pshaw_raven | Good Ruck, Buddy

For the past few years I've tried to get myself together enough to do one of the Varusteleka Remote Military Marches that they have every spring. As a civilian, I'm allowed to wear whatever I like, but I would need to go a particular distance and carry a minimum 10 kilo pack. The pack's been the biggest problem, which I solved yesterday by purchasing a plate carrier.

I have some backpacks, but the weight always slides to the bottom and winds up bumping against my lower spine as I walk. It also shifts the way that the shoulder straps fit and they start digging badly into my traps. Ow. Ow ow ow. I bought a weight vest at one point, but the way it fit didn't allow me to breathe properly, and it held heat, a no-go in warmer weather. The plate carrier will allow me to have the weight "high and tight," against my upper back with the weight distributed across my shoulders and a sternum strap. At some point I may buy a 30-lb plate for it, but for now I can carry 20.

I'm just really excited by this because I've been looking at buying some sort of purpose built rucking gear for a long time and I finally did it. Now I can start doing the thing. Once the pack gets here I can start off by taking four and five mile walks and then build up. Will I be ready for a 50k ruck at the end of April? I don't know, but I know I can go 50k in one day without a pack. I'm even thinking of making it so that failure isn't an option. I'd have Fox drop me off at a trailhead south of Palatka and I would need to make my way home.

But that's getting ahead of myself by a lot. First, the package needs to be delivered.