morvasaaty/AppalachianTrail-LD-Hikers-Blogs-and-Weather-20-years huggingface dataset:
Date: 2010-10-30
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

You know how I said life has a way of working itself out before??Well I have a fantastic example! Recently my parents have been putting a lot of pressure on me about my cousin, Ross and his availability for the upcoming hike. I had talked to him some about it awhile ago and he had mentioned that he may have the chance to go to China or Europe to study with an honors college program, but nothing was official. He said that depending on how things went he may be able to stick with me and do the trail. As soon as I heard what he got on the ACT, I knew I had lost him, but he hadn't officially told me he wouldn't be coming. My dad kept telling me that if Ross wasn't going to be able to come and I knew and didn't tell him he would be mad, so I did the logical thing and just didn't talk to Ross about it, that way nothing was official (Tricky, right??) and I wouldn't have to tell my dad something he didn't want to hear.Since I could see the Ross situation was well, pretty much a bust, I had started looking for someone close to my age to meet up with, to soften the blow for my dad. Unfortunately I hadn't had much luck... Until I received a friend request and facebook message. And now suddenly I'm back on the partner track! It's so exciting! It has only increased my anticipation for the upcoming months.See life worked itself out! And I think it's for the best.It's almost November, and graduation is in December.Part 1 nearly complete. And I can't wait for Part 2! AT class of 2011! Sweet!!
Date: 2010-11-08
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

This weekend my family and I went out to dinner with my trail buddy and her family including her boyfriend, who was going to run a 5k at 1 o'clock in the morning in honor of the fall back in time. That sounded completely insane to me and I can only imagine the look I had on my face when I was told. Actually their whole crew runs. A lot. I find that super intimidating... I don't run nearly as frequently as they do, ok you caught me, I don't really run at all, and that makes me nervous. Madeline is out there building up her legs while I'm swimming back and forth in a pool. While swimming is very good exercise, unless I plan on walking on my hands to Maine I should probably become reacquainted with my running shoes, so that come March she doesn't leave me in the dust. Other than my obvious need to increase my number of land workouts, I think our partnership could really work. She seems really driven and determined, and ready for the pain. We both have decided that we may need to build up our tolerance to the cold, because as Georgia girls we are not really used to "the elements". And you might as well train for everything right?? Haha I guess as time gets closer and we learn more about each other I will let you know more until then...Oh yeah! She sings and writes her own songs, (cool, right!?!) so my family and I may be going to watch her at an open mic night! I can't wait, because my singing is best left in the shower... Plus meeting up again will probably lead to trail talk, and who doesn't love that??
Date: 2010-12-29
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Hey again,Haven¢t written in a while, so I figured I would write and answer Sawnie¢s questions. Which were asked a while back¢¦ haha sorry!My last name:My last name is Vaux and it is pronounced like box but with a v. Yes, yes I know it¢s not pronounced the French way like one would expect. It's actually really fun to see how creative people can get with the pronunciation of it. It's a game in my family we compare the different ways people address us. My favorite is when we have a sub in school and they just go Katherine uhhh... V? No attempt at all. It makes me laugh. That being said I'm not the type to get upset if someone doesn't pronouns it right, I mispronounce names all the time. It happens.My home town is well.... Dull. Not much happens. Ever. The only neat thing is our proximity to Stone Mountain. I love going to the mountain to just sit and think. It's also good training to run up and down it. Well I attempt to run up. I have to walk every now and then... But I can run down like a champ! Haha and I also enjoy the trail that goes around the mountain it's pretty flat but that makes it very good to run on. Once I'm done with school in December I plan to make daily visits. I have two younger brothers. One is 14 and the other is 12. They are crazy! And drive me nuts but I'm sure going to miss them... Especially since when I get back they might be bigger than me!! I guess I just need to make the most of the time I have left as the biggest kid in the family and beat them up daily. My pack is an aura 65 it's quite nice. I like it. Though I'm pretty tall so I had to get the large and the hip belt is already touching in the middle as my waist isn't quite a large... So I'm going to need to see if the medium will work for me. Or just get an entirely different pack and style... I really don't want to do that... As for my sleeping pad I went with the z lite. Just because it's so darn easy to get out and put away. No blowing it up. It¢s easy to fold. What more can you ask for?? Comfort?? Psh overrated. Haha kidding!!Madeline and I went on a three day section the Friday, Saturday, and Sunday following Thanksgiving and we froze one of the nights! The trail was so pretty! I just wish it wasn't so foggy and gray when we were on top of Albert, because I'm sure that would have been a really nice view especially from the fire tower. The weather was all over the place rainy and windy the first day, absolutely freezing the second day and sunny the third with a breeze that made it feel cool. It was so hard to find the right layering. It seemed like I was always stopping to take off or put on layers. I can now say have been blessed with the skill of being able to continue hiking while stripping off the layers. I know I have such talent. Haha Madeline's hip was giving her some issues and I just hope it stops acting up before we leave!! I also hope the trial run isn't making her reconsider the trip! I have officially graduated!!! ))) YESSS!
Date: 2011-01-19
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Man, time is flying by! Its already the middle of January that's insane! I cannot believe in less than two months I will be on my way. Its thrilling and also terrifying. I still feel as though I have so much to do... and the list never seems to get any shorter. I will feel accomplished after running around town doing errands all day only to realize that I have barely put a dent in my to-do list. I know that the list has to end a some point, so I will just keep doing what needs to be done until that day. I was originally going to leave on March 1st, but my mom has to work that day and I would really like her to be there to see me off. Now it is looking like I will be heading out on the 3rd or 5th... haven't decided which yet.My dad will be hiking the first week with me, I think he is having a hard time letting go... which is understandable. There is talk of my Uncle coming out to hike with me as well, but that plan isn't set in stone, I suppose we will just have to wait and see. I feel like that is my out look on most of this trip, just waiting to see. I have never tried to hike 2,000 miles before, so I am mostly just playing it by ear. How I feel will determine what I do. At this point it is really easy to say I wont quit. I'm sitting at home. Out on the trail after hiking for months the idea of continuing may seem like too much. I don't really see myself quitting as I have been planning this for over a year and it is something I really want to do, but never say never, right?
Date: 2011-02-11
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

