morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2017-09-08
From: US Route 7

To: Glen Brook Shelter
Miles today: 7.9
Weather: light rain

Another yellow jacket sting. #11, specifically. Got me on the hand this time - silently and out of nowhere.. as if it decided "hey I'm going to be a bitch for no reason!" and chased me down because I was nearby. I raged for a moment but was otherwise grateful to not be caught up in yet another swarm. First time to hike solo in awhile. It felt both kinda lonely and kinda relieving. As a blatant introvert, I necessitate alone time to reach the best version of me. But it has come to my surprise how much I've also enjoyed being around others out here. That whole *people needing other people thing* is ultimately really true. It's too easy to slip into mental isolation darkness otherwise. Listened to BC's Parade Of Lights suggestion and it helped me fly through the last couple of miles for today. Music is a safe space.The Glen Brook campsite is fantastic. Seriously Marriott worthy. Water source close by, bear box, pine needle carpeted tent spots, picnic table... lux life, man. Hoping I can start making those big miles everyone promised me two states ago..... Still have the sniffles & popped 2 NyQuil at 18:00. Hoping to sleep more warmly tonight. Rest is everything - moreso than the work or the miles themselves. Pretty sparse, human-encounter-wise on the trail. Met lightning speed Aiden from England & Dave from CT & two women day hikers. Going to try sleeping in my puffy and also two pairs of socks. Maybe three. Goodnight. Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-09
From: Glen Brook Shelter

To: Limestone Spring Shelter
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: clear sky

Woke at 6:00 with a soft, yet brilliant sunrise slipping through the coarse tree branches. Had to pee too bad to stop and stare though. Chilly & windy morning let's goooooo! Stepped over into Connecticut about 6 miles in. Rad. I was worried about the final 2 Mass ascents: Mt Everett & Bear Mountain. I flew over both with relative ease and took my time at the viewpoints. Sat on the biggest cairn pile ever (atop Bear Mtn) and chatted with some kind dayhikers, Meg & Dave, as well as crossed paths with about 43 others on the way down. Popular place, this section. And it came as no surprise since 1.) it's Saturday, 2.) phenomenal weather, and 3.) absolutely gorgeous trail! I would have liked to "glamp" at the Sages Ravine campsite inbetween Mt Race & Bear Mtn. Such a beautiful, fairy-land area filled with ALL the pine needle flooring. Not to mention the cascading brook water source.. hot damn..I ended up nestling in 0.5 mi off trail at Limestone Spring Shelter, which itself is also quite the beauty - mainly for the vast expanse of open forest space for tenting, a clean, well-lit privy, and a PIPED spring for the water source.. always well-welcomed luxuries.. All of my recent satan, ahem, yellow jacket stings are itching like crazy - I'm out here begging the earth for some sort of miracle in which I receive no more of these. Slight issue with my resupply box in upcoming Falls Village... sent to post office and tomorrow is Sunday and I don't want to zero/nero there... trying to consistently make big miles while I have this full week of nice weather. Would like to be well into NY by Friday. Knocking out states like an actual hiker woman, y'all!! Shoutout to my mom for being my resupply box extraordinaire and savior. Love deem so much! Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-10
From: Limestone Spring Shelter

To: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter
Miles today: 21.4
Weather: few clouds

