[pct-l] yet another intro

[Steven.Setzer at Colorado.EDU (Steve Setzer)]

Alright I guess I'll introduce myself as well ...

I'm Steve Setzer (no trail name yet), 28 years old,  and I haven't done
any long distance hiking yet.  Several week long backpacking trips in the
Rockies and Adirondacks and one three week trek across the Himalayan
mountains in the northern india/china/pakistan region (although I had
ponies to help us carry the gear so maybe that doesn't count).

Anyway I'm a Water Resources engineer at the University of Colorado at
Boulder. I can't wait to quit my job next spring and hike the PCT.  I was
inspired to hike the PCT by an issue of Backpacker that covered the North
Cascades in WA.  Specifically, it was one photograph that did it for me -
Jim's Pass in the Pasaytan Wilderness.  So this is why I've been freakin'
about the floods up in Washington (I think the section of trail that
crosses Jim's pass was unaffected).  Anyway I've been dreaming about and
planning this trip since 1997 and I'm psyched its finally here.  Hopefully
the CA fires and WA floods don't affect the trail too much.  I was really
bummed when I heard about them (but then I felt bad because the people who
lost houses - or their lives - have much more reason to be bummed than I).

Biggest fears ... losing to much weight (I'm already skinny and have a
crazy metabolism) and - don't laugh - bears.  I know, I know, chances are
almost nil but just this summer a bear in Rocky Mountain National Park
went nuts, busted into someone's tent in the middle of the night and
chomped on his head.  That's probably the shittiest way to get woken up.

Alright, I'll quit rambling. See ya'll on the trail next May!
Steve