I got so much done today! It was awesome! I have nearly all my food ready, and pretty much all the odds and ends i will need/want as well. I can't believe how close the hike is now! It's thrilling. Everyday is filled with the continued gathering of items and everything is coming together quite nicely. I can't wait until I'm completely ready and all I have to do is count down the days. (21 in case you were wondering! :D) Ahh that is so soon. After all my hard work and planning it's crunch time, and I'm so pumped! I hope everyone's planning is going smoothly as well! I can't wait to see everyone out there!
Date: 2011-02-15
To: 17 DAYS! 
Miles today: 0.0

17 days left! I cannot wait! I went to Stone Mountain with my pack fully loaded (which by the way weighs 32 pounds with food and water! I¢m quite satisfied with that.) I hiked the 5 mile Cherokee Trail. It didn¢t take long and it wasn¢t very challenging, but the weather was perfect. Warm enough that when you stopped you weren't cold, but not so warm that you worked up a sweat. Well I was walking at a pretty leisurely pace, so that may have had something to do with it, but still it was perfect. I could not have asked for a better day. I hope to have many days like that weather wise on the trail! I think about the hike all the time now. I have internal debates about what I would do in certain situations. If a bear attacks do I reach for the mace or just drop the pack and run? If I fall and break every bone in my body do I move and try to get to safety making the breaks worse or just lay there and hope for the best? Things like that. Situations that hopefully, most likely, I won't find myself in, but are still entertaining to ponder over. In reality I would probably be too busy peeing my pants if I see a bear. And breaking every bone in my body sounds a lot like death¢¦ so both are purely for entertainment. When I got home and was puttering around the house with the TV on it was weird hearing about all the new show and new movies that aren't coming out until after I leave. It¢s weird to think about. I only have two more weekends until the weekdays and the weekends run together. Only two more weekends until the days of the week are less distinguishable. I can't wait. The only times the day of the week will matter is when we get to town as the hours of places such as the post office will change. I love when the days of the week run together it will be like summer time only freezing, at least at the beginning that is. Haha Friday the 4th is going to be the end of a chapter of my life and it¢s a chapter I can¢t wait to finish. I¢m ready for something new and exciting!
Date: 2011-02-17
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well today was interesting for many reasons. It was so warm today we are talking like in the 70s warm. It's FEBRUARY! Why is it so warm?! It feels nice but I can't help thinking/knowing that we are going to have a huge cold front roll in just in time for the start of the journey. Another interesting thing happened at REI. I was looking around the store when I saw the Patagonia Nano Puff jacket, one of two left on the rack. It was black and a Medium and it was calling my name... I was in the middle of my internal debate when I hear over the speaker "will the owner of a blue Cutlass Ciera please come to the front of the store" I froze. What are the chances of another blue Oldsmobile being in the parking lot?? I quickly check phone, keys, and wallet. I hadn't lost anything. When I got to the front I walked outside and I was told. Someone has backed into my grandmother's car... I walk over to see the damage and was pleasantly surprised. It's just a small ding. Nothing major. Hardly even noticeable. What a relief let me tell you! After getting the ladies information, just to be safe, I walked back in the store and bought the Nano Puff and a pair of Smartwool socks for my grandmother. She had mentioned she really liked them and why not bring a gift with the cars news? And the jacket well I just felt called to buy it. I used my dividends. I had really racked them up, so it's like the jacket was on sale! And I really like it, so I have no regrets. 15 days and counting!P.S. The pictures I added are from a three day trip through Cape Chignecto Provincial Park in Nova Scotia. It was such a great hike! I LOVED it. I'll probably do it again, just because it's fairly close to our summer cottage and so pretty!
Date: 2011-02-19
To: 14 day! ohhh baby!
Miles today: 0.0

