morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2008-05-23
From: Pine Swamp Branch Shelter

To: Laurel Creek Shelter
Miles today: 18.6
Weather: light rain

Eric and I were on the ball this morning. We got up at 7:15 and were on thetrail by 8:30-- our earliest start in a while. Everyone had warned us thatabout 2.5 miles past the shelter there was a stream crossing with a bridgeout. We decided to follow the AT and just ford the stream, rather than takethe optional road walk around. When we got to the stream we were happy to find our friends Cannibal,Genuine Draft, Bilge Rat, and Yazie camping nearby. They had zeroed thereyesterday and for fun decided to create a rock bridge going all the wayacross. They waded out into the stream and rolled rocks into place. Theyeven used an old plank and a railroad tie that they had found partiallyburied in the stream. A sign posted nearby said the bridge had washed out inHurricane Jeanne (?) in 2004, and I guess no one had ever bothered torebuild one. So for 4 years hikers have been fording that stream. Until now!How cool is that?!We hiked a long and very rocky 18 miles today and now I'm tired and my feetare very sore. We may try to do another big day tomorrow, if the weatherholds. Less than 5 minutes after I got in my hammock just now it startedraining. This will be an interesting night if it keeps up-- my firsthammocking in the rain. I hope I stay dry!Also here are: New York Minute, Blaze, Dr. Zoom, Buzz Light Year, and Tuit.
Date: 2008-05-24
From: Laurel Creek Shelter

To: VA621 Stealth Campsite
Miles today: 14.8

I saw a bear today!!Eric and I stopped for lunch at a beautiful shelter down off the ridge wherewe were hiking. We almost didn't want to go to the shelter because it was0.25 miles off of the trail, going straight down the side of the mountain,but I'm so glad we did! When we got there, I grabbed our empty water bottlesand headed down the side trail to get water, while Eric stayed behind at theshelter. When I had almost reached the stream, I heard a loud noise ofcrackling brush up to my left. I assumed I had just startled a deer, whichwe do a lot, so boy was I surprised when I looked over and saw a large blackbear running away through the woods! It was very exciting to see my firstbear, ever!Nearby the stream where I saw the bear there were some very old, decrepit,abandoned log cabins. I guess people used to live up there; what a beautifulplace to live!The highlight of our day today was seeing all sorts of wildlife. In themorning we were hiking separately and Eric saw a coyote, a rabbit, and achipmunk, while I saw a turtle and a deer. Then in the afternoon, I saw thebear, we both saw a rattle snake, and then we both saw three other deer. Wealso saw numerous birds and insects, including tons of fuzzy Gypsy MothCaterpillars, which are out in full force right now and falling on our headsas we walk. Oh...I also had a grasshopper hitching a ride on my leg as wewere walking through a field, and Eric had a lady bug on him during lunch.What a day!Now we are stealth camping near a stream that's a little closer to a roadthan I would've liked, but it was the best we could do. It was starting toget dark and the trail was about to go up and over a mountain, so we decidedto stay down in the valley. Also here: Gypsy Moth caterpillars crawling on my tarp.
Date: 2008-05-25
From: VA621 Stea;tj Campsite

