My PCT Journey
Donation protected
The Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650 mile long journey of self discovery, personal growth, and demon slaying.
My Why-
My name is Jason Schaeffer. I am a 43 year old Artist living in Wichita, Kansas. For the last several years I have battled poor health, self-doubt, depression, and a general lack of direction.
On June 6th, 2015 I had a near death experience. Forty years of Ashtma combined with 20 years of smoking and poor diet finally caught up with me. For 90 minutes I had the worst Ashtma attack of my life. One that required two shots of Epinepherine from Paramedics. They spent an hour in my basement working on me before finally taking me to the Ambulance and on to the Hospital. I gave up smoking that day and haven't looked back, but there were multiple other changes that I needed to make in my life.
That was the catalyst to a complete overhaul and evaluation of my life. Where was I at? Where was I going? Was I happy with any of it? The answers put me in a tailspin of depression and axiety that lasted for several months. I'd have moments, days, even a couple of weeks, where I felt fine, I knew what I needed to do, and I'd start to feel optimistic. But each plan I came to crumbled quickly. I was completely lost, no light at the end of the story. I have never been suicidal. I am terrified of death. But I am equally terrified of life. I knew that I needed something. I needed to do something big. Something that would force me to change to have even the slightest chance to complete it. Mostly I am tired of the life my bad choices have created. By the end of the year my weight had balloned to 315 pounds.
At the beginning of the 2016 I finally watched "Wild" start to finish. I was inspired! Cheryl Strayed had extensive troubles of her own. And while her challenges were different, she wanted something, and she went in search of it. A light at the end of the tunnel. She succeeded, she overcame her demons. That's what I want for myself.
My commitment is to walk every mile of the PCT, beginning to end. To force myself, daily, to keep fighting, to overcome the self-doubt, the negative thoughts, and the self-destruction. To realize once and for all that I can do things, I don't always have to fail. That I can be a success in this world and contribute something meaningful. That I am not alone in my suffering, and that I can overcome it!
My Preperation-
1) I need to lose a lot of weight. I'm currently 283.7 pounds. I need to get down to at least 200, preferrably 185. But if my departure date gets here and I'm only 250 then so be it, because I am getting on the bus!
2) I need to do some serious cardiovascular training. Ashtma, COPD, and elevation don't generally go well together. Losing weight will obviously help with this.
3) I have body parts that need mending. Most notably for obvious reasons, my feet, my knees, and my back. I have arthritic joints in both feet, the same joint in both feet. The left food isn't too bad, generally about a 2 on the pain scale, max of a 4. But my right foot is very bad. Good days are a 6, most days about 8 or 9. Podiatrist gave me some metal inserts to prevent my toes from moving, but they are incredibly uncomfortable. Only option left is a joint replacement. Still waiting to talk to someone about my knees.
4) I need to learn how to live outdoors. I haven't been camping since I was a kid. I've never made a campfire much less a meal. Thankfully California burn bans will probably help with the first problem, but I will probably need the skill to survive a winter storm in the Northern Cascades. I've never pitched a tent, or selected the best location for one. I've never had to scrounge for water. These are all things, plus a slew of other things that I have to learn. And while it can get hot in Kansas, and it may seem to be at times, we aren't actually a desert.
5) Mental preperation. My biggest problem is going to be my brain and its defeatism. I am seeing a Therapist, but its going to be a long road. I've ignored my problems and let them build up for nearly 44 years. I'll probably have to do meetings by phone while I am on the trail.
6) My hike will begin, April 4th, 2017, the morning of my 45th birthday. Come hell or high water I will be there, and I am going to finish it.
What your donation helps me with-
First let me say that if you only have $20 and you see a kid on here that needs a heart, or kidney, or some other life saving treatment, please give it to them. This request is hard enough for me without adding at that to the mix. I need to be able to sleep at night.
Now as for your donation, it helps me with literally everything. I know my requested amount is huge. I am quite literally shocked by it. And I do not expect to raise the entire amount through donations alone. In fact I would rather sell you one of my Fine Art Prints than receive a donation. But I know that I won't be able to get to that amount with Art sales alone, nor will I get there with a full-time job. Rather its going to take all three to get me on the trail and keep me there. Gear is exceedingly expensive, and I need everything. Food for 6 months is another huge expense. Clothing for every type of weather contingency. And last but certainly not least, I still have bills to pay while I am hiking and not working for 6 months. No, I am going to need a lot of help. Something that is difficult for me to ask for. Especially from strangers, but I am asking for it.
Updates-
I am starting a video blog on Youtube and you can follow along as I prepare myself, here . You can find my channel here. You can also discover more about me by finding and following me on Facebook here and/or through my website Shafer Fine Art.
Once I am on the trail I will of course be uploading videos and photos. Post trail I hope to be able to start an exhibit. Traveling with my Art, talking about, and showing my experiences on the trail.
The Carrot-
For each person that donates up to or more than $500, I will send you weekly postcards from the trail. In addition I will send you the 13x19 print of your choice from my website. Each of these prints are matted to 18x24, are limited edition, and personally signed. They also come with Certificates of Authencity and a small history or back story of the location.
Hopefully this will not be the last time I say this;
THANK YOU!!!
