morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2003-09-14
From: MA 23

To: Random CampSite in the Woods
Miles today: 7.0

I woke up early with hopes of hitting the trail by 8:00 am. I got dressed, threw everything in my pack, opened my hotel room door, and....rain. Lots of rain! So, needless to say, I didn't hit the trail quite as early as I wanted! :) I did hang around for a while, hoping it would clear up. It didn't...but hikers have to hike, ayway, so off I went.The rain had slacked off a little when I headed up the trail, but the dripping trees had me pretty wet in no time. However, I did not care! The forest was beautiful today! Everything was shiny and green, and in constant motion. I have talked about this "constant motion" thing before, but you really have to imagine this! Each rain drop falls from the sky and either comes all the way to the forest floor, or hangs out in the tree tops until the wind sends it down. Then, it plops onto whatever leaf, flower, or plant happens to be under it. The result is that everything,... leaves, weeds, vines,....seems to be dancing. Unexpected movement always catches a hikers eye, it is the result of lessons learned while hiking through rattlesnake territory. :) So, while I hike, I am constantly catching these motions out of the corner of my eye. It makes the forest seem so alive!Add to all of the bright green a thick carpet of taxi-cab yellow leaves that litter the trail, and you have a scene that is richly colorful. As I watch my step, brilliant orange salamanders run across the path, making their way from leaf to leaf. The smells of apricots and basil fill the air, and leaves float down from the treetops. Doesn't it sound wonderful?! The trail itself was my idea of the perfect trail. Yes, it was rocky, and yes, there were tons of roots and yes....there were ups and downs. But everything in moderation! Now, THIS is what I call hiking! The ground was black with layers of pine needles from time to time. Much of the trail was muddy, but I did not care!I met a lot of other hikers today, incuding some really nice south-bounders. I think I am, by far, the last north-bounder in theseparts! The rain came and went throughout the day, keeping me pretty well wet, but,.... did I mention that I didn't mind?! :)The last rain storm of the afternoon, complete with thunder, hit about 5:30. Being too far from the next campsite to make it before dark, I started looking for a good stealth site. By the time it started to get dark, my dinner was cooked, my food was hung, my tent was up and I was cuddled in my sleepin bag.My fingers are cold as I type this, and rain drops are splatting down on my tent from time to time. It was a great day, and a great hike, but it just wasn't the same without Bumpkin! I hope she is having a blast climbing all those boulders in the White Mountains, and I hope that wherever she is, she knows that I miss her!Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com
Date: 2003-10-02
From: Baxter State Park

To: Katadhin Stream Campground
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: light rain

So, I am here at Baxter State Park, and I have a campsite for the next three nights. When I got here, I found that the Birches Campsite, which is where they put all of the thru hikers, is right across from my site. It is a wonderful spot to be because I get to watch all of the hikers arriving for their last night of the journey. Better yet, though, I spend the afternoon watching hikers come down off of Mt. Katahdin, their journeys truly finished. As each hiker walks up, everyone bursts into cheers and applause. It brings tears to my eyes everytime. Then, as each hiker that I know comes over to tell me that they have finished, I feel a surge of pride. We all shared in the struggle, so regardless of how well I know them, I feel like celebrating with them!   Well, after an evening of seeing old friends and meeting new, I retired to my tent for a good nights sleep. Well! The joke was on me, cause it was FREEZING, and I didn't sleep at all! For months, Bumpkin has been telling me that I need a therma-rest and for months, I have been telling her that I don't need one, and that I don't want one! They are heavy and I just didn't want to deal with the extra weight. So....6 a.m. comes and I am beside myself with misery! All of the sudden, I remember that Jerry's pack is in the trunk of the car and that he has the mother of all therma-rests! Extra long, extra thick....I jump out of my sleeping bag, and tear into the trunk. Mumbling like a crazy woman, "Jerry would understand.....he wouldn't want me to die of hypothermia.....please tell me he would understand!!", I rip into his pack, flinging gear right and left. Ten minutes later I am lying on the inflated pad, warm for the first time in 10 hours. Bless you, Jerry! And Bumpkin....you were right! I need one of these things!    After a couple of more hours of sleep, I greet the day ready to go hike. By this time, it is raining.I am coming to the end of my journey and my thought, at this time, is that I don't HAVE to hike in the rain. As a matter of fact, a quick phone call home taught me that I don't HAVE to sleep in the cold! So...I am headed to a motel! I spend the day driving around, doing a little bit of trail magic here and there. This evening, I even manage to sqeeze in a viewing of "Dickie Roberts, Child Star". It appears to be, quite possibly, the stupidest movie ever made, but turns out to be pretty good!   As I go to sleep tonight, warm and dry in my hotel room, I listen to the rain pouring down. I think about Bumpkin and hope that she is warm and dry also, and drift off to dreams of Katahdin, cause our time is coming!Love, Anna aka Mud Buttwww.trailjournals.com
Date: 2005-02-12
To: Preface
Miles today: 0.0

