[pct-l] PCT-Fundraiser/Questions

[jason povey]

Hello PCT world!  This is the first time I have posted on the PCT mailing list and am excited to be a part of such an amazing community.  Very bried history before I get into what I am really here to post about.  I was raised in Utah hiking mostly the deserts of southern Utah and occasionally the northern mountain ranges, its been a passion of mine since I could walk.  Moved out from UT at 18 to play college football which resulted in complete destruction of my body (more to come in a minute).  After undergrad I went to law school in San Diego and upon graduation took the Everett Ruess/HDT/Ed Abbey rout and turned down several jobs to go live in my tent in the Moab desert to mnt bike all day and bartend at night, wonderful experience.  
 
After my first season in Moab I flew myself and my bike down to Panama and road up the Pan American Highway, with some detours, through Costa Rica and finally Nicaragua where I flew out of.  Happened to meet a guy, who is now a great friend, in Costa Rica that turned me on to teaching English in S. Korea, so I took him up on it and left for S Korea three weeks after getting home from C. America.  Did some really cook hiking in the southern part of the peninsula and on some islands.  Upon my return I moved back to Moab and decided to start studying for the New Mexico Bar.  Passed a few years ago and have been practicing law ever since, well until last June.  I was living in the four corners area and for a person who likes to throw on a pack and get lost, that is the place to do it.  
 
Anyway, I was traveling a bit too fast on dirt roads on my way to camp and fish the San Juan for the weekend when I rolled my SUV four times last June.  Luckily my dog was not hurt and my injuries seemed to be minor.  I had dislocated my left shoulder but after four reconstructions on that dang thing I am pretty good at putting it back in, I also suffered a mild concussion and some lower back discomfort.  Over the years I had suffered several concussions from playing football, one every year in college and a few earlier than that.  I suffered probably just as many on my mountain bike since I was really into downhill and freeride.  This concussion triggered all those past ones and the symptoms went crazy.  I tried to go back to work but my case load was strictly serious felonies and so I had to inform my boss that I was forgetting not only conversations but entire days at that point.  After seeing some specialist in the area I was sent up here to
 get brain rehabilitation treatment, that was nearly a year ago and needless to say my days of legal practice are over.  However, with all the publicity in the news about athletics and their impact on the brain I decided I wanted to contribute in some way to the cause.  My youngest brother is currently playing D1 football and many of my old teammates, especially those that played in the NFL are suffering from similar symptoms.  So when I was asked in treatment to volunteer my time to a worthy cause I came up with  a non profit I just started called Head Strong.  Our mission is to raise money to fund science, make the public more aware of the dangers, educate parents and young athletes and finally start a trust that could assist those who do not have the money for treatment (its ridiculously expensive).  
 
How does this connect to the PCT?  Well, the back injury was two herniated discs and one bulging that impinges on my sciatic nerve, just finished my steroid treatments and am in physical therapy.  The Dr's dont know yet, well not a few on them, but I am going to hike the PCT across the state of Oregon this summer as a fundraiser for the non profit.  I am not here to solicit money but to get some advice on the trail since most of my backpacking has been in the desert.  My girlfriend and I plan on leaving around July 20th and have no real set time to be back but would like to keep it right around 40 days.  In the past I have had no problem hiking 20 to 30 miles a day but with my 35 year old body feeling 80 I dont see that happening.  We are planning on going south to north and I was told its a little easier access just over the border in California.  Luckily I have been a constant on steap and cheap for the last few years so I have more than enough
 gear and am just starting to stock pile dehydrated dinners.  I believe the hike is around 500 miles and would be very interested in hearing some advice from some of you that have hiked that section.  Thanks for reading, if you still are and I look forward to being a part of such a great community.  Jason