Well things are coming together for my life after the hike as well. I am proud to say I got into every college I applied to. Now I just need to decide where I want to go... Decisions, decisions! Haha I have also finished packing up my room. It looks empty and doesn't feel like mine anymore. Which is good, it's that final boost to help me let go and move on. With my room overtaken I will have nothing to come home to thus no reason to quit the trail! Officially two weeks away! Can you dig it?!
Date: 2011-02-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Well I'm camping in the back yard again tonight. It's really warm out, so I'm extremely comfortable. For such a boring town there sure is a lot of noise at night. It's surprising. I wonder what everyone is up to? It's a Monday, well I suppose it's Tuesday now, people have to work in the morning they should be sleeping! I mean there are cars zooming down the street and train whistles blaring. So much bustling about yet so little to do around here... I must be missing out on some big secret! HahaWell recently I have been baking. A lot. For those of you that know me you know cooking and baking aren't really my thing, but I guess the idea of not being able to bake has made me what to get it out of my system. Sunday I made peanut butter cookies with reeses pieces on top. From scratch mind you when I do bake, I go all out. No boxed mixes for me. Then Monday I made blueberry muffins. (also from scratch) The blueberries were blueberries from our back yard that we had frozen from the summer. So I guess you could say I made organic blueberry muffins. Today I'm going to make a French toast breakfast for my family before they head out. I was going to be ambitious and make a special kind of French toast, but alas my brothers said they would rather just have good old fashioned french toast. Oh well... I may decide to make something else when I get home from work depending on how tired I am. I was looking through the cookbook today and everything just looked so good, that I don't know what to make... Any ideas?? Haha I was looking at some chocolate and caramel covered apples... Does that sound good or what?!Sitting in my tent, well lying actually, I feel comfortable and cozy, yet everytime people see my tent (The REI Quarter Dome) they ask me how I will live in that for months. I will admit I too was skeptical at first, but now after having gone on trips with it, I love it. It fits me and all my gear quite nicely, but there is not extra space. Which in my opion is good, it means I'm carrying just what I need. That is the whole goal, right? Carry just what you need to minimize weight, it seems to me in the shelter chatagory I have a decent handle on that. I'm satisfied with it and ultimately that's all that matters. Waiting for the 5th to get here feels like waiting for Christmas! I'll probably get as much sleep the night before the start as I do the night before Christmas, too. Aka NONE! Hahaha
Date: 2011-02-24
To: The Weather Channel
Miles today: 0.0

March 5th is officially in the 10-day forecast on the weather channel! It says there is a 60% chance of showers and the high is 61 degrees and the low is 43. Kinda sounds like we are going to be wet that day¢¦ but hey I have yet to go on a Backpacking trip where it hasn¢t rained or snowed. Plus rainy days are going to happen on the trail that¢s a given, so might as well get used to it on day one. Also since March 5th is 10 days away the weather might still change between now and then. We will just have to see. Rain or Shine, I¢m going to be at Springer that day. Sun would just make the pictures look better. HahaAfter today I only have one more day of work! WHOO! I have been counting those days down for awhile now. It¢s not that I have a hard job, it¢s just hard to be excited and happy about work when all you want to do is make sure you have everything in order for the hike. It¢s not good to be distracted at my place of work. It¢s quite dangerous actually. Speaking of having all my things in order I do! but that means next week is going to feel really long¢¦ No work. Nothing to collect. All my friends are in school or at work. Sounds like Stone Mountain and I are going to have a lot of alone time! That and Southbounders will probably be playing a lot. My favorite thing to do is have that on as background noise while I putter around the house gathering things together and making sure all my gear is ready and working. I have it playing so often that my family has taken to harassing me about being addicted¢¦ and maybe I am, but there are worse things.This weekend is my last weekend home and it going to be a very busy one! It¢s going to be the last time I hang out with most of my friends. It¢s going to be bitter sweet. I hope everyone is having as much fun preparing as I am!
Date: 2011-02-27
To: The Home Stretch. 
Miles today: 0.0

