Erin jumping for joy on a cliff
Since Erin and I will be doing the PCT together, I thought it would be fun to introduce her on the blog. She’ll be doing some guest posting, too. She and I are very different (read: she is organized, a good planner, and an excellent athlete), so I think her writing will be a nice contrast, and I look forward to seeing what she comes up with.
Without further ado, I present:
15 Questions with Erin Saver
1. What is your name, age, and occupation?
My name is Erin Saver. I am 31yrs old and a substitute teacher.
2. Hometown?
I was born & raised in Carbondale, IL. In my heart, I’m a Southern Illinoisian.
3. When did you start hiking?
After college (about 10yrs ago) my sister and I would visit one of our friends that lived along the AT and go backpacking. This is my shout out to Zane who HAS to join us for a leg of the PCT. Ever since then, I had the life goal of attempting to thru hike the AT. I just thought it would happen after I retired!
4. What is your favorite hike?
My favorite backpack was Goat Rocks in Washington-AMAZING! My favorite hike is Eagle Creek (in the Columbia Gorge) during the fall…with a trip to Godfather’s Pizza afterward…it doesn’t get much better than that.
5. How are you going to handle being constantly around Addy for 5 months?
I’ll whip out a frisbee and tell Addy to “Go Long!” It works every time.
6. Are you an identical twin?
Yes, I am an identical twin, so there is a chance you’ll see me walking around Chicago while I’m supposed to be on the trail.
7. I hear you are a marathon runner. Is Addy going to be able to keep up with you?
The funny thing about me is that I have the energy of a marathon runner, but I am not a fast hiker. Especially on hills! Addy hikes a strong and steady pace, whereas I stop, take pics, then run and catch up. That’s my strategy. It’s that extra energy at the end of the day that might be a problem…Addy says she has no problem allowing me to set up camp and cook dinner if I need to get that energy out. She’s so thoughtful!
8. How will you handle trail food?
The good news is that I tend to eat the same four meals over and over again if I’m cooking for myself at home, so the repetitiveness won’t be a problem. The bad news is that I’m a picky eater and I’m still trying to find a way to get my spaghetti and chocolate milk on the trail.
9. What will you miss most while you are on the trail?
I know that it’s still early in our blogging relationship, but I feel that there is something the readers need to know about me…my name is Erin Saver, and I am addicted to television! There, I said it. Now deal with it. We all have our vices! I am determined to find a way to keep up with my shows on the trail.
10. What is your favorite piece of gear?
I am LOVING my new sleeping bag (Marmot helium). It’s better than any set of bedding I’ve ever owned.
11. What are three things you want to do before you die?
I get to pick three! Hmm…In no particular order. 1) Thru hike the AT 2) Get a huge flat screen TV with an awesome speaker system 3) Lately, I’ve been thinking it would be great to go on a road trip in the US with my dad and see a major league baseball game in every major league stadium, all in one season. That would be AWESOME!
12. Tell us about a happy childhood memory.
I loved growing up in a town small enough to ride my bike everywhere. My twin sister and I would just ride all over the place and actually try to get lost.
13. What is going to be the biggest challenge for you on the trail?
I’ve really thought a lot about this one and I honestly think it’s a tie between two things. 1) Not being able to watch my television shows. I know, sad, but true. 2) Dealing with how bad everyone (including me) will smell. Addy and I have already had a talk about how she smells in town. I am pretty sensitive to smell and body odor has always been a particular one for me that can make me lose my appetite. I better get over that one quickly! I’m just hoping I develop a cold really early on and lose my ability to smell.
14. What is your biggest fear about doing the PCT?
I am scared to death about all those passes that run through the Central California section. I’m not a fan of dangerous snow and ice conditions and I’m just hoping for a low snow level next year. The blogs I’ve been reading from hikers this year have definitely put some fear in me!
15.Why thru hike the PCT now?
I always imagined hiking the AT, but Addy has talked me into the PCT. I’ve always known that I didn’t want to go solo and imagined it wouldn’t happen until after retirement. Many things came together to make this timing right. I moved to Portland a year ago and completely fell in love with hiking/backpacking. I lucked out in meeting Addy and finding someone I’m compatible with on the trail. With my current job status as a substitute teacher, I can easily take the time and return to my job. I also knew that this was the right choice because every time I imagined not doing it, I was unhappy.