Preface:There are several reasons why I am in Africa working with children. First, I have baby fever BAD!! I want a baby! And since I have not found Mr. Right yet, I figured I better make good use of all the love I have to give and come where it might be needed! second, I saw Oprahs special on giving Christmas to children in South Africa a year ago. I knew that I could not do somthing that big, but that I could do something, so this is it! Last, but not least, I spent many years reading AT books before I finally said "I am tired of reading about these people, I want to become one of them". Along the same lines, I have spent years reading books about women who travel the world and follow their hearts. I got tired of reading about those women and decided that I was going to be one of them. So far, it is really working for me! I am in Moshi, Tanzania for almost four weeks working through an organization called Cross Cultural Solutions. It is kind of a mini-stint in the Peace Corps, (their words, not mine). It is a group that works to better a communtiy through involvement and forming self-sustainable programs, rather than just one time donations. I am really proud to be here, and am loving it! Hello to all and I will be home soon!!! Love, Anna aka MudButt(Transcriber's note: Quote that crossed the desktop this morning, and seemed to directly apply:"When you are inspired by some great purpose, some extraordinary project, all your thoughts break their bonds; your mind transcends limitations, your consciousness expands in every direction, and you find yourself in a new, great and wonderful world. Dormant forces, faculties and talents become alive, and you discover yourself to be a greater person by far than you ever dreamed yourself to be."-- Patanjali (c. 1st to 3rd century BC)
Date: 2005-02-28
To: African Epilouge- 02.28.05
Miles today: 0.0

Epilouge....... Well, I am home again. The dust of the village roads has washed out of my clothes and my sunburn has begun to fade. I wanted to leave you with a few final thoughts, though. If the urge to volunteer in a third world country hits you, do not hesitate for a single second. It is scary and uncomfortable at times, but overwhelmingly fun, powerful and rewarding. All it takes is a credit card, passport, and a willingness to step into another world. I promise you will not be sorry that you did!I could never have done this without the experience of my season on the Appalachian Trail. Every lesson I learned there, from conserving water to being open to the kindness of strangers served me on this trip. And I carried all of my fellow hikers with me here in Africa. When you think that something is used up, be it a piece of clothing or a plastic bowl, give it one more hard look. I bet there are many years of use left in it. Seeing others treasure the most simple of things taught me to treasure them in return. If a person from Africa walks up to you and asks if she/he can spend the night at your house, consider saying yes! This might seem strange to us, but it is the African way and this very thing happened to me at the Atlanta airport. I walked up to mom and dad and said, ¢¢¬This is Yop, she is from Nigeria and I am taking her home for the night¢¢¬. Of course, being the parents that they are, they just shrugged and said ¢¢¬Of course!¢¢¬. Most importantly......I have said it before, but it bears repeating. When you see the pictures of Africa and starving children, all you can see is the need. The pictures seem to be completely about poverty. But make no mistake, even in the poorest village, there is a rich community here, built on family and values. Neighbors share what they have with each other, and in the midst of what we consider great need, find a way to lead very happy, productive lives. Do not let that deter you from giving, because the need is certainly there, but do not let that need lead you to believe that that is all there is to see. I learned a great deal about friendship and happiness from these people. Thank you for following my journey. Your support has meant more than you know! If you are interested in donating to Upendo Childrens Home, Kilamahewa School, or the Honey Badger Cultural Arts Center, do not hesitate to send me an email. Until our next adventure......... Asante sana na Karibu, Anna"When all is said and done here at the ending of the day, I look out on this world and it still takes my breath away...""Robin's Song" Small Potatoes
Date: 2003-02-08
To: Up Up and Away
Miles today: 0.0

