000 Anneliese’s Continental Divide Trail Pages Page One - Today’s Date is 2 May 2002

00 00 The time is almost here to embark on the adventure and challenge of hiking another National Scenic Trail. This time the trail begins at the Mexican border and winds through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, to the Canadian border, covering 3,100 miles. Many of those miles are not blazed, lack a defined trail but cross some incredible landscape and breathe of history. 00 My name is Anneliese and this is the first time I will use a trail name "Frische Luft" which is German and means "fresh air". I grew up in Germany but have lived in the US since 1960. It took ten years to complete the Appalachian Trail, as section hikes, from 1988 through 1998. In 1997 I hiked 2,100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail and completed the remaining 500 miles in 1998. What makes any individual embark on such a journey? 00 For me it is the freedom and beauty of the outdoors. I am willing to give up the comforts of modern society and trade them temporarily in order to experience six full moons in the middle of nowhere, watch the sun come up and go down for 180 days, see a multitude of wildlife, and daily be in awe of the beauty around me. This hike takes a lot of planning, numerous maps from various sources, gear considerations and keeping a watchful eye on the weather.

00 My hiking partner, Ron, also known as the "Waffle King" to many AT hikers, completed the CDT two years ago and has hiked the PCT four times, the AT twice. Ron, is truly addicted to through hiking and plans to continue as long as he is physically able to do so. I met with Ron in NC and we poured over and marked maps, talked gear and selected the best trail towns. The plan is to start hiking in Grants, NM and go North to the border and then return to Grants and complete the most Southern part.

00 Many people have heard of trail angels and while hiking the PCT I had the good fortune to meet Campy and Ski who live in Bishop, CA, just North of Independence. During my 1997 hike they graciously accepted us into their home and we have been friends ever since. Campy is retired and offered to be ground man and webmaster for this journey. I plan to keep a journal, take photos, and pass these on to Campy at designated road access and re-supply points. Germans are not known for their sense of humor but I'll do my best to keep your attention. 00 So without much further ado "let the journey begin". A few older photos for this introduction show me on top of Mt. Avery in Maine. The one with all the fog will be recognized by many as the peak of Katahdin. Then there is a photo of me at the Canadian border in '98 and one of Campy and my pack on a side trail after a week of trail crew in 2001 near Joshua Tree Spring, North of Walker Pass on the PCT. That's all for now folks!

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