to angry. I honestly had no idea.
@killyourfm Indeed. Twice now I've been at a Nat. Pk. trying to buy a pass at the information counter, with rangers standing around, and was told the only way to get the pass was through the website. That forced me to drive--in one case 20 miles to get a phone signal--so I could buy the pass. It's criminal.
@elaterite You shouldn't need data access and a debit/credit card to access public land!
Also, this, from a friend: "I've had camp hosts express frustration that they cannot make site swaps or allow FCFS after people don't show up because everything is done through the website -- they have no ability to accommodate folks in front of them."
It doesn't just feel criminal, it feels borderline predatory.
@killyourfm I totally agree. I want our parks back (from ongoing efforts to privatize them), I want them funded, I want rangers, I want maintenance workers, and I want billionaires taxed.