morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-07-14
From: short trip home

To: short stay at home
Miles today: 0.0

This trip home is more resting than all of the other trips home have been, and acknowledge how tired we really are. I am trying to keep my ankle elevated, but also have to take Parker for walks.I stopped in to see my friends in the surgery department for the first time since I left in March. They are a wonderful bunch of friends, and I miss them.Also, we got to see Cindy and of course, Gingie. Sue will be over tomorrow, and Robin is stopping after work.We are trying to plan the best approach to return the rental to Hagerstown, then get to New Jersey. I called Avis, and they won't let us take the car north bypassing Hagerstown. We get so used to flying by the seat of our pants out there... relying on hitchhiking and trail angels, that to make a serious plan is work.I threw away my hiking shirt and a pair of socks.I am taking new ones. No matter how much I soaked them, they stunk. That pretty much takes care of any new packing!Thanks to all.
Date: 2010-07-15
From: short stay at home

To: short stay at home
Miles today: 0.0

We are getting some things done, and I am hoping that my ankle will mend quickly. I take Parker for walks trying different techniques for ankle support. I tried taping versus the aircast,and I tried different boots, and even Tevas. It is somewhat better on level ground, but the downhill is still shaky and painful.We have had a lot of company, and it is so good to see everyone.Please wish me good luck to get this ankle back on the trail.
Date: 2010-07-16
From: short stay at home

To: short stay at home
Miles today: 0.0

We made a trip to REI to look for different boots, and I brought home Merrels. I don't know for sure what I am going to do. The Merrells don't have the support my Asolo's do, but I could wear the aircast with them.We also ordered Kinesio tape so maybe that will help.
Date: 2010-07-17
From: short stay at home

To: short stay at home
Miles today: 0.0

I took Parker for a walk this morning with the Merrells and realized they will not work. I am planning to go back to my Asolo's and use tape. It would be nice if there were ice machines on the trail.After finding out for sure that we could not bypass Hagerstown with the rental without incurring a huge cost, we are taking the car back to the Hagerstown airport. However, they do not have a one-way rental available for us to get to New Jersey so we have to rent another car on the way to Hagerstown from the Pittsburgh airport. Sound crazy....correct.Anyhow, I have decided to become a shuttler next year! Only kidding..I think.My ankle is shaky at best, but we have to get going. I'm praying for good trail until it gets stronger.Thanks to all of you!
Date: 2010-07-18
From: short stay at home

To: Port Jervis, NY
Miles today: 0.0

We left home in one rental car, stopped at the Pittsburgh airport and picked up another and headed for Hagerstown, MD. We returned one rental in Hagerstown then headed for NY. We stopped in Carlisle, Pa to see some friends who were also trail angels. Thanks John and Sheila.Our trail friends, Zissou, Promethius, and Evergreen had left us a voicemail, and we were able to reach them when we called them back. We miss them so much and hope we get together soon since we have jumped ahead temporarily.We got to Port Jervis and are planning the day for tomorrow. Instead of trying to start out with a 20 this time on the return to the trail, we are going to try for 12-15 miles to see how my ankle will hold up.Thank you all for being with us. I miss Parker already and pray for her well being and for us to be able to complete this journey.
Date: 2010-07-19
From: Unionville Road, NY

To: NJ 94, Vernon NJ
Miles today: 12.7

We got ready to head back to the trail, but I was nervous about my ankle. I taped it and took Advil to start. We returned the car to the Avis dealership which was just a Mobile gas station where the girl plugs in her laptop to check people in and out. This time they wouldn't take us to the trail head so we had to get a taxi. Turns out the cab driver was amazing and although finding a trailhead is sometimes like looking for a needle in a haystack, he was persistent and even stopped and asked at another gas station. We finally found it and immediately started in the wrong direction. I was frustrated to add extra non countable miles to this sore ankle, but that is part of the trail. We realized we were going south versus north when we came across Deetz and Powerpack. They are a couple of young girls also thru-hiking. They were great to hike with, and we would see them off and on.The trail was different today and interesting. We crossed many boardwalks across the swampy areas, we circled a reservoir where we saw a blue heron, and swans that were wading instead of swimming because the water level was so low. There were fields of cat tails and beautiful flowers. There were only a few climbs and descents and some rocky areas that weren't bad. Towards the end of the day we walked for a long time on a boardwalk and crossed a couple of bridges. We ended by walking through a pasture field next to the cows who looked at us as routine.I needed to get my ankle iced and we wondered how we could get to a motel. Within minutes, a man and wife on their way to town offered us a ride. They had to stop at the A&P so we went in to the deli and got chicken too for dinner. It seemed this might be OK, and I was grateful for the day.
Date: 2010-07-20
From: NJ 94, Vernon NJ

