It is getting closer and closer to my departure for the Arizona Trail and the prehike jitters are upon me ๐
I am leaving for Arizona on March 20th, so still a few days left ๐
Normal reason is of course my excitement for the adventure that awaits me, but the main reason is of a more serious matter.
Resupply, and all the travel, documents etc. I feel confident that I got under control (probably don’t though, but at least I think that do – so I am not thinking too much about that anymore)
And yesterday I met with another danish guy, Marcus, who is also hiking the Arizona Trail this year – he’s leaving next Saturday so he can pave the way for my when I arrive ๐
Anyways, he and I exchanged ideas, talked about resupply and all the other insanely interesting things you can talk about when two people meet who have the same interests ๐ and came to the conclusion that we got this! We got this locked down tight ๐
A little story – the real reason for my prehike jitters
But here is a little story about why I really have the prehike jitters. Strap in and let me take you back to the amazing year of 2018.
In 2018 when I did my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest trail I left the US via the trail as a lot of people do. I went to Vancouver, Canada and flew home from there.
The “problem” is that I didn’t get a stamp in my passport when I went into Canada via the trail (there are no one to do that, so that’s not unusual) and when I flew home I didn’t think about getting a stamp in the airport either. So basically I have no proof that I left the US within the allowed 6 months that I can stay at a time.
And this is why the main reason for my pre-hike jitters! When I get to the airport in the US, I will probably, maybe have to prove that I did leave USA. So I have collected all the “evidence” I can think of (plane ticket receipt, receipt from the hostel I stayed at in Vancouver and pay checks)
Now all I can hope for is that the person in the security check is in a good mood because as I understand it is up to that person to decide if my papers are evidence enough. Hopefully it will not be a problem at all, and I am actually confident that I won’t, BUT anything can happen ๐
If I get denied access to the US I will just go back to work until I have to go to Scotland to hike the TGO.
So that’s my reason for the Prehike Jitters ๐ seems reasonable right?
Crossing fingers!
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Hi Boss! I totally feel you! The missing stamp from the US / Canadian migration officer is the reason why Iยดm worried to fly to the US again. Iยดd better not mention how much trouble they did to me in San Francisco Airport when I was on my way to San Diego to start the PCT thru-hike last year. And I had my viza, my travel plans etc all figured out. That immigration lady was simply not able to believe that someone would be willing to spend 5 months living in a tarp eating ramen …. Anyways, good luck and safe travels! PS: follow hiker on Guthooks request just sent! ๐
๐ I’m crossing my fingers that I meet a nice person at immigrations and just slide through. Guthook accepted ๐