One step at a time

Andrew Glazer

* EDITOR’S NOTE: The Daily Pilot is tracking the progress of Costa

Mesa resident Tony DiLorenzo, who is hiking 2,600 miles up the Pacific

Crest Trail to raise money and awareness about his little brother’s rare

and potentially fatal blood disease, thalassemia. Here is an update, as

told to reporter Andrew Glazer. Readers can also follow DiLorenzo’s

progress on his Web site at o7 https://www.7000000steps.homepage.comf7 .

DAY 39

Truckee, Calif. -- 1,150 miles

Tony DiLorenzo called from a cabin called Pooh’s Corner in the

Sierra-Nevada mountains, just off the Pacific Crest Trail. The cabin is

owned by a “trail angel” -- a fellow hiker who feeds travelers and allows

them to sleep and shower at his home.

It’s DiLorenzo’s last night with his wife, Alisa, who drove up from

Costa Mesa to hike with him for a week.

Right when Alisa got here, I had this wacky injury in my leg. Like a

stiff neck. It came out of nowhere. I had just crossed a river and it

came out of the blue. It was pretty darn painful. And caused a lot of

mental distress. I had just finished 20 days without stopping and making

great progress, 25 miles a day. I was thinking, “What the heck. Is this

going to take me off the trail? Do I need to see a doctor?”

The wind is biting cold up here. Just bone-chilling. But there are

beautiful areas. We’re hiking on crest lines and as a hiker, this is what

you live for, with great views. The thunder and lightening some nights is

so spectacular. It’s amazing what Mother Nature can show you.

But with the cold, you’re just trying to get through as fast as you

can. Even at lunches, you try to shelter yourself.

Yesterday was the first day my leg didn’t bother me at all. It was

hard to keep my mind where it should be. I had to just keep on going. The

halfway point is a major goal and I’m almost there. Another goal will be

crossing the Sierra-Nevada range.

The goals are going down. My goals are now as small as making it to

breakfast. That’s about as far as I can look. It’s a mental game out

here. Physically, I usually feel great.

Mosquitoes are a motivator beyond belief. I can’t use [bug repellent]

anymore. I had problems. Nausea, funky feelings in my stomach. It’s a

poison.

Every town I stop in, I have to get my burger and fries. The big

question is “How fast can we get to the next town? 40 miles? We can do

that in a day and a morning.”

I’m definitely going to miss Alisa. Seeing her again will be another

motivating factor. Five more miles each day will push that come-home date

that much earlier.

We’re averaging around 22 miles a day. I think we’re going to start

doing 25. And maybe one or two days a week, I’ll try to push 30.