To: VA624/Catawba, VA
Miles today: 14.5

Eric and I woke up this morning with a mission: Get to the first roadcrossing near Catawba, Virginia before the all you can eat restaurant closedat 6pm. The Homeplace Restaurant is sort of famous along the trail as amust-eat place. The only problem is that it's only open Thursday throughSunday, and today just happens to be Sunday. We were on the trail by 8:30am,with about 14.5 miles to go. We had 2 major climbs for the day, both of which took us up along beautifulridgelines. On the first ridge I saw a wild turkey fly off into thedistance. The second ridge was the rockiest terrain we've seen the wholetrail, so far. We went up to a place called Dragon's Tooth, which requiredclimbing over rocks so big you had to use your hands to pull yourself up.Going down the mountain, the rocks were so steep that there were metal rungsbuilt in a couple places for you to climb down. It was the mosttechnically challenging section we've hiked so far, and at several times Ienvied the day hikers out for Memorial Day weekend who got to hike it allwithout a 30lb pack throwing them off balance. We made it to the road crossing at 4:30pm, walked down to the corner to thegas station convenience store, drank ice cold Gatorades, and got a ride 2miles up the road to the restaurant. The food was great! It was all you caneat family-style dining. We had chicken, ham, and roast beef, with mashedpotatoes, green beans, pinto beans, cole slaw, apples, and biscuits.Blueberry cobbler with vanilla ice cream was served for dessert, and we hadpitchers of lemonade and iced tea, with choice of soda. There were unlimitedrefills on every food and beverage item, and all of this came for the lowprice of $14.00 per person. What a deal!The restaurant is a big old house on a farm, with a porch swing and rockingchairs and gazebos all around. They allow hikers to tent on their lawn sincethere's no motel in town, so now we're hanging out in a beautiful grassyarea by a gazebo, watching fireflies light up around us and letting our fooddigest. Also here are: Bilge Rat, Blaze, Snackies, Mary Poppins & ProfessorLongjohns. We're all lounging around, sharing trail stories, while the guyshave a few beers. We are very much enjoying life right now. It reallydoesn't get any better than this.
Date: 2008-05-26
From: VA624/Catawba, VA

To: VA311/Catawba, VA
Miles today: 6.0

We woke up to a beautiful, sunny morning at the Homeplace Restaurant farm.We walked across the street to the general store and bought breakfastsandwiches, and then we walked back to the farm and packed up our stuff. Wegot a ride down the street to the gas station by the trail, where we raninto several hikers just coming off the trail. We hung around for about anhour at their picnic table out back, eating ice cream and enjoying thebeautiful day. Finally, around 1:30pm we walked up to the trail and hiked 6or so miles back into the town of Catawba, at the further road crossing.Barnabas, a thru-hiker from 2006 who lives near Catawba, left a businesscard with his name on it in several shelters on the trail. He offersshuttles into town and around the trail, and runs a hostel out of the homehe is living in. We called him up and arranged for a pickup from thetrailhead and a stay at his hostel. Tomorrow he's going to drive ourbackpacks up to the next town of Daleville, and we're going to slackpack the20 miles to get up to them. Barnabas is a real nice guy and we definitelyrecommend staying with him.Now we're in Barnabas' hostel, and also here with us are: Yazzie, Macguyver& Lemur.
Date: 2008-05-27
From: VA311/Catawba, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 19.8
Weather: scattered clouds

Happy Birthday, Aunt Di!We left Barnabas' place at 7:20 this morning and started hiking around7:50 am. A quick 4-mile hike took us to the top of McAfee Knob, one of themost photographed spots on the whole trail. We stopped at the rock overhangand took the obligatory pictures, and then continued on to the next big siteof the day-- the Tinker Cliffs. We stopped and ate lunch on a cliff overlooking a beautiful valley on theoutskirts of Roanoke, Virginia. From there we hiked another 10 miles along aridgeline down into Daleville, VA. Along the way we saw a number of lizards,a salamander, a toad, and a chipmunk. We also crossed our 700-mile mark! When we got into town, we checked in at the Howard Johnson Inn, where ourbackpacks were waiting for us. We went out to dinner at the Mexicanrestaurant across the street with New York Minute, a 27-year old guy fromRochester we met on the trail about a week ago. Now we're back in our hotelroom, watching the second half of The Andromeda Strain on A&E; we saw thefirst half last night at Barnabas' place. We might be taking a zero daytomorrow, or else a nearo. We've hiked for the last 7 days in a row, andafter our 20 miles today, my feet and knees are starting to protest. I coulddefinitely use the rest.
Date: 2008-05-28
From: Daleville, VA

To: Daleville, VA
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

We ate the continental breakfast offered by the hotel this morning, and thenwent back to our room and slept for two more hours. We decided to stay inDaleville today to zero, so we moved into our friend New York Minute's roomto split the cost.We went to the outfitter and the grocery store and we ate lunch atBojangles, which was a treat for me because I love their food but we don'thave them in Florida. Now we're back in the hotel room, hanging out with NewYork Minute and watching Knocked Up on TV. Back to the trail tomorrow!
Date: 2007-09-16
To: Permission, condition and tuition
Miles today: 0.0