22.1 miles with the two different blue blaze trails I took! Which, by the way, I think should count for something.. even if it's just in your own personal list of victories. Count that shit! It's all part of the Whole Thing. We are that much stronger now despite the absence of a damn white blaze. Anyways. A mileage PR regardless. Though really beautiful, CT is kind of a low key bitch. Do not underestimate it. I'm learning that, like CrossFit, the trail never gets easier, it just becomes different versions of *challenging* while simultaneously hikers gain different versions of strength. Personally, my mental game has been forced, not to improve per se, but to adjust to certain realities being kinda shitty and accepting that powering through will get me to a place i want to be.. One foot in front of the other - it truly works. Unless your goal is to NOT have sore quads & glutes by the end of the day.. whew.. Today was rough because it was 15 straight miles of tripping downwards & then immediately wheezing back up.. over & over & over.... & over.... Got me wondering if I should have packed out my inhaler.. The final .5 mile incline got a solid 10 seconds of sobbing out of me.. then nostalgic AFI came thru my headphones and I pulled my shit together to dominate the last 3 miles. Even ran a tiny bit. Manny complains when I run..Push me to the edge, both my feet are dead...A mere 3.5 hours of sleep last night due to the incessant itchiness of my healing hornet stings. Less day hikers in this section. I think I came across just a few more than half a dozen. I didn't see ANY other thru hikers and there is not one other soul at the shelter tonight... AM I THE LAST ONE?!!!? Nah, according to the log books I'm right on the tails of Mumbles & Big Boss, Rip, and Camel. Unsure if I can keep up this pace and remain sane though. Got some weird side-eye looks today - must have been the twitch in my sleep deprived eyes or my penguin-like waddle due to some mild chaffing. Sigh. Cartel's "If I Fail" has been my anthem lately. Side note: I know there is no "failure" out here. Honestly, it seems to me that there is never truly any failure anywhere because we are all always doing the best with what we've learned so far in this life. Even with the corporate company (most recent job) that did me wrong? You know what? Fuck you, but I forgive you. Town tomorrow yayayayay....Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-11
From: Stewart Hollow Brook Shelter

To: Kent, CT
Miles today: 7.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Euphoric day. I climbed up a half mile rock scramble and actually really loved it. Could have also been kinda giddy about arriving in town, but still. Stayed at Fife N Drum Motel, did laundry, resupplied, drank some Dogfish 90, slept really well, showered, etc. Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-12
From: Kent, CT

To: Telephone Pioneers Shelter
Miles today: 21.5
Weather: few clouds

Realized I had crossed over into New York at some point today and that ruled. Not sorry to leave CT. Loving the well-maintained trail currently. I'm able to treat a lot of the inclines like muscle endurance workouts. CrossFit trained my mind VERY well for those. Super strong mental game lately... makes me feel like I'm legit going crazy though.. today's hike started out with a sweaty straight up ascent and I.. loved it. In fact, I enjoyed all of the hills today except the final .6 stretch to the shelter. By that point, I was over it.. but that's usually the case. A good two miles of wide open cow pastures today - those are always invigorating because it's a change from the green tunnel and I feel like I'm in a movie montage with a cool soundtrack. Sleeping in the shelter tonight because the tenting area is slanted to the max. Paranoid about bugs/mice running over my face during the night though.Bagels + almond butter = the shit, btw. Awesome mid-day fuel for big miles. I felt invincible.Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-13
From: Telephone Pioneers Shelter

To: Shenandoah Tenting Area
Miles today: 18.1
Weather: overcast clouds

Had my heart set on hitting another 20 mile day, but my feet just couldn't take it. My trail runners have been fantastic all week, but today they lashed out by annihilating both of my heels. Very painful. Not thrilled about it. I was kinda thrilled, however, to run into a familiar SOBO face today: Rip Van Winkle! He told me about a recent night when he felt mice running along his sleeping bag - eesh! One of many reasons I prefer my Taj Mahal tent... though I slept surprisingly well last night in a shelter. Woke with the sunrise starting to peek up over my feet. NY seems to be getting more rocky... and the water tastes like blood... warm weather though! Thinking I'm about ready for a town zero day. Fort Montgomery, I'm looking at you... Only killed one gnat with my eyeball today. A record low. Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-14
From: Shenandoah Tenting Area