To: NY 17A Bellvale,NY
Miles today: 15.6

The owner of the motel took us back to the trail head, and we started up Wawayanda mountain. It was a steep rocky climb, but the climb was OK. Deetz and Powerpack came behind us and passed us, but we would hike with them for a large part of the day.Today was not kind like yesterday. It was rough rocky trail with hand assisted climbing and even a ladder up one rock. The climbs were OK, but the descents were agonizing. My ankle won't hold its anatomical position and turns inward with each descent. I struggled all day relying on my Leki poles to help support the pack weight and keep me from falling. As we ended the day, we realized this was futile at this point. It is too dangerous to hike injured and the thought of stopping is devastating as well. We got to a yard and I plopped down. The owner came over and was so kind. They brought an ice pack and jammed into my boot and later offered to take us to the Inn at the lake. We have received nothing but kindness since we got back.Jim walked to a little store to buy ice, and while he was gone, a hiker named Sweet Tea knocked on the door. She brought cookies. She said the owner had mentioned to her that there was another injured thru-hiker, and she wanted to show she cared. I started to cry knowing I had to give up these encounters by leaving the trail as well as falling short of my dream. Common sense says to go get healed and come back later, so we will do what is necessary.Once again, we are finding a way home. Thank you all..Love, Too Late & Too Soon
Date: 2009-02-16
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I have been putting off beginning this journal just because I am not accustomed to working on line. I am reminded of the old Saturday Night Live Character, "The Caveman" where he always starts off...I am but a simple caveman, your modern computer stuff confuses and amazes me...I ship my non flyable gear to Hiker Hostel in Georgia tomorrow. I fly out on Tuesday next week, and begin the trail on Wednesday the 25th.Like most, I have been preparing and reading journals for over a year. Finally decided I had better get with the program.I am 61, a bit over weight (20-30 lbs) and in fair shape. Finished three Sprint Triathlons in 2007 and 2008. Injuries (minor) and sloth prevented me from continuing training since September, my last race.My expectation is to have fun regardless of the distance hiked each day or how much of the trail I actually hike, although I certainly am aiming at hiking the entire trail. I know I will discuss a lot of familiar ground in my journal, however, none of my friends and family who will be supporting me and following my activities have any experience with names, slogans, or abbreviations of hiking in general or the Appalachian Trail in particular. I sometimes look at things a bit differently from most. Combine that with a dry, if not weird, sense of humor and I should have some interesting observations. I tend to wonder how or why things are like they are. These wonderings sometimes lead me to unusual conclusions, typically based on nature, folklore, or visual appearances. We will see how that turns out. I will be including these "wonderings" in my journal.I have to go run some errands so will get back to this tomorrow. Will get to my gear and other musings then.
Date: 2009-02-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I got my gear mailed to Hiker Hostel via UPS Ground this morning and felt quite a bit of relief to have it on its way.We gave our tax information to the accountant yesterday, much earlier than we typically get it done. That was a huge relief. I really need to thank my wife, children, family, friends, and neighbors for helping to make this hike possible. Without their love and support I could not even begin to think about leaving for such a long time. I will reference them individually and in more detail soon or along the trail. I think they should all be given off trail names.We live about 25 miles southeast of Denver, Colorado in a close in (to Denver)rural area. This is high desert. Some Ponderosa Trees, but mostly hardy grasses in open spaces. In this area the Mule Deer think they are the true landowners, and in fact, they probably are. In the winter I can often see as many as 50 deer in the yard at a time. While it is a bit unusual to see that many at once, at this time of year herds of 10-20 bed in the yard daily. When I say in the yard I mean looking in the windows, sleep laying against the foundation close. It is very unusual to look out the window and not see any deer at all. In June fawns are born in the neighborhood and grow up around us. They are not as shy as the deer you may be used to seeing. They do not run away when you go outside. I can walk through them as close as 10 feet before they start to back up. They are curious too. Went out to haul in some wood for the fireplace last week and the deer actually came up the hill to watch. We have many years of no hunting or trapping in the neighboorhod to thank for the abundance of animals. Unfortunately, an abundance of skunks too. I'll spare you the skunk stories.I have been sleeping out in the back yard off and on for several months. During the rut, November here, one buck did fierce battle with my hammock. I put a fence around the few trees and my small campground to help protect them. The deer eat almost everything we plant that is not fenced. My "campground" fence also keeps out coyotes, which are very plentiful. They bark and howl at me at night. The coyotes and fox, also quite common, are here for the rabbits. From the house and porch we have great views across the valley to the Rocky Mountains. Some really fantastic sunsets from here too. With all the wildlife we have in the yard, and the great views of the mountains, I am wondering just why I think I need to go hike the Appalachian Trail to see wildlife and views. I hope the answer to that question becomes apparant while I am on the trail.The altitude at the house is 6200 feet. That should help help me acclimate to the trail's ups and downs.Wow, that is enough for now. Company for dinner and I need to help get it ready.Be back tomorrow.John