My Why-
My name is Jason Schaeffer. I am a 43 year old Artist living in Wichita, Kansas. For the last several years I have battled poor health, self-doubt, depression, and a general lack of direction.
On June 6th, 2015 I had a near death experience. Forty years of Ashtma combined with 20 years of smoking and poor diet finally caught up with me. For 90 minutes I had the worst Ashtma attack of my life. One that required two shots of Epinepherine from Paramedics. They spent an hour in my basement working on me before finally taking me to the Ambulance and on to the Hospital. I gave up smoking that day and haven't looked back, but there were multiple other changes that I needed to make in my life.
That was the catalyst to a complete overhaul and evaluation of my life. Where was I at? Where was I going? Was I happy with any of it? The answers put me in a tailspin of depression and axiety that lasted for several months. I'd have moments, days, even a couple of weeks, where I felt fine, I knew what I needed to do, and I'd start to feel optimistic. But each plan I came to crumbled quickly. I was completely lost, no light at the end of the story. I have never been suicidal. I am terrified of death. But I am equally terrified of life. I knew that I needed something. I needed to do something big. Something that would force me to change to have even the slightest chance to complete it. Mostly I am tired of the life my bad choices have created. By the end of the year my weight had balloned to 315 pounds.
At the beginning of the 2016 I finally watched "Wild" start to finish. I was inspired! Cheryl Strayed had extensive troubles of her own. And while her challenges were different, she wanted something, and she went in search of it. A light at the end of the tunnel. She succeeded, she overcame her demons. That's what I want for myself.
My commitment is to walk every mile of the PCT, beginning to end. To force myself, daily, to keep fighting, to overcome the self-doubt, the negative thoughts, and the self-destruction. To realize once and for all that I can do things, I don't always have to fail. That I can be a success in this world and contribute something meaningful. That I am not alone in my suffering, and that I can overcome it!
My Preperation-
1) I need to lose a lot of weight. I'm currently 283.7 pounds. I need to get down to at least 200, preferrably 185. But if my departure date gets here and I'm only 250 then so be it, because I am getting on the bus!
2) I need to do some serious cardiovascular training. Ashtma, COPD, and elevation don't generally go well together. Losing weight will obviously help with this.
3) I have body parts that need mending. Most notably for obvious reasons, my feet, my knees, and my back. I have arthritic joints in both feet, the same joint in both feet. The left food isn't too bad, generally about a 2 on the pain scale, max of a 4. But my right foot is very bad. Good days are a 6, most days about 8 or 9. Podiatrist gave me some metal inserts to prevent my toes from moving, but they are incredibly uncomfortable. Only option left is a joint replacement. Still waiting to talk to someone about my knees.
4) I need to learn how to live outdoors. I haven't been camping since I was a kid. I've never made a campfire much less a meal. Thankfully California burn bans will probably help with the first problem, but I will probably need the skill to survive a winter storm in the Northern Cascades. I've never pitched a tent, or selected the best location for one. I've never had to scrounge for water. These are all things, plus a slew of other things that I have to learn. And while it can get hot in Kansas, and it may seem to be at times, we aren't actually a desert.
5) Mental preperation. My biggest problem is going to be my brain and its defeatism. I am seeing a Therapist, but its going to be a long road. I've ignored my problems and let them build up for nearly 44 years. I'll probably have to do meetings by phone while I am on the trail.
6) My hike will begin, April 4th, 2017, the morning of my 45th birthday. Come hell or high water I will be there, and I am going to finish it.
What your donation helps me with-
First let me say that if you only have $20 and you see a kid on here that needs a heart, or kidney, or some other life saving treatment, please give it to them. This request is hard enough for me without adding at that to the mix. I need to be able to sleep at night.
Now as for your donation, it helps me with literally everything. I know my requested amount is huge. I am quite literally shocked by it. And I do not expect to raise the entire amount through donations alone. In fact I would rather sell you one of my Fine Art Prints than receive a donation. But I know that I won't be able to get to that amount with Art sales alone, nor will I get there with a full-time job. Rather its going to take all three to get me on the trail and keep me there. Gear is exceedingly expensive, and I need everything. Food for 6 months is another huge expense. Clothing for every type of weather contingency. And last but certainly not least, I still have bills to pay while I am hiking and not working for 6 months. No, I am going to need a lot of help. Something that is difficult for me to ask for. Especially from strangers, but I am asking for it.
Updates-
I am starting a video blog on Youtube and you can follow along as I prepare myself, here . You can find my channel here. You can also discover more about me by finding and following me on Facebook here and/or through my website Shafer Fine Art.
Once I am on the trail I will of course be uploading videos and photos. Post trail I hope to be able to start an exhibit. Traveling with my Art, talking about, and showing my experiences on the trail.
The Carrot-
For each person that donates up to or more than $500, I will send you weekly postcards from the trail. In addition I will send you the 13x19 print of your choice from my website. Each of these prints are matted to 18x24, are limited edition, and personally signed. They also come with Certificates of Authencity and a small history or back story of the location.
Hopefully this will not be the last time I say this;
THANK YOU!!!
Organizer
Jason Schaeffer
Organizer
Wichita, KS