To: Canopus Hill Road
Miles today: 13.2
Weather: light rain

Some quick hair FAQ: Q: Did you do your hair like that just for the trail?? A: Nope. Kinda been a thing for about 7 years now! Q: What's going to happen to it? Will it last the whole time??A: Unsure. It may just abruptly explode. Or simply fade out. Either way. Q: How long does it take to get your hair like that?!A: If by "that", you mean colored, it's about a 2.5 hour appointment every six weeks or so. Q: Is it expensive?!A: it's a 2.5 hour appointment - I'll let you guess! :) Q: How do you get it that bright?!A: Heather, my hair magician back in Oklahoma, uses a neon pigmented dye for my yellow. I also infrequently wash it, but when I do finally wash my hair after 3-4 days, I use cold water. And I wear a hat to limit sun exposure on the trail. Nothing super noteworthy today... well, aside from discovering a potable water spigot on the side of a stone hut at Dennytown Road. It is meant for hiker usage, which rules. Water in NY has been way more sparse than any other state thus far. There's also a red trail info booth there with a covered bench - great spot to wait out the rain. Though not gonna lie, I came real close to texting Uber to come take me to Ft. Montgomery already. I resisted since my weather app said it'd be over soon. And it was. Stealth camping tonight because NY kinda sucks with shelter spacing. It's like you can either go 9 miles or 41 miles to the next one. I'm not into it. Only heel blistering on my left one today! Woohoo! Got into a gagging fit when I saw the biggest fucking slug ever this afternoon - just minutes after pep talking to self, "you know, you should start saying things are beautiful instead of disgusting" (regarding the less attractive parts of nature: millipedes, fungi, slugs, etc). Seriously, that thing was the size of one of those obnoxiously giant Sharpies. Again, not into it. I am into all these leaves bursting with more and more new colors though. It's like one last gift from the trees. Thank you. Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-15
From: Canopus Hill Road

To: Appalachian Trail Market & Deli
Miles today: 5.0
Weather: overcast clouds

Finally sitting up after laying in my tent for 16-17 hours straight. It's been a good week for mileage, weather, trail difficulty, etc. But I feel... tired. I woke up this morning feeling completely drained and overwhelmingly nostalgic for my CrossFit life back in Oklahoma. CF turned into a significant passion of mine every day for the past 3.5 years, yet somehow I thought I'd be okay to just up and quit overnight. At this point in my hike, I almost feel a sense of shame for missing CF to the extent I do... because Nature is magic, right?! I'm supposed to come out here and be engulfed by the beauty of trees and flowers, realize the error of my previous materialistic life, make all these statements about how corrupt everything is outside of Nature, destroy my social security card & forever refer to myself as Rainbow Evergreen & take on a full time woo-woo personality, talk about the profoundness of Walt Whitman nonstop, shave off my hair & develop a distaste for makeup or anything otherwise "unnatural".....I don't know, man. I hate constantly being filthy and I hate the way hundreds (literally hundreds) of silk worm strings clothesline my face and chest every morning and my feet continuously ache and I'm always craving inaccessible food and all the upper body strength I worked relentless to develop has deteriorated and my body is adjusting its shape and most days I just feel beaten down instead of built up. But the thing is.. I want to fucking love it out here so bad. Everyone says I'm so lucky to be doing it and I feel that - I'm grateful for the freedom & for my health & for all the support! Absolutely. So, I'll keep going. Today may just be a low day when venting was needed. Thank you for reading my scrawlings. ------Pressure from my Altra felt like a razor blade against the raw skin on my left heel... so I hobbled five miles in my camp shoes + socks to the AT Market/Deli/Shell Station and got an Uber. Time to heal the heels.......Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-19
From: Fingerboard Shelter

To: Lakes Road
Miles today: 12.2
Weather: few clouds

A crawl-through space called the Lemon Squeezer and quite a few tactical downward climbs.. plus overall rockiness caused for some 1mph action. Been awhile! I remember NOBOs complaining about the rocks in NY and it's finally starting to legitimize in my mind. Many sections resembling the settled remains of boulder landslides.. but the good thing about NY is the rocks DO chill out every now and then, unlike the continuously ongoing rock & root jumble nightmare that is Maine. *shivers* Heel blisters are not getting any worse - woo! Legit think I broke my ear a little bit. It's still sore from me slamming my trekking pole against it a couple weeks ago.Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-21
From: Warwick Turnpike