Date: 2009-02-18
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Less than a week until I leave for Georgia. The days are shooting by way to fast yet not fast enough. I think I have all my trail preparations done and am anxious to finally get on the trail. However, my Honey-do list is getting bigger faster than I seem to remember being possible. I am thinking, as physically taxing as the actual hiking may be, the small stresses of getting close to leaving for an extended period of time are making me grouchy. GROUCHY, ME? How can that be? Happen to anyone else?Colorado, in Spanish, means color red, after the red rocks prevelent throughout the state. Now, I know that weight is of the essence on a thru hike, but I am taking a small red rock that my daughter has decorated with numerous frogs. It has special meanings to me on a couple different levels. And no, this is not a kindergarten project, my daughter is 22 and is quite accomplished in several art mediums. She asked first. I immediately agreed as long as it was small. I said surprise me. I love it. Ask me about it if we meet on the trail.I think we have our first off trail name. We will henceforth refer to my daughter,in this journal anyway, as PEEPERS. We don't have peepers in Colorado but we always enjoy listening to them when we are back East in the spring. I'm also referencing the small frogs she drew on my new red rock. Peepers it is. You gotta love her creativety. I am sure we will hear about her again, hopefully without malace when she learns of her new nameSee you on the trail soon.John
Date: 2009-02-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well I lucked out last night. My daughter actually liked the Peepers nickname.I finally added my gear to the list section. Most of it is there. It is hard to replicate Eastern weather in my preparation hikes. Virtually no humidity and we have had a drought for a very long time. Have not been able to test much of my gear under wet conditions. A little snow doesn't count as a driving rain. My plan is to periodically report on my gear as I use it under a variety of conditions along the trail. Cold shouldn't be as much of a surprise as the Wet, Humid, Hypothermic conditions I anticipate having to experiment with along the way.I'm way overdue on giving you some information about myself. Married 37 years to the same wonderful woman. Retired Veteran of 30 Air Force years. Apparently not afraid of commitment. Bodes well for the trail. Raised in New England, Western Massachusetts. Once lived on Depot Street in Dalton Mass, the trail goes right on Depot Street. Undergraduate degree in Physical Education and a Masters in Elementary Education. Taught 1st grade once upon a time. In the military I was an Air Traffic Controller. Have two Children and much to my wife's dismay, no grandchildren. Had a Christmas Tree Farm in the small town of Cummington, Massachusetts for a lot of years. If you see me while its raining, you will see ample examples of Balsam Fir pitch on my rainpants from harvest time. Have had a few part time jobs after retiring, courtesy driver at car dealership, groundskeeper at golf course, and cook at the Dairy Queen. Any more we can discuss in person, on the trail, in town, your house with pizza and beer, wherever we meet.I will try to get at least one more entry in before I leave for Georgia.See you on the trail.John
Date: 2009-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Things have become quite hectic in the last day!We have finally added pictures to my journal. I say we because my son can do it and I can't figure it out. I get lost trying to download, transfer, upload, send ,crop, etc. My son does it in a flash. Since he knows that I will probably not be able to change things any time soon, he thinks it's humerous to put in pictures of a less serious nature. Reference the Flamingo Shot. Let me take a picture for practice he said. I don't want this on the site, I said. No problem, he said. He must be getting back at me for irreperable damage I have caused in his life. He is also going to be my main transcriber. He will be 30 in September, is a fireman/paramedic in a neighboring town, got married to a great young woman in June (you're right, Congrats are in order) and basically has the world by the ...er tail. However, since he feels the need to be humerous with me and my journal I feel the need for him to have the next off-trail name. So in reference to his fire fighting profession, his inflamatory quick wit and the fact that he picks up these things in a flash...He should be called FLASH, in this journal anyway. Since he has access to this site to make updates, it remains to be seen if this name will remain in print past his first update.We have had strange weather (there's a smoooth transition) in the past two-three days. Two days ago 50 degrees, snowed overnight about a half inch and got cold, low teens, yesterday it went back up to 50 and melted all the snow, and today it's in the 60's. The snow was really needed, it's a drop in the bucket to what we really need. Weather in the state of Colorado is probably a lot milder than most people think. The bulk of the snow falls in the mountains leaving it golf weather down here for most of the year. Alright you may have to wear an extra layer on the links, but on only a few days do you have to hit an orange ball. True we get the occasional blizzard down here but not that often.Tomorrow night I leave for the airport and Georgia. If I don't get a quick update in tomorrow before I leave, then my next entry will finally be from on or near the trail.See you on the trail John
Date: 2009-02-23
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

