Thoughts on Next Summer

For many reasons, the summer of 2010 was full of many small, checklist-type achievements and demoralizing failed attempts at many adventures. For example, I drove or rode 8000+ miles with one friend and over 2300 miles sightseeing with my mom when she came up. But, I've had countless plan-changing or scrapping times that really made me lose my spirit. Fortunately, both of these types of experiences offered bountiful learning opportunities and changed my personal techniques and opinions.

I may not have slept comfortably, but I did sleep.
I may not have done many bush-trips, but I did a lot of road-trips.
I may not have done every trip on the list, but I did a list of trips.
I may not have done many multi-day trips, but I did multiple day trips.
I may not have executed each trip to plan, but I did get home safely & uninjured.
I may not have known everything before the trip, but I did learn what I needed to.
I may not have gone everywhere I wanted to, but I did go to a lot of places I've never been.
I may not have done an epic wilderness bike trip, but I did 100 miles in 29 hours and learned the tricks of winter biking.
I may not have spent a lot of time in my sleeping bag, but I did spend a lot of time with my dogs, friends, and girlfriend.
I learned, I taught, I lived.

Of course, it's nearing Winter Solstice, so yeah, I'm thinking about next summer and looking at maps with hiking eyes. For two years now, I've had my eye on the Arctic 1000. I don't have an interest in walking the entire route (600 miles) from Point Hope (or Kivalina, like they did) to the Haul Road, but the section from the Utukok River to Anaktuvuk Pass has got to be one of the most spectacular hikes in all of Alaska, competing with traverses of the eastern Brooks, Alaska, and St. Elias Ranges.
My job ends May 9, 2011. That gives me just under a month to train and prep, with no distractions, for a June 5-21 attempt, between the snow and bugs, at 320 miles across the Brooks Range, finishing on Summer Solstice in Anaktuvuk Pass.
Time to start planning, training, and as implied above, learning.
We'll see what I can pull off...