To: Lott Road/Unionville
Miles today: 17.4
Weather: light rain

TODAY. RULED. I have seen what the darkness does (say goodbye to who I was)...After awhile, sometimes the only direction left to go is up. That finally became my story today. Hit a version of mental rock bottom when I took an Uber into Fort Montgomery last week. Got into my motel room and just sat on the floor with my back against the wall. Hands trembling. Chest tight. Staring at nothing. It was hours before I finally picked myself up and got in the shower (normally I get on that shit first thing no matter what...). Holy darkness got a hold on me...I made a video of me breaking down about all the physical discomforts of the trail.. how I have no clue what I'm doing upon completion of the trail.. the cost of the trail.. how I miss the routine & promises of my previous life before the trail, etc. Oh, it feels like ages though you say it's only days...I look pretty wrecked in the video and I watched it again today and it's wild how much I'm not in that same mental space any more. Just one week later with much rest in my system and I loved the trail's roughness and the ease just alike. I'm glad I haven't quit on any of my worst days. After night comes day.. every damn time. Don't look back, them days are gone...There is also much to be said about people needing other people. I owe a lot to everyone who has encouraged me in any way, and especially to those who have met me in those dark spaces that feel so isolating. Over the last couple days, I've talked with several other SOBOs who have also been lingering in this frustrating mental-block regarding their progress on the trail. Mumbles, Big Boss, Zeke, Rip and I all happened to gather at the same resting spot yesterday and ended up having a straight up bitching session about it all. Terrain, timelines, expectations, fatigue, lack of motivation, sick and tired of walking, etc. Follow me into the endless night (I can bring your fears to life)...But then today we all met up at a farm general store .1 mi off trail (along with Jupiter - welcome back!), sat at a picnic table with lemonades and fruits and talked about how it's okay that we've been struggling with these things and how it truly has been a wicked amazing journey and that we are all okay with the possibility of not completing the trail because what we've been through has been magic. And we are fine with stopping often and taking it all the fuck in! Walt Whitman was right in his poem about the open road: "Nature is rude and incomprehensible at first.. Be not discouraged.. I swear to you there are divine things more beautiful than words can tell." There ain't language for the things I've seen...There are several of you who have been huge in bringing me back down to a place of remembering that this is a good thing. You know who you are, and just know also that I am so grateful. PA, we're coming for you soon!!!! Meet me in the woods tonight...Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-22
From: Lott Road/Unionville

To: Mashipacong Shelter
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: clear sky

Man. New Jersey, although humid as fuck, is really beautiful. These leaves burning out bright are their own category of art. The chipmunks must thrive during this point in the year because I've seen SO many of them lately. Each one is the perfect mood booster. Little babies, my angels. My tent was dew-soaked this morning. Lame.Picked up my re-supply box from the Unionville post office and was surprised with dark chocolate covered almonds from my sweet parents. Ate them all, post-couscous dinner, tonight.  I can take down a shit ton of food anyways, but after hiking forever.. oh god.. it's on...Observed the highest point in NJ via the Culver Fire tower - looked like a less blatant version of the Washington Monument. Dried out my tent on the observation deck and basked in the sun and consumed yet another hummus wrap - still not tired of those. Also some bonus packs of strawberry applesauce from my resupply box. Huge. Solid evening at the shelter with Roots, Jupiter, Zeke, Mumbles, & Big Boss. Solitude was good, but it feels nice to be in a bubble again. Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-23
From: Mashipacong Shelter

To: Brink Road Shelter
Miles today: 12.6
Weather: clear sky

"I ordain myself free of limits and imaginary lines... I am larger, better than I thought, I did not know I held so much goodness." -WWSomeone told me "Rocksylvania" actually begins in NJ, not PA. I think they might have told the truth. It's manageable though because there are sections of rock scrambling, but also sections of leisurely pine needle strolling.. So.. It's mostly flat anyways, making the rocky portions easy to hop across fairly quickly. I say that, but my trail runners are already getting mangled at the toes from the superabundance of discreet, low-laying rock edges and petite stumps which, I swear, pop up like whack-a-mole when I'm trying to clear them. I feel like my miles are getting faster solely due to my increase of abrupt, lurching forward motions.Dream-like weather lately. No rain on the forecast for over a week! This is good, but also means most of the water sources will continue to be dry. Grateful for all the trail magic water left at trailheads and even at some shelters. Thank you!!Stopped in at Gyp's Tavern for lunch - about 0.2 mi off trail in Branchville, NJ. Ordered a PB&J plus a Summer Shandy (or two). Rad little place.2 days out from Delaware Water Gap. I'm ready. Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-24
From: Brink Road Shelter