My last weekend home was great. I had a lot of fun just hanging out with friends relaxing and enjoying the pleasures of civilization which will soon be removed from my life. I went to a low key dinner gathering on Friday and had a really chill rest of the night. On Saturday a group of us went and saw I am number four for my friend¢s birthday. It was pretty good. There were a few girls sitting in the row behind us that could not seem to hang onto their phones. Seemingly every five seconds they were giggling and searching below our seats. It was pretty funny. Especially since I had been listening to their conversations (they were talking rather loud, so it wasn't exactly eaves dropping.) and when one of them asked a question about the movie I answered it, even though it was clearly wasn't directed at me. My friend Cloe got a kick out of that. She found herself in a fit of laughter which made me laugh as well. I bet the people around us were quite annoyed with our outburst, but I had a lot of fun.I think I'm going to miss driving a lot. As I was driving back from the mall with my radio blasted and car full of people I couldn't help thinking I would miss moments like this. When I do get back from the hike everything and possibly everyone or at least my perception of them will be completely different. Everyone will be gearing up to head to their respective colleges and many friendships might not ever be the same. While yes, this might seem sad, it's the truth and at this point I can't say I would mind a change. Things have gotten so mundane that these changes are welcomed in my book. I need something new and challenging and I think that is one reason I am drawn so strongly to the trail.The weather forecast continues to call for rain. Rain the first four days??? You bet! Bring on the rain jackets! My dad told my mom that he is going to look like a prune when she picks him up. Haha I guess we will just have to see. The up side is water will be easily access able, which is always nice. Tomorrow is my last day of work! The home stretch is here, this hike isn't just something in the distance. This hike is now.
Date: 2011-03-01
To: Its March!
Miles today: 0.0

Knowing that I won't be working for the next 5 months or so makes me feel like a real bum. I realize that I will be hiking, thus doing something. It's not like I'm going to be lounging around on the couch all the time or anything, but I still feel less productive. I suppose this feeling will pass once I set out for the trail, but for now... I got the bum blues. Haha We had a huge storm pass through here last night. I was very glad I could experience it with a roof over my head and a glass pane between myself and the massive droplets. I know that I will have to face storms like that on the trail, but I was still grateful I had the protection this time. Last night just reiterated for me the power mother nature can unleash. She is a feisty one. Some people commented on my rather positive outlook on the rain in the forecast (which seems to have dissipated slightly!), but really what other choice do I have? I can't control the weather. I can only control my outlook on it. Getting bummed out about the rain would just hinder my mood. Then I would be cold, wet, and grumpy; who wants to be around that? I don't even like being around me when I'm grumpy, so I'm certain no one else does either. It's like my Dad always says. "You can't control the actions of others, but you can control your reactions to them." I decided that works with weather too. Today is the first day of March. It's now the month of my start date, but more than that it's the week of my start date. The time seemed to drag through December and January, but since starting the month of February it has flown by. It seems like just yesterday I was dragging my tired butt out of bed to summer school each morning, and now it's almost time to drag my tired butt out of my sleeping bag each morning. It's funny how things change, yet stay the same. I finished applying for scholarships today. I would really like to go to school out in Colorado, but financially it won't happen unless I receive a bunch of scholarship money. If I don't receive enough funding I'll just stay in state and use the hope scholarship. Which will be fine. UGA is a pretty good school and Athens is a pretty cool town, so I'm sure I'll like it. It would just be fun to get to live in a new place and meet all new people. That's kinda what the trail is providing, so maybe I'll get all of that out of my system before college. I think a lot of people view this trip as a vacation when I tell them about it, but it's not. This is going to be one of, if not the most challenging thing I have ever attempted.4 days!