Plan: Fly out July 16 to SFO. Meet Maria (my sweet friend from another life, and fellow mother, living in San Francisco). Drive up to Yosemite July 17. Pick up permits and hike the JMT.
The full hike is 220 miles. The first half has a campsite or opportunities to refuel about every 4-5 days' walking distance. The second half does not. I have asked at least 4 people/ couples to consider meeting us along the second half of the trail for food drops and maybe even clothing to switch out. The food is a big deal; the sustenance, the weight. The clothes would be a luxury. Most appealing about this idea is the support; the guys will have people cheering them on along the way, and friends will serve as check points. If we meet up, our friends will become a part of the boys' memory of this trip. It's just an idea, but would be lovely.
I imagine (and am almost 100% willing to bet) that after 3 days of hiking, the hike will become our new reality. My guys assimilate quickly, and I am excited to watch this happen. Not to say that complaining, crying, bickering and headaches won't follow us into reality. That would be a dream. Nonetheless, I am pretty sure that our daily routine will just become what we do, how we live, who we are. This is where it will be easiest to draw the direct comparison to our life in Cambridge: life is all makeshift, all the time, no matter where we live. Kindness, thoughtfulness and enthusiasm, still remain and drive us to learn, to watch, to emulate, to lead. I am planning to end in the Sequoias, at the foot of Mt. Whitney (shaving 20 - 25 mi off), but if we are all game to climb the mountain, we will certainly try. I thought after so many weeks of amazing sights, the giant trees would be enough to make them cry, and be a great ending. There we will be met by either dear smiles, or a hostel bed and rented car. After a sleep, I will drive our brave bodies to the beach.
I am allowing 6 weeks, but expect it will take 5 (an average hiker, an adult hiker will finish in 3.5 - 4 weeks). The last week is extra time, and can allow us a leisurely walk, or can be spent at the end, floating at the beach.