Well this will probably be my last entry before I set of on my travels.The next few days will be spent visiting a few people and no doubt indulging in one or two 'last drinks', then I'll just have to pack the rucksack and hit the road.I also started to make an effort to let people know about this site, which made me think a bit about why I was actually keeping it in the first place - as a result I ended up rewriting the earlier entries (so apologies to anyone who had been here before and was confused by the changes)This may be it as far as preparation entries go as I'm not planning on going out of my way to find internet access along the way (although I may get in with an update in early April). After that I'm hoping that regular trail updates will begin around the end of April.My plans are just to keep a manual journal and post them to my sister who will post them for me (sending off a few days at a time whenever I get near a post office).All that is left is to say thank you to everyone who has helped me get this far. Those who have already offered help and encouragement, those who have 'voluntered' their help in the months ahead, those who have agreed to me imposing upon them along the way and to everyone that I have bored by continual talk about the trail over the past months. You know who you are, so 'Thank You'.Catch you laterNeil
Date: 2003-03-03
To: High Altitude Training and Gear Testing
Miles today: 0.0

Hi FolksCurrently sitting in Bangkok Airport waiting for the plane to come.I have just finished my trip to Nepal, spending 13 days treking in the Himalayas - got to Kalar Patthar (5,545m - 18,000ish ft) and got to look up to and walk in the shadow of Mount Everest. It wasn't always fun, fun, fun but it was fantastic and I've got the feeling that the memories will grow fonder with the passing of time.I could go on forever if I tried to capture what the trip was like but (for your sakes) I wont. However, I will try to give a little taster by way of something that happened on the trip....On the last night of the trek we had a wee party and Martin (one of the group) was keen for the us to do a party piece and started preparing a couple of things - anyway, spurred on by his enthusiasm (and some malt whiskey) I too got to work on a little something of my own.The following doesn't go anywhere near capturing all (or even much) of the trip but hopefully captures at least some of it.Obvious ommissions are numerous - the guides (their enthusiasm and helpfullness as well as musical abilities), the porters (their good nature, wide smiles, diminutive size and load carrying abilities), there are no mention of the villages where we stayed, of being snowed in in Namche Bazar by 2 foot of snow, there are no mentions of the individual members of the group (and Fernandos singing really deserves mention). Nothing about walking in minus 12 Centigrade temperatures, of two tone foreheads, of singing happy birthday to Oliver on Kalar Patthar or even of an incident that brought back personal memories of a night in Skye testing the absorbancy of some Becks Beer packaging.That said its not a bad sampler....Anyway, the following should be sung to the tune of Dana's Eurovision winning 'All Kinds of Everything' - except (for reasons best known to those who where there) for the second half of verse 3 line 3 and all of verse 3 line 4 - so all together now ...Prayer Wheels and Mani Stones, Thin Mountain AirQuiz Shows and Millet Beer, No Clean Pants to WearBlue Sky, No Apple PieSince we left KathmanduAll Kinds of Everything Remind me of YouWhiskeys and Yak Dung, Horses for HireDamp Boots and Smelly Socks, Stacked Round the FireA Stalagmite of Human *****A Composting LooAll Kinds of Everything Remind me of YouEverest and Island Peak, Kala PattharTrail Dogs and Bhudist Monks, We Got that FarNamaste, Its Such a Lovely DayI'm Glad I Spent it with YouAll Kinds of Everything Remind me of YouMountains and Glaciers, Fast Flowing StreamsAvalanche and Waterfalls, Live in Our DreamsLukla Flights, Ice Cold NightsEverest ViewsAll Kinds of Everything Remind me of YouBed Tea and Bursting Lungs, a Himalyan TrekShort of Breath, Close to , a Physical WreckGratitude at AltitudeTo Our Nepali CrewFor All This and Everything, a Heartfelt THANK YOU
Date: 2003-03-26
To: Warm Weather Training
Miles today: 0.0