I have a major desire to hike the AT long distance this spring, yet face several hurdles to surmount before its in the bag. Obtaining a leave from work. Training so that my strength and endurance are up. Socking away enough money to cover bills while gone, as well as to pay for needs and wants during the hike. March 1, 2008 is six months away.
Date: 2007-09-17
To: Hiker back home 
Miles today: 0.0

Last night was my husband's first night back home after he (and our venerable pit crew) actually completed a thru-hike. He started March 27, 07 and was done on Sept 15. Tom walked, V8 (Nobo '08 and my twin sister) transcribed and mounted photos, drove a lot, cooked for hikers and helped me out at home. Mom made oodles of densely nutritious trail bars and many, many pkgs of home made granola. I manned the fort: bills, home, jobs, pets, etc, as well as packing and sending food or supply boxes to the PO. We were able to make a few trailside visits, as well, in Harper's Ferry, and in NH, where my older sister Gail and her husband, Cam, took wonderful care of Tom and the rest of us. Tom kept a vivid journal and has a lot of pics of shelters and his trail companions. (Uncle Tom, 07).
Date: 2007-09-23
To: Our hiking muse, Big Agnes
Miles today: 0.0

I could write quite a bit about the trips our dog has done with us over the years, as she adores running up the trail, looking back, herding the key players and surging ahead. She has the distinct advantage of being entirely portable, easy to feed and to clean up after. Tireless on the trail, she has romped through toboggan tracks for miles up at the Gulf Hagas area and also out on a yurt to yurt trip with friends one winter. She is always ready to go. She can be tucked in a jacket-front whenever the need arises. Neither Tom nor I ever expected to own a frou frou dog like this, however, one thing led to another, and here she is. I guess these little guys were bred down from sled dogs once, so the malamute coat and love of snow and fondness for the journey have survived the generations of diminishing form. Sometimes we don't take Jody with us, so that when we pick her up and get home, she helps with the readjustment. We love her enthusiasm, seeming affection, and of course, her desire to thoughtfully clean any tiny injuries that show up on our legs or arms. She is overseeing Tom's adjustment to home life after finishing his thru hike last weekend.
Date: 2007-09-30
To: Fun with gear
Miles today: 0.0

Had a GREAT time today testing little stove and fuel combinations for ease of use and stabilty of pot. OK, I was probably going to enjoy anything I did toady, because BOTH our sons are visiting, along with one gracious, witty and classy girlfriend. I haven't seen the boys in about a year, so this has been delightful. To top it all off, V8 came by for brunch with us all, and of course we had ayet another chance to talk trail and make some more plans for some local hikes. Tom is still psychically debriefing from his thru hike, which means that he has swings in mood and seems to bolt for the hills as often as he can, mountain biking or walking, whatever he can arrange with friends. At other times he is eating lots of food, catching up with the world he left behind, and wondering what to do about his now chronically painful feet. But I digress.One of the trial runs involved a steel mesh paperclip holder with a metal tealight cup inside. I put .5 oz of alcohol in the little cup, and set the pot on top. Things got going in a hurry, but began to smoke voluminously, something alcohol tends not to do. I realized that a bit of paraffin residue had ignited with the alcohol, and the finish on the holder began to burn off as well. And you think esbit smells bad? Well. I think that item has potential, its $1.50 in the stationery dept. at Walmart, but when a fresh Esbit tab in the folding Esbit stove got a cup of cold water boiling in under 3 minutes, on the cold and breezy deck this afternoon, I had my stove. Only half, if that much, of the tab burned, so I have faith that one tab will do dinner with no problem. Tom has an Etowah that weighs a little less, but if you add the windscreen/pot holder pieces, it weighs the same as the Esbit rig. I have been lurking on the Thru Hiker website over the last couple of years, impressed with the kits Paul has developed. A few days ago I ordered a windshirt kit, hoping to brush up on my sewing skills and put together a rival to the wispy, ionic, houdini-esque little numbers floating around out there in retail land. In the late '70's I remember constructing a 60/40 parka and two down vests from a company called Frostline. I had forgotten, but when Tom reminded me of that, my confidence shot up and I made the decision to tackle some of AYCE's kits. I like the concept of a down quilt with foot box, as it seems so light and versitile, so perhaps I'll get into one of those someday, as well. For now, if the windshirt works out, I'd like to do an insulated jacket as well. I have a 750 down jacket from EMS that I picked up on sale ($29) last season, due to its slime green color and probably the fact that the down shows through the very thin shell. It is short and fitted, and weighs 11 oz, so its great for packing. But I think synthetic innards would be prudent on a longer journey, and less vulnerable to dampness.The air has become cool and dry again, after an unseasonable hot spell with spirit crushing humidity. We are all relieved.
Date: 2007-10-25
To: Balanced on a puncheon
Miles today: 0.0