What has to align in the cosmos to ensure as many things as possible go wrong when you are trying to get out of town. Our computer went down and has to be replaced. The hard drive is ok and the files, favorites list and other useful information can be transfered to the new computer, but as you all know its going to cost you. Put the dishwasher on last night before going to bed came downstairs this morning to water pooled on the kitchen floor. Don't know what's going on with the dishwasher. Right now we hesitate to use it. Of course this is going to cost us too. Oh, we have a new warp in the hardwood floor in the kitchen right in front of the dishwasher. No doubt that will cost us too. But hey, I'm going hiking, so no problem. I'm pretty sure if my wife were in charge of giving me a trail name right now, I wouldn't much care for it. So off I go to the airport, with the computer and dishwasher down and a space age looking floor. Yep, the wife takes me to the airport too. Yeow is this going to be a fun ride or what.Whoa, hold on there. You didn't really think I would leave my wife with all this stuff to deal with by herself did you. Okay, okay I was just taking a poll. Computer guy is supposed to be here at any time. Floor will have to wait a month or two. The dishwasher is still broken and Flash will be available, if necessary, to take my wife out to dinner so she doesn't have extra dishes to wash. Whew, glad all that stuff is taken care of.No doubt, I am ready to get on the trail before something else breaks.See you on the trail.JohnHey it's still Tuesday but seven hours later and I thought I better update. The dishwasher is probably covered by warranty even though it is 12 years old. The gasket on the door covered for life. Computer guy just called and will be here shortly. We have put a bunch of cinder blocks on the floor to try and flatten it out. My wife works the next five days so washer repair man not coming until next Monday. All in all, things are looking a lot better than they were earlier in the day. Everything packed and loaded and I'm ready to go. Really ready to go now and I'm excited to get under way knowing things are, more or less, taken care of.See you on the trail.John
Date: 2009-02-24
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

My wife and I got to the airport at 10:30 last night. Said our good-byes, Hugged, shared tears and then I watched her drive away. I had to ask myself if what I was doing was worth causing all this anguish. I still don't know that answer. I had checked in and printed my boarding pass online. Security at that time was a breeze and I was at the gate at 10:50 for a 1:15 AM flight. Got little sleep during the flight which arrived a bit early at 5:20. Found MARTA and went to North Springs Station where Leigh from the Hiker Hostel picked me up at 7:10. She stopped so I could get a breakfast sandwich. The next stop was at the post office so she could pick up some packs for the guys back at the hostel. Their gear had arrived too late to make yesterday's delivery. We arrived back at the hostel at 8:45 and the boxes were dismantled and things readied to hike. My send ahead box had not arrived so I was watching the proceedings. Josh asked me if I wanted to hike since they had not delivered anyone to the trail yet. Let's see. Bad day yesterday, emotional good-bye, no sleep, no equipment, so of course I said sure. Was given a day pack, two nalgene bottles, and a snack which I picked up on the way to the hostel. Jumped in the car with everyone else and off we went. I got out at the Springer Mountain parking lot and did the .9 mile to the top of Springer. When the others turned to backtrack north on the trail I went South on the approach trail to the visitors center. Of course I did the picture thing at the plaques, and signed the register before I left.It seemed an odd forest to me on the approach trail. Slightly overcast. The trees had a lamenting look to them as if there was something wrong in their lives. Their branches were all reaching skyward and it looked like a bunch of skinny arms and elbows reaching upward. Probably just me.Fairly uneventful trip back to the visitor center. There should have been stuff happening. Wildlife and birds not to be seen or heard. Miles of acorns littered the ground along with several other kinds of nuts. All uneaten, that I could see. Where were the deer, turkey and other critters? I know they like that sort of forage. Perhaps that is what the trees were lamenting, not enough wildlife to keep them company.Amicalola Falls was beautiful and rushing like you always hope a falls will be when you get to it.Was picked up at the visitors center and went back to the hostel for the night.My gear had arrived and I spent the evening putting everything together for the next day.Pretty darn good day for a non hike day. Oh yeah, I got .9 mile in on the Appalachian Trail. That feels good.See you on the trail,John