Hi thereJust finished 16 nights in Tasmania where I spent 7 nights walking the Overland Track and some side trails and 3 nights in and around Freycinet National Park.Tasmania is certainly quite a place for anyone who fancies a bit wilderness, almost too many options and I certainly only scratched the surface - but as scratched surfaces go it was very fine indeed.As for the Overland Track itself - it was pretty immense in so many ways, its the first time that I have ever had to be totally self sufficient for that length of time (or anywhere near that length of time) as there is nothing but wilderness, a few huts, some fantastic scenery and stacks of wonderful people between the two visitors centres (around 50 miles by the shortest route).Apart from the shock of just how heavy 7 days worth of food is everything else was very pleasant - it was the first time I have walked where huts exist and they where a great way of bringing together a few friendly faces at the end of sometimes arduous days.The weather was unseasonaly dry and bar being woken just after midnight on the first night by thunder and lightening it was dry throughout (atleast it proved my tent was completely waterproof although I was forced to consider just how safe a place a tent is during a thunder storm). However, even more bizarrely I was then woken at 5 am that same night by a not unreasonable although completely baffling rendition of 'My Way' by some unknown travelling minstrel.During the walk I took the opportunity to climb to the top of Barn's Bluff, Mount Ossa (the highest spot in Tasmania if I'm not mistaken) and the Acropolis - the Acropolis was my favourite and Barn's Bluff the most (or almost) disasterous - it all got a little hairy when I came off the top in the wrong direction and decided to inaurgurate the McKenzie Circuit Track (graded only for masochists and fools - of which I like to consider myself the latter) - oh well, all's well that ends well and hopefully I have learnt a few leasons along the way.As well as wallabies, possums and snakes my favourite wildlife was the people I was lucky enough to rub shoulders with along the way and after 3 or 4 nights with the same group it was a little sad to see some of them heading off as their plans went ahead of my own - but anyway to everyone I met along the way 'Hello and Thanks'I fear I have wittered on enough so bye for now
Date: 2003-04-15
To: Top of Springer Mountain
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: clear sky

Today I took my first tentative steps along what, I hope, will amount to 2,000 plus miles of Appalachian Trail (and what¢s more today¢s efforts don¢t even count in that official figure as the walk today simply took me to the official starting point of the trail at the top of Springer Mountain).That journey to the top of Springer started early with a bus trip from Atlanta to Gainesville and then a taxi to the Amicolola State Park Visitors Centre where I signed in, bought some maps and weighed my pack. It was a bit heavier than I¢d hoped coming in at a reasonable 32lbs without food and water but a back breaking 47lbs with food and water ¢ oh well, let¢s just see how it goes.Then it was time to get going ¢ no fireworks, no brass bands to send me off, no fond farewells, just a¢well I suppose I should be off¢, ¢anything I¢ve forgotten?¢,¢no¢, ¢oh well I guess this is it¢¢yes¢¢it¢s this way I suppose¢and without much fuss the first tentative step became the second and the third and I was off.I got started late so it was a bit of a mad dash. The route march pace and warm weather didn¢t make for a nice stroll but 5 hours and one wrong turn later I made it to the top and the campground where I pitched my tent, (for what want be the last time during the months to come), and had said ¢hi¢ to 3 other thru¢ hikers before settling down to watch the sunset and contemplate what I¢d gotten myself into.
Date: 2003-04-16
From: Top of Springer Mountain

To: Gooch Gap
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: overcast clouds