Its been one of those days, weeks actually, when the pace of things at work has been warp speed, and the thought of actually obtaining a leave to go hiking seems absurd. What was I thinking? I voiced these concerns over supper tonight, and was astounded by the response Tom gave me. He was all over it, telling me to go for it, "Its the opportunity of a lifetime."The finances are coming together slowly, as I make progress in selling off a small property I was using as office space. The fitness piece is coming along, as I do more hiking and notice a degree of improvement in strength and endurance each time I go out. What's left is the permission to leave my job for the required time, with an agreement that I can come back in the fall. The company for whom I work is undergoing extreme upheavals, and it feels to me as if the last thing they can tolerate is requests for special favors/arrangements from nature loving employees. I will need to screw up my courage and just do it, figuring they can say no if they need to. If that happened, I would figure out some ways to join my sister as she proceeded up the trail. There is a certain pressure i am experiencing to do it now, to take the time to hike while I still can, although I might have many good years left for that. I had a brush with cancer several years ago, which definitely changed me and drove home the fact that we don't get to live forever. (duhhh). Since then I have been living on the two year plan: if I had two years to live, what would I want to do during that time? I went through grad school first, which was a major production and extremely rewarding. I loved the whole experience. Now, some distance hiking is the thing I want the chance to do, and I am faced with the same kind of ambivalence I had before signing on for the graduate school. I guess I know what I need to do. I am getting closer to doing it.
Date: 2007-11-12
To: Weirdness about waiting
Miles today: 0.0

I rolled home at 8:10 pm, another 11 hour day at the office, with a break to run a quick errand at lunch. The house was cool and dark, Springsteen playing in the background, and Tom sitting on the sofa talking on the cell with someone about using his new MYOG bush buddy stove today. He and the dog had hiked today a 6 mile loop in a local area we seldom visit, and made coffee at an overlook with his little paint can wood burner. Sigh. This house has Whiteblaze fever, chronic, low grade, 24-7 now. Yesterday I took a quick drive out to visit V8, and we hiked a 5 mile, hilly, streamside loop only a few miles from her central Maine house. My overall strength is improving, and we were able to do a 3 MPH pace the whole time.Last week I suffered a huge set-back when we lost a buyer who was under contract to take a small building off our hands, thus liberating the funds for me to hike. Bam! Not so fast, girl, its not in the bag yet. I hate it when that happens. Then a conversation with Tom got me psyched up again, as he would be willing to nurse the sale of the place along, even if I were away for the 5 or 6 months to hike this spring. I was shocked, and amazed, and felt my energy just soar.Today I asked HR for the protocol for requesting a leave, and just as if it were nothing, the voice on the phone said, "Sure, I can send a form over tomorrow."Jeepers! Another level of permission is loosening up and is underway. This week I hope to take it to the next level and speak directly with the unit manager, at which point the whole thing could alter, or, less likely but still possible, could bloom into my heart's desire.I have an appointment with the sports medicine clinic later this week, to evaluate a foot joint problem that needs attention before I launch into any long-distance trail engagements. At the end of the month, I see the eye clinic to discuss the relative merits of long-wear contacts, lasik surgery, or glasses with photochromic lenses. Another step toward setting things up for relative ease.The thought occurred to me today that with basically 90 days to show time, many of the north bounders of '08 must be undergoing some of the same doubts, fears, plans and appointments. Others are probably working more hours than usual, pushing their bodies more, and in their spare time re-working the ole gear lists. This is one potential candidate who can empathize wholeheartedly with the whole catastrophe.
Date: 2007-11-20
To:  Forms
Miles today: 0.0

