We try and eat fairly healthy, however Mum and Dad certainly drink more than the recommended daily amount.
Mum and Dad have fairly sedentary jobs, Mum works in an office and Dad is a Teamster. Both of them are bordering overweight according to their last BMI Check.
BigSis at the time was a Freshman in High School and LilSis was in 3rd grade, Mum and Dad were in the dreaded 35-45 survey demographic. The 30s coming to and end and the 50s looming on the horizon.
Like many other families we were born in a large city and have lived within them all our lives. And yet we have felt the gentle but constant pull of the natural world. Generally speaking we never really took resort holidays, preferring exploration to a sun lounger.
The closest any of us got to the gym was passing it either on the way to work or school. Only LilSis engages in regular exercise playing ice hockey twice a week. BigSis’s exercise is walking to Whole Foods to get her daily $1 bagel lunch.
Mum…..
Went into the trip blindly but happily.
Between 35 and 45 years young.
Hardly a sloth but no Olympic athlete either.
Mum's JMT backpack (when weighed at the Muir Trail Ranch) was 35lb.
And her luxury taken was a book. (Which was never opened)
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Mum had walked/hiked but had NEVER camped out for more than 4 days (we once camped on the Queen's estate at Sandringham)
But Mum had never camped/hiked in the BackCountry...
Dad…..
Embarked on this trip with as much knowledge as one can glean from Google.
Between 35 and 45 years young.
Beset by middle age and radio frequency treatment on his lower back.
His JMT backpack (when weighed at the Muir Trail Ranch) was 60lb.
His luxury taken was his camera.
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His constant burden was feeling completely responsible for the family. Of course this affects every parent in their lives, but being like a fish out of water on the JMT increased this feeling. Dad didn't really relax the whole hike.
His bedfellows at night were his hatchet and bear spray !!!
BigSis…..
Became enamored with the idea of the JMT after some prodding and investigating.
Between 14 and 20 years old.
Her longest previous walk/hike was 13 miles..... without a backpack
BigSis's JMT backpack (when weighed at the Muir Trail Ranch) was 36lb.
Her luxury taken was a private journal, which has stayed private.
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Being separated from her phone and social media excited her weirdly enough, but it was an ominous sign that she vomited with car sickness at the exact moment we saw Mount Whitney..
LilSis…..
She was in 3rd Grade at Elementary School.
And like all children of her age, has boundless energy and an inquiring mind that is forever pushing boundaries.
And her longest walk (when not in a stroller) was also 13 miles.
Her JMT backpack was zero..... She carried a whistle.
LilSis's luxury item was Snowy, her plush doll who never quite kept her snowy coat during or since the JMT.
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Only once did LilSis moan during the entire trip, and that was when we left the JMT early. We were to miss our final food supply and therefore the packed candy. (We coincidentally met the pack train on our early exit and she enjoyed the world's most expensive bag of Sour Patch)