To: Mohican Outdoor Center
Miles today: 14.0
Weather: broken clouds

The Tallest Man On Earth wrote a song called "Time of the Blue". A dear friend told me about it and I think it means different things at different times - but lately it's relevant because the New Jersey sky... No doubt I've seen said sky at its finest with all of this amazingly clear weather.. it's a blue that swirls and invites free fall. I'd love to skydive here sometime. Now it's over. Now I'm awake.Mid-80's during the hike today, which made landing at the Mohican Outdoor Center that much more celebratory. Clean hiker bunkhouse, showers, bathrooms, snacks, a deli, outlets to charge phones... and only 0.4 mi off trail, too. I had a bomb veggie sandwich, an apple, and two Minute Maid juices (I know those are borderline pure high fructose corn syrup, but oh well). No rattlesnake encounters on Rattlesnake Mountain. Few chipmunk encounters to boot. :( Just some slight sunburn action and an exceptionally tasty hummus wrap and a shit ton of ankle rolls. DWG tomorrow! Never had time to find a bracelet in NJ though - have gotten one for every state thus far. Sad times. Guess I'll just need to get two in PA. :) "Pointing vaguely and standing well back never worked. Say something. Something strange, brilliant, and exposed." Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-25
From: Mohican Outdoor Center

To: Delaware Water Gap, PA
Miles today: 10.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Prior to flying to Maine, I spent a month or so gathering supplies for and creating boxes to send to my high maintenance vegan self. Calculator in one hand and the Awol guide + a pen in the other... It was stressful trying to figure out ETAs months in advance, especially since I've never backpacked before and had no reference for how my pace may play out. I remember addressing a box to Delaware Water Gap, PA thinking "wow... this is so far away." but today I picked it up from the post office and felt like a damn champion. Done gone and made it all the way to Pennsylvania, y'all. Starting to feel kinda proud of myself. Much anxiety has been instilled in me due to PA's alternate name of Rocksylvania... but I'm also excited for a new challenge. Not that challenges are infrequent on the AT, but still...Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-27
From: Delaware Water Gap, PA

To: Wind Gap, PA
Miles today: 16.0

Like most days, today was a lot of things. The first half was tough mentally, easy physically. Mentally, every step felt like the most tedious task I've ever had to complete. Mostly I think it was because of my dread regarding the upcoming rock-filled oblivion. And come, it surely did. About 7ish miles out from DWG, it began. Rock trail hell. Miles of every step being off-balance and me trying to keep my cool, but still low key fuming and eventually launching my trekking poles into the trees. It's only frustrating because I want to maintain a faster pace than the ongoing minefield of mini boulders allows.. And apparently it goes on this way for the next 150 miles or so... sigh. Gonna have to dig deep over the next couple weeks.Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-28
From: Wind Gap, PA

To: Little Gap Road
Miles today: 15.4
Weather: clear sky

Windy as hayell today! Original goal of 21 miles but feet checked out early. Saw a flyer for Bert's, a hostel tucked away behind a steakhouse in Palmerton, PA that offer slack packing. And is in walking distance from groceries, pharmacy, etc. Uber. Pumpkin ale. Shower. Bunk. Amen.Rainbow
Date: 2017-09-30
From: Bake Oven Knob Road

To: Eckville Shelter
Miles today: 16.4
Weather: scattered clouds

Realized one of my biggest fears is also one of my greatest dreams: allowing myself to have vulnerable and intimate relationships with other people. Was walking along a PA ridge line today and started speaking my struggles out loud. Zeke kindly listened to me go on and on about insecurities, mental isolation torment, body dysmorphia, and self-loathing. It's easy to stew about things in your own head. It's also easy for those things to quickly spiral downward with no rationality to keep it all in check. And I guess being out here makes it feel safer to expose Self because I may or may not ever see any of these humans again. Regardless, all I know is saying certain things out loud to another person allows a conversation to happen about them .. "I feel so fucking overweight""I don't understand how everyone else gets through the trail so easily" "I don't have deep friendships because I always hold something back"We're not ever as alone as we think. PS- PA is stunning. The rocks are just fine - nothing unbearable. Many stretches of clear. PPS- I've developed an opinion for the type of spider web I prefer to walk through... definitely the slightly thicker ones because they have more resistance and offer a clean break, whereas the thinner strands are too wispy and always end up stuck to every part of my face.Rainbow