After a fitful sleep I woke at 7.30am and had breakfast with the other thru¢ hikers before heading up to the top with Gary and Tommy for an ¢official¢ photo and the start proper of my walk.I caught up with Grant, Mark and Greg and we stopped for a snack at the foot of the nice waterfall before continuing on to Hawk Mountain shelter and some lunch. The others were stopping here but I was going to continue and head on to Gooch Gap shelter which I thought was around the 16 mile mark ¢ most people don¢t do big miles in the first week or so, but given the hiking that I¢ve done in February and March I¢m keen to get as many miles under my belt as I can so that I¢m ahead of the game and have plenty of time to reach the end before my visa runs out.At Hawk Mountain we had a good laugh with Joe ¢ an older hiker with a cripplingly huge pack, including GPS, Satellite phone and pepper spray (for the bears). He knew he would have to reduce weight but wasn¢t quite sure what wasn¢t essential!The bright sunny weather got the better of me again in the afternoon and I was relieved to find the new Gooch Gap shelter a mile or so before the old one. Once I caught my breath I had a nice time chatting with the guys staying here before turning in around 9pm.
Date: 2003-04-17
From: Gooch Gap

To: Wood's Hole
Miles today: 11.9

So Georgia isn¢t always hot and sunny.Today it rained.Soon after starting I had an opportunity to test both my wet weather gear (or lack of it) and my wet weather philosophy of getting wet. Indeed I was fairly wet by the time I got to Woody Gap where I found Asaf (an Israeli) and Spencer sheltering under an information sign that I thought was more like a bus stop. At this point I too decided to seek shelter from the storm and as we waited the rest of last night¢s crew arrived one by one. When Scott arrived he noticed a note left by ¢Dances with Mice¢ a guy he had met the previous day saying that he had left some snacks across the road and some drinks in the stream. The drinks turned out to include beer so three of us cracked open our first beers of the trail and raised a ¢glass¢ to ¢Dances with Mice¢.Eventually we continued but not because it got any drier ¢ in fact it got wetter but that made some of the scenery more interesting as the mist that was all around the forest reminded me of something from ¢Robin Hood¢ (or something medieval as Asaf said). I eventually reached Wood¢s Hole shelter to find 5 others and a dog holed up out of the rain. I got dried off and into dry clothes and one by one the rest of the guys arrived and did the same ¢ each greeted as long lost friends and helped to get comfortable.However, the biggest welcome was reserved for Larry who wandered in as dark fell ¢ we had thought he would have had to pitch his tent and had hoped he had found a dry moment to do it but he had just plodded on. Mark made him and me a cup of tea and then we set about making ten people comfortable in a six person shelter. Thanks to everyone for making an effort and budging up a bit so that we all stayed dry and strangely all had big smiles and fond memories of a great day.
Date: 2003-04-18
From: Wood's Hole

To: Low Gap
Miles today: 14.7
Weather: light rain

Awoke to more rain, so it was a fairly easy decision to put on yesterday¢s damp clothes again ¢ it may have been an easy decision but it was a most uncomfortable reality ¢ however, after 10 minutes it would have made no difference what I had worn so I was glad the way things worked out.Made it to the top of Blood Mountain where I ran into Asaf and got some great views of rolling mountains for as far as the eye could see with the mist pouring up out of the valleys - we were lucky because 10 minutes later the whole view was fogged in. Asaf had walked up here the previous night and said that it had been more like the Appalachian Creek than the Appalachian Trail but it had just about dried up over night.Today¢s big event was getting to Neal¢s Gap and the ¢Wasali-yi¢ outdoor centre where snacks and drinks would be available. The guys from the previous two nights were going to stop here but I was cracking on, however, in my haste I forgot tot have some ice cream which despite the misty/drizzly weather I had been looking to forward to (an error I vowed not to repeat). Spent the afternoon walking first with Doug and then with Brian (Brian had heard of me through Gary and Tommy who I had met on Springer). At the campground I spoke to a family who had driven 7 hours up from Florida to spend a long weekend in the mountains and I befriended Rosie their dog (buying a dog¢s affections as always with chocolate ¢ or is that a woman¢s affections ¢ I get confused).Anyway, another successful day and I can genuinely say that I have enjoyed every step so far.