The Leave of Absence form was in my mailbox at work: I filled it out with surprisingly elevated heart rate and almost trembling hands.Its lying on the top of the "out" pile now, soon on its way through the chain of command.Today I wore my lightweight boots to work. Hey, they're dark gray, look a lot like your average winter footwear. But in my own little schema, they are magic boots, reminding me all day of good things to come. Montrail Stratus, Sierra Trading had some on sale recently, and I hope to get them worked in enough to know that they will do the job in March. Narrow in the heel and wide in the forefoot, they are the ideal shape for my feet. With a rigid sole, they are just what I need for my right foot and its cranky joints. The building that is up for sale has yet another offer on the table, so we are back to being a little hopeful about this part of the preparation. What a difference it would make to have that project completed before heading out to hike.Tom put an item in my email inbox about Granite Gear making hipbelt pockets for their packs recently. That would help me out a lot. The Vapor Ki is just too sleek for the kind of packing I do. Pockets that can help to corral the little things and keep them from disappearing in the gaping maw of the spindrift collar and bag are my idea of good. Not sure the Vapor Ki will carry well with my cold weather rig at first. Time will tell. I am short on time to get out and walk, so began to think how could I rearrange my schedule to accommodate 15 to 30 miles per week through the winter. I might put 6 or 7 office hours a day into four days, and a few on the fifth day, giving me some "leisure" hours to get outdoors. Time to get back to work; its a cold, dark, damp day out there, but even so, it looks inviting. Things are coming together.
Date: 2007-11-25
To: Conway, NH area loop hike
Miles today: 0.0

On Friday after Thanksgiving, Tom, Jan and I were able to take a morning and go hiking at Green Hill Preserve, not far from my sister's house, where we had met with family for Thanksgiving dinner. Its described in a book called, " Best Loop Hikes: NH's White Mtns to the Maine Coast." Any northern New England hikers would enjoy this book. Described as moderate to difficult, it takes a 5.6 mile path up and around Peaked Mountain. Oak and beech leaves, masses of them, in varying shades of tan, beige and rose, carpeted the trail to the point of invisibility at times. It was 29 degrees out there with a stiff wind blowing, so run-off had frozen in sheets across any rock surface. Together this made for hazardous walking, and although I haven't used hiking poles on day trips, I wish I had brought some then. The sun blazed into the woods through mostly bare trees, as high wisps of cloud moved across the sky. When we came to the last .2 miles which lead to the rocky outlook at Peaked Mtn. I surrendered to the increasing wind and waited for the others not far from the trail junction. My black windbreaker soaked up the then-feeble rays of the sun as I crouched against a boulder, reflecting as most of us probably do, on how important heat is to being able to enjoy the outdoors off season. I designed a shelter in my imagination, using the branches and boulders and leaves strewn about. Soon Tom and Jan were back, though, with the news that the wind was blocked up top, and that it had been just beautiful up there with views to the Whites all around.Today I am at home getting household chores done before we head back to work tomorrow. My weekends remind me of what thru-hikers say about zero days in towns: you anticipate them so much, but often go racing through them getting the necessary tasks done for the next leg of the journey. I took the dog out for a walk and a bit of an experiment. A steep hill intersects our rural road at the 1.3 mile mark from our house. I wanted to see how far up that hill I could get in 30 minutes, before turning around and heading back the same way. It went well, despite a few stops for the usual pup pursuits. I can get a pretty good hike with elevation in in an hour, from the house. If i were to drive a mile or more and park at the base of the grade, I could get a lot of elevation in for a half hour excercise period. Both of these options will help build more muscle and wind in the coming weeks.
Date: 2007-11-30
To: ITS ON!
Miles today: 0.0

Permission granted! Work has OK'd the leave and I can return there to work, and keep up my insurance while I am out. No pesky dropping the policy and re-enrolling later. Phew! So, I am heading for the trail around March 1.Its no cakewalk, organizing ones life to be on the trail for a half year or so. It takes more gall than I thought I had. Already my self definition is expanding. I kind of feel that I am out of my territory now, moving into fields of greater novelty and spontenaity. That has to be a big part of anyone's response when leaving a fairly involved adult life and saying yes to distance hiking.More later as the preparation contiues, now with the force of certainty behind me. La dee DAHHHH!